Fusion: Over or underpowered?

[DrevanZero]

I just bought a gameboy advance sp, and fusion and zm. I was playing through fusion and I noticed that by the end of sector 1, you have like 70 missiles. And this is the only sector you have visited. And you don't have bombs. So here's my question: Is fusion too hard, or do they give you too much, to early? I lean for the latter, but I would love to hear your opinions. Let's talk about it.

[Balkoth]

If you know how to avoid damage, it's much easier. Failing that, you'd better grab those parasites whenever possible.

Before the Varia Suit, it takes about 2 hits from most enemies to drain an energy tank. The developers really did a good job of encouraging the player to be careful as Samus isn't as strong as she used to be.

I'd say Fusion is only too difficult if you don't understand that key concept.

[okey]

Before the Varia Suit, it takes about 2 hits from most enemies to drain an energy tank. The developers really did a good job of encouraging the player to be careful as Samus isn't as strong as she used to be.

They went a little overboard with that. It's silly how bumping into a space pirate hurts Samus more than getting shot by one. I get that the devs didn't want the player to just run past all the monsters (like in Super) but it was overcompensation.

[Opium]

I found the difficulty level to be just right in fusion. Not hard, not easy either - and perfect for speed running. If you constantly use charged shots, pseudo screw attack, and missiles then you can mow down enemies in your path without stopping at all, but if requires good aim and rapid firing.

[Naner]

Out of the modern 2D Metroid games - Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission, Fusion is definitely the hardest (not counting Zero Mission's hard mode, of course).

Even with a huge supply of energy, missiles and power bombs, it manages to be quite challenging, especially in your first few runs. However, once you get the hang of the bosses, it becomes quite a breeze.

If you want a REAL challenge, there's always the 1% run.

[Balkoth]

Yakuza will kill you deader than disco it you let him grab you.
Some bosses are totally easy, though.

Arachnus-X, for example. While you're provided those ledges you can use to avoid its attacks, they aren't needed because you can kill the boss in seconds by unloading your missiles into him right after falling into his pit. The Core-X isn't hard to kill after that either.

If you need ammo, shoot it with your beam to get green parasites.

I suppose Fusion is more "survival horror" than other games in the franchise. You really need to plan your battles and keep your easily lost Energy up.

[DrevanZero]

yakuza wasnt that hard, i beat him on my first try. i learned something rediculous over the weekend. the japanese release of fusion had a HARD MODE!! Imagine it. you lose like a quarter of an energy tank when you get hit by an enemy already, image how stupid hard hard mode must be! the entire game was already a hard mode on its own.

[Emperor Ing]

I heard rumors on this forum years ago that the mode for the US Fusion we got WAS the JPN hard mode.

I don't think i've ever heard it substantiated though.

[Taelin Aurel]

After my first playthrough, I thought that Fusion was way too difficult. After subsequent runs (and getting used to the nature of the game), I think that the constantly shifting difficulty level of the game really strengthens the game overall. Some of the concerns about gameplay and linearity, notwithstanding, the erratic difficulty curve makes the game really quality.

[Dragonheart91]

I wouldn't call the difficulty curve erratic. More like precisely planned and well paced. It feels like a roller-coaster: Sometimes you are zipping along at high speed and it's a blast, but then you have the difficult sections where you have to move slowly and the anticipation is intense.

Besides, I beat Fusion when I was 12 years old. It can't be too hard if a 12 year old can beat it.

[Taelin Aurel]

Agreed. That's what I was saying with my initial response. The swinging pacing of the game really added a nice dimension to the game but the final boss was PATHETIC compared to the part when you have to flee before the SA-X earlier in the game. I like the momentum shifts in the game but there are times when you are overpowered for the game.

[Code Green]

As hinted at, but not explicitly stated, by others in this thread, Fusion is really both hard and easy at the same time. The developers intentionally overpowered Samus in some respects and underpowered her in others. I think it makes for a very interesting play mechanic.