Metroid Fusion Playthrough (Game Boy Player Capture) - Part 1

This is part 1 of my 100%, best-ending playthrough of Metroid Fusion for the Game Boy Advance. This is not an emulator and was not played on the Wii U Virtual Console or the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. This footage was recorded directly from my GameCube using my Game Boy Player with progressive scan mode enabled (you'll need the GameCube's component cables to do this and your model of GameCube must support component out as well).

I decided to record a new playthrough of this game because I didn’t achieve the best ending (under 2 hours) before, and I inadvertently recorded the entire game in mono sound. Apparently, you have to select the headphones icon on the main screen every time you boot up the game to get stereo sound. So here’s a new best-ending playthrough in stereo.

As I've stated before, I grew up with the NES and played a little bit of the original Metroid at other people's houses. Also, my brother owned Metroid II for the Game Boy, which I played here and there. So I knew about the series, but for whatever reason, I didn't get into it as a kid.

Years later, when Nintendo announced Metroid Prime for the GameCube, I decided to give the Metroid games a real shot by asking for Metroid Prime for Christmas. However, Nintendo didn't simply resurrect the Metroid series through Metroid Prime alone. Instead, Nintendo released both Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion.

There was no reason for me to get Metroid Prime and not Fusion, so I asked for and received both games for Christmas of 2002. I then proceeded to play through both games simultaneously, although I devoted far more attention to Metroid Prime, which was by far the better game. Metroid Fusion, however, was not bad.

Fusion had an interesting concept with the X parasites and Samus having to regain her abilities by tracking down infected portions of her power suit. It also did a good job of creating an intimidating and scary environment, especially through the SA-X.

Even though Fusion was quite linear, I felt that the mission-based structure worked well in conjunction with scary atmosphere. The gameplay, which was based on Super Metroid, also worked quite well. However, I didn't care for the look of the new Fusion suit, and I didn't care for the sudden, invasive narrative that got injected into the game. Although I generally don't care about stories, Fusion's story was problematic to me, especially the ending and the introduction of "Adam" - a character who shouldn't even exist.

But putting aside these narrative problems, I like the game, and I will certainly enjoy playing through it yet again. I've beaten this game three times before, and I have previously achieved 100% completion. However, this is my first time doing this under 2 hours, so I had to be very efficient.

In this first part I started a new save file and completed Sector 1.

Items collected:

Missiles - 14:50
Missile Tank # 1 - 16:47
Missile Tank # 2 - 16:52
Energy Tank # 1 - 17:32
Energy Tank # 2 - 17:37
Morph Ball - 18:35
Missile Tank # 3 - 20:52
Missile Tank # 4 - 25:33
Charge Beam - 27:22
Missile Tank # 5 - 28:28
Energy Tank # 3 - 29:42

Recorded with the Hauppauge HD PVR and the GameCube's component cables at 60 frames per second. I'm using an original model Game Boy Advance as a controller via a GameCube/Game Boy Advance Link Cable.