What's apparent now, playing the series in order, is a kind of dual progression through Metroid 1-4. Super Metroid was a return to the original Metroid design-wise, super open-ended and structurally similar, with a return to the planet Zebes for its setting. Metroid Fusion is something of a controversial title as a sequel to Super, but it's really better thought of as a Metroid II follow-up. It's similarly segmented, perhaps owing to each game's status as a handheld title. The progression is linear, and the storytelling more direct than it's open-ended counterparts. We return to the setting of Metroid II albeit in an orbiting station, and similarly focus on the morally dubious actions of the Federation. Both also lean into horror and claustrophobia, something aided by the small device they were originally exclusive to.

With the framework by which I judge Fusion established, how well does it achieve its goals? Pretty damn well, actually. Sprite-work, animation, control, level-design, all are of an excellent quality. Music is suitably atmospheric, and set-piece moments with the SA-X absolutely deliver. I have more reserved praise for the storytelling, which I feel could have got its point across more succinctly, but I still appreciated the angle it was coming from.

Metroid Fusion is a superb and tightly paced little slice of action-horror platforming. The worst thing you can really say about it is that it's not much more than that. Definitely play this one if you get the chance.