History YMMV / MetroidFusion

** The biggest divider in the fanbase is the more linear structure. Fans of the linear direction appreciate it for allowing a more controlled sense of atmosphere, more explicit and coherent storytelling, and more focused level design that takes greater advantage of Samus's abilities (while also making the game easier to leave and return to, suiting its nature as a portable game). Critics of this direction dislike it for focusing away from exploration, one of the main pillars of the franchise, and for putting the story more front-and-center whereas other ''Metroid'' games rely largely on environmental storytelling. While ''Fusion''[='=]s linearity was later VindicatedByHistory among some initial detractors, there still exists a group of fans who dislike its linear direction, especially after [[FranchiseOriginalSin later titles]] like ''Prime 3'' and ''Other M'' tried to continue the linear direction with mixed-at-best results.

** The SA-X. The computer proposes the X parasites as mindless organisms that gradually adapt with the more they devour, and the [[spoiler:multiple]] SA-X markedly makes a target out of Samus since she's their biggest threat. [[spoiler:But when it narrowly saves Samus at the end from the Omega Metroid and then promptly dies as a result yet grants Samus the Ice Beam needed to win, can it be construed as a pragmatic assault leading to its demise or a mix of EnemyMine and a sort of {{villainous|Valor}} HeroicSacrifice? Or perhaps it saw that it was being faced with [[SadisticChoice two possiblilities of losing]] and decided it would rather [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled be absorbed by Samus than killed by the Omega Metroid]]?]]

* DemonicSpiders: The X infected Ki-hunters do massive amounts of damage even by this game's standards and are faced during a section where you've likely taken tons of damage from an SA-X chase. They're also reasonably durable without using Power Bombs until you get the Plasma Beam. In fact, the first room after you obtain the Plasma Beam, you encounter rows of Ki-hunters, specifically designed to show off the new weaponry.

* ThatOneLevel: The second visit to Sector 2 is reached through a shortcut after defeating Yakuza, a fairly lengthy and tricky boss. The first four rooms comprise the longest SA-X chase in the game, and its damage output combined with Yakuza's means it's very likely for Samus to enter the new part of the level at low health. There are [[DroughtLevelOfDoom no recharge rooms]] and plenty of dangerous Kihunters to fight and Space Jump past in order to reach the only open save room. There isn't much left to explore afterwards, but Nettori can be an annoying boss as well, and the run back towards the entrance of Sector 2 can also be harrowing (there is an Energy Tank after Nettori that works as an emergency refill, but it's well-hidden).

** Nettori, due to there being 3 annoying phases. In the first, there are Spores that can not only harm you,but can also knock you into the "Venus Samus Traps" between the platforms. In the second, the boss will start firing its Plasma beam, which hurts a good amount, can also knock you into the flowers, and have a surprising large hitbox. Finally, once you get it into its core X, it still fires its beam, both on its own and Everytime you hit it with a missile. Not helping is that the fight has two GuideDangIt moments. If you fall off the platform and get caught in the plants, button mashing does nothing and you need to hold down the jump button to escape. Also when the core X appears, you can access the room that was behind Nettori for some much needed space to dodge around the core X.

** A female protagonist stranded on a space station gone completely off the rails and fighting her way through it while being constantly stalked by an enemy that is impossible to kill, [[spoiler:with a government-based agenda behind the whole thing, and a part where said enemy is seemingly killed off, only to be revealed that there's many more of it on the station]]? Are we talking about ''Metroid: Fusion'' or ''VideoGame/AlienIsolation''?

** Either this or HilariousInHindsight, but the computer's theoretical questions "Did this Adam care for you? Would he sit in a safe Command Room and order you to die?" after his controversial behaviour in ''Other M''. Not to mention that this is also the part where the computer ends up remembering that it's actually Adam's BrainUploading, so depending on how quickly he realized this, he may have deliberately insulted himself for said behaviour.

** If someone streams the game on Twitch, expect to see "EMERGENCY IN [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/frankerz FrankerZ]]", due to the popular dog emote rhyming with "Sector 3".

** Following the reveal of ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'', fans of the series responding to variations of "They skipped ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy Metroid 4]]''?" with helpful/snarky/frustrated explanations that the ''Prime'' games are a sub-series while ''Fusion'' is the actual ''Metroid 4''. Half the time only to discover the person making that statement was a fellow fan making a joke.

* VindicatedByHistory:
** [[ZigZaggedTrope Zig-zagged]]. While considered as a good game at release, there was some controversy about the game's increased linearity and occasional use of dialogue and monologue. Then ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimePinball'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeHunters'' became the new black sheep of the franchise, and ''Fusion'' was seen as a worthy installment... for a while. After ''Other M'', opinions were split between those who blamed this game for ''Other M''[='=]s faults and those who continued to feel vindicated by ''Other M's'' plot being [[SamePlotSequel a rehashed and inferior version]] of ''Fusion''[='=]s. Additionally, a lot of ''Fusion''[='=]s fans were grumpy with the choices made in ''Other M'' regarding the characters introduced in ''Fusion'', particularly [[spoiler:Adam]].
** Around the release of ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', many have started to speak highly of the game. It is commonly argued that for what it lacks in exploration, it makes up with an overwhelming sense of dread, possibly exceeding that of ''Super Metroid''; not a flaw, but a deliberate choice made to finely tune the game's pacing and enable its much acclaimed atmosphere. ''Fusion'' is now considered to contain some of the best examples of video game horror outside of actual SurvivalHorror games. What's more, fans have even expressed interest in a remake due to the appearance of [[spoiler:X-Parasites]] in ''Samus Returns''. When ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'' was announced [[SavedFromDevelopmentHell after 19 years]], the overwhelming majority of fans were outright delighted, especially since ''Dread'' is going to be a proper sequel, and not a time-jump forward.

** The biggest divider in the fanbase is the more linear structure. Fans of the linear direction appreciate it for allowing a more controlled sense of atmosphere, more explicit and coherent storytelling, and more focused level design that takes greater advantage of Samus's abilities. Critics of this direction dislike it for focusing away from exploration, one of the main pillars of the franchise, and for putting the story more front-and-center whereas other ''Metroid'' games rely largely on environmental storytelling. While ''Fusion''[='=]s linearity was later VindicatedByHistory among some initial detractors, there still exists a group of fans who dislike its linear direction, especially after [[FranchiseOriginalSin later titles]] like ''Prime 3'' and ''Other M'' tried to continue the linear direction with mixed-at-best results.

** The biggest divider in the fanbase is the increased focus on linearity. Fans of the linear direction appreciate it for allowing a more controlled sense of atmosphere, more explicit and coherent storytelling, and more focused level design that takes greater advantage of Samus's abilities. Critics of this direction dislike it for focusing away from exploration, one of the main pillars of the franchise, and for putting the story more front-and-center whereas other ''Metroid'' games rely largely on environmental storytelling. While ''Fusion''[='=]s linearity was later VindicatedByHistory among some initial detractors, there still exists a group of fans who dislike its linear direction, especially after [[FranchiseOriginalSin later titles]] like ''Prime 3'' and ''Other M'' tried to continue the linear direction with mixed-at-best results.

** Around the release of ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', many have started to speak highly of the game. It is commonly argued that for what it lacks in exploration, it makes up with an overwhelming sense of dread, possibly exceeding that of ''Super Metroid''; not a flaw, but a deliberate choice made to finely tune the game's pacing and enable its much acclaimed atmosphere. ''Fusion'' is now considered to contain some of the best examples of video game horror outside of actual SurvivalHorror games. What's more, fans have even expressed interest in a remake due to the appearance of [[spoiler:X-Parasites]] in ''Samus Returns''.

* ItsShortSoItSucks: The game drew some criticism for its short length.

** Following the reveal of ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'', fans of the series responding to the bewildered cries of "They skipped ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy Metroid 4]]''?" with helpful/snarky/frustrated explanations that the ''Prime'' games are a sub-series while ''Fusion'' is the actual ''Metroid 4'' (and that ''Super'' is ''Metroid 3'').

* BrokenBase: Aside from the split opinions on how a ''Metroid'' game should handle storytelling, Samus's radically altered [[OrganicTechnology suit]] really divided fans. To this day, people still argue over whether the Fusion Suit looks so alien it becomes cool, or is just a really terrible design.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: After eight years in rest since ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'', the franchise exited hibernation with two well-received games in 2002, one of them being ''Metroid Fusion''. Despite the positive reception, a point of criticism from fans was its stronger focus on a story, more linear level design and game progression, and it was even the first time Samus interacted with another character in-game. Since the generally poor reception of ''Other M'', (particularly that game's choices in characterizing Samus Aran and making the game very linear), many have tried to lay the blame for that direction at the feet of ''Fusion''.

** Nettori, due to there being 3 annoying phases. In the first, there are Spores that can not only harm you,but can also knock you into the "Venus Samus Traps" between the platforms.In the second, the boss will start firing its Plasma beam, which hurts a good amount, can also knock you into the flowers, and have a surprising large hitbox. Finally, once you get it into its core X, it still fires its beam, both on its own and Everytime you hit it with a missile. Not helping is that the fight has two GuideDangIt moments. If you fall off the platform and get caught in the plants, button mashing does nothing and you need to hold down the jump button to escape. Also when the core X appears, you can access the room that was behind Nettori for some much needed space to dodge around the core X.

* WTHCostumingDepartment: The Fusion Suit's Varia form, a bright yellow-green with magenta accents, is considered to be one of the worst-looking suits in the series, if not ''the'' worst. [[https://metroid.fandom.com/wiki/File:Fusion_Varia_Suit_MP1_model.png Here it is]], as seen in ''Prime''. It's so infamous that the yellow-green was changed to a deeper forest green and the accents became pink instead of magenta for [[https://metroid.fandom.com/wiki/File:Fusion_Varia_Suit_Samus_Returns.png its appearance]] in ''Samus Returns''. That said, general consensus is that the purple and cyan Fusion Gravity Suit more than makes up for it.

* WTHCostumingDepartment: The Fusion Suit's Varia form, a bright yellow-green with magenta accents, is considered to be one of the worst-looking suits in the series, if not ''the'' worst. [[https://metroid.fandom.com/wiki/File:Fusion_Varia_Suit_MP1_model.png Here it is]], as seen in ''Prime''. It's so infamous that the yellow-green was changed to a deeper forest green and the accents became pink instead of magenta for [[Fusion Varia Suit Samus Returns.png its appearance]] in ''Samus Returns''. That said, general consensus is that the purple and cyan Fusion Gravity Suit more than makes up for it.

* WTHCostumingDepartment: The Fusion Suit's Varia form, a bright yellow-green with magenta accents, is considered to be one of the worst-looking suits in the series, if not ''the'' worst. [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/e/ec/Fusion_Varia_Suit_MP1_model.png png/revision/latest?cb=20171015060818 Here it is]], as seen in ''Prime''. It's so infamous that the yellow-green was changed to a deeper forest green and the accents became pink instead of magenta for [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/a/a0/Fusion_Varia_Suit_Samus_Returns.png png/revision/latest?cb=20170921023041 its appearance]] in ''Samus Returns''. That said, general consensus is that the purple and cyan Fusion Gravity Suit more than makes up for it.

* WTHCostumingDepartment: The Fusion Suit's Varia form, a bright yellow-green with magenta accents, is considered to be one of the worst-looking suits in the series, if not ''the'' worst. [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/e/ec/Fusion_Varia_Suit_MP1_model.png/revision/latest?cb=20171015060818 Here it is]], as seen in ''Prime''. It's so infamous that the yellow-green was changed to a deeper forest green and the accents became pink instead of magenta for [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/a/a0/Fusion_Varia_Suit_Samus_Returns.png/revision/latest?cb=20170921023041 its appearance]] in ''Samus Returns''. That said, general consensus is that the purple and cyan Fusion Gravity Suit more than makes up for it.

* WTHCostumingDepartment: The Fusion Suit's Varia form, a bright yellow-green with magenta accents, is considered to be one of the worst suits in the series, if not ''the'' worst. [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/e/ec/Fusion_Varia_Suit_MP1_model.png/revision/latest?cb=20171015060818 Here it is]], as seen in ''Prime''. It's so infamous that the yellow-green was changed to a deeper forest green and the accents became pink instead of magenta for [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/a/a0/Fusion_Varia_Suit_Samus_Returns.png/revision/latest?cb=20170921023041 its appearance]] in ''Samus Returns''. That said, general consensus is that the purple and cyan Fusion Gravity Suit more than makes up for it.

* WTHCostumingDepartment: The Fusion Suit's Varia form, a bright yellow-green with magenta accents, is considered to be one of the worst suits in the series, if not ''the'' worst. [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/e/ec/Fusion_Varia_Suit_MP1_model.png/revision/latest?cb=20171015060818 Here it is]], as seen in ''Prime''. It's so infamous that the yellow-green was changed to a deeper forest green and the accents became pink instead of magenta for [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/a/a0/Fusion_Varia_Suit_Samus_Returns.png/revision/latest?cb=20170921023041 its appearance]] in ''Samus Returns''. That said, general consensus is that the purple and cyan Fusion Gravity Suit more than makes up for it]].

* WTHCostumingDepartment: The Fusion Suit's Varia form, a bright yellow-green with magenta accents, is considered to be one of the worst suits in the series, if not ''the'' worst. [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/e/ec/Fusion_Varia_Suit_MP1_model.png Here it is]], as seen in ''Prime''. It's so infamous that the yellow-green was changed to a deeper forest green and the accents became pink instead of magenta for [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/a/a0/Fusion_Varia_Suit_Samus_Returns.png its appearance]] in ''Samus Returns''. That said, general consensus is that the purple and cyan Fusion Gravity Suit [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/d/d9/Samus_gravity_fusion_suit_rear_view_prime_dolphin_hd.jpg more than makes up for it]].

** [[ZigZaggedTrope Zig-zagged]]. While considered as a good game at release, there was some controversy about the game's increased linearity and occasional use of dialogue and monologue. Then ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimePinball'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeHunters'' became the new black sheep of the franchise, and ''Fusion'' was seen as a worthy installment... for a while. After ''Other M'', opinions were split between those who blamed this game for ''Other M''[='=]s faults and those who continued to feel vindicated by ''Other M's'' plot being a rehashed and inferior version of ''Fusion''[='=]s. Additionally, a lot of ''Fusion''[='=]s fans were grumpy with the choices made in ''Other M'' regarding the characters introduced in ''Fusion'', particularly [[spoiler:Adam]].

** The SA-X. The computer proposes the X parasites as mindless organisms that gradually adapt with the more they devour, and the [[spoiler:multiple]] SA-X markedly makes a target out of Samus since she's their biggest threat. [[spoiler:But when it narrowly saves Samus at the end from the Omega Metroid and then promptly dies as a result yet grants Samus the Ice Beam needed to win, can it be construed as a pragmatic assault leading to its demise or a mix of EnemyMine and a sort of [[VillainousValor villainous]] HeroicSacrifice? Or perhaps it saw that it was being faced with [[SadisticChoice two possiblilities of losing]] and decided it would rather [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled be absorbed by Samus than killed by the Omega Metroid]]?]]

* EpilepticTrees: Given that the only scientists who were in any meaningful contact with the baby Metroid before it was stolen by the space pirates were the ones at the Ceres Space Colony, the fact that BSL and the Federation have Metroid DNA to create a serum to cure Samus with [[spoiler:and enact a restricted Metroid breeding program]] makes their collaboration with them look pretty suspect. Even if one factors in the ''Other M'' Bottle Ship, it all points back to Ceres Space Colony in the end.
* FranchiseOriginalSin: After eight years in rest since ''Super Metroid'', the franchise exited hibernation with two well-received games in 2002, one of them being ''Metroid Fusion''. Despite the positive reception, a point of criticism from fans was its stronger focus on a story, more linear level design and game progression, and it was even the first time Samus interacted with another character in-game. Since the generally poor reception of ''Other M'', (particularly that game's choices in characterizing Samus Aran and making the game very linear), many have tried to lay the blame for that direction at the feet of ''Fusion''.

** Nettori, due to there being 3 annoying phases. In the first, there are Spores that can not only harm you,but can also knock you into the "Venus Samus Traps" between the platforms.In the second, the boss will start firing its Plasma beam, which hurts a good amount, can also knock you into the flowers, and have a surprising large hitbox. Finally, once you get it into its core X, it still fires its beam, both on its own and Everytime you hit it with a missile.

* WTHCostumingDepartment: The Fusion Suit's Varia form, a bright yellow-green with magenta accents, is considered to be one of the worst suits in the series, if not ''the'' worst. [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/e/ec/Fusion_Varia_Suit_MP1_model.png Here it is]], as seen in ''Prime''. It's so infamous that the yellow-green was changed to a deeper forest green and the accents became pink instead of magenta for [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/a/a0/Fusion_Varia_Suit_Samus_Returns.png/revision/latest?cb=20170921023041 its appearance]] in ''Samus Returns''. That said, general consensus is that the purple and cyan Fusion Gravity Suit [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/d/d9/Samus_gravity_fusion_suit_rear_view_prime_dolphin_hd.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20121202172809 more than makes up for it]].

* WTHCostumingDepartment: The Fusion Suit's Varia form, a bright yellow-green with magenta accents, is considered to be one of the worst suits in the series, if not ''the'' worst. [[http://www.metroid2002.com/fusion_suit/v_front.jpg Here it is]], as seen in ''Prime''. It's so infamous that the yellow-green was changed to a deeper forest green and the accents became pink instead of magenta when ''Samus Returns'' it in. That said, general consensus is that the purple and cyan Fusion Gravity Suit more than makes up for it.