Can’t wait for the sequel, How Metroid Dread Creates Fusion.

"Does Samus suspect anything?" "Nah, mate" LOL

“The longer the *note*, the more DREAD.” Hehe, noice.

This aged very well. I'm here waiting for Metroid Dread that was just announced at E3

I'll give you tension, being far from a save point when your Gameboy advance battery indicator turns red.

I still love how the SA-X reacts to Samus. It first freezes you, and then shoots you with a Missile. Because thats how you kill Metroids.

My favorite part about the SA-X is how it reflects Samus dark past back at her. Samus erradicated without mercy the entire metroid species, only to feel compassion for a single individual, than she then couldn't save from mother brain. And now the SA-X acts like a nightmare of her past, now Samus is a representation of the Metroids she killed, with the same colors, dna and properties, and an ultra powerful Samus is chasing her down and attacking her in the exact same manner, ice beam and then missiles. When you are hiding in the dark from the SA-X and the only thing you hear is its footsteps, It reminds me of very similar scenes in Metroid 2, when your footsteps were the only sound and the metroids were hiding from you.

“No entry without authorization!” Pretty cool to hear that loud & clear on a handheld game console of the time; it only adds to the tension.

"Fear + Tension = Fusion" That's absolutely genius

SA-X legitimately turned this into a horror game.

Metroid 1: Adventure Metroid 2: isolation Metroid 3: triumph Metroid 4: mystery Metroid 5: DREAD Edit: I don't know how or why are people still finding this comment, but fyi this comment was made before the release and I had no way of knowing how the product would turn out, I just made a snarky remark on the title, put your "um actually"s down

This was horrible for me the first time because I didn't know the SA-X interactions were scripted. I thought it would be random, so I always moved carefully and was aware of possible escape routes or hiding places.

“How Metroid Fusion creates Fear” *Sa-X places down a power bomb*

The SA-X actually scared me as a kid, so much in fact that my first encounter I actually put the game down and didn’t play it for an hour.

Metroid Dread is going to crank that fear up to 11. Can't wait.

I think every video with the combination of the words "metroid" and "dread" in the title is getting pushed by the algorithm

My favorite thing about SA-X is it shows how unstoppable Samus is. It's literally you, Samus, from every game before. Think about the dread she caused to those poor creatures in Super Metroid. What about the Zoomers, the first enemy you see? Only the stupidest person could die from those. They take only a few shots. They have no chance of survival in a fight with you. Now, in Fusion, you're fighting against yourself, that unstoppable beast. You're fighting Samus. Now *you* feel the terror you caused every enemy before. This time, *you're* those pathetic little zoomers. Only the stupidest person could die from you. You only take a few shots. You have no chance of survival in a fight with SA-X.

_"If I was an imitation... A _*_perfect_*_ imitation... How would you know if it was really me?"_

12:11 Well , the developers said that Sa-X doesn't want to save you , when it faces the final metroid boss it sees that it's a bigger threat than you because Metroids are his first enemy , so it decides to attack the metroid boss instead of attacking you. in 11:53 you can see it ignores you because it's fighting metroids.

Fusion creates fear? Well, you better prepare for DREAD

This was my Dead Space on my gameboy sp when I was 9.

Don't forget this is all on a GBA, too. Being able to get this kind of sound design, very tense atmosphere, Genuinely stressful but never unfair situations on limited hardware is just beyond impressive. I wouldn't object if this game got a 3DS remake like Samus Returns to really ramp up the fear. Or if Metroid Prime 4 is nearly a full horror game.

Well of course it creates Dread. It’s the sequel.

SA-X was probably among the best enemies in metroid that created serious tension. Purely because of how they handled the bgm and sound whenever it popped up, and also because it could kill you SO easily

Fusion will always hold a special place in my heart because it is the logical and thematic conclusion of the Metroid series: For multiple games you've been a lone hunter stranded in an alien world, running and gunning and slowly overcoming the enemy until you strike your victory blow and escape the enemy's last ditch attempt to end you with a self-destruct sequence. The government is nonexistent, and while monsters certainly are creepy, they are a part of the den of villainry that you are out to uproot. In Metroid Fusion, you rush through the facility, constantly changing your priorities as you jump from trying to contain an outbreak to simply survive from the onslaught of the X (get bombs to escape SA-X, get Vira Suit to survive the Cold-X mutation, rush to stop the core meltdown, the search to restore power to the station...). In the end, YOU activate the self-destruct, essentially admitting defeat and opting for the desperate play to stop the X. The monsters that thrive in the environment are samples from alien worlds, speaking to how horrific the universe of Metroid is. The galactic government takes a bigger role in all of this, revealing it's more sinister role in the galactic setting as well... It's a brilliant culmination of Samus Aran's previous journeys and such a masterful way to introduce such a powerful antagonist to follow up from the Mother Brain and Ridley. By that alone Metroid Fusion is in a category of it's own.

1:53 "Does Samus suspect anything?" -No, I don't think so.- *Nah mate*

Just beat Metroid Fusion for the first time today & you've perfectly showed off why I loved it. A little detail I learnt watching Geek Critique's video on Fusion is that you can only outrun SA-X during the after finding the reactor core because they can't cling to ledges, since the old Samus couldn't

Changing the title from Fear to Dread, I see what you did there.

Finally someone who breaks down and appreciates Metroid Fusion.

I've heard the argument a few times before of "how can this be scary at all? It's just a 2D handheld game." Generally I find that those making that argument fail to understand that if you're emotionally invested in what the story is conveying, it doesn't matter what visual method it comes in as your imagination is filling in the blanks. The first time you see the SA-X and get that close up... bloody hell, time to change your pants. Despite the obvious linear scripted nature of the game, it's still all too easy to immerse yourself in the setting and imagine that that thing is skulking around the station like that and could be anywhere just a wall away, especially early on in the game when you're still obscenely under-powered.

Metroid Fusion is my favourite Metroid game. I know it's a divisive one because it's a bit more linear, but the plot, the atmosphere, the aesthetics, the boss fights and the soundtrack are very unique. I'm a big survival horror genre fan too and I think they captured that feeling very well in a 2D platformer.

Metroid Fusion left such an impression on me when I was a kid that I still have dreams about it as an adult.

Forgot to mention how the SA-X was created from Samus' suit which featured the ice beam. Samus was infused with Metroid DNA at the start of the game. Metroids being weak to the ice beam is a series staple. So... Samus is being pursued by her only weakness. The computer even makes a point of this to get you to run like hell.

1:57 "Nah, mate" Clear, and to the point. This must be why Adam Malkovich was so well respected in the Federation.

Expect a boost of views after the recent announcement of Dread

What a time to get this in my reccomend.

Metroid Fusion is seriously an underrated game. People wanna talk about Dark Samus but SA-X is the most frightening OP Metroid villain in the entire series. After playing Super Metroid knowing all of Samus's abilities after playing made her the most frightening.

"How Metroid Fusion creates fear": SA-X. The end.

Metroid Fusion is such a masterpiece. Everything the game designers did was done to absolute perfection. I would absolutely love to see this remade and played the same way as Dread.

The S-ax The fear: the S-Ax The tension: the s-ax being able to easily defeat you

My favorite thing about the SA-X was that it used the same design as Samus from Super Metroid with all upgrades. Having played Super Metroid, and knowing all the powers I had at the end of the game, and then knowing that this creature now has all those abilities? That really got to me. I didn't want to mess with it at all

How does it create fear? With two things. A low rasping melody...and the sound of footsteps.

SA-X vs. Dark Samus . . . Vote

Can't stop thinking about this video It's been like 3 years or something since I first saw it, and I still can't stop thinking about it. I rewatch it and I still can't stop thinking about it. It's hard to overstate the impression this video has made on me. Time to watch it yet again.

So basically Metroid Fusion is the scariest game in the series.

I definitely love the horror vibe to Metroid Fusion. There's the dark and creepy tone, of course, but watching Samus go from being the hunter to being the hunted and having to survive an evil, fully-powered clone of herself was brilliant. Even though the gameplay wasn't as open-ended as previous installments of the Metroid series, I loved the story.

Personally, what additionally contributed to fear in Metroid Fusion for me was the non-linear design and being ordered around by an AI which opened and blocked doors according to where it wanted Samus to go to next. It gave me a feeling of helplessness, being constricted and dependent on this AI. The cold camera eye of this computerized CO also reminded me of HAL 9000 in the film "2001", which led me to expect something like "I'm afraid I can't do that, Samus." as soon as Samus' plans deviate from the plans the AI has. This was increased and confirmed later on after the AI dropped hints about admiring the SA-X, communicating with an unknown person when Samus was gone, being surprised as Samus achieved power-ups the AI didn't lead her to and finally when the AI in fact locked her up so she wouldn't interfere with the Federation's plans to capture SA-X alive.

This was my first GBA game. And man this scared me up so bad that I recall nearly dropping my GBA. Can’t forget the fact that I quit playing it for months before building up the courage to continue.

Metroid Fusion: **exists** Ridley-X: I'm about to end a gamer's hearing. Maybe every gamer's hearing.

Metroid Fusion will always have a special place in my heart because it was the first time I was "brave". It was my first GBA game back in '02 and I was only 9 years old. When I got to the part where the SA-X ambushes you in TRO, I was so scared I turned off the game. It took me months to get the courage to finally jump down there...but I did, and I got past it. On the list of brave things, that's not very brave, but it was the first time in my life I was scared of something and resolved it myself, without my parents' help. In a way it showed me I Could Do Hard Things... which has helped me through adulthood. Not every game has to be scary but fear creates a lot of empathy in the player for the protagonist. Because _I_ was so scared hearing the SA-X's footsteps and having to jump down and run past _anyway,_ I could relate to how _Samus_ could've felt. Metroid Fusion may not be the best Metroid game, or even the most epic, but there is no Metroid game in which I admire Samus more. Putting her in a situation where she is at a major disadvantage shows her courage, intelligence, and skill in a way that's never been matched, before or since. Metroid Fusion is a masterclass in how fear accomplishes this. When I respect Samus as a protagonist-- not just as a video game character, or even a heroine-- it's because of Metroid Fusion.

“How Metroid Dread creates fear” when?

*"Nah mate"*

Oi, that was my Super Hans gag.

Metroid Fusion actually used an element its linear nature very cleverly to create tension - specifically, the "unease" of going off the rails. Early in the game, you're given hints that shadowy forces are manipulating Samus via ADAM, but this doesn't surface in earnest until later in the game. Then suddenly you unlock a power-up that you weren't intended to have, prompting some consternation from ADAM. Then the game proceeds along and you suddenly wind up wildly off-course and separated from ADAM for an extended period of time. This culminates in the discovery of the Metroid Lab and the true nature of the space station as a bio-weapons lab. Each successive step in this story just amps up the tension beautifully, because it feels like you suddenly went off-script and wandered off the path into an unknown area where your supposed-ally may now be working against you.

Buy Metroid Dread people. Metroid needs another comeback! This should be a multi million selling but Samus returns barely hit 500k.

Metroid Fusion was the game that made me a gamer. and i'll never forget that unbelievable feeling I had when I first started feeling tension and fear when playing, your dead on in saying that the sounds and the setting are what make this game have it's edge, hell, just the story alone could make people nervous. I'll never forget how many HOURS I spent playing that game, wondering if the SA-X was just around the next corner, in the next room, I still to this day call Sector 6 "Sector Creepy" as the pitch darkness, the blue X, and the way they go about making you feel like something is out there, waiting, watching, like some silent hunter. this is also done very well when Adam mentions the security robot, and how IT has been infected by the X. How could that happen!? Wait? it has Organic Components? like a human brain as it's CPU? how is that possible! Then when you get there, this line "Once Your Done leave NOC immediately. The SA-X is Tracking you" Followed by those cold words "Is your Objective Clear?" That line made me feel SO insecure, as the previous SA-X moments where you weren't running full on from it, made it very VERY clear that you were powerless against it, And even Samus KNOW's Shes powerless against it, as from her inner thoughts "The SA-X, an Enemy with my strongest abilities. but dose it have reason? probably not, it's just a killing machine, in my current state I cant face it head on. The SA-X is me. only heartless. I must stop it before it learns it potential. and threatens the universe." This makes you feel so very weak inside, as Samus, this Cold, battle tested bad ass, this woman who's overcome So much in her life, has been reduced to running from herself. that is what made Fusion an instant classic in my heart, and i'm long looking forward to the day when Fusion gets a Metroid Prime style remake. because You KNOW that would be epic. The SA-X is also one of those super dopplegangers you don't get with most video games today, I'll use Dark Samus as an example. when you first meet her, she clearly has the upper hand on Samus, when she rises to her feet, ready to fight, the next shot she fires flys right by her head, to smash the light Crystal keeping her safe. Yes, that was a moment of shock and fear, because you have that feeling that even though Samus isn't using all her equipment, Dark Samus clearly had the upper hand on her, yet when you face her the first time in the pirate base, she's beaten by a Samus that basically was at the same level of power and equipment when they first ran into eachother, you don't have the trademark weapons of the game, namely the Dark beam or the Light beam. this sort of broke the fear for me, as compared to Fusion where each time you encounter the SA-X, you are stronger then before. but nothing you do can hurt it. I love Metroid games. and I personally want to see Samus get a lot more screen time and fame. Books, comics and such. and the story of Metroid is one of a person, scared by tragedy, marked with fear, loss, PTSD and death, who overcomes all that to become a shining beacon of hope. this is what I think Makes Metroid games unique as most video game hero's who are women are cold and heartless. Samus is a woman who, even though she is strong, has fear, has a past. (though most bitched about her PTSD in Other M. I submit to you, if YOU were violently orphaned at 3 years old by a 75ft tall purple space dragon you'd have some PTSD too) and has overcome it, has gone through hell, and come back. yet is always scared by it, That's why Samus works alone. Fear of losing those closest to her. Fear of that tension and loss. And that's what makes her so awesome. because she cares more about others, then she dose herself. TLDR: I love this game. Samus needs more love.

in metriod fusion, the x virus made a samus clone, we shall call it... the saxaphone!

I love how unexpectedly you can find frozen Ridley at the beginning and the mysterious creepy music kicks in. Aswell as how the game never talks about him, not knowing if he ever gets unfrozen, another tension-fear built up^^

METROID DREAD IS THE NEW HORROR ONE NOW AHHH

The game I'm working on is a light-hearted stealth game where you play as a ghost evading capture by ghost hunters. Though the seriousness and tension will be light, I really appreciate this video because it gives me insight on how to better establish the kind of emotions I want to produce in the game. Thank you so much for this video.

Only Metroid Fusion gave me the right amount of fear that kept me playing, and now I know why Thanks man, I'm subscribing

Love this video, makes me want to replay Fusion. I think one of the best parts is how you as the main player are vulnerable. During most metroid games you get items to progress and well this is still the case most of these power ups do nothing when fighting against the SA-X, giving you the sensation that this enemy is something you can't beat and that you should avoid it at all costs where in other metroid games you get progressively stronger (generally). Also the music score, especially considering this is from a GBA game, plays a major role in setting the mood.

When quarantine was running I played M.Fusion out of boredom for first time in my life on an emulator. While playing I experienced from time to time an uneasy feeling and yeah, he explained it damn well, turned into fear. And i was so shocked and ashamed how with 27 years old I could feel like that over a game from 2002. I think alike narrator's explanation. Metroid fusion imbues you with fear due to how wonderfully script plus gameplay is infused.

Headphones for Metroid Fusion is a must for a truly immersive experience.

This was the first horror game (and first Metroid game) I ever played, and it gave me nightmares of being chased by the SA-X for two years straight. If that isn't a good indication of horror doing it's job, I'm not sure what is. I would like to point out the bit when the SA-X leaves the door destroyed in your first trip to TRO. What I think is genius about that you hear the footsteps, but the SA-X isn't actually there. Going back to your theme of breadcrumbs here- they give you just enough information to make you tense and let your brain do the rest. I think that's what makes horror good- the sort of "Less is More" theory. My best friend is a big horror-game junkie and I showed her a Let's Play of this, and she agreed that they do a really good job with the environment and mood.

Watching this after metroid dread reveal

I finally played _Metroid Fusion_ just last weekend, and despite being already spoiled to almost everything in the game, I was still surprised by the whens and wheres of each twist and turn. For example: - I knew about SA-X and it being invincible, and its encounters being fairly specific and tightly designed, but prior to getting the Varia suit you aren't actually forced to confront it. Admittedly, the first time it showed up (in Area 2, the tropical zone), when I heard those footsteps I panicked and quickly exited through the same door I came in, and therefore missed out on whatever it did ... nonetheless noticing the environmental damage when I returned a few seconds later. The next two encounters begin with you placed in an area of safety, and you don't need to DO anything beyond just keep out of sight. - I knew about Nightmare and identified its silhouette in the background of Area 5. The environmental damage when you are tasked with hunting it down was impressive, and after a quick sweep of the map I identified that the destruction of an otherwise-locked red hatch indicated the direction I should be going. And it definitely lived up to its reputation of being about the most difficult boss in any Metroid game.... - I knew there was a boss battle against a Ridley-X, but I was still surprised to discover the specific room containing Ridley's frozen corpse (as well as when you suddenly drop out of a tunnel _into_ said room). - Many lesser bosses (such as the ones yielding the High Jump, Space Jump, and Plasma Beam) I knew nothing about and needed a few attempts to figure out on my own.

I would posit that another major theme of this game (which you touched on briefly), was being off balance. This theme runs through the entire game from the very first cinematic. Samus starts off, almost literally being thrown off balance when she is stripped of her abilities, her powers and even to some extent her identity ("As for me, one life ended... yet I survived, reborn as something different."). She starts off the game, already in a state of acute vulnerability, having been brought to an absolute low point as the very first act of the story. This theme of being off balance continues with the introduction of the SA-X, who is not only the first time Samus has faced anything explicitly more powerful than herself, but is also quite literally a reflection of herself which has turned against her, causing her to adopt the explicitly uncharacteristic tactic of running away. Especially when the SA-X literally takes you off balance in one of it's many encounters. It's unorthodox, confusing and off balance for Samus. The theme is also present in your computerized CO, who as Samus remarks, is her first CO since the tragic loss of Adam Jensen. A computerized CO which gets more and more suspicious as the game goes on, nearly turning out to be the enemy as the game reaches the boiling point. And when you discover that the federation itself was not what you thought it was Constantly through the game, Samus has to readjust, reacquaint, reassess as the situation gets worse and worse on the station before the theme of being off balance descends into uncontrollable chaos as the situation completely melts down.

You never experienced true fear until you've encountered the chozo ghosts in metroid prime.

If Metroid Fusion creates Dread... does Metroid Dread create Fusion?

Can’t wait for “how metroid dread creates dread”

Next video - How Other M Creates Depression

I found nightmare so hard when I first played this game. Loved this game and this is making me want to play it again! I hope one day Nintendo wise up and bring these classics to the Switch.

I think Metroid Dread is chasing the scary vibe of Fusion

Can you imagine Metroid going horror for the next title? God, the possibilities of this series. Metroid can probably explore terror, dread, fear, tension and unknowability with great results. I get excited just thinking about it

Your point about tension and fear is really really interesting. It reminds me of something I learned in high school psych: that your brain registers purely physiological things like elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, etc. as an emotional fear response when the situational context is appropriate for fear. So the brain can be "tricked" into being scared of some stimulus by, say, sprinting 100m and then being presented with that stimulus while your body is stressed. I'm glad that you approach this from an artistic point of view, though, instead of trying to psychologize the game.

This was legit the scariest game in my childhood. And yet somehow my favorite because of it.

I love how in an update for AM2R, it shows a Hornoad getting absorbed by a X Parasite, which will lead to the events of this game. And it really shows just how scary these creatures and what they do are. The X coats itself onto the Hornoad. The Hornoad just stands there, almost frozen in place. And with a high pitched shriek, the Hornoad's skin, organs, etc. just basically evaporate! The X then leaves the left over skeleton and morphs itself into it's victim. This is scary, seeing as how this happened to probably a lot of creatures on the BSL Station and almost Samus herself if it wasn't for the Vaccine and Power Suit.

can’t wait for “How Metroid Dread Creates Dread”

I haven't played Metroid Fusion in years, but just seeing SA-X sent a shiver down my spine and my blood run cold.

"remember the nameless fear in your heart?" - that quote was perfect.

An atmosphere of dread you say?

God I come back to this video every few months. This is easily my favorite Metroid title in the series. I wish Nintendo would give us a way to play it again...

1. Duty 2. Rage and Destruction 3. Responsibility Fusion. Realization of true duty.

This discussion makes me want to play the game again.

Well, your gonna have a field day with this series soon...

With Dread Revealed, I wonder if we'll see these elements again?

This was the first game I beat as a kid, it gets a lot of flack for being linear so it's good to see someone sing its praises. Love this game and love this video. And that elevator scene with the sa-x made me drop my gameboy and run away as a child haha, truly terrifying.

Metroid Fusion's unique direction for a Metroid game is why it's my personal favorite, also it just has that lasting impression for me, due to the atmosphere, tension and sound design. The SA-X encounters were some of the most intense I've ever had in gaming and they're moments I won't ever forget. :)

Metroid fusion is a masterpiece and a perfect successor to super Metroid. I really believe that.

It was my first Metroid game . I remember being chased by the other Metroid in a plant and water location, I can only remember much but it was the most anxious chase ever 😂

Fusion is my favorite Metroid. Few things scare me more than hearing the SAX. Play FNAF on max difficulty? Laughable. Silent Hill? What a joke. SAX walks into a room? Pick a god and pray.

Even as an adult, the boss Nightmare is well A nightmare, I can imagine this game absolutely terrifying a child

I am afraid if SA-X is in Dread

Creates DREAD, you say?

I definitely remember getting a chill the very first time the shadow of Nightmare zoomed past Samus. Trying to run and hide from SA-X had me on edge so much, it was like playing Amnesia.

This was my first Metroid game, and it was fantastic. It helps that I've been a fan of horror my whole life. Heck, the game I'm working on is purely halloween and horror themed. I like the more subtle approach to horror that games used to go with rather than the jumpscare tactics that are used in most that I've seen these days.

Bro predicted Metroid dread

Dread almost made me dead. Never thought they would actually do it! I am so happy right now!

I would argue Metroid game themes are Metroid: Discovery Metroid 2: Hunting/Being Hunted Super Metroid: History/Death