Editing Metroid Fusion (section)

==Development==
[[File:Metroid4 screen006.jpg|thumb|right|Image from an early version presented at [[E3 2001]].|alt=A video game screenshot of a person in a powered exoskeleton firing a beam.]]
[[Nintendo]] confirmed a ''Metroid'' game for the [[Game Boy Advance]] in March 2001. [[Ken Lobb]], [[Nintendo of America]]'s director of game development, said that it is a new game and not a port of the 1994 [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] game ''[[Super Metroid]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nintendo Confirms New Metroid |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/24/nintendo-confirms-new-metroid |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=June 9, 2021 |date=March 24, 2001}}</ref> Early footage was shown at the 2001 [[E3]] convention under the name ''Metroid IV''.<ref>{{cite web |title=E3: Metroid IV is Here |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/18/e3-metroid-iv-is-here |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=June 9, 2021 |date=May 18, 2001 |archive-date=June 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609174800/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/18/e3-metroid-iv-is-here |url-status=live}}</ref> The footage showed Samus in a dark suit, running on walls and ceilings, with simpler, more "[[Game Boy Color]]-like" graphics.<ref name="nwr-preview">{{cite web |last1=Lake |first1=Max |title=Metroid Fusion Preview |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/preview/3435/metroid-fusion-game-boy-advance |website=Nintendo World Report |access-date=June 9, 2021 |date=August 26, 2002 |archive-date=August 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817143418/https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/preview/3435/metroid-fusion-game-boy-advance |url-status=live}}</ref> At E3 2002, Nintendo demonstrated the game again, now under the title ''Metroid Fusion'', with updated graphics. ''[[IGN]]'' awarded ''Metroid Fusion'' Best of Show and Best Action Game.<ref>{{cite web |title=IGNpocket's Best of E3 2002 Awards |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/29/ignpockets-best-of-e3-2002-awards |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=June 9, 2021 |date=May 29, 2002 |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021052708/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/29/ignpockets-best-of-e3-2002-awards |url-status=live}}</ref>

''Metroid Fusion'' was developed by [[Nintendo Research & Development 1]] (R&D1), the same team that created ''Super Metroid''.<ref name="ign-handson">{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Craig |title=Metroid Fusion Hands-on |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/08/22/metroid-fusion-hands-on |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=June 9, 2021 |date=August 22, 2002 |archive-date=November 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117061819/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/368/368710p1.html |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Fusion''{{'}}s gameplay, screen layout, and controls mimic those of ''Super Metroid'', with enhancements. ''Metroid Fusion'' is the first 2D ''Metroid'' game with animated [[cutscene]]s; the story is revealed through text and close-ups.<ref name="ign-handson" /> It was written and directed by series designer [[Yoshio Sakamoto]], and produced by Takehiro Izushi.<ref name="Credits">{{cite video game |title=Metroid Fusion |developer=Nintendo R&D1 |publisher=Nintendo |date=November 18, 2002 |platform=[[Game Boy Advance]] |scene=Staff credits}}</ref>

Sakamoto decided to create an original story instead of remaking a ''Metroid'' game because he wanted to do "something really unprecedented", and looked forward to the response.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=January 4, 2009 |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/95708/exclusive-metroid-designer-yoshio-sakamoto-speaks/ |title=Exclusive: Metroid designer Yoshio Sakamoto speaks! |work=Computer and Video Games |date=September 1, 2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630195506/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/95708/exclusive-metroid-designer-yoshio-sakamoto-speaks/ |archive-date=June 30, 2012}}</ref> ''Fusion'' introduces gameplay mechanics such as a more direct, almost mission-based structure that supports the player to explore areas. Objectives are also flexible in how they can be completed, acting "more as a guide for what the player should do instead of giving a completely blank map and saying 'Here you go, figure out what to do and how to do it{{'"}}.<ref name="nwr-preview"/>

According to the lead programmer, Katsuya Yamano, Nintendo R&D1 did not consult previous ''Metroid'' games for programming techniques, and instead used their previous game ''[[Wario Land 4]]'' as a reference. Samus's suit design was revamped; the canonical explanation is that this was because an X Parasite had attacked Samus and made her lose all her abilities. Missiles were expanded with two "upgrades", much like the various beam upgrades: the Ice Missile which has a similar effect to the Ice Beam, and the Diffusion Missile which greatly increases the blast radius. Other minor abilities were added to ''Fusion'', such as climbing walls and ceilings. The health and missile drops are replaced by X Parasites that are similarly released after defeating enemies.<ref name="StaffInterview">{{cite interview|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0303/32/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721232322/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0303/32/index.html |script-title=ja:メトロイドフュージョン 制作スタッフ インタビュー |type=Interview: Transcript |language=ja |last=Hosokawa |first=Takehiko |last2=Yamano |first2=Katsuya |last3=Yamane |first3=Tomomi |last4=Hamano |first4=Minako |date=March 2003 |issue=56 |work=Nintendo Online Magazine |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |access-date=August 20, 2015 |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The music was composed by Minako Hamano and Akira Fujiwara<!--Do not link to the historian [[Akira Fujiwara]], who is a different person that happens to share the same name-->.<ref name="Credits" /> According to Hamano, Sakamoto wanted her to create music in accordance with Adam's dialogue. Hamano aimed for "serious, ambient music rather than melody" because she did not want the exploration themes to be "annoying". She also rearranged [[jingle]]s from ''Super Metroid'' for ''Fusion''. As Nintendo of America wanted the developers to look for "Hollywood-like" [[voice actor]]s, Hamano added a voice of an announcer. The developers planned to feature voice acting, but the voices were only used for warning announcements due to [[ROM cartridge]] limitations.<ref name="StaffInterview" />