Metroid Fusion Cheats & Secrets for Game Boy Advance

Nintendo’s Metroid Fusion is one of the best games on the Game Boy Advance and a triumphant return of the Metroid series. Releasing in 2002 alongside the launch of Metroid Prime, Metroid Fusion is a 2D side-scrolling action platformer in the same vein as the earlier series entries. More specifically, the game follows closely in the footsteps of the 1994 SNES classic Super Metroid and retains many of its core mechanics. Canonically, Metroid Fusion is a sequel to the events of Super Metroid and its events precede the story of 2021’s narrative conclusion in Metroid Dread. Both Metroid Fusion and Metroid: Zero Mission on the Game Boy Advance would be the final titles in the series to feature direction from Super Metroid‘s Yoshio Sakamoto before his shift to a producing role on later Metroid games.

Considering the adoration many fans have for Super Metroid, it follows that Metroid Fusion would end up being a massive critical and commercial success. In addition to winning several awards (such as “Best Game Boy Advance Action Game”, “Best Handheld Game”, and others), Metroid Fusion holds an impressive 92% positive review aggregate score. This positions the title as the third-highest-reviewed game in the franchise, sitting only behind Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2. Further, the title’s sales total of 1.6 million units places it as the third-best-selling handheld Metroid game, only surpassed by the original Game Boy’s Metroid II and Nintendo Switch’s Metroid Dread.

Metroid Fusion Premise

Following the events of Super Metroid and the presumptive death of the last surviving Metroid, the Galactic Federation dispatches bounty hunter Samus Aran to the Metroid homeworld, SR388. When Samus and the research team land on the planet and begin to investigate, they are attacked by a mysterious parasitic organism. This organism, the deadly X parasite, has the power to absorb and infect its host’s DNA, replicating it for its own use in strange and twisted ways. Samus’ protection from her suit saves her life, but her central nervous system is destroyed by the X parasite and portions of the suit have to be removed. Samus awakens on the BSL research site above SR388 to find that an explosion has occurred and the entire staff is missing, setting off on another mission to uncover what’s happening aboard the station.

Similar to the other 2D games in the Metroid series, Metroid Fusion is a side-scrolling action platformer. Samus begins the game with a limited suite of abilities and only certain portions of the map accessible to her. As she explores the map and defeats enemies, she gains new abilities that subsequently unlock additional portions of the map for exploration. Where Fusion stands out in comparison to the rest of the series is in its emphasis on horror elements, with Samus needing to regularly hide or run from the Terminator-like SA-X parasite piloting her Power Suit. Before facing off against SA-X, Samus will need to investigate the various sectors of the BSL station and eliminate bosses that reward her with suit upgrades.

Metroid Fusion Main Characters

At the center of Metroid Fusion and all other games in the series is the legendary bounty hunter Samus Aran. For the first time, Samus is joined by an off-screen ally who regularly calls to check in on her and give her status updates on the BSL station. While most Metroid games are solitary experiences with few additional characters other than Samus, Metroid Fusion is the first game in the franchise to introduce other important players in the story. The main characters in Metroid Fusion include:

• Samus Aran: An intergalactic bounty hunter, Samus is taken in by the reclusive Chozo after her parents are killed by the Space Pirate general Ridley. Under the Chozo’s guidance (and using a special Power Suit designed using their ancient and advanced technology), Samus becomes one of the most fearsome forces for good in the galaxy.
• Adam Malkovich: Samus’ former commanding officer, Adam is the bounty hunter’s lifeline to the outside world while she is stranded on the BSL station in Metroid Fusion.
• SA-X: A renegade X parasite assuming the form of Samus after absorbing her DNA, the SA-X is a recurring antagonist throughout Metroid Fusion.
• Ridley: Samus’ arch-nemesis, Ridley is the powerful general of the Space Pirates and Mother Brain’s second-in-command.

Games in the Metroid Series

The original Metroid‘s debut in 1986 places it as one of the most important releases of the year, joining other all-time classics like Legend of Zelda and Dragon Quest in helping to both redefine console gaming and also spawn its own subgenre. It would be the title’s 16-bit follow-up on SNES, Super Metroid, that would cement the franchise’s place in history as one of the most iconic and groundbreaking series of all time, helping to form one-half of the mechanics in the Metroidvania subgenre, which gets its name from both the Metroid and Castlevania series. The most recent entry in the series, Metroid Dread, would serve as a glorious return to form for the franchise, quickly becoming the best-selling Metroid game by a long shot. Games in the Metroid series include:

• Metroid (NES, 1986)
• Metroid II: The Return of Samus (Game Boy, 1991)
• Super Metroid (SNES, 1994)
• Metroid Fusion (Game Boy Advance, 2002)
• Metroid Prime (GameCube, 2002)
• Metroid: Zero Mission (Game Boy Advance, 2004)
• Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (GameCube, 2004)
• Metroid Prime Pinball (Nintendo DS, 2005)
• Metroid Prime Hunters (Nintendo DS, 2006)
• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii, 2007)
• Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii, 2009)
• Metroid: Other M (Wii, 2010)
• Metroid Prime: Federation Force (Nintendo 3DS, 2016)
• Metroid: Samus Returns (Nintendo 3DS, 2017)
• Metroid Dread (Nintendo Switch, 2021)
• Metroid Prime Remastered (Nintendo Switch, 2023)
• Metroid Prime 4 (Nintendo Switch, 2025)

Metroid Fusion Cheats & Secrets

While there are no official cheats for Metroid Fusion, there are several unlockables as well as plenty of secrets and glitches for players to exploit. Additionally, there are several Game Shark codes players can use with Metroid Fusion as long as they have a Game Shark device or an emulator with cheat functionality.

Metroid Fusion Unlockables

Completing Metroid Fusion while meeting certain conditions unlocks a wide variety of different ending sequences.

Metroid Fusion Secrets/Glitches

Wall Jump

Before players acquire the Space Jump, they can utilize the Wall Jump trick from Super Metroid to more easily reach platforms. Spin jump toward a wall and press the D-pad in the opposite direction as soon as Samus makes contact with the wall. Samus will touch the wall and propel herself off it in another jump.

Speed Boost Jump

Similar to the rebounding Wall Jump, players can also use Super Metroid‘s Speed Boost Jump after obtaining the Speed Booster. Run until the Speed Booster kicks in, quickly pressing Down on the D-Pad. After, pressing the jump button will cause Samus to launch off, destroying most kinds of floors and/or walls in her path.

Hyper Screw Attack

Samus has a powerful variation of the Screw Attack she can perform after obtaining both the Speed Booster and the Screw Attack upgrades. After running and triggering the Speed Boost, jump into a Screw Attack without stopping. You will notice that you will still be in hyper mode while airborne. If you continue the Screw Attack with the Space Jump and never stop moving, you will remain in hyper mode until you run into something solid or stop moving. This technique is very useful for breaking boost blocks with no extra running space around them.

Secret Message

If players defeat Nightmare in Sector 5 and return to a Navigation Room without collecting the Diffusion Missile upgrade, they will be treated to a secret conversation between Samus, Adam, and a mystery character.

Easily Kill Gold Space Pirates

Normally, Samus can only harm the Gold Space Pirates by shooting them in the back. However, since the Space Pirates always face the same direction as Samus, players can utilize a trick to easily defeat them. Immediately after firing a shot from the front, quickly face Samus in the opposite direction. The Space Pirate will mimic Samus, causing the shot to successfully hit it in the back without needing to flank them.

Metroid Fusion Boss Strategies

Gedo-X (Spider)

The fight begins with Gedo-X raining fireballs down from the ceiling. Quickly transform into Morph Ball form and head to the corners of the room to avoid its attacks. Wait until it heads to the middle of the arena and quickly shoot its open mouth with missiles until it launches three fireballs. Samus and Gedo will trade damage during this part of the fight. Keep standing next to where the fireballs land and attempt to get successful hits on Gedo. After it loses its legs, head to the right of the arena and shoot it with missiles. Later, after Gedo turns red, switch over to the left side of the arena and fire missiles at it.

SA-X

Immediately after entering the boss arena, begin charging up the Power Beam and head toward the far door. Avoid SA-X’s attacks and continue keeping the Power Beam charged while waiting for it to become vulnerable. Take the first shot, then hold it down to charge again. SA-X should jump into the air and land next to Samus. Shoot SA-X again as soon as it lands. Repeat this process until the beginning of the second phase.

After SA-X transforms and begins the second phase of the battle, it can only hurt Samus by jumping on her. Keep charging up the Power Beam and shoot SA-X with it at least 4 times. After enough hits, SA-X’s eyes will turn red and it will change form again into Core-X. Avoid the Core’s attacks and shoot it with missiles whenever it opens up. Hitting Core-X with missiles will generate health and ammo parasites for Samus to pick up. Repeat this process until it dies, using the Screw Attack to avoid its attacks when necessary.

Omega Metroid

By utilizing this strategy it’s entirely possible to defeat Omega Metroid without Samus taking any damage. First, make sure to equip the Ice Beam as soon as SA-X sacrifices itself. After, start shooting at the Omega Metroid boss in the chest, continuing to spam the B button. The Omega Metroid should cry in pain several times and will be unable to hit you. If you can keep this process up by pressing the B button quickly enough, it’s possible to stun-lock the Omega Metroid.

If the Omega Metroid gets a chance to act and swipes at Samus, it’s very hard to evade. After getting hit with this attack, Samus will be stunned for a few seconds. However, if you rapidly press Up, you will dramatically cut down the duration of the stun effect.

Metroid Fusion Game Shark Codes

Players with a Game Shark device for their Game Boy Advance have several Metroid Fusion codes at their disposal. Alternatively, players experiencing Metroid Fusion via emulation can enter any of the following codes into the emulator’s “Cheat” menu.

General Cheats

Samus Cheats

World/Environment Cheats

Metroid Fusion Cheat FAQs

How do you get to the Debug Menu in Metroid Fusion?

There is an Action Replay code that grants access to an in-game debug menu. For reference, that code is:

CD6169F3
D8989D47
BE00B773
395EF076

With the code active, begin the game and pause. Press R to view Status. Instead of taking players to a view of Samus and her upgrades, players will enter the Debug Menu. From here, it’s possible to grant Samus all her upgrades and change other in-game factors.

Is bomb jumping possible in Metroid Fusion?

Unlike many other games in the Metroid series, Metroid Fusion does not allow bomb jumping. Bomb jumping is a commonly used sequence-breaking technique that involves detonating bombs while in Morph Ball form to reach inaccessible areas. Because Metroid Fusion‘s bombs have a delayed detonation and provide no momentum after exploding, bomb jumping is impossible.

Does Metroid Fusion have an easy mode?

There is only one standard difficulty in Metroid Fusion. That said, it is arguably one of the easier games in the franchise, with only a few boss fights known to give players trouble. Like Metroid and Super Metroid before it, there is no “easy” difficulty option available for any players who find themselves struggling to overcome Metroid Fusion‘s challenge.

How many endings are there in Metroid Fusion?

There are a total of 5 different ending sequences in Metroid Fusion, each of which unlocks based on the player’s item collection percentage and completion time. The best ending is only obtainable after beating the game in under 2 hours while also collecting 100% of the items and upgrades.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Metroid Fusion key art.