AM2R Random Fusion Run 2

In which we have a very good, almost vanilla start... and then get stuck forever on trying to find the Speed Booster until it turns out it's in the post-explosion region in the spot that's supposed to require the Speed Booster. I mean yeah you can totally skip that but, jeez is that a mean trick. I actually considered going back down right after, vaguely recalling reading somewhere that you can get that item without the Speed Booster, but I figured the Speed Booster could only potentially be in the Chozo Statue's hands and the risk was low overall. AND I WAS WRONG, AS IT TURNS OUT.

This run kind of shows off one thing that's a bit frustrating about randomized runs, which is that the Speed Booster is disproportionately important. It can be used to get you access to places that are really meant to require Space Jump or Spider Ball or whatever, and then there's a surprisingly large chunk of the map that simply cannot be accessed without it. No other single power-up is quite as important as the Speed Booster, and so how early you get a hold of it is very important.

This relatively vanilla/great start eventually gives way to a surprisingly difficult/unconventional mid-late game, partly due to the aforementioned Speed Booster thing and partly because it takes me a surprisingly long time to find the Screw Attack and Gravity Suit. I actually end up fighting Serris without the Gravity Suit... though it turns out that was totally unnecessary. Whoops.

I also rather embarrassingly forget a Zeta Metroid and so took a bit longer to clear the game than I really should've.

I also end up showing off that you're not actually locked into the Genetics Lab. I tend to treat it as a single-run gauntlet, even when I'm not recording, but you can absolutely back out at any time prior to dropping into the Queen's chamber.

I did get to show off that Helper Septoggs go away if you don't need them, too.

This video also shows off that 1.4 is fond of messing with block existence and the like to ensure you can get back out, as compared to power-up switching. I'm hoping 1.5 finds a more elegant solution, but again I still prefer this to how exploitable 'it always spawns here if you don't have it when you enter' is.

The first video also shows off the 'Early Baby Metroid' option. It's totally useless. Don't believe me?

No, you can't even use it as a back door to the Genetics Lab. It's just useless. And its cry occurs juuuust far enough apart to maximize annoyance: you can't get used to it as background noise, but neither is it merely an occasional irritation.

I'm not sure why it was included as an option at all.