Metroid: Samus Returns

Metroid: Samus Returns
Developer	MercurySteam, Nintendo EPD
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Nintendo 3DS
Release Date	September 15, 2017
Genre	Action/Adventure

Metroid: Samus Returns is a remake of the Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus that was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2017. It can be considered a follow-up to the Game Boy Advance game Metroid: Zero Mission, which was an enhanced remake of the original Metroid.

Development

Yoshi Sakamoto had wanted to make a traditional 2D Metroid game, as there had not been one the release of Zero Mission in 2003. He met with MercuryStream, who had expressed interest in working on a Metroid remake. They specifically wanted to remake Metroid Fusion at first and pitched this idea to Sakamoto. He rejected that idea in favor of remaking Metroid II, as he considered it to be an important part of the series, and it had been released over 25 years ago. Thus, they collaborated on this remake instead.

Information

This game is a heavily modified version of the original. In addition to updating the graphics to match the capabilities of the Nintendo 3DS, many of the areas have been redesigned, and new enemies, bosses and items have been added to the game. The basic gameplay has also been modified to be more similar to later Metroid games, which includes adding power-ups from later games such as the Power Bomb and Super Missile. In the original, Samus had to go back to Chozo Statues to switch between different types of beams, but in this version, the different beams' effects stack on top of each other, and the Ice Beam and Grapple Beam can be switched to on the touch screen. The touch screen can also be used to switch between missile types and records the game's map. Teleport Stations could now be found at different points in the game, allowing for easier travel between the game's areas.

Other new features include the ability to adjust the aim of Samus's cannon and a special counter move that can be used to turn the tables on some physical attacks. There is also the addition of Aeion abilities. These are special abilities that can be switched between with the control pad and activated with the A Button. Each ability is gained at a different point of the game, and using it depletes part of an Aeion meter. Aeion is now among the spoils dropped by enemies (represented as yellow energy), and there are Aeion Tanks that can expand Samus's Aeion meter.

The four types of Aeion abilities are as follows:

• Scan Pulse - This will reveal more of the map near Samus's current location, including the locations of hidden items. It will also highlight any breakable blocks near Samus.
• Lightning Shield - This generates a protective electrical shield around Samus. This can protect Samus from various types of damage and is especially useful for walking through some areas with stinging coral. However, it offers no protection against pools of poisonous liquid or lava (unless Samus has the Gravity Suit for the latter), or spikes.
• Beam Burst - When equipped, this will allow Samus to fire her beams in more powerful rapid-fire spurts. This is essential for destroying some enemies and obstacles.
• Phase Drift - This will slow down time around Samus. Its uses include dodging swift enemies and moving along blocks that crumble instantly (similar to one use of the Speed Booster in other games), as well as slowing down the regeneration of some blocks to reach a goal.

The game also has amiibo support. Scanning amiibos can unlock reserve tanks and Metroid Markers which can help in detecting Metroids. After completing the game, they can also be scanned to unlock more art galleries and Fusion Mode, a harder mode in which Samus wears the Fusion Suit from Metroid Fusion.

Continuity Notes

• This game accounts for the games that have come out since the original Metroid II. One example is the appearance of Ridley. As Proteus Ridley, Ridley wears armor in reference to the armor and cybernetic enhancements that he had in the Metroid Prime games. At the end of the game, one part of the armor is found abandoned. This implies that Ridley cast away his armor, which would provide a bridge between Ridley's appearances in Metroid Prime and Super Metroid, as he is his normal organic self in the latter game.
• Metroid Fusion is foreshadowed in that an X Parasite appears and possesses a Hornoad in the ending. The Chozo Memories gallery also depicts the X Parasites and the history of the Metroids that was revealed in that game.

Legacy

Samus Returns was generally well-received and seemed to mark an upswing to the series, following the unpopular entries Metroid: Other M and Metroid Prime: Federation Force. Nintendo was also impressed with MercuryStream's work on the title and invited them to work on a new 2-D Metroid game, Metroid Dread, which would came out for the Nintendo Switch in 2021 and was the next Metroid game to be released after Samus Returns. Metroid Dread carries over some gameplay features introduces in this game, such as the counters, Aeion abilities and Teleport Stations.