Game Boy Metroid II, direct NES sequel. Samus Aran on SR388 to eradicate the Metroids, non-linear vertical-labyrinth structure. More ambitious than the NES, more claustrophobic, a minimalist OST that sticks. Sometimes confusing readability due to monochrome, but one of the greatest Game Boy games. Essential.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player7+
Description
NES Metroid sequel on Game Boy with Samus Aran exploring planet SR388 to eradicate the Metroid threat at its source. Published by Nintendo, released in 1991 in Europe and North America. Non-linear labyrinth exploration, new Samus forms, evolving Metroids and bosses, and claustrophobic atmosphere.
Metroid II - Return of Samus review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
A maze of stifling caverns rendered in a few shades of grey, planet SR388 distils a mineral, oppressive solitude. The darkness of the tunnels and the organic design of the Metroids settle a tension that never lets up. This claustrophobic atmosphere, astonishing on the Game Boy, leaves a lasting mark.
Sole 2D chapter between the original Metroid and Super Metroid, locking in the final shape of Samus's helmet and introducing the Metroid Queen. Its AM2R fan reimagining and then the official Samus Returns remake have refocused attention on the original Game Boy version rather than rendering it obsolete. The worldwide cardboard box turns up worn often, which keeps a clear premium on clean complete copies with the SR388 world map.
Memorable bosses
The entire hunt on SR388 is built around a single prey in full mutation: from the Alpha Metroid to the fearsome Omega, each form grows larger and more aggressive. The final confrontation with the colossal Queen caps this escalation. A heavy solitude and the evolving battles give this hunt a unique tension, long before the genre's standards.
A cult cover
Against a pitch-dark background, Samus looms helmet-down before a Metroid larva with glistening mandibles, a moment frozen just before the clash. The cold palette and tight framing convey the solitude and danger of SR388's caverns. Stark and menacing, the image silently announces the claustrophobic hunt that awaits the player.
Is Metroid II - Return of Samus still worth playing in 2026?
A direct sequel to the NES Metroid, Metroid II sends Samus to SR388 to wipe out the species the series is named for. The labyrinthine vertical structure demands a real mental map of the world, and the minimalist, near-ambient score deepens a claustrophobia rare for the Game Boy. The monochrome screen makes reading the layout occasionally rough, but the metroidvania ambition is intact and the mood resembles nothing else in the series. For anyone willing to accept its quirks and its odd pacing, it remains a striking and foundational experience.
