Metroid Samus Returns on 3DS is a masterful remake of Metroid II. Samus on planet SR388 to eliminate all Metroids. New counter-attack system, AEION abilities and oppressive atmosphere. A 3DS must.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player12+
Description
Samus Aran is sent to planet SR388 to eliminate the Metroids in this ambitious Metroid II remake with fully modern mechanics. Published by Nintendo, released in Europe in September 2017. 2D metroidvania exploration, Melee counter attacks unlocking abilities, new Aeion abilities, Metroid bosses with multiple forms. Multilingual version.
Metroid - Samus Returns review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
The planet is treated as a geological cross-section. The backgrounds let you see the successive strata already crossed, fossils caught in the rock, galleries dug by something other than chance, so that the descent reads by eye as a progression through time. The hunted creatures follow the same logic, each stage of their growth markedly altering the silhouette.
The monophonic melodies of the handheld original are here handed to an orchestra. What was only a line of a few notes gains countermelodies, string beds and low brass, without ever losing the exact interval that made it recognisable. After each elimination a dull tremor runs through the soundtrack and the counter drops, turning a simple tally into a sonic event.
The Japanese edition of Samus Returns keeps the distinct domestic sleeve, darker than the Western versions, and had a surprisingly modest local print since the Metroid franchise never truly took off on the home market. That relative scarcity now pushes the JP version's value well beyond the equivalent Western editions.
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.
Is Metroid - Samus Returns still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2017 on 3DS, MercurySteam and Nintendo's project is a deep remake of Metroid II, resurrecting Samus' solitary adventure hunting the Metroids on a hostile planet. The new melee counter mechanic, which rewards timing against enemies, and the free three hundred and sixty degree aiming energise exploration and combat without betraying the spirit of the series. The careful art direction and the oppressive atmosphere of isolation leave a mark. The repetition of some encounters weighs. An excellent return of two dimensional Metroid, recommended for fans of exploration and of atmospheric action.
