Metroid: Samus Returns (Nintendo 3DS)

I’ve been playing through all the 2d Metroid and Castlevanias recently. This was on my list to play, as I’m working up to Metroid Dread on the switch. This game has started to become expensive, but I managed to get a copy for a reasonable price. It’s definitely worth playing and is an excellent Metroid game. The graphics are really vibrant and look fantastic on the 3ds. The 3d effect is particularly effective, giving the usually 2d backdrops a real depth. It really is impressive and possibly the best use of 3d I’ve seen on the system. I often turn off the 3d but with this game it was so impressive it stayed on my entire play through. The gameplay was equally great and the controls are really tight and we’ll implemented on the handheld. It’s the usual Metroid formula overall, but with enough tweaks and well thought out game design to make it appealing and intriguing. I basically loved playing it, it is a substantial game in size and content and absolutely essential if you’re fan of the series, or indeed Metroidvanias.

Samus is back in all her 2D glory after many, many years. This is surely one of the last wave of great games for the 3DS and serves as a great way for the handheld device to bow out. Playing on a regular size New 3DS, the game looks great and a lot better than I expected after looking at still images online. Whilst I still generally prefer sprites visually for this style of game, the 3D effect of Samus Returns does look a lot more impressive in person. The various visual effects throughout the game add a lot of colour and texture that give it a very uniqure feel that's not to be scoffed at. Gameplay wise this feels like a smart evoloution of the formula. 'Free-Aim' is achieved by holding one of the shoulder buttons and this swftly feels natural and neccesary. A seperate energy resouce for special abilities is a neat way to add another layer of systmes to Samus' arsenal and feels like another natural step forward in improving the Metroid formula. The classic exploration and backtracking is all here as you'd expect and a few new abilities add some new puzzles to what you'd expect, without changing anything too drastically. The music is generally good, with some new remixes of classic tunes from Super Metroid and others. Some didn't leave much of a mark on me, which isn't much of a complaint but as a huge fan of the series I didn't feel like this game offered anything dramtically new or exciting in this regard. It's good. Similarly the atmosphere of the different environments is generally varied considering the adaptation of the original game, but not quite as colourful and varied as the unofficial AM2R for example. I felt that this game didn't give me the same sense of progression as games like Super Metroid, but that's probably to be expected. Overall this is a great new entry in the franchise. It brings some new ideas to the table without straying far from the core formula we all love. AM2R is possibly still better, but both can be enjoyed seperately without feeling like too much De ja vu. It's main fault is purely the fact that this is a remake and not a purely original idea - which could have given it more scope to surprise and impress.

Finally, after so many years, Nintendo has delivered, Metroid is officially back! Metroid: Samus Returns is a remake of the original Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus. Even though Samus Returns stays faithful to the classic game in terms of story and pacing, there are so many major improvements and new features that it feels like an entirely new game! The visuals, despite being on the 3DS, look absolutely breathtaking, with detailed environments that also look stunning with the 3D effect enabled. The gameplay feels drastically better as well, especially with the introduction of the free aim mode which allows Samus to aim in any direction possible instead of the restricted aiming that is featured in every 2D Metroid game prior. Another new addition to the gameplay is the melee counter, which can be used on all kinds of enemies. While it took me a while to get used to, once I got the hang of it, it became incredibly satisfying and was often a lifesaver in frequent moments of heated battle. Even though Samus Returns has a fairly big emphasis on combat, there is still the sense of exploration, loneliness and wonder that the Metroid series is known for, complemented by the excellent music which mostly consists of remixes of classic tunes, as well as the stunning environments which really give you an idea of how expansive and hostile the planet you explore really is. I can absolutely recommend Metroid: Samus Returns for Metroid fans and even newcomers to the series. I am beyond excited that this legendary Nintendo series is back with the best iteration in 10 years! Samus has indeed returned!

Fantastic game. My first Metroid since Fusion on the GBA and MercurySteam have done a great job. Complex, challenging and fun. Great controls and of course designed perfectly for the DS line of systems. The final star is absent due to the poor boss design. The metroids are a good challenge but the other bosses often feel cheap and require so much trial and error to beat it just drains the fun out of the game. Overall though a good buy and a great game for the system.

Ordered on the day of release, arrived the very next day, can't get better than that. The game is just awesome. I can't comment on the previous metroid games (Primes) as I only briefly played them, but wasn't a fan of the FPS nature of them. This however is so very well done, from the smoothness of the game play, the difficulty, to the new additions which have already been covered by numerous reviews and posts on the internet, that I couldn't possibly not leave a review for this. I'm still no where near completing it and believe I have only just started scratching the surface. I have a 2DS XL and it works superbly on it. Even considering getting a 3DS XL just for this game alone. Excellent game, well done to the developers on this one.

Metroid: Samus Returns ist ein 2d Game das auch heute noch überzeugen kann. Das einzige kleine manko sind die gegner und Metroids die einem stark zusetzen können, so wie die Roboter an den wänden die bei einem treffer bis zu 70-80 Lebenspunkte abziehen. Die Waffen die nach der zeit kaum einen effekt auf die gegner haben bis man die nächste waffe bekommt oder den nächsten Anzug machen dann den unterschied. Alles im einen ein solides spiel mit ein paar kleinen schwächen aber gutem gameplay.

Excellent service with overnight delivery for prime and importantly, good value. Being new the game was in perfect condition. An EU import but fully compatible here in Oz. It's not often I find items like this here that are better value then mporting myself from overseas.

Det verkar som väldigt långt spel kul är det i alla fall mycket bra spel

Uno de esos juegazos que no puedes perderte si te gusta el sidescroller, metroidvania etc (roguelikes/lites). Está muy chulo y no envejece mucho. Además está hecho por unos desarrolladores españoles :)

Très bien, enfin à un prix correct.