Metroid: Samus Returns Reviews
"Bounty hunter returns to her day job."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Metroid: Samus Returns is a brilliant return to form after a couple of less than stellar entries in the series in past years. It stays true to what made Metroid great in the first place and by taking an existing title, bringing it up to modern standards and adding new mechanics, MercurySteam have truly delivered an amazing game that presents a great blend between fun exploration and challenging combat. Samus Returns is a game that any Metroid fan will appreciate and can easily be enjoyed by newcomers to the series as well.
Samus Returns is a welcome return of a long-missed friend, but euphoria about the comeback didn't last long once I actually started playing the game: Exploration is unrewarding and leads into dead ends more often than not and the repetitive Metroid boss fights almost feel like grinding. With its modernized combat and controls, some cool and fresh ideads like the counter and 360° aiming, Samus Returns is still a solid Metroidvania game - but it's not quite the return to form that I was hoping for.
Review in German | Read full review
This game is a love letter to Samus Aran. One of the best 2.5D platformers I've ever played. Great visuals, great soundtrack and great new ideas to not only capture the mood of the GameBoy original but improve the whole experience.
Review in German | Read full review
The Metroid franchise is my favorite Nintendo franchise, bar none. I’ve played and loved almost every single entry, except for Federation Force and Other M. I had high hopes for Samus Returns, and MercurySteam managed to exceed almost every one. Samus has indeed returned, and I look forward to seeing what other adventures are in store for her.
When it comes to technical wizardry and sheer visual spectacle, Metroid: Samus Returns unequivocally delivers.
Metroid: Samus Returns is a great remake of a game that quite frankly, needed an upgrade. MercurySteam has done a grand job at bringing a game that was made for a black and white 8-bit handheld, and completely recreate it from the ground up for a brand new generation to enjoy. If you are a fan of the 2D Metroid series then you know exactly what you’re getting. If you are new then it is a fantastic entry point to the series and it is more than worth a playthrough. It certainly isn’t the best Metroid game in my opinion, but it’s a fine one nonetheless. Samus has returned and it puts the series well and truly back on the map.
I was delighted by Metroid: Samus Returns. It hits pretty much every note you hope to see in a Metroid game, and MercurySteam's console background is evident in their flair for the dramatic— whether in their introductory cutscenes or their boss battles. Their dramatic reinvention reinvigorates the source material and strengthens the story's bridge to Super Metroid. In short: They nailed it.
Overall, this glorious return of Samus Aran is a must own for Metroid Fans. While there is a mild issue with the controls, once players adjust it’ll feel natural. The difficulty may not be newcomer friendly, but the game offers enough tools to help the player make it through the journey.
If this is the last great 3DS release then what a way to go out!