Metroid: Samus Returns Reviews

Metroid: Samus Returns is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9.2 / 10.0
Jul 28, 2017

Simply put, Metroid: Samus Returns is an excellent game. It honors the past and adds a lot of great new gameplay elements. The Metroid series strives in 2D, and Samus Returns is another clear demonstration of exactly that.

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10 / 10.0
Sep 11, 2017

If this is the last great 3DS release then what a way to go out!

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 11, 2017

Anyone looking for their Metroid fix should look no further than Samus Returns. It's a great example of why this franchise has been around for almost 30 years with amazing environments and awesome gameplay.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 11, 2017

Metroid: Samus Returns is a great return to form after the Federation Forces debacle and should make fans of the series happy with the final product. Aside from a few presentation hiccups and difficulty curve, the improved visuals and added content make for a solid entry in the Metroid universe. We have been waiting for Samus to return for a little while now, but the wait has been worth it.

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9 / 10
Sep 11, 2017

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.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 11, 2017

Metroid: Samus Returns is the best 3DS game this year, hands-down. It’s the best Metroid game in almost a decade and it’s definitely the best way to spend your commute of a morning or evening.

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GameXplain
Top Critic
Loved
Sep 12, 2017
Metroid: Samus Returns - REVIEW (3DS) video thumbnail
Sep 12, 2017
Metroid: Samus Returns - Easy Allies Review video thumbnail
Nintendo News
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

Breathing new life into Metroid II’s storyline and setting, Samus Returns is a delightful, fully engaging and tense journey back to the depths of SR388. Between the music and bold visuals, the original nostalgia never feels lost amidst the new features. A new twist on an old format, albeit with a few errors, the essence of a Metroid game is firmly found in Samus Returns.

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Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
9 / 10
Sep 12, 2017

A superb remake of Metroid II and the best 2D entry since Super Metroid, that doesn't compromise at all in terms of challenge, complexity, or atmosphere.

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Digitally Downloaded
Brad L.
Top Critic
Sep 12, 2017

Samus Returns could very well be one of the last big 3DS titles, but with games like this, I'm just not ready to let go of my 3DS just yet.

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9 / 10
Sep 12, 2017

Metroid: Samus Returns shows why 2D Metroid is still top-tier. It's far from the perfection that Super Metroid had, but this takes my least liked 2D Metroid game and reimagines it so completely that it almost beats the remake of the original Metroid in my estimations. If someone at Nintendo can add the ability to switch control schemes, it would make a huge difference. This is the return we've been waiting for, though I want Nintendo to develop the “Next Mission” in 2D for the Switch themselves.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

To call Metroid: Samus Returns a remake feels unfair. Remakes are old games with new coats of paint: an upgrade in resolution here, reworked artwork there. Samus Returns is far more than that. It's a top-to-bottom reimagining, bringing the bones of a game that's over 25 years old into the modern era with fantastic results.

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Ben Salter
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

Samus Returns is my favourite 2D Metroid game since Super Metroid, and feels the best to play of any of them, but it's hard to evaluate on that front.

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9.1 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

Metroid: Samus Returns is one of the best games on the 3DS and it is def more than just a remake. A return to classic Metroid, it is a must play if you have own a 3DS.

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Sep 12, 2017

MercurySteam takes no time at all proving it is the perfect fit for a series overdue a resurgence. Another studio may have recreated Metroid as it was, but the Castlevania veterans modernise the Nintendo franchise with new abilities, freer movement, quality animations and lush alien design brimming with mystery and the unknown.If this remake was a test to see if there's life yet in the franchise, it passes with flying colours, only let down by a lack of the memorable boss encounters the series is known for. Maybe in a sequel the MercurySteam team could address this. They've certainly earned the right to try.

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8 / 10
Sep 12, 2017

Metroid : Samus Returns is a powerful remake of the old Game Boy classic. By taking so much freedom from the original, Mercury Steam delivers a solid version, which still suffers from the structure of it. Much more narrowed than other games in the series, Metroid : Samus Returns only becomes a real blast through its last sections, but still offers a good run for every fan of the genre.

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Sep 12, 2017

While this isn't Samus' greatest adventure, it is still a very good one.

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90 / 100
Sep 12, 2017

Samus Returns has an appropriate name. It really does feel like a homecoming for a franchise that I love. It's great to be playing a new 2D Metroid. But it doesn't just work off of nostalgia. Samus Returns's new ideas actually add improvements to the classic Metroid gameplay. It might have come a little later than I liked, but Nintendo proved that they can still make this franchise exciting again.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

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.

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