Metroid: Samus Returns Reviews

Metroid: Samus Returns is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
88 / 100
Sep 12, 2017

Great reinterpretation, which captures the charm of the Game Boy original, but is meaningfully modernized and enhanced with own ideas.

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90 / 100
Sep 14, 2017

Metroid: Samus Returns gives fans what they've always asked for a Metroid game and everyone else gets a phenomenal 2D action-adventure game with one of the most iconic heroes in video game history.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 21, 2017

Admittedly, it isn’t perfect, suffering from the same repetitive boss battles and drab environments plaguing its inspirational counterpart, but for those who can look past its minor mishaps (and you should), you’ll find one of the best 2D Metroid games this side of the galaxy.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 17, 2017

13 years have passed since the last Metroid 2D, Metroid fusion is considered a masterpiece and this Samus Returns seem to be also. We are faced with an exceptional game that collects everything that makes this saga great and brings you the newest of the last generation. But for me, the most important thing is that it is a hope. Samus is back. The most despised saga of Nintendo has returned to reclaim its position to stay. A very bright future is coming. Now is time to wait for the Nintendo Switch Metroid Prime 4, the other great game announced at E3 in 2017!

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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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9 / 10.0
Sep 13, 2017

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.

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Sep 25, 2017

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.

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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 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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9 / 10
Sep 26, 2017

After a 13 years with no 2D Metroid, Mercury Steam mastered the Metroid design and refined it. Now i can stop thinking about what can this team do with a new 2D Metroid.

Review in Arabic | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 21, 2017

This game tops past 2D Metroid games especially for improving the combat and accessibility. Nintendo and MercurySteam both delivered one of the best Metroidvania experiences ever. welcome back, Samus!

Review in Arabic | Read full review

Adam Riley
Top Critic
9 / 10
Sep 12, 2017

This is right up there with Super Metroid in terms of sheer class, taking the spirit of Metroid II: Return of Samus and transforming it so wondrously for the modern day that it is barely recognisable, with a plethora of brand-new extras thrown in. Metroid: Samus Returns is no mere remake of a Game Boy classic; it is a love letter to the Metroid series, and a thorough reimagining of the core concept, adding in some favourite elements from later releases, and new content that fits hand in glove. Lay any concerns down, as this is top notch entertainment through and through.

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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 / 10.0
Nov 1, 2017

It's not perfect, but Metroid: Samus Returns is a resounding return to form for the series and a must-play for all 3DS owners.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 3, 2017

Metroid: Samus Returns isn't just a simple reimagining that improves on the original game's limitations and notable issues. It's a phenomenal blueprint of the 2D Metroid formula that captures the series' best elements while adding in gameplay refinements and mechanics that feel just right. Some repetition lingers, but that's hardly enough to hold the game back from returning Metroid to the top tier of platforming.

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GamingBolt
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Sep 28, 2017

Metroid: Samus Returns is a triumphant return to form for the franchise, and its greatest victory is that it makes it feel as though Samus never left to begin with.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 19, 2017

The best way to play the Metroid game you never knew existed.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 14, 2017

Samus' triumphant return deserves a place on your shelf.

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Ian Howarth
Top Critic
9 / 10
Sep 12, 2017

Simply put – Samus Returns is the new benchmark against which all other games of this genre will be measured against.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 16, 2017

If you played Metroid on the NES, Super Metroid in the early '90s, or any of the other two-dimensional Metroid games made for Nintendo's handhelds over the years, Samus Returns will be an instant jolt of history, an immediately recognizable old friend that might have picked up a few new tics and traits but is still largely the comforting presence you've known for decades.

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