4/5 ★ – Kalle_Deimos's review of Metroid: Samus Returns.

TLDR: I'm not even a Metroid fan...but I knew they were so back with this one. Gameplay: Classic 2D Metroid. It's addicting. Engaging. An amazing flow between areas for your exploration. Samus Returns is the first 2D Metroid since 2004. And it's what you seek when you think of modernizing Metroid. Let us discuss. For one, fully 360 degree movement. It's incredibly smooth and satisfying to be pinpoint accurate wherever you may be. The controls are actually so good, I'm shocked I'm even playing a 3DS game. I think this game would be right at home with an HD Remaster on Switch. You got your classics. Bombs, Missiles, Cannon Upgrades, Suit Upgrades. All that good stuff. Samus Returns introduces Aieon abilities which consume a rechargable meter. These abilities fufill utility purposes but are also good use in a fight. Except for the Scan ability, which is the best ability period. I think the only reason I didn't have to look up a walkthrough for this game was because of the scan eliminating the need to guess on where a breakable block is. But the puzzles are still really good, and even if you know which blocks to break you need to figure out how. Top-teir exploration. Combat also has a melee counter that stuns charging enemies. Almost every common enemy has a this type of attack, so it gets pretty ingrained in you until you are just running down hallways waiting for the counter signal. The enemy variety is low, and most of the game will be encountering the same enemies but recolored. However the basic enemy combat isn't really the draw of the game. You must hunt down like 30 metroids, all at different stages of maturation. These are basically mini-boss fights, and while there is only about 3 variations of the fight I always enjoyed fighting them. Then randomly at the end there is three really good real boss battles that made me wish there was much more varied fights in the game. Especially ones with counterable attacks and also grab moves. It's the best. Anyway, the game is sick. I suggest picking this up even if you arent a Metroid fan. Story: The story of Samus Returns doesn't really evolve past "destroy all metroids", but I think all Metroid games give you a singular goal and the entire game is just reaching it. But the ending sequence is very good with some great cutscenes of Samus and the Baby. Graphics: Despite the 3DS blur, this game looks incredible. They will probably put an HD version on Switch one day and it will look so good. The fully 3D backgrounds are gorgeous and usually have something to look at. Sound: Why does the loading in music stutter at the end. Can't say much about the music. It's mostly ambient. The fire track is good for whenever you enter a hot area. Extra: Find all the power-ups for 100%! Do you need 300 missiles ever? No. But you know. It gets your percentage to 100%. So. Favorite Thing: Baby :) Not My Favorite Thing: Sometimes there is just too many enemies on screen in the last levels.