3.5/5 ★ – caleb_mercer's review of Metroid: Samus Returns.

Metroid: Samus Returns is a promising game with some fundamental design issues, though these issues stem from the original Metroid II: Return of Samus that Samus Returns is based off of. SR is, at least in a world design sense, probably the most linear Metroid game. There is virtually never any real backtracking required as your objective is to progress deeper into SR 388. The game may be split into 9 distinct areas, but the player pretty much just goes between them 1-9 in order. The movement in SR is the best the series has ever felt, and the 360° aiming is a welcomed addition. I initially didn't really care for the counter as at the beginning of the game it felt almost necessary but also killed pacing, but in the latter half with a few beam upgrades it became less necessary. There are 40 metroids for the player to hunt, but only a few different types. Fights with the metroids tend to not get stale however as they are spaced well and new types are introduced at a good pace. Aside from the metroids there are three other main boss fights, one of which is absolutely incredible. I LOVED the Chozo mining rig fight. It was supremely difficult but always fair and was very rewarding to complete. The queen metroid fight on the other hand, wasn't nearly as fun to me. It felt a lot more repetitive with fewer phases. Then finally, Omega Ridley was alright. I wasn't put off by his appearance in a sort of epilogue like some players were because it helped to canonize the Prime trilogy and set up Super Metroid.