Metroid: Samus Returns is the remake of Metroid II: The Return of Samus we needed. Fans have been clamoring for this remake so much that a few talented Metroid fans recently attempted a renegade reboot. The story of Metroid II is integral to the story of the series, leading directly to the events of Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion. Though it is fondly remembered by some, its simple black and white Game Boy graphics and sluggish action make it really tough to return to or appreciate today.
Like others, my initial reaction to the footage of Metroid: Samus Returns were met with a mixture of joy at the heroine's return to 2D action and skepticism at the use of 3D polygons to upgrade the caverns of SR388. However, after playing Metroid: Samus Returns, I can assure fans that, though I miss the Super Nintendo-inspired pixel art of the most recent games (way back on Game Boy Advance), it looks great, and it plays as good -- or better -- than any other Metroid.
This wasn't just any game demo, however: I played Metroid: Samus Returns alongside Metroid co-creator and longtime series producer Yoshio Sakomoto, who looked on and gauged my reactions, while answering a few questions about the Metroid series and his latest project.
After just a short time with Samus Returns, my first question was not what was different but what was the same? While I loosely recognized the layout of the starting area, there was a lot of new stuff introduced in quick succession: Within minutes I was brandishing a new timed counter ability, using newer series moves like wall jumps and ledge grabs, dropping an information bomb-like charge to expose swaths of the map, and discovering crazy Chozo artifacts that were definitely not part of the Game Boy version. Mr. Sakamoto reassured me, "It’s the same game. … All of the fundamental design is the same ... in that the basic map structure is all based off the Metroid II map. Basically what we’ve done is we’ve used this new technology that we have at our fingertips to just polish up what was already there and to improve upon it." He added, joking, "Maybe the thing that felt so different was that it was in full color."
But a lot has changed. Check out the trailer above to see some gameplay. I'll add two things: One, as I mentioned above, is that it feels great. The best example of new gameplay is the counter attack which you must time perfectly in reaction to a the flash of an enemy. It's somewhat like the shield-countering move of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I used this attack on both smaller enemies and the metroid miniboss. Two, running on the 3DS, Metroid: Samus Returns looks better than in the videos showing it off. You may not be a fan of the new art style, but, if you're like me, you'll be busy killing space bugs, looking for secret spaces to roll through, and obsessively checking the map; and it all feels like a Metroid game you've played before. One more cool thing: The map has been upgraded as well to take advantage of the 3DS's bottom screen: You can leave marker points, tap on points for information, and use the map as a tool to plan your future backtracking.
This isn't the first remake of a classic Metroid. Metroid: Zero Mission revisited Samus's first game on the NES, adding s similar set of moves, upgrades, map features, and, best of all, a surprising new area to explore and an additional boss. I had to ask, was Samus Returns getting the same expansion? Mr. Sakamoto responded affirmatively, but didn't go into detail, saying, "I believe that yes you can go ahead and look forward to some of those same experiences that you had with Zero Mission."
We started around two years ago... It’s almost there. It’s quite a ways along.
Metroid: Zero Mission also added an additional layer of back story involving Samus's upbringing on an alien homeworld. I asked Mr. Sakamoto if we could expect more of this in Samus Returns, especially considering that the source material, Metroid II: The Return of Samus, culminated with a key moment in Metroid lore, which I won't spoil here. He said, "[In] this game there’s a lot of background, there’s a lot of lore involved in this title. But it’s not like a novel or something. It incorporates the lore, but it’s not integral to the gameplay experience. It’s in the background more than in the foreground." He added, "There is definitely information for the players to get that revolves around sort of the larger storyline."
So why is Samus returning now? This might be thanks to MercurySteam as much as Mr. Sakamoto. He told me, "About the time I was looking at the 3DS and the great specs and this game and the features that it offered and was thinking to myself, 'Man, maybe this is the time to revisit that 2D Metroid game.' I had heard that MercurySteam was interested in working on some sort of Metroid remake. Not 2, but they had some interest, and those just sort of overlapped with each other."
I had to ask, was this project tied in any way to the illusive Metroid Dread, a sequel hinted at in Metroid Prime 3? Mr. Sakamoto responded shot down my suspicion, "I think it’s better to say that this is a remake, remastering of Metroid 2, a powered-up version of that, and not something to do with the other project."
A previous Metroid game, Metroid Fusion, linked directly to Metroid Prime via the Game Boy Advance link cable, unlocking features in both games. I asked if Samus Returns would link with Metroid Prime 4, also announced at E3 2017. Mr. Sakamoto responded, "This time there is not any direct connection between Metroid Prime 4 and Metroid: Samus Returns." Metroid: Samus Returns is Mr. Sakamoto's focus right now, as well, and when asked about the other M, he simply said, "I’m not involved in Metroid Prime 4."
The Metroid: Samus Returns demo at E3 2017 started right from the beginning, which, if you've played a lot of "drop in" demos, is unusual, and might indicate how far along Samus Returns is. Mr. Sakamoto, confirmed this, saying "We started around two years ago, so it’s been about two years... It’s almost there. It’s quite a ways along." We'll all be playing Samus Returns on September 15th, 2017. With Metroid Prime 4 announced and some cool Metroid amiibo on the way, this is turning out to be a great E3 for Metroid. Mr. Sakamoto is excited too, saying "We want everyone to play Metroid this year. We would love for it to be a Year of Metroid, as it were." Hey, Luigi got a year; why not Samus?
Samuel Claiborn is IGN's Managing Editor and both fixes and breaks pinball machines in his garage. TCELES B HSUP to follow him @Samuel_IGN on Twitter.
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