It's not often that I'm already quite familiar with something available on the Switch emulator (at least not these days). BACKGROUND:
Not only have I played this game all the way through once before (via the 3DS Virtual Console), I've also played its 3DS remake Metroid: Samus Returns multiple times. I know exactly what I'm getting into here. SUMMARY: Set after the events of the original Metroid on NES, Samus journeys to the planet SR388 to exterminate the last of the Metroids. Yes, the entire plot of this game is alien genocide. The ending is one of the most important events in the series timeline, as the baby Metroid Samus finds after the final battle plays a role in every Metroid game since. Like every mainline Metroid title, Return of Samus is a 2D action platformer where you explore a fully interconnected map. The goal is to kill 40-something Metroids (tracked with a counter at the bottom), all of which are scattered across the map. The usual tropes of having to find suit and weapon upgrades as well as backtracking are still very much present, though SR388's map layout makes progression more linear than what you'd normally expect from a typical Metroidvania. You need to kill a certain number of Metroids to unlock the next section of the map, which is blocked by lava. The exact number is not indicated at all, but you'll know that you've done the deed when an earthquake occurs, and you backtrack to find a previously impassable area has now been drained of lava. The counter at the bottom is already a reliable metric for progress in this game, but reaching milestones in your quest to rendering a creature extinct makes that progress more tangible. Most of the enemies are forgettable, with the only meaningful encounters being the Metroids themselves. They come in different varieties (Alpha, Gamma, Zeta, Omega, plus the normal Metroid forms), though the fights boil down to spamming missiles and dodging their few attack patterns. The same can be said of the Metroid Queen, who serves as the final boss. Overall, this Metroid hunt feels quite repetitive, but there is some satisfaction to mastering how to fight the different varieties and killing them without ever taking damage. Your arsenal is mostly the same as other Metroid titles, with familiar upgrades like the Ice Beam and Morph Ball Bombs, debuting upgrades that become series staples (Space Jump, Spring Ball, Spazer, Plasma Beam), and the truly unique Spider Ball (which lets you roll across walls and ceilings to reach secrets). You also have your usual missile upgrades and energy tanks, though you won't find as many of these as you would in something like Super Metroid. Interestingly, you only get one suit upgrade in the game (the Varia Suit), and it doesn't really do anything other than reduce damage. Like I said, progression is relatively more linear in this game due to the small world, so it's actually easier to navigate this game despite the lack of an in-game map. There are a few well-hidden upgrades along the way, but you'll easily run into most of the missiles and energy tanks you need without even trying. The only real problem you may run into while exploring is how many room layouts are reused in different sections, so that could possibly result in confusion for some players. Unlike in games like Super Metroid (where beam types stack and/or you can deactivate beams at will), your weapon can only fire one type of beam at a time. If you want a different beam type, you'll have to go back to where you found the upgrade and swap out. It's not worth the hassle since the game will give you what you need along the way. VERDICT: While I had a fine time replaying Return of Samus and finishing everything in one sitting, its small scale doesn't provide much opportunity for the exploration I enjoy from the series, and fighting the same set of bosses over and over got stale eventually. Still, I thought the fact that there was one clear objective throughout the game was neat, and it's hard to ignore how important the ending of this game was for the rest of the story. Also, I've played the remake, so while the original is a decent Metroidvania experience, Samus Returns on the 3DS improves on it in every single way. I would highly recommend playing the remake over the original in this case, as Samus Returns is a step up in pretty much every aspect (more engaging boss fights, more map to explore, more upgrades to find, the new melee counter mechanic, general quality of life improvements, obviously more improved presentation). That said, there's nothing inherently wrong with this game in my view, and it's a decently short game you can beat if you have a few hours to spare. - end -
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June 2024
Derryck
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