Jan 262022
After finishing Zero Mission in December, I moved on to the next Metroid game on my list, Metroid: Samus Returns.
Samus Returns is the 3DS remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus.
(I’ve never played the original, so I can’t compare them.)
This is the third Metroid game I’ve played, since I started with Fusion. While I had fun with Samus Returns, I’d say it’s my least favorite so far.
The gameplay is fine. I enjoyed the new melee counter system a lot once I figured out the timing. Switching between different abilities was a little annoying, but not bad. And of course, I love the general gameplay structure of exploring and finding upgrades.
It’s just so repetitive. The first time I had to fight a bunch of Metroids and then come back to drain away the deadly liquid that filled the lower part of the area, I thought it was neat. Then it happened again. And again. And again.
Sure, there are different types of Metroid fights, but once you encounter a new type, it shows up over and over.
I was so tired of fighting Metroids and following that same basic pattern to progress through an area, that by the time I got near the end, I was ready to be done. However, something that happened near the end made me feel much more kindly toward the game than I might otherwise.
So despite growing tired of the game, I actually ended it on a positive note.
Overall, I’d say I still found Metroid: Samus Returns to be a fun game worth playing, just a bit too repetitive compared to the others I’ve played in the series so far. Next up, Super Metroid!
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The original Metroid II is even more repetitive…!
What did the original do that makes it more repetitive?
It’s less what the original did to make it more repetitive and more what the 3DS game did to make it less repetitive. Think of the same design template but with less options as Samus and less varied things in the environment because a lot of weapons didn’t exist then.
And the sound is awful and it’s black and white, of course.
Hmm, I see… Well, if the original is more repetitive, I’m glad I played Samus Returns, then.