Metroid: Samus Returns

Metroid: Samus Returns is an action video game developed by Spanish developer MercurySteam (the same team behind Castlevania: Lords of Shadow) and published by Nintendo on September 2017 for the Nintendo 3DS. It is a remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) While it's a remake of the original game, this one is a return to the 2D side scrolling format that the series started out as.
 * 2) The exploration in this game is fun and gives you a ton of options of where to go and what items you'll come across and collect.
 * 3) The 3D graphics of the game as opposed to the 2D sprite animation in the original hold up very well, even by 3DS standards.
 * 4) The music is great to listen to and is faithful to the original.
 * 5) Lots of cool weapons and upgrades to them that you collect as you progress through the game.
 * 6) Some of the music in this game are remixes of other Metroid games like the fire sections in the first Metroid Prime.
 * 7) The tone of the game is dark, haunting, and atmospheric, just like the Metroid Prime series.
 * 8) This game, along with the announcement of Metroid Prime 4 back in 2017, saved the franchise after 7 long years of nothing but mediocre spinoffs. The effect was extended in 2021, when Metroid Dread was announced.
 * 9) The controls are tight and solid.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) The important features of this game like the art gallery, the hardest difficulty, and the shield are locked behind amiibos, and they're all required to access said features.
 * 2) The first few boss fights early in the game, specifically the Metroids, are repetitive.
 * 3) Dashing from Super Metroid is absent from this game.