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Metroid: Samus Returns Discussion (Nintendo 3DS) [game]
 
Metroid: Samus Returns on the 3DS
8.88/10 from 11 user ratings

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Metacritic: 88

Sooooooooo, this is out! My copy should hopefully be arriving after work (if not, my weekend plans might change a bit!)

I've been really pumped for this, because Metroid II is the only main Metroid I've yet to play (I haven't played AM2R either), so this is for all intents a brand new Metroid game for me while also kinda filling in that last gap in the canon.

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09/15/17, 14:51    Edited: 09/15/17, 14:58
 
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Super Metroid 2 eh Nintendo? Why didn't it say that on the box???
09/17/17, 03:55   
Without spoiling anything the "event" to get the Space Jump is pretty great.
09/17/17, 04:49   
@Brick

I was hoping that was gonna lead to the Speed Booster (no idea if that's in the game, avoiding power up lists) so while escaping the enemy, you ran into the power up and naturally busted through walls for an escape.
09/17/17, 05:20   
Edited: 09/17/17, 05:21
@VofEscaflowne

Counting the power ups left, I don't think it is in the game.
09/17/17, 06:34   
How does it compare to AM2R?
09/17/17, 10:55   
Just thought I'd mention that I've still got a download code for the 3DS VC version of Return of Samus if anyone wants it.

It's likely a region locked code limited to the European PAL territory, but if anyone else wants the game and is willing to give it a try I'm all for it.
09/17/17, 13:49   
09/17/17, 15:35   
@Pokefreak911

I just finished part after area 3 where you do a lot of exploring to kill 1 metroid. It's good, but I do think AM2R is better so far. AM2R probably has the best control of any Metroid, and while this remake is good, it's not as smooth. The added bits in AM2R have so far been better than those in the official remake, as have the redone Metroid fights. As a whole AM2R just plays more smoothly. Samus Returns can kind of get bogged down with a ton of enemies that have high health and deal high damage. That has been somewhat alleviated by the Spazer beam, which I just got.

Samus Returns is genuinely great; I'm glad a got it and the time I've spent with it has been enjoyable. But AM2R is better in just about every way. To be fair, some of this may be attributed to fatigue, as I have beaten Metroid 2 in some form or another about 4 or 5 times in the past 2 years.

For reference, AM2R is nearly tied with Zero Mission as my favorite Metroid. Here's my ranking for the full series, if you're interested. So far, Samus Returns would probably come in below Prime 2.
09/17/17, 20:10   
Edited: 09/17/17, 23:01
Well I tried several stores all over town and wasn't able to get the Amiibos which really bums me out. Here's hoping they restock in a few weeks. I need Fusion mode.

But I did order a special edition New 3DS XL, should get here Tuesday.

@Hero_Of_Hyrule
Man I need really need to play AM2R!

Also nice list over on GB! If you'd just switch out Fusion for Zero Mission and Prime 1 for Prime 3 it would be somewhat accurate.
09/17/17, 22:52   
@deathly_hallows

Thanks!

It may also be a very real possibility that whichever remake you play first will leave more of an impression on you. This has probably contributed to my preferences, but I do feel that AM2R has better level design, control, visual design, and so on.
09/17/17, 23:03   
@Hero_Of_Hyrule
I believe it, in the vast majority of cases 2.5-D simply doesn't look as good or play as well as a finely-crafted, sprite-based game.

That said I think Nintendo and Mercury Steam have done a pretty good job of playing to the strengths of the 3DS in terms of how they're using the dynamic camera and stereoscopic 3-D (this might be the best use of 3-D since 3D Land). So in the end it's kind of neat that we're getting two different remakes of the games with two different approaches.

I just wish Nintendo would allow they guy who made AM2R to release it on Switch as a officially sanctioned fan-game/Nindie. How cool would that be?!
09/17/17, 23:11   
Played a bunch more today and got up to Area 4. Having a really good time and I think this is the best that 2D Metroid has ever looked, played and sounded.

That said, while the game is really well-made and nothing has come across as being sub-par, I can't really say I've been especially wowed by anything so far, either. It's a Metroid staple for me to often be left in awe at the creativity on display, whether it's pertaining to a puzzle or an enemy encounter, but Samus Returns just hasn't had those moments (yet). The level/map design is good but it's not standing out for me in the way that prior games have. But, there's a lot of game left so we'll see where it goes from here.
09/18/17, 06:22   
The Omega Metroid was tough, but I was able to beat it quicker by using the Plasma Beam to break its chest armour faster.
09/18/17, 06:56   
I really like it so far. Just got to the second subterranean level.

Only thing that's weird is the necessity of melee / parry. I don't mind that it exists, but it's a meaningful change to how Samus moves. Regular mooks needing missiles or parry shots to kill quickly means that you're either firing limited ammo regularly or you're stopping your momentum while you're moving through corridors.

I don't know I really feel about this yet, but it has the effect of slowing things down more than I was expecting. It's possible that later updates make killing scrubs more easily and you can run and gun more effectively.
09/18/17, 19:44   
@Kal-El814
Yeah, you do get more powerful in certain ways later on, but the game also throws harder enemies at you at the same time, so you'll enjoy your smooth killing sprees the most as you're backtracking. I think I've managed to get a pretty decent flow to my melee, though. At first I didn't feel quite comfortable about the timing and tended to stand around to wait for an opening, but now I do it pretty much whenever and it feels quite rewarding to pull off.
09/18/17, 19:51   
This is the game I wanted when I played Other M
09/18/17, 23:52   
@mrbiggsly
Pretty much!

I've played the game for 14 hours now, and Samus hasn't hunted pixels or anxiously tried to earn someone's approval even once!
09/19/17, 00:05   
A thought just occurred me.

They should have released this instead of Federation Force last year.

Then release Federation Force this year as a kind of "send up" for Prime 4. Kind of a...uh, primer for the Switch game.

I think that would make Samus Returns even more of a hit/welcome return to form, and probably reduce the backlash for Federation Force. Especially if Nintendo presented Federation Force as a simple, companion-piece game to "tide over" fans until the release of the console game.

Y'know, once I figure out how to manipulate and bend the space/time continuum to my will, I'll go back and make sure that happens.
09/19/17, 02:20   
@r_hjort

Hunted pixels?

Ohhhh wait I remember what you mean by that. Yeah that was annoying. "Find this obscure spot on your screen with no real clue as to what you're looking for!".
09/19/17, 03:09   
Edited: 09/19/17, 03:10
@GameDadGrant
Yeah, FF would've been far more welcome had we 1) gotten a Metroid adventure just prior to it, and 2) had it announced alongside Prime 4.

In fact, I think Nintendo was smart to announce Prime 4 and then Samus Returns so that everyone could be satisfied. Otherwise, there would've been a lot of Switch owners saying "Why isn't this on Switch!?" This way, everyone's happy.
09/19/17, 03:43   
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