Standard Edition
StandardIn the box
- Nintendo 3DS game card
- Case with cover art
3DS
Metroid: Samus Returns
Metroid: Samus Returns is a 2017 action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. It is a remake of the 1991 Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus.
PlatformAdventure
- Time to beat
- about 12.3 hours
- Plays offline
- Yes
Overview
Metroid: Samus Returns is a 2017 action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. It is a remake of the 1991 Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus. Players control series protagonist Samus Aran, a bounty hunter who is contracted by the Galactic Federation to exterminate the parasitic Metroid species on their home planet of SR388. While the story and structure parallel the original game, Samus Returns features redone graphics, updated controls and user interface, and new gameplay mechanics not seen in previous 2D Metroid titles, such as a melee counterattack and the ability to aim freely at any angle.
Development began in 2015, overseen by longtime producer Yoshio Sakamoto and directed by Takehiko Hosokawa, a game designer in the series. MercurySteam originally pitched a remake of Metroid Fusion before Sakamoto suggested remaking Metroid II. New gameplay features and areas were added to "spice up" the experience of the original game. Music was composed by Daisuke Matsuoka and directed by Kenji Yamamoto, who had co-composed the music for Super Metroid.
Samus Returns received positive reviews upon release for its visuals and improvements over the original version, with many also deeming it a return to form for the series. Some criticism was given to the controls and the counterattack mechanics. It received awards and accolades from multiple publications and awards shows, including "Best Handheld Game" at The Game Awards 2017, and "Handheld Game of the Year" at the 21st Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. Sakamoto was impressed with MercurySteam's understanding of the series, leading to their continued collaboration for Metroid Dread (2021) on the Nintendo Switch and Metroid Ravenous (2027) on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Official trailer
Trailer. Watch on YouTube
Gameplay
Metroid Samus Returns - 100% Walkthrough Part 1 | Surface (All Missiles & Energy Tanks) 3DS Gameplay, BeardBear. Watch on YouTube
Screenshots
Game details
- Genres
- Platform, Adventure
- Developer
- Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development, MercurySteam
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Series
- Metroid
- Engine
- Mercury Steam Engine
- Platforms
- Nintendo 3DS
- Age rating
- ESRB E10+
- Modes
- Single player
- Yes
- Local multiplayer
- No
- Online multiplayer
- No
- Co op
- No
- Age ratings
- USK
- 12
- ACB
- M
- PEGI
- 7
- ESRB
- E10+
- GRAC
- 12+
- CERO
- A
Release dates
| Platform | Region | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo 3DS | Europe / PAL | 2017-09-15 |
| Nintendo 3DS | North America | 2017-09-15 |
| Nintendo 3DS | Worldwide | 2017-09-15 |
| Nintendo 3DS | Australia | 2017-09-16 |
Editions
Special Edition
Limited or specialIn the box
- Nintendo 3DS game card
- Reversible cover
- Samus Archives soundtrack CD with 25 tracks
Legacy Edition
In the box
- Nintendo 3DS game card
- Steelbook styled as a Game Boy cartridge
- Soundtrack CD
- 40-page art book
- Morph Ball keyring
- S pin badge
In the game
- Download code for Metroid II: Return of Samus
Playable today
Playable offline todayYes
The whole game plays from the card.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Ever released on disc | Yes, on Nintendo 3DS game card |
| Ever released in the store | Yes, 15 September 2017 On the Nintendo 3DS eShop. |
| In the store to buy today | No The 3DS eShop closed on 27 March 2023. |
| Can be downloaded again if you already bought it | Yes From the 3DS eShop. |
| Playable offline today: campaign | Yes |
| Playable offline today: local multiplayer | Does not exist Single-player only. |
| Playable offline today: online multiplayer | Does not exist Single-player only. |
Online
Plays offlineYes
Reception
- Aggregates
Outlet Platform Score Scale Metacritic 3DS 85 100 - Critics
Outlet Score Scale IGN 8.5 10 GameSpot 9 10 Game Informer 9.75 10 Destructoid 8 10 Nintendo Life 10 10 Nintendo World Report 9.5 10 Polygon 9 10 USgamer 5 5
Staff and cast
- Staff
Role Name Developers MercurySteam, Nintendo EPD Publisher Nintendo Directors Takehiko Hosokawa, Jose Luis Marquez Producer Yoshio Sakamoto Designers Jacobo Luengo, Aleix Garrido Oberink Programmers Fernando Zazo, Enrique Jesus Garcia Amezcua Artist Rafael Jimenez Rodriguez Composers Kenji Yamamoto, Daisuke Matsuoka
Notes for collectors
- A remake of the 1991 Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus, built by MercurySteam on its Mercury Engine.
- Samus hunts the Metroids on their home planet SR388, with Teleport Stations for fast travel.
- Metroid amiibo unlock reserve tanks, a Metroid Marker, art galleries, a Sound Test and the extra-hard Fusion Mode.
- Hard Mode unlocks after the first clear without an amiibo.
Credits
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Developer
- Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development, MercurySteam
- Director
- Takehiko Hosokawa, Jose Luis Marquez
- Released
- 2017-09-15
- Age rating
- ESRB E10+
- Region
- US
- Time to beat
- about 12.3 hours
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