Metroid: Samus Returns Reviews

Metroid: Samus Returns is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
No Recommendation / Blank
Sep 12, 2017

Metroid returns with an enjoyable if underwhelming remake of a famously divisive game.

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IGN
Samuel-IGN
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

While it's been marketed as a remake of Metroid II: The Return of Samus for Game Boy, Metroid: Samus Returns is more of a much-needed reboot of the 2D Metroid games we know and love. It's a safe, modern take on Super Metroid, one of the greatest games of all time. Aside from some repetitive boss fights and hand-cramping controls, it's nearly everything I could ask for as a fan of old-school Metroids.

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Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
9 / 10
Sep 12, 2017

A superb remake of Metroid II and the best 2D entry since Super Metroid, that doesn't compromise at all in terms of challenge, complexity, or atmosphere.

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Sep 12, 2017
Metroid: Samus Returns - Easy Allies Review video thumbnail
9.8 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

A steady drip of upgrades and collectibles ensures that exploring the alien-infested planet of SR388 won't grow tiring anytime soon

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9 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

To call Metroid: Samus Returns a remake feels unfair. Remakes are old games with new coats of paint: an upgrade in resolution here, reworked artwork there. Samus Returns is far more than that. It's a top-to-bottom reimagining, bringing the bones of a game that's over 25 years old into the modern era with fantastic results.

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GameSpot
Top Critic
9 / 10
Sep 12, 2017

Metroid: Samus Returns is a return to form and an exciting evolution of the series' beloved formula.

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USgamer
Top Critic
Sep 12, 2017

I was delighted by Metroid: Samus Returns. It hits pretty much every note you hope to see in a Metroid game, and MercurySteam's console background is evident in their flair for the dramatic— whether in their introductory cutscenes or their boss battles. Their dramatic reinvention reinvigorates the source material and strengthens the story's bridge to Super Metroid. In short: They nailed it.

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8 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

Maybe the next 2D Metroid will take more chances, but Returns is far better than I expected it to be. The faux magic system, while shallow, adds some panache to the action, as do the combat animations that work within the confines of the engine.

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9 / 10
Sep 12, 2017

Metroid: Samus Returns shows why 2D Metroid is still top-tier. It's far from the perfection that Super Metroid had, but this takes my least liked 2D Metroid game and reimagines it so completely that it almost beats the remake of the original Metroid in my estimations. If someone at Nintendo can add the ability to switch control schemes, it would make a huge difference. This is the return we've been waiting for, though I want Nintendo to develop the “Next Mission” in 2D for the Switch themselves.

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93 / 100
Sep 12, 2017

Samus returns with an adventure that it's an example of how all remakes should be, respecting the original game, honoring the classics and adding a pinch from the latest games. Samus Returns is not only a great Metroid game: is also one of the best titles for the Nintendo 3DS.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Ollie Barder
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Oct 7, 2017

A great deal of effort clearly went into making this game work and bringing SR388 to life once again. However, as a Metroid game, it still falls short of earlier releases.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

Even if the exploration has been lightly dumbed down, Samus Returns is a great and engrossing game.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

A succesfull reimagining of an old classic that not only does what the original game did, but evolves its formula to show a more modern gameplay.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Alex Donaldson
Top Critic
Unscored
Sep 12, 2017

Metroid 2 is a personal favourite of mine, and this remake does it justice and some.

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Sep 12, 2017

While this isn't Samus' greatest adventure, it is still a very good one.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

An excellent reimagining of an age old title, it's great to see Samus back after such a long hiatus, please don't go away for so long again.

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90 / 100
Sep 12, 2017

Samus Returns has an appropriate name. It really does feel like a homecoming for a franchise that I love. It's great to be playing a new 2D Metroid. But it doesn't just work off of nostalgia. Samus Returns's new ideas actually add improvements to the classic Metroid gameplay. It might have come a little later than I liked, but Nintendo proved that they can still make this franchise exciting again.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2017

Smart improvements and additions make this reimagining of a 25-year-old Game Boy adventure a real treat for modern fans

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Sep 12, 2017

Nintendo reimagines the Game Boy classic Metroid 2: Return of Samus for a new generation of handhelds, maintaining the series' challenge while giving it some much-needed polish.

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