Samus Returns very much accomplishes just as masterful a remake of metroid 2 as Zero Mission did of metroid 1 unfortunately the foundation it is build on isn't quite as stable. Firstly the game looks great as while I would have preferred sprite work the 3d models do an excellent job at creating the trademark atmosphere and allow for cool camera tricks unseen in previous games. The music as always is killer creating fitting ambiance and being tunes to bop your head to in equal measure. The gameplay is great once again with samus feeling as good as ever and the new melee counter and free aim are great additions that add to the level design possibilities. SR38 is beautifully brought to life with vibrant environments not possible due to the limitations of the gb. However one limitation that can't be overcome is the games core structure of killing metroids to progress. In the beginning this isn't so bad but the repetitive fights eventually wear out their welcome and become a pain to complete especially due to the bloating added in an attempt to make each fight more epic. The game in general feels a bit bloated compared to its contemporaries and comes close to being overly long-winded. The unfortunate reality is that it was inevitable for it to turn out this way as removing the metroid system which was created due to gb limitations is impossible as it is the games defining characteristic. Don't get me wrong samus returns is a great game and brilliant remake but unlike the original metroid it is impossible to get rid of all the archaic elements without destroying the games identity