MercurySteam was definitely just getting their footing with this one, but generally did the series justice, introducing some good modern mechanics and creating some of the series's strongest boss battles. The comparison to AM2R is one that is hard to avoid but I also don't think it's fair to EITHER game. Is AM2R a better game on it's own? Perhaps, yes, but I think that Samus Returns and AM2R both offer very different experiences, each which are wholly worth it. Samus Returns is a more significantly altered and modern take on Metroid II, retelling an important part of the series timeline that does everything it can to not seem like a game from the era that the original was. The aeion abilities are pretty fun, although a bit spammable. The melee counter to me is a very welcome element of the series; I've always felt as though some kind of melee attack would be a good addition to Metroid's combat. It is also a bit spammable, but this was ultimately fixed in Dread and feels a lot better, so retrospectively I think introducing it here in a mostly okay state was a good call. Also, SPOILERS, but


this has the best Ridley fight IN THE SERIES. Everyone will have their own favorite Ridley fight but the intermittent cinematics between phases of this fight totally made me fall in love with this fight and, being the first "Metroid" Metroid game since Other M, was a really great finale to truly reaffirm the character portrayal.

I do think that this game is a bit underrated and gets a bit too much unnecessary hate, mostly from people who think AM2R is just vastly superior in every way. I do think that AM2R might bet a better Metroid game overall, but Samus Returns offers a worthy take on the original game that is very solid in it's own right.

8/10