"Metroid: Samus Returns" - First Impressions

We've reached the fall when everything announced begins the cycle of wallet draining releases that last until the end of the holidays and towards the front of the fall releases is the anticipated "Metroid: Samus Returns", the remake of the classic "Metroid 2" for the Game Boy. There has been a lot of skepticism for this game seeing as the fanbase waited 6 years for a Metroid game to be released, only to get a mess that nobody asked for.

Just what is this?

So after "Federation Force" and the previously release "Other M" it has sort of felt like Nintendo has given up on the series. This year everybody was happily proved wrong with the announcements of "Metroid Prime 4" and "Metroid Samus Returns". After a few months of doubt, "Samus Returns" stronger than ever, and although i haven't been able to purchase it yet I was able to get some hands on time with it, and wanted give my first impressions of the game.

The game immediately impressed me as soon as it started, it looks beautiful, the colors are vibrant and the character models all pop out and move fluidly through the 2.5D world. The game smoothly transitions between close-up scenes and the normal sidescrolling 2-D perspective.

Definitely seem to be using the 3DS to its full potentital

As soon as you start moving not only did I like what I saw, but i also really liked what i felt. The controls are tight, and the game is fast-paced. The controls are greatly appreciated seeing as along with the speed comes a difficulty that instantly reminded me it was a remake of a classic game. If you find a save point, save. Death is a recurring thing if you're not careful and take advantage of the tools you're given. 

Enemies are unpredictable as hell

I was definitely impressed with the first two areas of the game i got to explore, it's executed the classic "Metroid-vania" formula by adding plenty of areas to explore, bosses to fight, and things to find, even in the small area of the map that I explored. This definitely a love letter to Metroid fans, but also open arms to newbies of the series, and if this is any sign to how Metroid Prime 4 is going to be for the Switch, then there's hope for the continuity of an amazing series that was temporarily, almost permanently, left deep in the vault of forgotten titles.

-The Bard