Nintendo announced a new 3DS Metroid game remake of the classic Gameboy game called Metroid: Samus Returns today at E3. Samus Returns aims to bring the 3DS remake treatment to Metroid II: The Return of Samus and I'm really happy to see Nintendo do this. I picked up the original Metroid II on Gameboy last year and had a lot of fun replaying it. That said, Metroid II suffers from the same problems I had with the original NES game in that if you don't bomb every wall and the like it's really hard to figure out how to progress. I didn't have that same problem with Super Metroid, which was the first Metroid game I actually ever completed. One of my hopes for this remake is that Nintendo can make progression a bit easier to understand as again, that was my biggest problem with the original games. Couple the fact that when I played the original games as a kid I had nearly unlimited time to play them, I still had issues progressing and just kind of played the beginning of the game over and over again.

All that to say, this remake looks really interesting as Metroid II really kicked the series into a new story telling focus which this game seems to bring back in spades. In Metroid II you are hunting down the final Metroids and you need to take them out one by one.

Nintendo seems to be upgrading the game quite a bit and some of the new game features are below:

• This intense, side-scrolling action platformer has been completely remade with engaging and immersive 3D visuals and a rich, atmospheric color palette.


• Classic Metroid II: Return of Samus gameplay is joined by a wealth of new content, including a set of brand new abilities that utilizes a mysterious energy resource called “Aeion,” a powerful melee counterattack, and 360-degree Free Aim Mode.


• There are plenty of secrets to find—and if you uncover enough of them, you may even start to unravel the mystery of Planet SR388’s past.


• Two new amiibo figures*—Samus Aran and Metroid—will be released as a set alongside the game. This game is also compatible with the Zero Suit Samus and Samus amiibo from the Super Smash Bros. series. Functionality details will be revealed at a later date.


• While supplies last, fans will be able to purchase a special edition of the game, which includes a physical copy of the game, a sound-selection CD featuring 25 tracks from across the Metroid franchise, and a reversible title-sheet insert for the game case.

Metroid: Samus Returns drops this September 15th on the 3DS!

https://e3.nintendo.com/games/metroid-samus-returns-3ds