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Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy) artwork

Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy) review


"Metroid II may not be the most graphically stimulating game ever, nor the most challenging. But without it, where would the plot setup for Super Metroid come in? Also, considering the technology for the time, it is a VERY well done game. I'm gonna use the same criteria to base my opinion on that Donnie W. also used, so here goes. "

Metroid II may not be the most graphically stimulating game ever, nor the most challenging. But without it, where would the plot setup for Super Metroid come in? Also, considering the technology for the time, it is a VERY well done game. I'm gonna use the same criteria to base my opinion on that Donnie W. also used, so here goes.

STORY: 4/5
I like going around SR388 and blasting the crap out of the native creatures and Metroids. But that's just me. Apparently Donnie begs to differ. But that's just him. Yes, I admit, the plotline never really had a true backbone, but if you consider it, Metroid doesn't, Super Metroid doesn't, Metroid Fusion doesn't. Metroid Prime was a different story, what with the in-game movies and all. But there is no plotline except in the pre-game movie in Super Metroid. It's just wander, collect items and battle bosses (or Metroids).

GRAPHICS: 15/15
Yes, it's only a 16-bit game. That doesn't detract from the pleasantness of the graphics. I mean, in the original, Samus was just a bunch of colored blocks. Look at how well developed the pixels are. Samus has actual definition. The enemies look semi-real. The look and feel of this game are incredible. My particular favorite was the work done on the Queen Metroid. Marvelous. It must have taken many hours to do such a thing like that. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Considering that compared to now, the programmers were working with rocks and chisels. Now we can get that kind of thing in a few hours.

SOUND: 8/10
The music is awesome, no doubt about it. There are several themes. The main screen theme, the main section theme, the inner ruins theme, the Omega theme, not to mention the song you hear when you run into a Metroid, this game is in essence a smorgasbord of sound. The sound effects are good as well. When you take damage, the sound of an enemy disintegrating, the Metroid squealing in pain after being hit with a missile. These must have taken a long time to develope.

GAMEPLAY: 23/25
Pretty much the same as the original. Just wander around, collect power-ups, and don't get killed in the process. I (along with several million other RPG gamers who also like Metroid.) like this style. However that is only my (and those other several million) opinion. Do you necessarily agree? No. But it is a popular game, thus a popular style, allowing it to live today. In all actuality, this is a small game, therefore eliminating any real NEED for a map. would it help considerably? Absolutly. Truly necessary? No. The power-ups are well animated, and their effects are incredible. The Plasma Beam could have had a little more than a line moving across the screen, but it's the effect in the game that counts, right? I think so.

REPLAYABILITY: 10/10
I have gotten so bored over the summer I have deleted my files on purpose just so I can beat it again. I haven't gotten tired of it yet, and I've had it for about two and a half years. I only just recently found all the programmed missiles, and have reason to believe that there may be more hiding somewhere. Have to check that one out.

DIFFICULTY: 1/5 (1 being easiest.)
I'm a seasoned Metroid veteran, having beaten Metroid, and almost beaten Super Metroid. The game left me wanting a little more in this department. The first time I whizzed right through it in about 2 hours. My lowest time has been only 1:39, but that's pretty good from what I hear.

OVERALL: 60/70
I agree with Donnie in this section of the review in that if you like Metroid, this is definately worth checking out. This game is an excellent game in my opinion and I would do anything for it. Until the next review, this has been Kent Johnson, Game Reviewer.



kraidraid's avatar
Community review by kraidraid (March 03, 2003)

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