Metroid II: Return of Samus
1991 • Nintendo R&D1
8.3/10Nintendo
ActionAdventure
Samus hunts Metroids on planet SR388 in this atmospheric sequel featuring non-linear exploration.
Gameplay
Exploration-based action game with backtracking, power-up collection, and a darker tone than other entries.
Historical Context
Developed by Nintendo R&D1 as a direct sequel to the original Metroid, bridging the story to Super Metroid.
Fun Facts
- • First game to show Samus without her suit
- • Features a save system instead of passwords
- • The spider ball ability made its debut here
Cultural Impact
Proved that complex adventure games could work on portable systems and advanced the Metroid storyline.
Review
Metroid II successfully translated the exploration formula to portable play with atmospheric design despite hardware limitations.