As of June 14, 2025, it has been five years since the release ofMetroid: Samus Returnson the Nintendo 3DS. The game provoked a mixed response from veterans at the time, but its fame has gradually grown as theMetroidseries returned to the public consciousness. It helps thatMetroid: Samus Returnswas the first major success the series had seen in a decade, and the first official 2DMetroidgame since even before that. This collaboration between MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD now marks the first steps ofMetroid’s return to relevance.
Indeed, while many would point toMetroid Dreadas being the franchise’s true revival, much of whatDreaddid was tested inMetroid: Samus Returns. The game wouldn’t be the hit it iswithoutSamus Returnsdoing a dry runof its new action focus, not to mention giving new developers to the franchise a chance to design aMetroidtitle. The community owes more toSamus Returnsthan it realizes, and even thoughDreadessentially replaced it in their minds, there are still plenty of reasons to celebrate whatMetroid: Samus Returnsgot right.
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Samus Returns Prepared Metroid’s Narrative For Its Next Push
Metroid: Samus Returnsis a remake of the original Game Boy titleMetroid 2: Return of Samus. In it, intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran is contracted to visit SR388 andexterminate the dangerous Metroid species. The franchise was still focused around exploration even in its early days, but it did not quite have the interconnected world ofSuper Metroidyet. Instead, players are given a count of living Metroids and expected to find and engage them in evolving boss fights. This holds true in the remake, which replaces the originalMetroid 2for all intents and purposes similar toMetroid: Zero MissionandMetroid 1.
It bears emphasis that despite none of the 2DMetroidgames having numbers in their titles anymore, their chronology is still in original release order. The stories of these games flowed into each other more than many realized, soSamus Returnshad to refresh players on past games and further the lore at the same time. Unlockable pictures revealed thebackstory of the Chozo, Metroids, and the X-Parasites, and the extended ending showed the X-Parasite beginning its rampage without Metroids to stop it. The events of the narrative sequel but real-life prequelMetroid Fusionwere important forMetroid Dread, so it was paramount thatSamus Returnsreintroduced them.
A narrative continuation was far from the only layupMetroid:Samus Returnsprepared forMetroid Dread. Most notably,Samus Returnswas the first 2DMetroidgame to really amp up the franchise’s action elements. Different takes on this had been done withMetroid Prime HuntersandMetroid: Other M, butSamus Returnsmarked the premiere of Samus’ Melee Counter. It and the cinematics that often followed used to interrupt the flow of combat, butMetroid Dreadproved that it was an idea worth refining.
Several gameplay elements, including free aiming, were introduced inSamus Returnsand reused forDread. Special powers called Aeion abilities also first debuted inSamus Returns, though they served as augmentations for normal gameplay rather than the vital mechanics they became inDread. Ultimately, although it was limited by being a portable title and the remake of an old game,Metroid: Samus Returnswas still a successful attempt at bringing backboth 2DMetroidand the unusualMetroid 2. Fans desperate for moreMetroid Dreadmay want to seek it out, and it’s definitely a worthy addition to series marathons while the wait forMetroid Prime 4continues.
