METROID: SAMUS RETURNS

Developer Nintendo, MercurySteam Publisher Nintendo Format 3DS Release September 15

This 2.5D reimagining of Metroid II: Return Of

Samus provides a belated explanation for why Nintendo sent a cease and desist to the team behind fan remake A2MR. While the map and bosses will be similar, there are enough new additions — free aim for Samus’ arm cannon, for instance, and a parry — to justify the name change. Aeion energy can be used to boost abilities: for powerful machine-gunning, say, or better sensors to discover hidden paths. A 3DS-only release may sting for Switch owners, but this is cause for celebration rather than complaint, even if MercurySteam’s pedigree is open to question (it made lukewarm 3DS spin-off Castlevania: Mirror Of

Fate). But let’s be honest: if you’d told us before E3 we were getting two Metroid announcements, we’d have bitten your hand off.