

Players take control of series protagonist Samus Aran, a bounty hunter who explores labyrinthine environments, kills hostile aliens, and collects power-ups to gain access to new areas. Metroid: Samus Returns is a side-scrolling platformer displayed in a 2.5D perspective. The player controls Samus Aran from a side-scrolling perspective on the 3DS top screen, and sees the HUD and map on the bottom screen. Sakamoto was impressed with MercurySteam's understanding of the series, leading to their continued partnership for Metroid Dread on the Nintendo Switch. The game received positive reviews upon release for its visuals and improvements over the original version, with many also deeming it a worthwhile return to form for the franchise after years of stagnation. Development began in 2015, overseen by longtime producer Yoshio Sakamoto. While the story and structure parallel the original game, Samus Returns features redone graphics, updated controls and user interface, and new gameplay mechanics not seen in previous 2D Metroid titles, such as a melee counterattack and the ability to aim freely at any angle. Players control series protagonist Samus Aran, a bounty hunter who is contracted by the Galactic Federation to exterminate the parasitic Metroid species on their home planet of SR388. It is a remake of the 1991 Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus. Metroid: Samus Returns is an action-adventure game developed by Nintendo EPD and MercurySteam and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console.
