Editing Metroid II: Return of Samus

{{Game
| name=Return of Samus
| image=[[Image:Metroid2.jpg|200px]]
| bgcolor=silver
| fgcolor=black
| full title=Metroid II: Return of Samus
| developer=[[Nintendo R&D1]]
| publisher=[[Nintendo]]
| genre=[[Action]]/[[Adventure]]
| system=[[Game Boy]], [[3DS Virtual Console]]
| release='''Game Boy'''<br />US August 26, 1991<br />JP January 2, 1992<br />EU May 21, 1992<br />'''3DS Virtual Console'''<br />JP September 28, 2011<br />US/EU/AU November 24, 2011
| gallery=[http://www.gamehiker.com/gallery/index.php?cat=126 GH Gallery]
|}}

'''Metroid II: Return of Samus''' is the follow-up to the original ''[[Metroid (game)|Metroid]]''. It was released for the Game Boy four years after the first game and was the first handheld title in the series, despite most other series continuing on the [[Super NES]] at the time.

=Story=

''Metroid II'' follows the story of the original [[Metroid (game)|Metroid]]. After the [[Space Pirates]] had been defeated on [[Zebes]], the [[Galactic Federation]] had decided it was too dangerous to leave the Metroids alive. After repeated failures from different Federation teams, they decided to enlist Samus Aran to finish off the Metroids. Samus's mission took her into the heart of [[SR388]] where it was discovered the Metroids had gained far more advanced evolutions thanks to the gamma radiation on the planet. 

=Gameplay=

''Metroid II'' brought back with it all the elements that made the original ''Metroid'' memorable. Samus retained most of her abilities from the previous game, while the others could be found as the player progressed through the game. New abilities included the the Spider Ball and Spring Ball, allowing a new dimension of flexibility for the [[Morph Ball]]. Some other gameplay features from the first game were also tweaked, such as the aiming of Samus's gun. 

Like the previous game, open exploration was encouraged. The game had a counter of the number of surviving Metroids. The player had to explore the caverns in search of these Metroids. Each Metroid is actually an evolved form of the original Metroid and is fought in a miniboss or boss-like battle. As the Metroids are destroyed, the planet's lava will slowly receded to open up new areas.

=Continuity Notes=

*''Metroid II'' was initially a direct sequel to ''Metroid'', although the passage of time between the two titles is unspecified. The ''[[Metroid Prime]]'' series has since been established as taking place between ''Metroid'' and ''Metroid II''.
*This game notably features the near-extinction of the Metroid species and sets up the last Metroid hatchling for its appearance in ''[[Super Metroid]]'', although later games would establish cloning programs which create more Metroids.

=Legacy=

Because of the lack of a map, ''Metroid II'' (along with the original) is often considered the most challenging in the series. The game is a touch easier to navigate through due to areas being more diverse than in the original. However, the game is often the neglected member of the series, partly because of it being on the Game Boy and partly from lacking the villainous Space Pirates that appeared in the rest of the series. It is still notable for non-Japanese gamers as the first in the series to allow battery saving.

==Sequels==

In 1994, ''[[Super Metroid]]'' was released for the [[Super Nintendo]].

==Ports and Remakes==
*A colorized version of ''Metroid II'' called ''Metroid II: Return of Samus DX'' was planned in 1999, but was cancelled along with ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 2|Kirby's Dream Land 2 DX]]''.
*In March 2000, ''Metroid II'' was released for download in Japan through the [[Nintendo Power|Nintendo Power system]].
*The original version of ''Metroid II'' was released for download over the [[3DS]]'s eShop as part of the [[3DS Virtual Console]] in 2011.
*It received an expanded remake on the [[Nintendo 3DS]] in 2017 as the similarly-titled ''[[Metroid: Samus Returns]]''. This remake retooled the graphics and added gameplay elements from games that had come out since ''Metroid II'' while also introducing new features.
*In February 2023, the original game was among the first wave of games to be added to the [[Nintendo Switch]]'s library of Game Boy games for [[Nintendo Switch Online]] subscribers.

{{Metroid Series}}

[[Category: Game Boy Games]]
[[Category: Metroid Games]]
[[Category: Player's Choice]][[Category: 3DS Virtual Console Games]]