Metroid II: Return of Samus

Return of Samus
Full Title	Metroid II: Return of Samus
Developer	Nintendo
Publisher	Nintendo
System	US August 26, 1991 JP January 2, 1992 EU May 21, 1992
Genre	Action/Adventure
Gallery	GH Gallery

Gamers had to wait four years before the next installment of the Metroid series. Unlike other series that were already moving on to the Super Nintendo, Samus's next adventure took her on the classic Gameboy. Although the game was in simple black and white, it brought in a lot more depth to the series. It also brought Samus Aran on a whole new planet, SR388; home of the Metroids.

Story

Metroid II follows the story of the original 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 2 brought back with it all the elements that made the original Metroid memorable. For non-Japanese gamers, it was the first in the series to allow battery saving, preventing players from having to write down passwords after each play. The game introduced new techniques to the game, such as more control over where Samus can fire. The game also introduced the Spider Ball and Spring Ball, allowing a new dimension of flexibility for the Morph Ball.

Because of the lack of a map, Metroid 2 (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 Gameboy and partly from lacking the villainous Space Pirates that appeared in the rest of the series.