Is Metroid II: Return of Samus a Good Sequel?

[@Josh_Fredman]

It's really cool to see someone in 2021 who has never played the Metroid games before actually giving them an honest, complete go-through in chronological order! While Super Metroid is objectively the better game of the original trilogy, Metroid II is where my heart belongs. I played both of them as a kid, but Return of Samus has two things that Super Metroid doesn't: First, a true sense of desolation and horror. It often goes overlooked that the camerawork in Metroid II, necessitated by the small Game Boy screen size, achieves this incredible sense of claustrophobia in some spaces and murky vastness in others. This ~really~ makes the game feel lonelier and more unsettling. The soundtrack also gets frequently overlooked for its contribution to the atmosphere. The main tunnel theme is the most triumphant tune in the whole Metroid franchise, and that's by design: It makes the areas outside the main tunnel feel much spookier when this friendly music just ~stops~ and minimalist alien blips and squeaks take its place. The composer, Ryoji Yoshitomi, knew his stuff: The title screen, main tunnel, Omega Metroid territory, Metroid Hatchling, and ending credits all have rich, melodic, emotionally moving themes, but you spend ~most~ of your time in the game listening to experimental electronic noise, and this contrast really contributes to the horror and feeling of being alone in an alien world. And who can forget the flash of terror that comes when you're walking down a hallway and the ambient music suddenly gets overridden by the jumpscare of the Metroid music. In Super Metroid, the music is never your enemy, but it is in this game. Finally, the area design: Most of the areas of the game are deliberately similar to save on memory, but this also achieves the effect of making you feel like you're going in circles. It becomes a mystery to solve, and negotiating your own frustration is part of the gameplay experience. This pattern changes in the bottommost caves, where the Omega Metroids live, which are straightforward and unique but also so completely devoid of life that they are truly scary; a great buildup to the climax of the game. Second, Return of Samus has a sense of perspective that doesn't happen anywhere else in the Metroid series. You hinted at this yourself when you said that the end of the game made you feel almost sad. Bounty hunters are usually not good people, and Samus' mission in this game is to hunt an entire species to utter extinction. While the game's instruction manual clearly establishes that Metroids are dangerous, and you don't really question it when you're a kid, the Metroids aren't actually doing anything wrong. They're not like the Space Pirates, causing harm on purpose. They're just there, on their own planet, living their lives. Samus is contracted to eradicate them only because of the danger they pose in the hands of others. So you can come back to this game as an adult and feel vaguely horrified, almost queasy, at the thought of Samus' actions in this game. It's genocide. Her decision to spare the life of the Metroid Hatchling is Samus' one redeeming moment, and, as she and the baby peacefully escape back to the surface of SR388 under a clear and starry night, there is, on one hand, a deep catharsis as you know you have escaped the horror and can go home, and, on the other hand, a deep melancholy and sense of disorientation as you begin to realize the genocide that Samus has committed, and how she nearly drove an entire species, who had done nothing wrong, to its death...and how we as players never questioned this along the way, shooting our beams and missiles with deadly intent. The Metroid Hatchling theme is very peaceful...in a very lonely way. And Super Metroid somewhat cheapens this ending by later having the baby sacrifice itself for Samus, thereby completing the extermination of its species (at least as of Super Metroid; Fusion obviously changed that). Every Metroid game is fun, but Metroid II is really the only time in the Metroid series when we are asked to fundamentally question Samus' actions. If you made it through that wall of text and found it interesting, there's a great essay by S.R. Holiwell that elaborates on some of these points: www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/a-maze-of-murderscapes-metroid-ii Anyhow, cool video! I hope you enjoy the rest of the series!

[@brandansampsan]

I know its been awhile since u wrote this but it was a joy to read

[@knghtbrd]

Your comments are well-written and worthy of the best accolade I can provide: 👍 (This is probably a sad commentary on the state of society, but I'll save it for another thread.) And yet, I think your characterization of the metroids as "just there, on their own planet" misses a few obvious points (even if those bits of lore were fleshed out later in our world (because Samus would've known them in-universe.) Choosing to ascribe to her motives based upon the lore you assumed at the time now decades later is unfair because that lore has changed. And moreover we have since learned that the design of Metroid 2 and 3 included the basic lore that Metroids were created by the Chozo who were destroyed by their own creation. (They weren't developed at the same time as I've seen a couple of people say offhandedly, but the teams were mostly the same working from the same lore bible.) The Metroid were an artificially-created parasitic organism that was so dangerous it wiped out its creators. It's easy to throw around concepts of the big bad space bounty hunter committing GENOCIDE (a very loaded term) upon this poor defenseless little animal species with cute little babies … but um, these things killed an advanced alien civilization to the last bird on two or more planets in the time between when she was trained and raised by the Chozo and when she said goodbye to her foster-father to fight the theoretically good fight. How long was that? Ten years, maybe 20 if Samus is actually human and now in her 40s (which is hard to believe!) We humans introduce species without predators into new areas and its always a problem. In part of the US, there are feral hogs and a plant called kudzu that invade and destroy native plants and animals. We humans carried predators like rats to New Zealand that threaten to make native animals who evolved without predators. We're actively transplanting a purple flower to Iceland that's intentionally taking over a lot of places nothing else would grow-we're doing that much on purpose. That might turn out to be as much a mistake as the kudzu. The point is that the metroids were a created thing that got way out of hand. On SR388, the more they evolved the less anything survived around them. You get to the end of the game and everything is dead. Desolate. Life is gone, wiped out, killed by the queen. In Japan, "Bounty Hunters" were (mis)understood to be elite soldiers/law-officers prepared for things ordinary police were ill-equipped for. Stopping the space pirates from obtaining a biological weapon and then eradicating the threat from this man(bird)-made doomsday device seems to be firmly within a badass elite soldier and law officer's wheelhouse. Especially when she's fought these things before and won. Except they're evolving right in front of her. As Metroid 2 closes, we don't know why the metroids were created. But here's one, the last one. It cannot mate, and for the time being it's not life-threatening. So many have died, including these creatures who did not ask to be created as the danger that they are. Maybe the scientists of the Galactic Federation can find a way the metroids' unique properties can benefit society as a whole. Maybe the metroids can be altered to be less dangerous? That much was all intended in the 90s, so it doesn't require retconning history-just knowing the story they were trying to tell, and recognizing they kinda missed on the delivery where a lot of those important details are concerned.

[@NowRacattackForce]

I gotta say I have the exact same feelings on ''Return of Samus": a lot of great improvements over the first game that makes it more preferable to play, but still very much a "where the hell do I go?" situation. Great video!

[@LukerYT]

Thanks a bunch! It was certainly confusing at parts, especially in what I think is the third area? There's a lot of elements that would definitely be improved with a waypoint feature or some other implicit means to guide the player, so I'm looking forward to when I eventually et onto my video on Samus Returns to see how the two compare 😄

[@GBDupree]

Yeah, for me though its less "where do I go?", and more "where did I already go?", because of the similar screen layouts throughout. I finally had the patience to actually beat the game recently, I even managed to get about halfway through before I checked out a map online (I can't remember why exactly, I think I just wanted to be sure I didn't miss anything since I like to go for 100%, though I failed that, but the map ended up saving me later with some traps). I've never been able to get far into the NES Metroid, but at least I can say I beat Metroid 2 (though I did use the rewind feature of NSO a lot).

[@matthewrodriguez257]

youll be pleasntly surprised with AM2R, its faithful to the original and adds new elements and areas that dont feel out of place. Also the music is great

[@LukerYT]

Looking forward to giving it a try!

[@ArneZiegfeld]

Man, I've just discovered your channel and it's a GEM! Please don't tell me, you've stopped making videos? I really love your voice and style of editing. Your videos are just a pure joy to watch! I really hope there'll be more to come! Sending love from Germany 💚

[@LukerYT]

ty for the kind words, just been busy sadly! Ich liebe Deutschland

[@run2thestore]

Having only ever played Metroid Dread before this year, I’m finally making my way through the series. While I played Metroid and Super Metroid on NSO, I actually bought a cartridge for this and played it on my GBA. The atmosphere is amazing, combining excellent use of the sound chip with the cramped viewing screen. It makes finding a metroid actually terrifying, since you’re so close to it by the time it’s in view. There’s also a special color palette for this game when you play it on GBC or GBA, so it looks much better than the average GB cart on those systems. I’m enjoying your videos! Thanks for making them.

[@mywnn5959]

I saw your Metroid 1 video in my recommendations, thought it would be funny and then saw how criminally low the subscriber count was. I'm 100% honest when I say that the videos that you make are worth so much more than what it seems. I'm really interested to see what you will do in the future, and get this man a few more thousabd subscribers, he deserves it!

[@LukerYT]

Ah thank you so much! I'm really flattered you thought about clicking on one of my videos and I'm super flattered for the kind words. I've currently got a Super Metroid video about 95% done, so I'm hoping to release that by the latest Friday :D very much appreciate your comment and take care man!

[@Emberson-9000]

I recommend the EJRTQ patch, which adds full color to the game and really let's the excellent spritework shine. The game was rumored to have a DX version like Link's Awakening on GBC, but it never happened. Fans do what nintendon't.

[@LukerYT]

Ah now that's fascinating! Yeah I was insanely impressed by the quality of the sprite art itself when playing through some of the later areas (especially compared to a lot of environmental design in the OG) - I'll have to play it a bit before I sink my teeth into Samus Returns, thank you for letting me know!

[@Emberson-9000]

@@LukerYT No problem. Figured it was worth mentioning before you dive into the remakes. Now that you know the original, repeat playthroughs can be more enjoyable with the added color.

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Metroid 2 is a personal favourite of mine. Something about the slower pace and more lonely, moody atmosphere has always gotten to me. It’s also the moment that Metroid stories became more than the sum of their parts. I’ve somehow always managed to play this game without ever needing a guide; I think the level design is just much sharper than the original on the whole (tho the GBC palette definitely helped). And that ending is still so memorable to this day. Really goes to show how even the limpest hardware can produce something truly special if you put in the work.

[@KOAHUNT3R]

Metroid 2 was the Metroid title I grew up on. I enjoyed playing it despite my tiny child brain not understanding how to play. But because I enjoyed Metroid 2, I gave Metroid Prime a shot, and that's truly where I fell in love with the franchise. I did come back and beat the game as an adult, and surprisingly, I was able to navigate the map without a guide. I did wind up using a guide, though, to help me find some extra missiles to beat the Queen.

[@Erekai]

Ooooooh can't wait for the Super Metroid video!

[@LukerYT]

Thank you! I've gotten quite a ways through the game now and I'm trying to get the script to be as top-notch as I can make it, because it is a game that deserves a good video on it 😁

[@damascoup]

return of samus is so much more palatable than nestroid. some truly ingenious ideas are being shrouded by its "outdated" status. i revisit it quite a lot and still enjoy myself each time. another great video, im glad you're enjoying the series progression! next game will definitely surpass all expectations tho, can't wait for that video next

[@LukerYT]

Thank you for the kind words once again! Yeah I definitely went into it thinking it might be worse than the OG yet it exceeded those expectations and then some! Looking forward to seeing how the remake does with it too! And oh, for sure - I've gotten all the way to the Forbidden Ship so far, and small spoilers; the video title will be "Gushing about Super Metroid for ___ minutes and ___ seconds" haha

[@mscottjohnson3424]

I'm in the generation to have played this game. I have never played the original, only the GBA remake, so this was my first Metroid game. I did beat it without a guide, but with a multi-year (maybe 10 or more?) gap between getting stuck and coming back to finish it. Surface of SR388 is my favorite Game Boy chip tune.

[@BAIGAMING]

These are really great videos, everyone always talks about the history and the making of these older games, but very rarely does anyone talk about actually playing them and the gameplay mechanics. I'm surprised Metroid 2 improved so much, I played it when I was young and man it was tortuous because I kept getting lost and I remember a scary time limit making me play even worse, but you're right though it's not perfect they improved. I hope you make videos again, I really enjoy your retrospectives!

[@LukerYT]

Ahh thank you so much for the compliment! There's definitely a few things I'd change about what I've said and approached certain games in the series, but it's relieving to know a lot of people still enjoy it!

[@novustalks7525]

This is one of the most fun metroids. The atmosphere and the more fair challenge make it a more rewarding experience

[@lordrumble7028]

Metroid 2 was one of the first video games I completed. Fond memories of that one

[@thejjolli]

Your editing work combijned with your enthusiasm for these games makes for very enjoyable videos. :)

[@LukerYT]

Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you're enjoying them :D

[@dracoerrarus4834]

I got lost in this game as a little kid and had given up, but as an adult I found it great and was able to get through without a guide. I think shooting down alone makes it an improvement over the original.

[@joshb6470]

Metroid 2 was one of my first gameboy games, it was incredible

[@Vistico93]

One thing that bugged me about Metroid II was why Samus didn't start the game with ice-beam and bombs (in addition to the Morphball and 30 missiles) given that the Metroids in the original game needed to be frozen first before pumping them with 5 missiles (and ball up and use bombs to get them off you). It just seemed weird Samus would descend onto SR388 improperly equipped to take on the kinds of Metroids she was expecting to face. I feel it would've been a better shock to the player to have the ice-beam completely fail you in that first Alpha battle (as well as justify trying out the other weapons that become available in later areas) Additionally, it would've been cool if we saw a regular Metroid flying away so we could give it chase only to catch up to it just as it moults into an Alpha

[@diamondsmasher]

Atmospherically, this game blows away the original so far out of the water. You get the “happy” soundtrack when adventuring in safe territory, the creepy interior music, and the foreboding “Dun dun…..” leading to epic silence when you know you’re in hunter mode. As a kid when this first came out, it chewed up my AA batteries like no other game on the hardware. Great review of a classic!

[@SantanaOnDaBeat]

Just finished watching a few of your videos and I'm loving them so far. Hope you continue to make more.

[@LukerYT]

Thanks a bunch! I'm working on it haha

[@froggie_oggie]

Currently up at midnight binging your metroid videos, they're all great!

[@elkikex]

You should continue your Metroid quest. You have a nice format, good humor, and on top of all the algorithm seems ready to push your content.

[@RageUnchained]

Criminally underrated channel. Hope you keep making more content for years to come

[@maxis2k]

As someone who's favorite Metroid game is Metroid II, I still recognize the issues many people have with the game. Lack of a map, linearity, zoomed in view, etc. But I also argue that many of these complaints are why the game is my favorite. It is still the best at producing the isolation and creepy atmosphere people say they want from a Metroid game, precisely because of these limitations in my view. And it's still the Metroid game with the most focus on you know...the Metroids. I also think people don't give the game enough credit for establishing standards for the series. Metroid II really locked in most of the items and the look of Samus that Super Metroid would later go on to use. Super Metroid definitely polished these further. But for a Game Boy game? The detail of Samus and some enemies is fricken crazy. The best looking Game Boy game in my opinion. Anyway, my gushing of the game is over. I admit Super, Zero and some others are technically better. But Metroid II is still my favorite. And I wish it had gotten a Zero Mission style remake...rather than what we got on 3DS.

[@rustyshackelford3377]

I was 9 years old when I finished this on my old gameboy and I was so proud of myself. This game is classic. AMR2 is also excellent.

[@thatjrpganimefanplayerjusi8003]

Absolutely for me AM2R is the real remake regardless of it being fan game it just respects Metroid 2 much more as a modern take the official remake on the other hand excuse I mean REBOOT reimagining changed to damn much to the map and music of the original that it did even really resemble the original anymore so I don’t count it and besides that being disgusting with Nintendo at the time to

[@GBDupree]

I finally beat this game recently, but I remember my first time playing this game years prior. I had emulated it on my computer because there really wasn't any other way to play at the time. I was playing and got through area 3 (I think?) and I had already encountered the 2nd form of the Metroids, but I had a long string of Metroid encounters that slowly whittled my health and ammo down, and then by the last one I barely lived and was left with no health and I couldn't remember how I traveled through the area so I was completely lost and searching hard for where a health station or even a save point was (the save points are so few and far between!). What I didn't realize was that I then accidentally traveled out of the area into the next one and then was only further lost, I found this tube that if I morph ball into I could travel vertically through an area I already went through (a cool visual for a GB game, since it had the tube sprites in the background with no interaction when you first arrive and when you get into it its like you are traveling in the background), and soon after with still not enough health and missile (the enemies are so unforgiving with barely any health refills per kill) I encountered another of the second form Metroids, only for it to transform into the 3rd form and then kill me instantly. What a thrill it was being so close to death as I threw myself further into the depths of this world only to be killed by something I had no experience fighting yet. It was just like a survival horror experience. Though sadly the lack of saves meant that I lost so much progress that I couldn't even remember where I went in the first place, and when I checked a map I discovered I was SO close to either a save or health refill at several points and simply went the wrong way.

[@methamphetamelon]

Personally I rank this game second only to Super Metroid. Metroid II is actually the first Metroid game I completed at all, as well as completed with the best ending, I spent hours and hours playing it on my GameBoy. I actually liked the general lack of music and more atmospheric aspect of the game and the way the encounters with Metroids could sometimes be a surprise. It made for some very tense battles.

[@Zeldarulah]

Interesting. I only played Metroid 2 once several years ago and I didn't remember it being very cryptic (compared to Metroid 1 which I never bothered to finish).

[@topdamagewizard]

It's great for a GB game. The limitations of the GB make the game tighter. I was a middle school child when I beat this. It took me over a year. Just bombing every pixel in the game. It was wild cryptic. You're gonna love Metroid Fusion.

[@DonWeaselYeehawEdition]

It’s kinda become my new favorite thing to look up OG Metroid II videos. I have such a strange fascination and infatuation with this game, and I’ve really appreciated your perspective. You’ve gained a new subscriber. 🫶

[@justinman114]

Really hope you continue this series!

[@The_dude_fantastic]

Well if you want better colour palettes then Metroid: Samus Returns is what you're looking for, it also has a much different ending.

[@eduardofrances]

Love this video so much!! Metroid II was the first GBA game I played when I was child!

[@TarkynSharples2]

For posterity, I was here at 368 subs and 1,101 views. I'm confident that the sub count will be tenfold that by the end of the year, if you keep this up.

[@LukerYT]

Thank you so much! My goal at the start of this month was to maybe get 100 subs by the end of the year, so thankfully I'm well on target to reach that :P I'd be floored at 3k subs by December haha

[@eternalrewind2190]

I was actually able to beat this with good ending as a kid.. I gave up for a while when suck but a kid on the playground said his brother beat it so I came back and figured it out.. still pretty cryptic

[@joepwrsurge]

I used to play Zelda Link's Awakening, and Meroid II all the time while on vacations when I was 6 - 9 yrs old: both classic Game Boy sequels.

[@syweb2]

4:16 YO! Nintendo Land music! 10:13 While the gameplay for these ones is great, I feel they lose some of the originals' spirit (mostly Samus Returns, though I still love that game; Zero Mission is a little less open to different routes than NEStroid was unless you already know certain secrets). AM2R has a similar problem, though at least it doesn't chunk the enemy variety down. Game Maker's Toolkit has a video about AM2R and Samus Returns which I think provides some pretty good insight on the two, though it does overlook a couple of things.

[@LukerYT]

Nintendo Land is great! And their versions of the game themes are really well done I can respect that, having finished Zero MIssion a while back and comparing it the OG Metroid once more, there's certainly more linearity but I only have felt that (in my opinion) as a positive - I'm halfway through Samus Returns and do agree with you, when I discuss presentation and the atmosphere of the game, there's something that's missing compared to the OG. I absolutely loved AM2R, though, which I think is telling of what I enjoy/look for in a Metroid game

[@marc-antoinehamelin1625]

this was one of my first game ever.

[@slerched]

Super GB color palette helps it look better IMO.

[@RadicalCapitol]

I honestly really hope you check out the remakes! They're both amazing. Maybe wrap both of them into one video...? As always, this video is extremely good. So much quality! I'm surprised by the small amount of subs..

[@LukerYT]

Current plans for now are to do both separately, I have this Remake video idea I've wanted to try for a while now and Zero Mission will be the guinea pig for it :P But I definitely want to give both remakes their time and dues! And thank you very much for the kind words! I'm beyond words that I'm almost at 100 subscribers, but I'm also very flattered you think I deserve more 😄

[@Tactical_wulf5.56]

@@LukerYT do you think you'll be covering am2r some time in the future? Or do you not have the means of doing so?

[@LukerYT]

@@Tactical_wulf5.56 You'll see what happens when I get the Samus Returns video out ;P

[@Tactical_wulf5.56]

@@LukerYT sounds good to me

[@joepwrsurge]

After a few years with Super Metroid, as a young boy, I finally saw the beauty of its craftsmanship, and beat the game. I find Meroid II to be a very worthy prequel!

[@AdilAli-ur8mz]

Hey, luker, im glad you uploaded :)

[@LukerYT]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your kind words again friend :D

[@richardalcala4125]

It's a great sequel for what it was built on. Best played on super gameboy on snes.

[@ronaldclayton4232]

When I first got Metroid 2 in the fall of 91 I wasn't blown away by it,the new power ups plus all the other new aspects of the game were cool but the original Gameboy screen just doesn't do a Metroid game justice,I didn't finish it till years later on the super game boy.Super Metroid is the game to play being a top 20 or in my opinion a top 3 along with Zelda 3 and Super Mario World.

[@CoralCopperHead]

The thing that really stands out to me about the original Metroid 2, is the fact that it's a _Game Boy_ game that looks legitimately better than most *_NES_* games.

[@marscaleb]

I never played Metroid II until after I beat Super Metroid (I didn't have a Game Boy until I was in middle school.) It felt disappointing in many ways, since naturally I was comparing it to the awesome time I had with Super Metroid, as well as my memories of the original (not to be confused with an honest retro examination of the original) but it still was a good time, and I'd still rate it as one of the three best classic Game Boy games. I remember wasting a LOT of time constantly backtracking and exploring every tiny nook and cranny for secrets, especially once I got the spider ball. I NEVER had a map when I played this game. Trying to play it that way makes the game take three or four times longer.

[@SiimonDice]

This game is very cool, when I started playing it on my Wii I didn't stop until I finished it

[@LukerYT]

Ah nice! It was hard to find anywhere 'authentically' so I had to go with capturing it on my 3DS, but glad you enjoyed playing it on that console!

[@hermeticist]

Great game. I played it when it came out, and I completed it by exploring. No guide was required.

[@Sedder812]

Metroid 2: return of Metroid Look guys it's Metroid!

[@jonothanthrace1530]

2 is the spookiest of the Metroids, between the huge caves, sparse backgrounds, and occasionally eerie soundtrack.

[@ClutchAssy]

Another video so soon!!! Yes!!!

[@LukerYT]

You know it! I graduated from university fully a few weeks ago so from now until whenever I get a full-time job I'm going to try and put as much as I can into the channel for however long that lasts, so a fortnightly schedule is what I'm touching wood and hoping for; so thank you very much for the continued support! :D

[@StormsparkPegasus]

This was an incredible game *in context*, meaning as a 1991 game for the original Game Boy. Except for a couple of the background tunes which were legitimately awful (but remixed into something good in both AM2R and Samus Returns). While it didn't age well at all, I don't think it could've been any better at the time given the hardware limitations.

[@damsen978]

5:20 tbf the games didn't give you any signals nor feedback about these things, i would have never guessed we had to do these things to progress further into the game. So i'd blame the outdated level design on that part

[@phattjohnson]

I managed to get through this without much issue at all on the Switch! Probably helps I finished it once as a kid on a real Gameboy :P NES Metroid however? I needed that map...

[@bazdaniels7420]

I enjoyed Metroid II but not nearly as much as NES Metroid. By the time I finished it I was glad it was over, and didn't want to play it again. Same with Super Metroid. I liked them but just didn't feel like playing it over and over like I did with the original. One thing I didn't like about the Gameboy one is how big Samus appears on the screen, it felt kinda cramped.

[@ricardomauricioaraya7625]

I totally understand the feeling toward the end. I never played Metroid 2 but a couple days ago I beat AM2R and I felt bad the entire time for killing Metroids... Actually any creature on the game...

[@benknuckels]

Great video, great editing. Do you plan on doing a video on Super next?

[@LukerYT]

Thanks for the kind words! As I'm typing this comment I've just started the editing process for Super Metroid, hoping for it to be uploaded at the latest next Tuesday!

[@benknuckels]

@@LukerYT Very cool! Keep up the good work!

[@LukerYT]

@@benknuckels Thanks a bunch, will do!

[@TheJmax04]

The first game's major frustration is that you don't know where to go, but I think that's also its greatest strength. It was one of the earliest games that required you to explore a huge interconnected world looking for the tools to win. Metroid 2 all but removes this aspect from the game. It's more or less segmented into a sequence of small levels, and you never really go back to a previous area with new abilities. Of the metroid games I've played, it's the only one I wouldn't call a metroidvania. So while it was certainly more polished than the original, I was still quite disappointed by it.

[@robertkenny1201]

I personally loved it's official remake Metroid Samus Returns.

[@Itsthatbun]

huh. I think this might be the first time I've ever seen someone who thought the Metroid 1 soundtrack was better. Metroid 2 just slaps.

[@angeldlc04]

Good vid man

[@LukerYT]

Thank you man!

[@klatuk4u1]

Metroid 2 is legit an improvement in almost every way, save perhaps color.

[@bloocheez3]

I devoured II back in the day. I have no idea how I beat it with no internet but by god I did.

[@DrAndyShick]

1:58 not an earthquake if it's not on earth

[@LukerYT]

shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit you're right

[@hzafary]

What is the background song around the 6 min mark?

[@LukerYT]

That's 'Logic and Trick' from the first Phoenix Wright game 👍

[@deathcold_longplaysua4846]

4:44 Or play fan made remake AM2R on PC. It is a lot better, but also A LOT HARDER!

[@redandblue323]

I never would have guessed that people would still be talking about this game 30 years later.

[@AngryAtlantean]

I can attest that playing older games with a modern viewpoint leads to a lot of frustration and such if you're looking for obvious tells. Back in the old days, much of the pallattes repeated themselves, so, you had to be on the lookout for things that looked weird. A good example of this is the NES version of Friday the 13th in the cave. The platform had repeating sprites that made the look, but every so often you'd see a rock that was noticably different, but still subtle enough to overlook. I think modern games, with their reliance on looking so vastly immense and artistic, kind of dulls that ability to notice changes that don't come with a proverbial neon sign saying "SECRET HERE!!" Return of Samus is one I played a little, but, never finished. That said, I did play both remakes. Don't care for Samus Returns on 3DS.

[@TheTurnipKing]

0:35 the gameboy isn't actually *much* of a step down from the NES. infact, in general hardware terms they're pretty similar. The Gameboy just has a smaller screen area and no colors.

[@TheACcam]

What is the music that is playing at 5:16?

[@CodeVariantLucier]

And that's when the “Metro" part of the name gets the spotlight :D Same as the Metro lines, you never know where the heck you're going I played the Game Boy Color Version (Samus looks like Iron Man there) and i had the same problem with the block that can be destroyed over that wall enemy, oh my god 🤣 Btw, you don't have any plans on playing Another Metroid 2 Remake, right? Only the official ones

[@LukerYT]

Haha that's a great way to remember it! And yeah that block drove me up a wall when I learnt about it the first time, couldn't believe it was that simple and still that annoying 😆 So at first I planned to do all the official games, but as time has gone on a few people have asked if I'm going to play it, so it may be a bonus video for when my Samus Returns video comes out at the same time 😄

[@Cri_Jackal]

@@LukerYT should definitely be more than a bonus video, and I think you'll realize why once you get around to it!

[@GBDupree]

Weird, I only played and beat this game about 3 or 4 weeks ago and I don't remember getting stuck finding that block above the enemy. I also didn't use a guide and only used a map for backtracking and only after getting halfway through the game. I must have intuitively figured that out somehow. Perhaps there is some sort of clue to investigate it that I subconsciously saw? Is it the only enemy at the end of a tunnel with nothing else past it? Because if so, that is a classic indication that you need to bomb the wall or go past the enemy somehow.

[@Enchurito]

Metroid 2 is really easy to navigate, there's zero need for a guide.

[@Xibyth]

I really wish they would release Metroid 2 remake on the switch. Not goona lie, with gb and gbc the only games I enjoyed playing were rpgs and Zelda, so I never even got into metroid until zero mission on the gba. Followed by prime on the gc. Have to admit though, while I've played all the 2d metroids, I only played the first prime. I'm just a lot more interested in 2d games.

[@highstimulation2497]

I'm out of the loop, but how is it that there are Chozo statues on SR388 the Metroids' homeworld?

[@GBDupree]

Because the Chozo created the Metroids, and the Chozo statues and buildings are meant to be the laboratory they used to make them. That's why there are robots later on as well. The world of SR-388 isn't all natural, there are a lot of mechanical things.

[@esosa7725]

99 SUBSCRIBERS SOMEBODY DO THE HONORS Edit: It has been done

[@LukerYT]

It's incredibly mind blowing and flattering were already at 100! Time to see how quickly we get to 200 now I guess! 😁

[@Amanofan7777]

That melancholy feeling is intended by the devs. Metroid 2 is ultimately a game about genocide, and you're not supposed to feel great about that.

[@Chayaen]

Return of Samus is an awesome game! It´s actually a horror game. The remake was too much action-heavy.

[@LukerYT]

That's a fair point! Someone else described it as much the same with how desolate SR388 feels comparatively to Zebes in Metroid 1 & 3 (although coincidentally the topic of horror is mentioned in my Fusion video I just made haha). Will keep that in mind when I discuss Samus Returns!

[@alicevioleta3184]

my fav metroid game. much better than the remake.

[@Wario_Guy]

Guys am I the only one who likes Fusion? I’m not very good at navigating and I got lost in Dread. I still loved Dread, the movement is much better, but to me Fusion’s ADAM system still has the exploration that I liked but it was lots easier to navigate. However it was too linear and I wish there were some sequence breaks.

[@TrevRockOne]

Played this game for the first time this year. Never got stuck. It's Metroid: you check every tile, duh.

[@LukerYT]

Haha my mistake!

[@TrevRockOne]

@@LukerYT No worries, we live and we learn.

[@GBDupree]

@@LukerYT there is usually a pattern that you kinda learn when it comes to blowing up things. You rarely need to check every single tile individually. Typically, it's only the first or second tile away from a wall or up from the ground, rarely would it ever be in the middle of the floor, and often there is some sort of visual landmark to bring you there (like the short tunnels under the Chozo statues that you should always bomb). So often you need to bomb things, yet it shouldn't really take much time once you figure out the patterns the series uses.

[@esosa7725]

Do you plan to go through all of 2D metroid?

[@LukerYT]

Yep! Going to go through all the 2D Metroids until Zero Mission, then all the Prime games, then back to the other 2D Mattouds afterwards like Samus Returns and eventually Dread 👍

[@esosa7725]

@@LukerYT Release order is definitely the most satisfying way to go 😎 Getting to see the gameplay progression is pretty shweet

[@LukerYT]

@@esosa7725 For sure! I might try and get a bonus video or two in the middle of it as well, we'll have to see 😝

[@OgCricksta]

good vid thank you

[@LukerYT]

Ah thank you for the compliment!

[@gamesystemaddict3949]

Are you going to continue this series? I hope you make new videos again.

[@LukerYT]

I'm hoping to make videos again in the not-too-distant future! Unfortuantely work and looking to move is making things a touch busy rn! But I have a few ideas for content

[@gamesystemaddict3949]

@@LukerYT take your time. I'm looking forward to whatever you make! Thanks for the response

[@BeardofBeesPool]

I used to get lost a lot when I was a kid.. By just playing through for hours, I figured out if you kill metroids in an area there would be an earthquake, then the acid would would disappear in the areas where I couldn't go down before.. This was my first game ever and I didn't beat it with a guide.

[@dangerousdays2052]

Samus' suit isn't metal, it's organic. It's literally a part of her like Guyver.

[@kitcrucigera6516]

What music is that at about 05:20 ?

[@LukerYT]

Logic and Puzzle from Ace Attorney!

[@Cyril86]

Honestly just like with Metroid 1, there's not much reason to play the original games when remakes(AM2R is so good) exist. (Other than nostalgia, or if you want to experience the original game, of course)

[@meep7895]

👍

[@seancondon5572]

1:55 or so: I had to pause and unpause like 5 times to read the text. That bothers me a bit.

[@marcievania]

you better not leave AM2R out and only talk about samus returns when the time comes

[@LukerYT]

I'm torn between making it a section of the Samus Returns video or a full video outright. I think it might be a bonus video to do in combination!

[@Amparito847]

I played AM2R and it still is super cryptic in some parts :/

[@LukerYT]

Interesting! I was thinking once I've played all the main line Metroid games I'd then sporadically go over some of the more acclaimed Metroidvania-style indie games, & AM2R is definitely one I want to get my hands on to see how that compares to both Return of Samus and then eventually Samus Returns. I wonder if it's more like Zero Mission's style of remake?

[@Amparito847]

@@LukerYT but don't get discouraged by my comment, that game is still pretty nice looking, had a LOT of quality of life improvements and a legendary soundtrack. I had to use a guide a couple times tho

[@IanHollis]

You know the game has a Super GameBoy colour palette, right? If you're playing on Switch, it's in the settings.

[@LukerYT]

Ahh my bad - I was playing on 3DS for this footage!

[@TheKritken]

Samus can crouch, not even megaman was able of such thing

[@LukerYT]

That's for true, Samus makes Megaman look pathetic

[@aozf05]

This game definitely benefits from playing on the Gameboy Color

[@BeardofBeesPool]

there's a color hack rom you can play. It's great.

[@olovfras1679]

Don't know if anyone said this already, but beat it in under 2 hours and you get to see samus in a bikini at the end screen

[@aspookyspookcrab6253]

How do you have so few subs????

[@LukerYT]

The fact I even have 181(!) is astonishing to me haha - this time last month I was on 60 I think & my plans were to get 100 subs by the end of September, which originally was get 100 subs by the end of the year haha I'm very fortunate to have what I have and I'm very thankful for the kind words!

[@NinjaNezumi]

Nintendo needed to sell Nintendo Power! How else are they gonna do it without FORCING you to FAIL until you caved in.

[@thereisnotryv1971]

I mean, as far as story goes? M2 is very appropriate. Unpopular opinion, Super Metroid is kind of a shitty plot. I think the only reason it took place on Zebes is because the creators wanted to reimagine M1 with modern graphics

[@LukerYT]

That's a fair thing to go for! I quite like how 3 reinvents Brinstar in a way that makes it much more enjoyable in my opinion, but 2 is a very logical follow-through as a sequel

[@Nediablo]

I think it's better than the original, but Zero Mission is better than the remake of 2