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Metroid II - Return of Samus

Game Mechanics

The game system Metroid II: Return of Samus is a mix between the game of platforms and the action-adventure game accompanied by action phases of type shoot 'em up, in a quest for items in a two-dimensional map. This mix of genres is based on the progressive unlocking of equipment and weapons, as well as areas.

The gameplay features novelties and specificities missing from the first episode. The player explores the planet SR388 by infiltrating the various underground corridors, but it is regularly limited to a restricted area, due to the presence of the lava. In each area, it must destroy a specified number of Metroids, assisted by the interface, which includes a counter displaying the number of monsters remaining to be eliminated. When the last Metroid an area is eradicated, an earthquake occurs, which has the effect of bringing down the level of lava of the planet, and allows the character to sink deeper into the maze of underground corridors. These innovations make it Metroid II a more linear adventure than its predecessor, where exploration takes place rather in a succession of zones, these being very little connected between them. In addition, the eradication of Metroids becomes a central and recurring element of the game's mechanics, in addition to the exploration and acquisition of objects.

The basic mechanism of the Metroidvania is always present, but minimal and secondary. The player controls a character and can move it where he wants it in a universe with several interconnected areas. However, access to certain parts or areas is limited by the presence of locked doors or difficulties, which can only be crossed if Samus obtains weapons, power-up or special material, disseminated as items in the game. The improvements also help to defeat more and more powerful enemies and to discover shortcuts, secret zones and open the closed sectors, which often forces the player to come back on his steps.

The sprite of Samus Aran is big, and this is accentuated by the small screen of the console Game Boy (2.6 inches). The game manual indicates that the character weighs 90 kg and measures 1.90 m. Samus can pull up, down when she jumps or when she's addicted.

Metroid II: Return of Samus resumes the arsenal and equipment of its predecessor, and brings new weapons and features of the combination and for the ball morphing. Two rays make their appearance: the Spazer is a weapon that throws three horizontal rays at a time and the Plasma ray is a powerful and thick ray, which crosses all the elements of decor and all the enemies. Samus Aran can only equip one ray at a time, but the character has the ability to return to his steps, in order to resume at the place where she found it, any ray previously acquired in order to reuse it. The perpetual jump (called space jump in other episodes) is an equipment of the combination that allows Samus to connect the jumps to the infinite, allowing it to reach areas without this inaccessible. Two equipment of the ball morphing appear: the spider ball that allows the ball to adhere to most walls and ceilings and the ball-spring (called spring ball in the game, or jump ball in other episodes) that allows to jump when Samus is in ball.

Backup, missile charging and health charging terminals of the character, are scattered all over the planet, allowing the player to redo the full of items or life, but also to memorize his progress in the game, thanks to a battery in the game cartridge. Metroid II is the episode that sees the introduction of the Samus ship, in which it arrives on the planet and with which it also runs away. In addition, it serves as a life and missile recharge point.

With regard to the weapons and equipment renewed from the first episode, Samus starts the adventure with the base beam, the ball morphing and thirty missiles. In addition, it can acquire the ice radius and the corrugated radius. Its combination can be improved thanks to the lightning attack (also called a vrilla attack or a spinal attack in other episodes), thanks to the jump boots allowing it to jump higher and thanks to the Varia which allows it to withstand extreme heat. The ball morphing can be improved thanks to the bombs. As usual, Samus can own up to one hundred points of life, and can get extra life tanks that offer them each one hundred more points and additional missile reserves. It can recharge its life and missiles thanks to energy balls and missiles left behind by the enemies when they are eliminated.

Metroid II offers only one and only one gigantic level without elevators, which has very few doors to unlock, and which offers several areas not connected between them to explore successively. The game features rounded natural decors, but also a temple consisting of stone constructions. The atmosphere created in the previous opus, scary and claustrophobic, giving a feeling of isolation, is nevertheless present. The ecosystem of the planet SR388 offers as varied as it is dangerous. Samus meets a diverse and hostile fauna, but also a small series of robots left by an ancient civilization.

Dans Metroid II, Samus must eradicate the threat Metroids of planet SR388. ? Metroids are creatures that encroach on their adversaries in order to feed on their energy. They follow an evolution and exist in several states. It meets them in all their known forms, which are the Metroids in initial form, Metroids alpha, Metroids gamma, Metroids zeta, Metroids omega, thirty-nine Metroidsand the Queen Metroid. In its initial form, Metroid looks like a jelly, with hooks that allow her to cling to her prey. As it evolves, the creature develops a mouth, front and rear legs, to become a beard monster evoking a carnivorous dinosaur. The last stage of evolution, the queen, is a sort of giant crocodile with a retractable neck. The larger and more developed creatures, the more powerful they are.