Playing through Metroid 2: Samus Returns (3ds) and it is an underrated gem
Are games under the monicker of Metroid 2 destined to black sheeps of the series? I am comfortably into Samus Return's campaign and am in both awe at the game's detail and environmental storytelling, as well as confused with the game's common criticisms- most of which stem from its comparison to AM2R. Mainly, that AM2R's worldbuilding is unmatched.
I haven't played AM2R, but Samus Returns has remarkable worldbuilding and cohesion, the likes of which no other Metroid has matched for me yet. The backgrounds contain lush alien ecosystems, amplified by the original hardware's 3D setting. But the most interesting part of this world so far is its Chozo ruins; we see ruinous hallways, a vast hydroelectric power system, mines, advanced power grids designed to harness energy from volcanoes... and yet the world is colored with a melancholic tinge.
I want to stress that I am playing Samus Returns directly following Zero Mission, at the end of which Samus reignites her Chozodian memories and regains her power suit. It's a moment where she accepts herself and her past, making her stronger, more self-assured. And so, playing Samus Returns subsequently, I'm seeing SR-388 through Samus's eyes. The planet's flora and fauna creeping in on Chozo ruins becomes somber, and every detail of the world is a tragic reminder of a once thriving race- Samus's once thriving race. Imagine stepping foot on the property of your childhood home, only to find its ruins overtaken by nature. Even the game's loading screens strike me. When Samus uses an elevator in previous games, you briefly watch her sprite descend, with no variation in perspective. But in Samus Returns, the camera is brought directly into Samus's profile. It's a short, intimate scene that plays as you see more of the planet, and it betrays a thoughtfulness in Samus, the player. This realization has recontextualized the whole series for me- Zero Mission is a story of Samus running away from her past, only at the game's conclusion reconvening with her repressed childhood memories. Samus Returns, so far, is Samus now living with her childhood memories intact, dealing with the tragedy of her race's near extinction, and fighting against the planet that's slowly reclaiming the Chozo's ruins (I have a feeling there's going to be more complexity to this as I get deeper into the game and save the baby metroid.). I am sure this sobriety will extend to Super Metroid and Dread (maybe not fusion) when I play them next, and perhaps Prime if I go there. Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps people see Samus Returns in a better light! I am loving this game so far, and it has solidified for me that my favorite Metroid is the one I last played.