r/Metroid • u/501R4K • Sep 12 '26
Question Best way to play Metroid 2 for a newcomer?
First time playing through all the games by order of release, and I have already finished zero mission for the first game.
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u/tiptron Sep 12 '26
I like AM2R the most, but Samus Returns on 3DS is much closer to Dread and what Ravenous is likely to be. Those three are the same developer. Original 2 is really cool, but may feel super old and dated. It doesn't have an in-game map at all. It feels like a Game Boy game for sure. Pick whichever looks most interesting to you, and don't feel bad if you need to look up a guide here or there.
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u/Natural_River_472 Sep 12 '26
2 was damn awesome when it first came out.
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u/StormsparkPegasus Sep 12 '26
Yeah it was...it was almost unthinkable to be able to play a game like that on the go at the time it released. But such cutting edge stuff tends to age pretty poorly, and it's hard to play today.
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u/shadywhere Sep 12 '26
I very much agree. I beat it as a kid. Went through tons of AA batteries. But it was not very interesting when I tried it recently.
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u/Salt_Western_2432 Sep 13 '26
Still is, I genuinely love playing that game still, and my first time ever was just only recently. I remember seeing that cartridge everywhere as a kid, just never had a copy
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u/BrookieTF Sep 12 '26
I played Metroid II on emulator expecting to find it awful but I actually really enjoyed it and didn’t find it boring or confusing at all!
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u/Game_Bro_Advance Sep 12 '26
Would love to see one of those trending dual screen ports for it even though, yeah, you could just play Samus Returns if you did have a device like that.
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u/StormsparkPegasus Sep 12 '26
AM2R is great but I enjoyed Samus Returns more. AM2R gets excessively fanservicey at points (like including Serris which makes no sense since he wasn't from SR388). However, my biggest issue with AM2R is they went absolutely bonkers with shinespark puzzles. Think the shinespark puzzles in Dread, but 10x. It went way over the top to the point where it stopped being fun and started being a chore.
It's actually a misconception that everything on the BSL station was from SR388. It's stated IN GAME that only stuff from sector 2 was from SR388. The other sectors had stuff from other planets. Thus it makes no sense for Serris to be there.
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u/SheevSyndicate Sep 12 '26
Odd, I really don't remember shinesparks being that insane in am2r or that numerous. Am2r was a game I found myself easily getting completion in the 90s when most metroid games have me around 50 or 60 percent. Zero mission, fusion, and dread had crazy shinespark sequences and am2r never gave me much grief.
But given that am2r is a fanservicey game that adheres to the gba era+super, it does make sense for it to go hard into shinesparking.
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u/StormsparkPegasus Sep 12 '26
I completed AM2R 100% and I just remember there were a lot of really intricate really frustrating shinespark puzzles. Sure Fusion and Zero Mission had some, but they went MUCH more complicated than those two.
Dread had a couple intricate ones too but there was only one close to the ones that AM2R had.
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u/SheevSyndicate Sep 12 '26
I went and looked up some shinesparks and yeah, some of them actually were pretty wild and I can now remember doing them and having to practice at it. But I still struggled more with the toughest challenges in games like fusion or dread.
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u/flamepanther Sep 12 '26
AM2R came out in 2016.
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u/just_another_g00ner Sep 12 '26
I love Shinespark puzzles. They‘re really fun to figure out and mechanically satisfying! They add depth to levels without impeding progress. Besides, Zero Mission and Fusion had a LOT of them.
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u/StormsparkPegasus Sep 12 '26
Not compared to AM2R. It had more than Zero Mission and Fusion combined.
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u/getl30 Sep 12 '26
I love them in zero mission. I love fusion because it’s nostalgic but I hate the linearity.
I’m at the very end before the self destruct sequence and just now I can explore the whole map
I’m playing super Metroid right now and I’m shocked at how bad doing the shine spark feels.
The others all have this nice split second pause in the air before samus shoots in the direction but super Metroid doesn’t
I saw a really long shine spark sequence on YouTube I think it’s in zero mission
The guy had to keep the spark running so he’d do the front flips etc to keep it
Do you think Nintendo intended for us to use it that way?
I just used it today to enter the wrecked ship.
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u/SilentSasquatch2 Sep 12 '26
Samus returns imo. That game rocks and was the start of mercury steam killing it with dread and now ravenous following it. The gameboy game is hard to go back to but still available on NSO. The fan remake is not made by Nintendo but I’d maybe give it a shot after playing one or both of the Nintendo made versions
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u/ledzppln6 Sep 12 '26
I can’t wait to see what they did with ravenous. They’ve done a great job with creating the “hard but fair” 2D Metroid games so far.
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u/Lewa358 Sep 12 '26
90% of the reason why I've beaten Dread on the hard when it took me like 5 years to beat Hollow Knight is because Dread doesn't have corpse runs. You die to a boss you respawn right outside it, so I can keep whacking my head at it without having to put up with 2 minutes of endlessly repetitive buffer every time I run into something hard.
I am profoundly grateful to MS for not falling into the same bullshit that seemingly every other Metroidvania dev has and actually making a game that doesn't hate the player.
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u/xtellarfb_ Shinespark Enthusiast Sep 16 '26
I mean, Hollow Knight (and, by extension, Silksong) are for people who are more into tougher experiences, meanwhile Nintendo hasn't really been interested in making stupidly tough games since S/NES era ended.
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u/Lewa358 Sep 16 '26
Dread is very difficult, it just doesn't drag out its difficulty unnecessarily.
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u/Arthas_SL Sep 12 '26
I dunno - the over reliance on countering is very un Metroid. Dread does it a lot better making it an option.
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u/kakapipi Sep 12 '26
I just played the “DX” version of this. Amazing! It’s insane what just colored sprites do for this game
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u/Bricky_Stix22_2 Sep 12 '26
Original Metroid II: My favorite of the three. It has a unique atmosphere and feeling of claustrophobia compared to any other Metroid game. It also has the best environmental storytelling, given how the world decays and degrades the deeper you get. The game is very basic, linear an bare-bones. There is some exploration to he had, but its also very easy to play through without backtracking. The boss fights get repetitive. Still worth it in my eyes. The ending where you finally go back to the surface is really rewarding - especially with the stars in the sky. Love this game.
Metroid II 3DS remake: I find it completely throws the atmosphere out the window. Graphically it's obviously far better, though I think it represents to mood of the original rather poorly. The map layout is pretty much the same, and the boss fights are much better, althought still repetitive. The game no longer feels claustrophobic, and at times feels very open and expansive. Still no real need to backtrack. The control scheme is good. Not Dread levels of good, but still good. This game acts very much as a proto-Dread, and will be the most similar to new modern Metroid.
AM2R: Better atmosphere and setting than was portrayed in the 3DS version, but it still fails to capture the same emotion as the original. This game was built to feel like Zero Mission, and it mostly succeeds. It makes some really interesting choices, and is important to the community in my eyes. Suffers from the same repetitive nature, but it controls nicely and is quirky in its own ways.
Overall: My favorite is the original. Its gameplay is clunky, but I think it used the restrictions of being a Gameboy Game to the fullest to create a totally unique experience. That said, the 3DS version is probably the way to go if you want more of a baseline going forward. Its more polished, but has much less character. Id say its the least memorable 2D Metroid Game I've played, and I've played tjem all. AM2R should come last, probably after you've finished the series. Not because its worse, but because it separate. Unless you really got attached to Zero Missions controls. If thats the case, play AM2R next.
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u/Pepsidud32 Sep 12 '26
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks the original 2 is better than the remake they just completely botched the atmosphere in it.
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u/Jmanvelez Sep 15 '26
Thank you for praising Metroid II. I too feel that something very unique got lost with the remakes. They aren't bad games, but are essentially different experiences that keep some story elements, but do not replace the original for me personally.
I want to add that Metroid II is so mechanically similar to Super Metroid that I really do not find it as inaccessible as people say it is. I think what turns people off is the lack of maps, but with a little bit of patience, and understanding of how the game's progress and pacing is controlled, it is not that bad. It's actually the most streamlined, linear Metroid game, with the least amount of backtracking!
Heck WITH a map this game would be ridiculously short and easy.
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u/ThunderWasp223 Dread Mode survivor Sep 12 '26
Depends where they start.
If you play Metroid I, Metroid II is the logical next step.
If you play Zero Mission, AM2R is the next because it's built off the same bones.
If you started with Dread, Samus Returns is made in a similar style.
If you started with Super, then...well, whichever you like.
If you started with Fusion...uh...I guess...I dunno.
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u/Ok-Inevitable3458 Sep 12 '26
For Fusion Players I would probably recommend AM2R due to some shared graphical assets.
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u/magicmasta Sep 12 '26
Would also second an AM2R rec for Fusion players. Although I think there might be some HD texture mods for Samus Returns floating around nowadays for those who decide to give it a go.
I hate to admit this shallowness on my part, but ive always found the non-pixel art Metroid titles on the both the DS and 3DS to be rather aesthetically unappealing. Those handhelds are just so graphically underpowered the lower resolution textures are pretty rough on the eyes.
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u/Feeling-Ad-929 Sep 12 '26
And even the pixel art games look terrible without the proper original displays/proper filters.
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u/TARDIS32 Completionist Sep 12 '26
If you started with Other M, question your life choices?
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u/Mufasa944 Sep 12 '26
I don’t think the people who started with Other M ever bought a second Metroid game.
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u/StormsparkPegasus Sep 12 '26
While that's true, AM2R is not a "canon" story, it's a fan project. It's a good fan project, but it has some weird stuff like Serris being there, when he wasn't from SR388. AM2R went with the interpretation of "everything on BSL is from SR388" when that wasn't the case. It was even stated in game that only the stuff in sector 2 came from SR388 (the rest of the sectors being from other planets). I don't know how they missed that detail.
Anyway, after Zero Mission you have the Prime Series, and Samus Returns continues on from that (and even has a very light Prime reference at the end).
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u/ExPorygon Sep 12 '26
You might be remembering wrong, it was Sector 1 (SRX) that was a SR388 ecosystem simulation. But yeah it was outright stated in the game so I would expect all native SR388 specimens to be located there and nowhere else.
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u/StormsparkPegasus Sep 12 '26
Oh you're right...it's been years since I played Fusion and I just got the sector numbers confused. But my original point still stands, in that only ONE BSL sector had SR388 life. And it wasn't the one with Serris in it.
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u/SanicBringsThePanic Sep 12 '26
Fun fact about AM2R. The devs implemented a system that reduces the fire rate of the beam the more upgrades you have on. They did this because AM2R has the most powerful version of the Ice Beam. Which is also why the Ice Beam is the last beam upgrade you get in AM2R.
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u/GrimmestCreaper Sep 12 '26
I’m playing through the 2D series in chronological order. Decided to do AM2R after Zero Mission. And lemme tell you, it properly felt like my skills transferred over, once i adjusted the controls at least. It’s built using the same general idea as Zero Mission so considering you played that, it would be good to choose AM2R
From what i played of Samus Returns, it’s very solid, but feels way too jarring to go to right after ZM with a drastically different vibe and mechanics. So optionally, considering it, Dread and Ravenous have the same developers, i think going back and doing Samus Returns after Fusion and before Dread would be a good choice, to see where the gameplay evolved
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u/Emotional_Tip1931 Sep 12 '26
you have to play both am2r and samus returns as am2r is more like metroid 2 and has better atmosphere on gb and samus returns has playstyle of metroid dread and ravenous which will prepare you also samus returns has diggernaut 😍
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u/Latter_Lengthiness14 Sep 12 '26
AM2R if you like pixel art and want something closer to older Metroid or Samus Return if you want something closer to Dread and Ravenous. Know that AM2R is free btw
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u/SheevSyndicate Sep 12 '26
Yeah, I never quite understood why people feel the need to choose when am2r is a free game. It and SR are wildly different experiences and if you only have to potentially buy a single game, just play that and the free game.
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u/JD-531 Sep 12 '26
Both AM2R and Returns are great in their own way and they do not "cancel" each other out, so you should give it a try to both since they are quite different enough to the point that it doesn't feel like you are playing the same game twice.
Tho, personally I do prefer AM2R. It plays great, the 2D / sprites art style is amazing and there's even a buiIt-in randomizer to have endless fun with it.
The original Metroid II is kind of a product of its time, it certainly tends to be a hit or miss kind of game, but I do think that watching a playthrough can at least give you the knowledge of "oh so that's how they re-made this area, very cool" that you may want to have before playing either of the remakes, but then again, jumping straight to either of the two remakes is also an option, and probably a better one imo.
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u/burner69burner69 Sep 12 '26
THE ORIGINAL RUNS ON EVERY DEVICE YOU OWN, IS FUN AS HELL AND CAN BE FINISHED IN AN AFTERNOON
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u/clforp Sep 12 '26
I’m a classic enthusiast so I will always prefer AM2R it evolved yet never took away the original feel of the older games. Definitely play samus returns tho if possible as everyone has said you should probably wanna prep for Ravenous and thus should play dread as well.
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u/Nintendotainment Sep 12 '26
I would stick to the original games…
Go with Samus Returns and try to daddle in Metroid II with no help or walkthroughs.
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u/TheGrumpiestPanda Sep 12 '26
Samus Returns is the best one to pick, especially if Metroid Ravenous has your interest.
This game is basically Proto-Dread, as its game mechanics continue and improve in Dread.
And most likely will be improved and expanded upon more in Ravenous.
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u/SvenHudson Sep 12 '26
Play the original version first. Feel free to quit and play another one if you don't end up liking it but you have to try because, tone-wise, gameplay-wise, and story-wise, it's the only one of the three that actually is Metroid II. The only one that is a sequel to Metroid and a predecessor to Super Metroid, the only one that actually carries its own themes and tells its own story.
AM2R is basically just Zero Mission again and Samus Returns is purely proto-Dread. Fine games the both of them but not Metroid II at all.
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u/rooster4238 Sep 12 '26
They’re all great…. But the original has by far the best atmosphere for me. It’s the game that leans most into the horror tones of the series and you feel so stranded and alone. I think the limitations of the original hardware are additive to that feeling. AM2R is a close second for me while Returns is a good game in its own right, but veers too far from the original feeling of oppression for my taste.
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u/Hab_Anagharek Sep 12 '26
Try the original, and approach it for what it was, a Metroid sequel in Gameboy. If you haven’t played the original NES Metroid it won’t land, but the upgrade of the Samus sprite and her abilities was a big deal, before Super Metroid. So, if you do, try it in GBC or GBA, there is a built-in color palette for Metroid II.
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u/Gamestist Sep 12 '26
The real answer is play them all. I would consider them all pretty unique experiences. I played them back to back and it may as well have been 3 different games to me. At the end of the day it really is just more metroid to play
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u/the_eeveekins Sep 12 '26
Definitely go for Samus Returns, it's very good. The original is neat for it's time but much like the original NES game is dated and hasn't aged too well.
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u/Headstar24 Sep 12 '26
AM2R if you’re able to but Samus Returns is also a good game.
I have a soft spot for the original Metroid II but it’s aged. It hasn’t aged as badly as NES Metroid but yeah.
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u/MonkeyVoices Sep 12 '26
All valid, but imo you want to play the 3ds version at some point to enjoy Dread even more.
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u/Romapolitan Sep 12 '26
If you want to go the official route it would make most sense to play Samus Returns, since Metroid 1 and 2 are a bit dated. That said some Metroid 2 fans think the atmosphere lacks compared to the original and I think they prefer AM2R but I am not sure. From all I heard it is a good game, but I did not have the chance to play it yet.
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u/Red_Ryze_Alert Sep 12 '26
As a fan for 17 years now, AM2R is REALLY good. It feels almost as fluid as Dread. I played Metroid 2 on the Gameboy (from eShop) and would always prefer AM2R. I havent played the 3DS remake yet but it's probably awesome too. AM2R has the major advantage of being downloadable on PC and on phone, for free. And it has its own inbuild randomizer which you can tinker and I had lots of fun with randomized runs
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u/BastionB56 Sep 12 '26
If you enjoyed ZM and Fusion I can only recommend trying Am2r (it is free after all if you can find a download)
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u/themng69 Sep 12 '26
Whichever you have available, if you can easily get your hands on all 3, dealer's choice between am2r and samus returns. Personally, I'd recommend am2r if you're playing through the games chronologically and samus returns if you've already played dread, but you really can't go wrong.
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u/Sonic_Mega_Plus Sep 12 '26
They're different enough games that you should eventually play both but Samus Returns is the first Metroid game made by the developers of Dread and Ravenous and also added some extra lore that connects to those games
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u/BastionB56 Sep 12 '26
I can’t really weigh in on this since I've not yet played Samus Returns. But I do want to add that Am2r has a very easy way of getting you more towards the "Custom Content" side of the Metroid experiences (with built in randomizer, mods for Multiplayer, Archipelago integration, challenge mods etc.) if that is something you want to get into at some point
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u/just_another_g00ner Sep 12 '26
AM2R is the best free game I‘ve ever played. It‘s an amazing Metroidvania, that does things a lot different from Samus Returns. It has some new areas, more abolities, and a looot of customization.
The original Metroid 2 is… a game. If you don‘t have a map and just jump into it without prep, dou WILL get stuck and you WILL struggle.
Samus Returns is good. Weird on a forst playthrough because of some design decisions and mechanics it doesn‘t tell you about. It‘s fine, but I enjoyed AM2R the most.
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u/award_winning_writer Sep 12 '26
Samus Returns if you want to see MercurySteam's run of the series evolving over the years. RoS if you're not one of those people who can't stomach playing an older game.
AM2R is fine but it's not an official game and doesn't line up with series canon. It's also not very casual-friendly.
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u/Moondoggie35 Sep 12 '26
Samus returns if you want to stick to “real” games in the series and want to see the evolution between this game, dread and eventually ravenous.
Am2r if you want a really fun take on m2
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u/Aggressive_Lie_3960 Sep 12 '26
AM2R seems to be the most fun while samus returns is exactly what hapened, I would say samus returns because it'll help you learn things like the melee counter and also for the experience (although you can go back and do am2r after). but if you dont wanna spend the money u can just get am2r seeing as its free
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u/Zaekr211 Sep 12 '26
Parroting others' opinion on this but personally a fan of AM2R however SR is the closest to the modern games.
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u/Hyrus86 Sep 12 '26
Well, I'd recommend AM2R even though I haven't played it. I went from Zero Mission to 3DS Samus Return, and oh man, I didn't enjoy it at all.
I don't know, I'm bad at describing stuff. But it felt too bloated and not atmospheric at all, too many enemies, which made it annoying. One very good thing? The bosses! I loved them, the cutscenes were so badass! But I think it worth to play it all just for that.
Later I played the GameBoy one. That one was super short (around 4 hours), and more fun than I expected. I think you should play it after AM2R just to experience the OGs. Use a map, tho.
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u/Ascilie Sep 12 '26
Zero Mission-> Super Metroid -> Fussion -> RoS -> Dread (if you want playability) Otherwise just go from 1 to 5
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u/slippermipper Sep 12 '26
The GB original should be experienced. I'd recommend checking out NES Metroid at some point too, if you can handle a bit of NES jank. Zero mission is excellent, but it didn't capture the vibe of the original, and same goes for the Metroid 2 remakes.
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u/Professional-Wave841 Sep 12 '26
you should play Samus Returns, it is made by the same people who developed Dread and are developing Ravenous.
If you don't care, AM2R is much closer in aesthetic and design to Zero Mission and Super
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u/massigh1212 Sep 12 '26
metroid 2 was and still is a fantastic 2d metroid game and there's a few mods which give it better colors, quality of life features etc. am2r is a beautiful and very faithful remake but you can skip samus returns if you've had enough metroid 2 by then. samus returns got a lot of stuff wrong when it came to metroid 2's atmosphere, music etc. but at least the gameplay was kinda good.
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u/zach3ddvdtv Sep 12 '26
I recommend both AM2R and Samus Returns
Both are amazing games. I have a slight bias for AM2R, I played it pretty early on in my play through of the series.
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u/Twistlelol Sep 12 '26
I would say Samus Returns. And after that you play AM2R aswell. Both are great! 😁
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u/ImplementParking7936 Sep 12 '26
There’s a hack for the GB version of Metroid 2 that adds a map, and that makes it actually playable/ beatable by mere mortals. I personally played that version and I really liked it.
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u/Rootayable Sep 12 '26
Most straight forward is Metroid 2 on NSO, then I guess AM2R wherever you get that from, then Samus Returns on 3DS.
I'm one of the very few who see the original as the best experience of the story.
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u/Milk_Mindless Sep 12 '26
AM2R is more easily available, and well playable
Samus Returns is probably the best version that connects to the Dread and Ravenous gameplays but is locked to hardware and you'll need to get a physical copy cause the 3DS eShop is no longer available
Original Metroid 2 is free with a Nintendo switch online account iirc, but is slow and archaic for most modern players and might not be everybody's cup of tea
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u/Mustaviini101 Sep 12 '26
AM2R IMO is the best way to experience Metroid 2, Samus Returns is good too. OG Metroid 2 is only for the curious and hardcore.
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u/Jawn_Wooder Sep 12 '26
If you have the ability to play all three, highly recommend! They all have their own challenges and positive points. You also get to see in real time gaming evolution and derail by both the official releases and fan made experiences.
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u/YourRealName3737 Sep 12 '26
I’d say play the Samus Returns 3DS remake for those who are casual gamers, while you can play the original Game Boy version if you’re more skilled and patient, and play AM2R if you’re someone who isn’t against fan games, knows about the series already and maybe the other versions of Metroid II, and have a good computer set up to run it well or you lack a 3DS and/or Samus Returns and don’t wanna spend a lot of money on all that.
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u/xXglitchygamesXx Sep 12 '26
AM2R has non-canon fan fiction, Samus Returns adds a lot to the lore and canon
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u/Mean-Nectarine-6831 Sep 12 '26
Am2r is like the only one of the remakes available regularly. Nintendo is dropping the ball not porting samus returns.
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u/Zekeram12 oh word Sep 12 '26
Samus Returns has the actually-canon lore and better metroid fights, whereas AM2R is more accessible and doesn't fumble the ending.
That being said neither truly hits the mark on the original tone; AM2R is too fond and SR isn't fond enough in the places it matters. No version truly replaces the others.
Probably best to start with SR and play the other two in whatever order you prefer.
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u/Pepsidud32 Sep 12 '26
The original Metroid 2 is still fun and worth playing and unlike Metroid 1 the game is super linear so you definitely won’t find yourself getting super lost like in that game.
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u/Shockwavr Sep 12 '26
If you were a fan of ZM (I’m assuming this is true since you want to play more Metroids), you owe it to yourself to play AM2R. It’s an excellent game.
After that, play SR. I’m loving this game so much that I just bought the RP Duo to play it 😂
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u/DeXudra Sep 12 '26
I love AM2R for the visuals and classic gameplay with good quality of life features. Samus returns was very cool with the ending end story linking to other games, and you can see where dread gameplay came from.
Haven’t played much of the gb version. Gotta do that soon
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u/Vicksage16 Sep 12 '26
Samus Returns. They’re all great, my favorite being AM2R, but Samus Returns is where the developers for Dread and Ravenous started so it’s a good entry point for where the series is at. Plus it’s just a really fun game.
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u/Mastatoe Sep 12 '26
if you're coming from Zero Mission then play AM2R, especially if you're gonna play Super Metroid afterwards, the gameplay evolution might make it a jarring transition if you go for OG 2 or Samus Returns
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u/HellBoyofFables Sep 12 '26
Samus returns if you can get a copy of it and then AM2R but if you can’t get samus returns for whatever reason then AM2R is fantastic either way
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u/Diamondjirachi Sep 12 '26
samus returns if you plan to play the newer games as well or return of samus if you are mainly interested in trying EVERY metroid game and see it evolve over time
AM2R is a good fanmade game, but i personally feel like it feels way too different compared to the actual metroid games
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u/TeensieLiberationF Sep 12 '26
Definitely am2r, but the og holds up enough to be playable imo as long as you're prepared to be lost
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u/Fair-Memory-4982 Sep 12 '26
I struggle to recommend the original Metroid 2 to a newbie. It's not without merit, but the lack of a map and very minimalist sound design make for a difficult game to get hooked by. However, if you're a passionate Metroid fan or a patient retro enthusiast, Metroid 2 is a surprisingly atmospheric descent into madness. If you manage to find your flow, there IS something to love here.
In light of Dread, I would probably recommend Samus Returns as the way to experience SR388. The game is a bit of a flawed gem, to be honest. I remember Metroid fans really disliking this one when it released and Dread basically does everything this one does better. However, I always believed it was fundamentally a fantastic game held back by a few stupid design choices. It's still a fun game, and I think you could benefit from seeing the evolution from this one to Dread yo Ravenous.
Been a while since Inplayed AM2R, but it's probably the best standalone experience of the three. It's very in-line with Fusion and Zero Mission, so if you enjoy GBA Metroid, I can easily recommend it. AM2R's status as a fan game makes it hard for me to endorse it as the "Definitive Experience," but it's a fantastic game well worth any Metroid Fan's time. Also, it's much more faithful to the original map and atmosphere than Samus Returns is, so make of that what you will.
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u/CaptainPrower Sep 12 '26
If you're just coming off Zero Mission, then definitely AM2R.
I'd suggest playing through the Prime trilogy first, though.
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u/flamepanther Sep 12 '26
The original Game Boy version is probably the most accessible for newcomers. Just be aware that it lacks an automap. I think it's better to play the remakes afterward. That should make it easier to appreciate the improvements and how each one takes a different approach to the original.
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u/Thegrandbuddha Sep 12 '26
AM2R is a more faithful recreation of Metroid 2. Samus Returns will train you how to use the Melee Counter.
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u/Acceptable_Film7116 Sep 12 '26
Am2r is pretty great if you like the super Metroid/zero mission type of feel. Personally I like Samus returns on 3ds the most because the 3d is absolutely incredible and it's by far the most optimised game
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u/enigma_0Z Sep 12 '26
Returns on the 3ds is excellent.
Started AM2R and it looks good but haven’t finished it.
Metroid II on the gameboy … well it was my first Metroid ever and that was a terrible decision (ZM is much better) but i have soft spot in my heart regardless for it as II was the first one I beat too.
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u/Rigistroni Sep 12 '26
Don't start with AM2R, it's good for a fan game but it shouldn't be your first or only experience with Metroid 2.
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u/eucerin3 Sep 12 '26
Samus Returns definitely. It’s made by the same devs as Dread and Ravenous, and it’s probably the most accessible if you already own a 3DS
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u/Viktor-Victorious Sep 12 '26
The og is rather confusing if your new to the series as a hole, am2r is amazing much closer to super metroid in feel and style. Samus returns may as well be a completely different game they added so much that its really its own thing
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u/thiagossilva21 Sep 12 '26
I’ve finished them recently. I’d say they’re both pretty good games, it depends on your expectations.
Can you play something from the 90s with simple graphics and sound? I know people who can’t stand this type of game. I love it! I simply try to see the game with an open mind. “How it looked like when it was released? How it compared to other games?” And most importantly: this is how they started one of the most important franchises in videogame history.
Samus returns on the other hand is not behind. It’s a fantastic game, with better graphics (of course) and more action oriented. It isn’t 1:1 remake there’s a couple of new things. It’s closer to Dread since it’s made by Mercury Steam. I started this game in my old 3DS (OG model) but it really shines on the New 3DS XL! The 3D effect is very well implemented and it can’t be emulated.
Hope I could help you.
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u/Gamerme82 Sep 12 '26
Am2r is on Android you have to look for the APK and make sure you're not on Android 15 or newer or it won't install there's no 64 bit support for it yet
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u/pinelotiile Sep 12 '26
While Samus returns and AM2R are good games, neither of them are good remakes. The heavy atmosphere as you delve deeper and deeper into the planet and eradicate more metroids hasn't been recreated outside of the original.
In this humble fan's opinion at least, that experience was much more valuable and interesting than the other two.
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u/wezl0 Sep 12 '26
Going against the grain here, but I actually enjoyed my time played the OG Metroid 2: Return of Samus on the NSO GB emulator. It was a fun experience using the Super Game Boy color palette. I still need to play Samus Returns. Just wondering the best way to do so
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u/DaiTonight Sep 12 '26
AM2R is the better game, Samus Returns is closer to what Dread and Ravenous are (plus it teases their storylines in bonus content), RoS is…the original, completely skippable imho.
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u/pepe_roni69 Sep 12 '26
If you didn’t play the original Metroid, going to Metroid 2 on the Gameboy might feel too difficult if you aren’t used to retro games. I still think it’s better than the remake though.
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u/AnniesNoobs Sep 12 '26
I think am2r is the most fun but if they ported Samus returns with an upres on a better controller it would fare much better
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u/jclkay2 Sep 12 '26
If Zero Mission was your first, and you intend on playing Super third, then play AM2R. It's the most similar in style to ZM and Super, which will make for a better transition between the games. Going from Samus Returns, which is much more modern, to Super will be disorienting, so AM2R is a better pick.
Samus Returns is still very much worth playing, so insert it between Fusion and Dread to see the evolution of the games.
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u/Bossman_575 Sep 12 '26
AM2R is better than either of the official versions imho BUT they are all great and def worth a playthrough. All 3 are uniquely different 👍🏾
If you're only going to play one of them though, then go with AM2R.
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u/MrVigshot Sep 12 '26
Am2r for modern qol changes and improved the fights somewhat while keeping the original tone for the most part. Samus returns has more modern features on top of qol like neon abilities. Game also genuinely looks really good on 3ds. But core experience and feel is very different where I barely recognize it as a remake of the original game.
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u/xtellarfb_ Shinespark Enthusiast Sep 12 '26
I've never played AM2R or the original game, but Samus Returns is pretty good and it shows where Dread (and Ravenous) comes from.
Of course, the Metroid fights can be quite long and repetitive, and compared to GBA games and Dread it feels quite slow, but it's pretty good.
I'd love a "Redux" mod or something that allows you to play it without touch controls.
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u/Dont_Deny_God Sep 12 '26
AM2R for a damn sure. People would actually prefer it even IF it wasnt the best version just for the history behind it at the time. But it is the best version also :) 🔥
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u/the_false_milo Sep 12 '26
Honestly none of the remakes nailed it completly for me, but at least part of the felling was kept in am2r. If you want to play samus returns do so, but keep in mind that it has nothing to do with metroid 2. If you like retro gaming, then play metroid 2.
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u/Siggi_93 Sep 12 '26 edited Sep 12 '26
For a newcomer definitely Samus Returns I'd say. But they did make some changes that removed or diminished parts of the environmental storytelling of the original and heavily changed the vibes of certain moments of the game.
That said both remakes used different apropoches and prioritsed different aspects with their adaptation, and both are worth playing.
But in the end neither perfectly capture the full intended experience of the original and if you want that you'll have to play it. But well... its quite old and subject to the technical limitations of its console
There's a really good and fairly detailed analysis of the differences from a design perspective on Youtube. I'd link it but my connection is shit at the moment, maybe I'll add it later if i dont forget about it
Edit: Here it is https://youtu.be/8WkEoYvlUF0?si
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u/tufifdesiks Sep 12 '26
To make it more confusing, there are multiple ways of playing the original Metroid II. Original black & white, Super GameBoy color palate, or one of the fan colorizations
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u/torkflame Sep 12 '26
Samus returns is really fun. It can be difficult but is very satisfying to master.
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u/Bustamanta Sep 12 '26
I'm playing Metroid II: Return of Samus on the GB right now. So, I think this game is just too old for me. Playing without a map is torture.
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u/Rainslana Sep 12 '26
If you just come off from playing Zero Mission then I recommend AM2R since it feels completely faithful to Zero Mission. You'll notice how the graphics carry over to AM2R but also feel the upgrades it brings for one example. Play the official if you want some continuation for Dread and Rav
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u/MrMoroPlays Sep 12 '26
- Find 7 friends with Nintendo switches
- pay $10 each for NSO a expansion pass
- buy dread
- buy ravenous
- play metroid 1 on nes
- play return of samus on gameboy
- play super Metroid on super nes
- play fusion on gba
- play zero mission on gba
- play dread
- play ravenous
peedrun:
- repeat steps 1 through 4 above
- play zero mission on gba
- play super metroid
- play fusion
- play dread
- play ravenous
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u/Calsetes Sep 12 '26
My opinion? AM2R. Whike the official remake of 2 does tie into the series' lore better (because official and nintendo and stuff) in my opinion I liked AM2R way more. The official remake has some changes that I'm not a big fan of, and the changes in the fangame are in my opinion better and more fun.
That said, go with whatever your gut tells you. You will have fun regardless. Even the original has some charm to it, albeit it's rough with no map and a large Samus sprite that takes up a lot of screen real estate.
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u/Anenigmatictortilla Sep 12 '26
I’d never recommend a fan project based solely on the fact that most of the ones that enter my orbit remove something from the game that gave the game it’s identity.
But, as someone who grew up with Metroid 2, who entered into the franchise on Metroid 2 and was obsessed with it until I conquered it? Without a strategy guide or the Nintendo Hotline? I couldn’t recommend it either as it’s…..something, as just conquering it with an 87% was HOURS of searching. It is not a small game, even on the GameBoy
Play Samus Returns, beat it then make up your own opinions about the others
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u/Khetroid Sep 12 '26
I will always advocate for the original GB game. It is a bit dated, but not nearly as badly as the original NES game.
The atmosphere is way better than the remakes and that is important to the game, I think.
I also don't like the gameplay of the 3DS one nor the changes they made. So I think the GB one plays more like a pure Metroid game that Samus Returns (the way the game almost demanded heavy use of the parry just never felt good to me)
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u/PayPsychological6358 oh word Sep 13 '26
Samus Returns since it serves as something of a tech demo of mechanics that would be later refined in Dread and expanded upon in Ravenous.
Essentially the Wii Sports to Dread's Wii Sports Resort, or Shadow of Mordor to Dread's Shadow of War (those are the only 2 comparisons I can think of at the moment).
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u/badbob001 Sep 13 '26
Play m2 on an original green screen gameboy and get hand cramps like everyone else.
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u/DaGreatestMH Remember me? Sep 13 '26
I vote Samus Returns. It's closer in style to Dread and there's some lore stuff that's important for later. Plus, the last couple of bosses are great to fight.
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u/vaporboy_sd Sep 13 '26
AM2R might be the best version, but I recommend playing the OG Gameboy version. Then play the remake and AM2R in whatever order.
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u/Admirable_Ferret_253 Sep 13 '26
i’m going to be in the very small minority but the version on switch for gameboy with online was fun as hell. there’s something really cool to the gameboy, history, developers and it’s kinda free if you don’t have a pc or 3ds and you do have a switch. seeing gameboy pastel colorized and in huge screen has a serious charm if you are into that sort of thing. ymmv
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u/FirefighterIcy9879 Sep 14 '26
Thought I’d contribute to the pose since it’s so nice we saw it thrice
EDIT: quadded
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u/RetroPilky Sep 16 '26
I’d say Samus Returns because it plays just like Dread, but it’s stuck on the 3DS. If you have a 3DS, definitely play this version.
If not, AM2R us easily accessible and plays just like Super Metroid
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u/Ill-Attempt-8847 Sep 12 '26
You want to play it to prepare for Ravenous, right? Samus Returns is basically proto-Dread, it was even made by the same team as Dread and Ravenous. But I think I prefer r/AM2R