Game:

Metroid II: Return of Samus (1991)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 9:31

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10

This is video #07 in my playthrough of Metroid II: Return of Samus. This video does not contain commentary. To view the commentary version, click here: https://youtu.be/JRAaW9drykA

Samus has finally killed the first 38 Metroids and reached the final area of SR388. Only one Metroid appears to be left, and that one promises to be the most dangerous of all.

From the save station, Samus jumps up through the ceiling into a large cavern. Space-Jumping up, she will make her way to a room with energy and missile refills (time 0:27).

To the left, she will find the Ice Beam in the hand of a broken Chozo statue (time 0:46). A downgrade it may seem, but it is necessary.

The last shaft to the left leads up to where Samus needs to go next (time 1:28). The music will change to something reminiscent of Tourian's music in the previous game.

Unfortunately, as she heads through a narrow passage underneath a strange egg, the Metroid counter will suddenly increase to 9 (time 1:46). Uh, oh. Fortunately, these are basic models, just like the first game's Metroids. They can be defeated by freezing them with the Ice Beam and then hitting them with five Missiles.

In the next corridor, she will encounter Metroid #1 (time 1:58). In the next shaft, she will find Metroid #2 (time 2:10).

Then, she will come across Metroids #3 and #4 in the next shaft (time 2:21).

The next corridor contains Metroids #5 and #6 (time 2:43).

The shaft to the left houses Metroids #7 and #8 (time 3:10). Defeating the eighth will cause another quake. This will allow Samus to progress through the final corridor leading to the boss.

Finally, Samus will drop down into the chamber of Metroid 01, the Metroid Queen (time 3:28). The Metroid Queen will alternately attempt to bite Samus and shoot her with three mines. The queen's weak point is her mouth. If Samus successfully shoots the queen in its open mouth, the queen will freeze for a moment, allowing Samus to repeatedly shoot missiles in. Samus can also roll into the mouth in morph ball form and give the queen serious indigestion by laying some bombs in the stomach.

In case Samus needs a refill of energy and/or missiles, she can roll through the hole underneath the queen's platform.

Another quake occurs when Her Majesty is destroyed (time 5:06). The path underneath the Queen is sealed off, so the only exit is past her. Sweet music will begin to play. Finally, the last Metroid is defeated.

Or is it? As Samus goes along, that strange egg hatches into a tiny baby Metroid (time 5:24). It will not harm her, and in fact it will help by clearing the diamond-shaped obstructions on the way out.

Finally, Samus can make her way out to the surface. When she is out, she can board her ship and blast off with her new pet (time 7:03). And just like that, the credits start to roll.

The best ending, for completing the game in under three hours, is pretty revealing of Samus (time 9:11). Again, this time limit is pretty reasonable.

Thank you, Nintendo, for bringing out this sequel to Metroid in 1991. While remaining true to its predecessor, Metroid II improves the play mechanics by allowing Samus to fire in four directions, duck, and fire while ducking. The battery save option is also a very welcome addition. With a good palette, it doesn't even look half bad. It can get a little monotonous, though, and some of those Metroids are placed very awkwardly. The Space Jump, which is essential to some areas, can be a bit challenging to master. Overall, if you look past the antiquated graphics and sound, this is a fine game. Still, it is a far cry from my favorite in the series, Super Metroid for the Super NES.

Thanks for watching!

This video is part of my Metroid II: Return of Samus [GB] Playthrough playlist. This is the version originally released for the GameBoy in 1991. I am playing on the BizHawk emulator with the supplied Metroid2 palette. All characters, story, music, artwork, and other components of this game are the property of their respective owners.

Played and recorded in BizHawk 1.9.4. Produced with Adobe Premiere Pro CS6.

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