16 Sep 2017
Metroid: Samus Returns Permalink

Nintendo Minute releases 2-D Metroid retrospective video

September 16, 2017

Yesterday was the launch day of Metroid: Samus Returns. Have you enjoyed it? We at Shinesparkers sure have! To celebrate, Kit and Krysta from Nintendo Minute released a retrospective of the previous five 2-D Metroid games yesterday. They talked about Metroid, Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion and Metroid: Zero Mission and showed off the first few minutes of each game, highlighting the features and enhancements the series has received over the years. Kit also mentioned Fusion Mode during the Metroid Fusion segment.

Source: Nintendo Minute

15 Sep 2017
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Tips for playing Metroid: Samus Returns

September 15, 2017

Today is the launch of the first classic side-scrolling Metroid title in thirteen years! Samus has well and truly returned, and we loved it! (See our reviews here and here) many fans across the world will be receiving their copies across various stores, many will be mildly annoyed they missed out on one of the special editions and there will be some who may be playing the game post-launch. However you decide to play Metroid: Samus Returns, we hope you have a ton of fun! Ultimately, this is what truly matters!

For those of you who are just about to get stuck into the game, our content writer Deceptimike has written up some tips for playing Metroid: Samus Returns that should help you on your mission to planet SR388! Struggling with that Melee-Counter? Want to get the most out of your Aeion abilities? Perhaps you’re struggling to find where those last remaining items are! Our tips should help you through, and we hope to extend these tips to other games in the franchise over time!

If you’re playing the game, be sure to tell us what you think! We would love to hear from you on Twitter and Facebook!

Today, a legend returned! Enjoy every second of it Metroid fans!

14 Sep 2017
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New European My Nintendo Rewards features Samus Returns

September 14, 2017

My Nintendo has updated in Europe to feature new rewards based on Metroid: Samus Returns. The rewards are as follows:

10% off a digital version of Metroid: Samus Returns for 30 gold points, valid until 3rd October. This reduces the price to £35.99/€40,49. You also get a special Samus Aran home menu theme for your 3DS with this offer.

Alternatively, if you bought a physical copy, the same home menu theme is also available for 20 gold points, valid until the end of November.

Finally, for 50 platinum points each, there are special wallpapers for PC and mobile devices. These expire on the 3rd January 2018.

If you have any spare points available, these are nice rewards to go for, particularly if you were planning on buying the game digitally when it launches tomorrow.

12 Sep 2017
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Metroid: Samus Returns Review Roundup

September 12, 2017

Reviews for Metroid: Samus Returns have gone live across the world today. Things are looking good for the first 2D game in thirteen years with most reviewers having positive thoughts on the title. Here are a selection of the first reviews available, if you’re still having second thoughts on the game.

Nintendo Life – 10/10
Game Informer – 9.75/10
IGN – 8.5/10
Gamespot – 9/10
GameXplain – Loved
Nintendo Enthusiast – 8.5/10
EGM – 9.0/10
Pure Nintendo – 9/10
Trusted Reviews – 4/5 stars
Easy Allies – 4.5/5 stars
Digital Trends – 4/5 stars
Nintendo World Report – 9.5/10
Nintendo Everything – Thumbs Up
US Gamer – 5/5
TheSixthAxis – 9/10

It’s still early, of course, so there are bound to be more reviews to come. Don’t forget our own reviews written by Darren and Deceptimike.

10 Sep 2017
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Jeremy Parish’s Metroid II map-charting project videos + design analysis

September 10, 2017

If you don’t know what to do with yourself until you can hold Metroid: Samus Returns in your eager hands a few days from now, why not watch Retronauts’ Jeremy Parish chart the original Metroid II: Return of Samus’ map layout on graph paper?

So far, there have been two streams (archived on YouTube) of Jeremy mapping the first few areas (stream one is embedded above, stream two is here). It’s certainly an interesting process to watch as it also comes with the occasional neat insight. This isn’t just for fun, though, as these maps will (very likely) eventually be available for purchase, with some added flourishes of course. See here, for example, a test-print of Parish’s original Metroid map.

If you fancy yourself some design analysis and how the opening areas of Metroid II on the Game Boy compare to Metroid: Samus Returns on the Nintendo 3DS, you can check out Jeremy’s comparative analysis (featuring the same graph paper cartography for the remake) on the Retronauts blog by clicking the source link below. Naturally, be wary of item location/layout spoilers for the opening area.

Source: Retronauts.com

09 Sep 2017
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With less than a week to go until the release of Metroid: Samus Returns, GamesIndustry.biz has published a new interview with MercurySteam. It is actually a two part interview concerning both Samus Returns and Raiders of the Broken Planet, MercurySteam’s other project.

The studio head, Enric Álvarez, and producer Dave Cox highlighted the fact that they have now worked on both the Metroid and Castlevania series, both of which pioneered the Metroidvania genre. They discussed what it was like to work with Nintendo on such a storied franchise. Álvarez said that most of the conversations they had with Nintendo were more about what players wanted, rather than business, and while Nintendo was “extremely demanding”, they ultimately made MercurySteam a better developer.

Álvarez closed by stating that they believe Samus Returns will live up to players’ expectations as a perfect blend of what has made past Metroid games special, while also adding in new elements to appeal to new players. You can read the entire interview here.

Source: GamesIndustry.biz

08 Sep 2017
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Fan-made Metroid album to be released September 15th with Samus Returns

September 8, 2017

With Metroid: Samus Returns releasing soon, it’s difficult knowing you’ll have to wait a little longer to finally be able to scratch that Metroid itch. Luckily, to coincide with Samus Returns coming out next Friday, Gonçalo “Shiryu” Lopes has created a fan-made album consisting of 70 tracks from the Metroid franchise. These tracks span 5 discs and were inspired by Vangelis, giving them an electronic feel. Shiryu has also composed albums from other Nintendo franchises such as F-Zero and Star Fox.

Below are some samples he has released, if you’re curious.

Reflections of the Past

Red Soil

The album is titled Metroid Legacy: The Samus Aran Chronicles and if you’re a fan of the previews provided, you can visit Shiryu’s Bandcamp to purchase it on the 15th.

Alternatively, he has a YouTube page that you can visit and stream from, should you be so inclined. More Metroid is always a good thing, so I suggest taking a listen if you have the time!

Source: Nintendo Life
07 Sep 2017
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Metroid themed Nintendo Minute from PAX West now online

September 7, 2017

A special live episode of Nintendo Minute was recorded at PAX West recently dedicated to Metroid: Samus Returns. It was hosted by Nintendo Minute hosts Kit and Krysta, along with Audrey from the Nintendo Treehouse. The episode showed off some concept artwork, and Audrey played through a new area of the game. You can watch the video below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuRk5F1uGoI

Source: Nintendo of America

05 Sep 2017
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Metroid: Samus Returns scores highly in Famitsu

September 5, 2017

Respected Japanese video game magazine Famitsu has reviewed the upcoming Metroid: Samus Returns, and have given it a score of 32/40. The Famitsu scoring system is done by a “Cross Review” where a panel of four video game reviewers each give a score between zero and ten, and their scores combined to give a final total. In this case, Metroid: Samus Returns were given an eight out of ten by each reviewer.

Source: Ryokutya2089