REVIEW -- AM2R: Another Metroid II Remake - Return of Samus (Fan-Made Game)

Not the REAL NES box art, folks. Cool nonetheless though...

AM2R (also known as Another Metroid 2 Remake or AM2R: Return of Samus) is a fan remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus, developed by Argentinian independent programmer Milton "DoctorM64" Guasti. The game updates the 1991 version with color, a visual style similar to Super Metroid and gameplay similar to Metroid: Zero Mission. After years of development, the game was released for free to Windows-based computers on August 6, 2016, coinciding with the Metroid series' thirtieth anniversary. However, one day later, Nintendo sent DMCA notices to websites hosting the game, including the official blog and the Metroid Database, forcing their removal. The game is still available through torrents.

On June 13, 2017, Nintendo announced an official remake, Metroid: Samus Returns, for Nintendo 3DS. Some fans have speculated that this was the true reason AM2R was shut down by Nintendo. DoctorM64 stated in response: "N won E3 for me, #SamusReturns looks like the Metroid 2 I always wanted to play. Looks like the ANOTHER part of #am2r still makes sense now."

Plot:

"Metroids.
Numerous incidents in the past have brought to light the highly destructive power of these life forms, spreading fear across all known planetary systems.
Hoping to secure peace in the galaxy, the Galactic Federation orders the extermination of the Metroid species. I was the best candidate for the job.
Once again I find myself standing alone against the Metroid menace. What horrors await me within the depths of their homeworld? „—Samus Aran

The game's plot is largely unchanged from Metroid II. It now features a Super Metroid-style introduction narrated by Samus Aran (narration above), about the nature of her mission on SR388. Over the course of the game, Samus's scanners automatically download Logbook entries similar to the Metroid Prime series that reveal additional lore about areas and bosses. She can uncover optional areas that include the landing sites of the G.F.S. Thoth and an Anhur-class patrol ship carrying the two ill-fated Galactic Federation teams sent to rescue the previous research team. Metroid II did not feature the final resting places of these Federation teams, despite mentioning them in the manual. Samus also encounters surviving Federation Marines battling a Zeta Metroid that metamorphoses into an Omega Metroid before effortlessly killing them. The mysterious earthquakes linked to the deaths of Metroids are insinuated to be caused by the Queen Metroid herself, as her cries can be heard during the last few in the game. The Logbook reveals that the cave system is located between two tectonic plates on SR388. The game ends with Samus killing off the remaining Metroids, the Queen, and discovering an infant Metroid she later calls the baby.

After the credits, Samus speaks the famous introductory phrase from Super Metroid: "The last Metroid is in captivity. The galaxy is at peace." In the best ending, Samus is seen in her Gunship calling the Space Science Academy about the baby, leading into Super Metroid.
EndingsEdit

The endings were conceptualized, drawn and detailed by Azima Khan, an artist who has created several 3D models pertaining to Metroid including the Samus Aran model seen in Rainfall Films' short film Metroid: The Sky Calls. More endings were planned for a future update before development was forced to end. The images below are high definition versions of the endings; ingame, they are pixellated.

The "worst" ending, which depicts a fully-suited Samus and the baby returning to her Gunship. Appears with over 4 hours of play time.

The "middle" ending, where a helmetless Samus observes the baby in her Gunship. Appears with between 2 and 4 hours of play time.

The "best" ending, where Samus sits in the cockpit of her Gunship, clad in an Ending Outfit similar to that from Zero Mission and calling Ceres Space Colony about the baby. Appears with under 2 hours of play time.

Gameplay: 

As stated, the gameplay has been updated in the style of Super Metroid and Zero Mission, and now allows for some Sequence Breaking in the way of hidden paths to skip otherwise required items. A Map system, stacking of beams (thereby removing duplicates from Metroid II), the Power Grip and the previously mentioned logbook have been added, as well as the new abilities to automatically morph into tunnels, autoclimb small ledges, dedicated keys to morph and aim lock, and an Ukemi ability to breakfall an attack that knocks Samus off her feet in similar manner to Super Smash Bros.' teching. Moreover, the remake allows abilities to be toggled on and off at will - a feature formerly exclusive to Super Metroid. The Five-Bomb Drop technique from Super Metroid and Other M returns, and when used in midair, causes a triangle of Bombs to appear and propel Samus far into the air when they explode.

Unlike in the Metroid Prime series, Logbook scans are obtained automatically upon entering new areas, and defeating Metroids and bosses. Items that were not present in Metroid II but later became series staples now appear in AM2R, such as the Gravity Suit, Charge Beam, Speed Booster, Super Missiles and Power Bombs. The "tractor beam" effect from the Prime series is present in AM2R, which allows Samus to use her Charge Beam to draw in nearby pickups.

The game also features two new areas and several new non-Metroid bosses, including Serris and Genesis, creatures that were present on the Biologic Space Laboratories research station orbiting SR388 in Metroid Fusion. Curiously, Blob Throwers and Septoggs are completely absent from AM2R, and were planned for a future update before the game's cancellation. The number of Metroids has been slightly increased from 48 to 55. The Metroid Detector rises up to 1 after the baby hatches, unlike the original game.

Several changes have been made to the Power Beam. In addition to stacking, the Spazer Beam and Plasma Beams are now stackable, a feat not possible in Super Metroid without glitching. However, as a result of stacking, the beam's rate of fire decreases as the more beams are stacked together, for balancing purposes. Also, the Ice Beam has notably undergone a complete revamp, mirroring Metroid: Other M: instead of freezing enemies in place to be used as a suspended platform like in other 2-D games, almost all frozen enemies would fall to the ground and shatter or if frozen on the ground they would simply shatter after a few seconds. This change was made as there was no situation where the platforming feature could be used, and was quickly rendered irrelevant with the Spider Ball and Space Jump being acquired shortly after. As the most powerful weapon in the game, the Ice Beam was moved from Phase 2 to a new area between Phase 7 and Phase 8 as the final suit upgrade.

Missile Batteries and Big Energy Balls were removed; Save Stations will now replenish Samus's energy and ammo while simultaneously saving the game. However, Save Stations will automatically save the game when stepped on without providing any prompt.

The Verdict: 

Speed Booster in action...

What can I say? I freakin' LOVED this game. There's a reason that most hardcore Metroid fans prefer Super Metroid as the best that the series had to offer in it's 2D outings and that is on full display here. Nintendo better hope and pray that their own upcoming Metroid: Samus Returns is even a fraction as good as this title was. Simply put, this game took everything that players loved about the original Metroid II: Return of Samus and added the graphical style of Super Metroid along with those various improvements to the gameplay. 

I know it's hard to see in this darkened cavern, but YES, that's Samus facing TWO Metroids at once!

The gameplay differences were specified above, but I want to sound off on a few things that I really enjoyed about revisiting this game. First of all, I loved the improved AI for the Metroids. That added a new layer of depth to these "mini-boss" encounters, especially with Zeta and Omega Metroids that felt like they were entirely new creatures in this game. The multiple bosses fights throughout Samus' journey through SR388 were a welcome addition which definitely gave the vibe of Super Metroid even more, along with the increased number of Metroids to hunt down on the planet. Every Metroid encounter kept me on my toes, especially those with multiple Metroids at once.

The "tunneling" sewer fast travel chain that you find towards the end of the game was a nice touch as well, especially for completionist who want to explore every corner of SR388 and collect every beam upgrade, missile tank, energy tank, and item power-up available for Samus in this adventure. Speedrunners might detest that as there's a bit in terms of progression through the game where you can't skip over particular events to save time since some of the adventure is linear to an extent, but there's still enough freedom (like the original Metroid II) to hunt down the Metroids in that particular area at your leisure. Much like Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate HD (Ironically the same studio, Mercurysteam, is working on the Metroid: Samus Returns revamp for the Nintendo 3DS), I loved the inclusion of an in-game map. That minor addition helps tons while traversing SR388 and helping players figure out where to go next, instead of a lot of the guesswork that the original Metroid II (along with most of Samus' 2D outings) was known for.


If I had one very minor grip about the game, I will admit that I wasn't particularly keen on most of the remixes to the original tracks from Metroid II: Return of Samus. To be fair though, a lot of the music was more than appropriate though. I would have been fine if they didn't change the original music at all.

Play It or Don't Bother?

Go ahead and take a chance at this reimagining of Samus' adventure on SR388... Just don't get carried away like I did here.
I think most players will enjoy the added challenge. 

Definitely go out of your way to play this revamp of Metroid II: Return of Samus. The game is pretty old now in terms of it's release, but you can still manage to find copies pretty easy online despite the DMCA notices from Nintendo. Go out of your way and show your appreciation for DoctorM64 as he responds to his tweets regularly. Nintendo's Metroid: Samus Returns releases on September 15, but this will easily keep Metroid fans busy by the time that drops. On the plus side, you don't have to own a 3DS/2DS to play this adventure. The only downside is that if you're one of the few Metroid fans who detest Samus' 2D outings, then this isn't for you in the least.