Lets bring this thread back from the dead for a bit, yeah?
Metroid: Samus Returns
My god, did I love this game. Beyond moments to make sure the 3DS versions of Pokémon Gold and Silver were installed, any time I had to spend on the 3DS went straight into this. A good solid 10 hours to reach the end and fight the final boss, and the completion percentage only just cracked the 50% mark. That's just euphoric to see from a Metroidvania, never mind an actual Metroid title, never mind on top of that the one after such a drought of official content, it being a story being retold or not.
Like most if not all fans I was rather iffy on the inclusion of Aeion abilities and having melee combat introduced, but in practice they were absolutely fine. The melee counters actually gave a new twist on all the boss fights, involving a little risk/reward on being able to counter their big attacks for extra damage. Being nitpicky here, the only annoyance I had with them was the beginning few areas relying a bit too much on the counter attack to safely make it through waves of enemies, but understandably, it's to familiarize you with a new concept to 2D Metroid and as you gain more and more power-ups it becomes much less a necessity rather a different option of attack.
Cutscenes were added, beyond the typical opening setting the plot in motion, but they are much more in line with Metroid's aesthetic than our last two entries of Other M's monologues from the mute protagonist and Federation Force's intel from HQ. More akin to Metroid Prime's occasional stops with Samus surveying the scenery, making subtle motions to convey a message or two or otherwise they're set to open and close a large boss. I had little issue with Metroid Fusion's text-given inner thoughts of Samus or debates with her quazi-dead father figure A.I., but for those were maybe worried from game trailers this entry would follow Fusion's practices, these are nothing but short cool silent moments.
I'm totally in the bias, Metroid is my favorite series, but I have to fully recommend this to any and everyone right now. 10/10, massive world to explore, puzzles that make you think for their rewards, combat is progressive at turning you from starting with no health and a pea shooter to an unstoppable wave of destruction, music is wonderfully remastered tracks of past Metroids, new additions are welcome and enjoyable, it all just feels right for a Metroid title.
Spoiler: And now, for some spoilers (click to see content)
So the surprise end boss is Ridley, just flying in from space to crash your party leaving the planet with the baby Metroid, half-way between being altered from his Mecha Ridley form back to full organic, which is super cool. Got the limb enhancers on the leg, a robotic arm replacement, power cables sticking in and jutting out of him all over, real cyberpunk and all. And among the cutscenes when fighting his different forms, you finally get to use the Space Jump little jetpack on the back of the Power Suit to actually fly around in the sky, instead of jumping on thin air forever. Thought that was some cool fan service to throw in there at the very end. If the next 2D Metroid involves any extended time on the surface, or heck even the 3D maybe, I'd enjoy a little flying around like Iron Man option alongside your usual Space Jump and Screw Attack.
So, of course, now that I completed it the one time, now I have to instantly replay it in Fusion Mode. I mostly love the redesigned Fusion Suit, maybe take some of the additional lights off it though. Perhaps my one serious complaint I can put towards the game right now, is that a title intent on multiple replays it's kind of a screw-over when you only unlock the harder difficulties, either the regular Hard mode or the amiibo enhanced one with the extra cosmetics, by beating the game, but to then play on that hardest mode you have to erase your previous save file. Even though there is room for three save files. I'd rather want to start the new playthrough on Hard on the second save file, and return to the completed Normal mode at a later point to finish collecting everything off the map.
...Lastly, minor complaint, I miss the Speed Booster. Replacing it with time manipulation's cool and all, but I need some spinesharks. Maybe it was too much for the 3DS to keep running smoothly? Next 2D game I hope Shinespark returns in full. Would be tough but also nice if they somehow worked it into Metroid Prime, but past experiences with Screw Attack make that seem unlikely.