<s>
Metroid	B-Application
:	I-Application
Samus	I-Application
Returns	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2017	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
MercurySteam	O
and	O
Nintendo	O
EPD	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
handheld	B-Application
game	I-Application
console	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
a	O
remake	O
of	O
the	O
1991	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
game	O
Metroid	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Return	I-Application
of	I-Application
Samus	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
control	O
series	O
protagonist	O
Samus	O
Aran	O
,	O
a	O
bounty	O
hunter	O
who	O
is	O
contracted	O
by	O
the	O
Galactic	O
Federation	O
to	O
exterminate	O
the	O
parasitic	O
Metroid	B-Device
species	O
on	O
their	O
home	O
planet	O
of	O
SR388	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
story	O
and	O
structure	O
parallel	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
,	O
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
features	O
redone	O
graphics	O
,	O
updated	O
controls	O
and	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
,	O
and	O
new	O
gameplay	O
mechanics	O
not	O
seen	O
in	O
previous	O
2D	O
Metroid	B-Device
titles	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
melee	O
counterattack	O
and	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
aim	O
freely	O
at	O
any	O
angle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MercurySteam	O
originally	O
pitched	O
a	O
remake	O
of	O
Metroid	B-Application
Fusion	I-Application
before	O
Sakamoto	O
suggested	O
remaking	O
Metroid	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Music	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Daisuke	O
Matsuoka	O
and	O
directed	O
by	O
Kenji	O
Yamamoto	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
co-composed	O
the	O
music	O
for	O
Super	B-Application
Metroid	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
received	O
positive	O
reviews	O
upon	O
release	O
for	O
its	O
visuals	O
and	O
improvements	O
over	O
the	O
original	O
version	O
,	O
with	O
many	O
also	O
deeming	O
it	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
form	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
received	O
awards	O
and	O
accolades	O
from	O
multiple	O
publications	O
and	O
awards	O
shows	O
,	O
including	O
Best	O
Handheld	B-Application
Game	I-Application
at	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sakamoto	O
was	O
impressed	O
with	O
MercurySteam	O
's	O
understanding	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
leading	O
to	O
their	O
continued	O
partnership	O
for	O
Metroid	B-Application
Dread	I-Application
(	O
2021	O
)	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Metroid	B-Application
:	I-Application
Samus	I-Application
Returns	I-Application
is	O
a	O
side-scrolling	O
action-adventure	O
displayed	O
in	O
a	O
2.5D	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
is	O
a	O
remake	O
of	O
the	O
1991	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
game	O
Metroid	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Return	I-Application
of	I-Application
Samus	I-Application
;	O
as	O
such	O
,	O
it	O
features	O
a	O
story	O
and	O
structure	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
with	O
new	O
controls	O
,	O
visuals	O
,	O
and	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
introduces	O
some	O
features	O
that	O
are	O
new	O
to	O
the	O
side-scrolling	O
Metroid	B-Device
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Metroid	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
her	O
firing	O
direction	O
was	O
limited	O
to	O
specific	O
angles	O
,	O
whereas	O
now	O
she	O
is	O
capable	O
of	O
firing	O
freely	O
at	O
any	O
angle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
abilities	O
introduced	O
after	O
Metroid	B-Application
II	I-Application
are	O
implemented	O
in	O
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Grapple	O
Beam	O
,	O
Power	O
Bombs	O
,	O
and	O
Super	O
Missiles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
features	O
Amiibo	B-Device
support	O
,	O
with	O
compatible	O
figurines	O
being	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Metroid	B-Device
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
scanned	O
,	O
players	O
can	O
unlock	O
reserve	O
tanks	O
and	O
a	O
Metroid	B-Device
Marker	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
locate	O
nearby	O
Metroids	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
player	O
finishes	O
the	O
game	O
at	O
least	O
once	O
,	O
certain	O
Amiibo-exclusive	O
content	O
is	O
unlocked	O
;	O
such	O
content	O
includes	O
a	O
Metroid	B-Application
II	I-Application
art	O
gallery	O
,	O
a	O
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
art	O
gallery	O
,	O
a	O
Sound	O
Test	O
,	O
and	O
Fusion	O
Mode	O
,	O
an	O
extra	O
hard	O
difficulty	O
setting	O
which	O
features	O
Samus	O
's	O
Fusion	B-Application
Suit	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
standard	O
Hard	O
Mode	O
is	O
also	O
unlocked	O
upon	O
completing	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
does	O
not	O
require	O
an	O
Amiibo	B-Device
figurine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
year	O
20X5	O
,	O
a	O
lone	O
bounty	O
hunter	O
named	O
Samus	O
Aran	O
is	O
sent	O
by	O
the	O
Galactic	O
Federation	O
to	O
infiltrate	O
the	O
Space	O
Pirate	O
base	O
on	O
the	O
planet	O
Zebes	O
,	O
where	O
she	O
foils	O
the	O
Pirates	O
 '	O
plans	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
parasitic	O
organisms	O
called	O
Metroids	B-Device
and	O
defeats	O
the	O
Pirate	O
leader	O
,	O
the	O
Mother	B-Application
Brain	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Seeing	O
the	O
threat	O
posed	O
by	O
the	O
Metroids	B-Device
,	O
the	O
Federation	O
sends	O
a	O
special	O
squadron	O
of	O
elite	O
soldiers	O
to	O
the	O
Metroids	B-Device
 '	O
home	O
planet	O
of	O
SR388	O
to	O
investigate	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
squadron	O
soon	O
goes	O
missing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
retrieving	O
a	O
small	O
sampling	O
of	O
data	O
confirming	O
a	O
Metroid	B-Device
presence	O
within	O
the	O
planet	O
,	O
the	O
Federation	O
sends	O
Samus	O
to	O
SR388	O
to	O
destroy	O
the	O
species	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
encounters	O
the	O
Metroids	B-Device
in	O
different	O
metamorphosis	B-Application
stages	O
,	O
growing	O
from	O
small	O
jellyfish-like	O
creatures	O
to	O
large	O
reptilian	O
beasts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
killing	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
planet	O
's	O
Metroids	B-Device
,	O
Samus	O
finds	O
and	O
destroys	O
the	O
Queen	O
Metroid	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortly	O
afterward	O
,	O
Samus	O
discovers	O
a	O
Metroid	B-Device
egg	O
that	O
hatches	O
in	O
front	O
of	O
her	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Metroid	B-Device
hatchling	O
imprints	O
onto	O
Samus	O
,	O
thinking	O
she	O
is	O
its	O
mother	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Refusing	O
to	O
kill	O
the	O
infant	O
Metroid	B-Device
,	O
Samus	O
decides	O
to	O
take	O
it	O
with	O
her	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Samus	O
and	O
the	O
infant	O
Metroid	B-Device
reach	O
the	O
planet	O
's	O
surface	O
to	O
return	O
to	O
her	O
gunship	O
,	O
they	O
are	O
attacked	O
by	O
a	O
half-mechanical	O
Ridley	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
long	O
battle	O
,	O
Ridley	O
is	O
defeated	O
,	O
and	O
Samus	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
Metroid	B-Device
,	O
leave	O
the	O
planet	O
together	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
post-credits	O
scene	O
,	O
a	O
Hornoad	O
wanders	O
on	O
the	O
planet	O
's	O
surface	O
,	O
gnaws	O
on	O
Ridley	O
's	O
discarded	O
mechanical	O
claw	O
before	O
suddenly	O
being	O
killed	O
and	O
copied	O
into	O
a	O
vicious	O
form	O
by	O
an	O
X	B-Application
Parasite	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
landing	O
on	O
the	O
planet	O
,	O
the	O
Chozo	O
encountered	O
the	O
X	B-Application
parasites	I-Application
,	O
which	O
use	O
the	O
planet	O
's	O
creatures	O
as	O
hosts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
this	O
end	O
,	O
the	O
Chozo	O
created	O
the	O
Metroids	B-Device
using	O
their	O
advanced	O
technology	O
to	O
combat	O
the	O
X	B-Application
parasites	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
Chozo	O
lived	O
in	O
peace	O
when	O
the	O
X	B-Application
parasites	I-Application
were	O
gone	O
,	O
the	O
Metroids	B-Device
grew	O
out	O
of	O
control	O
and	O
the	O
civilization	O
came	O
under	O
threat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Metroid	B-Application
:	I-Application
Samus	I-Application
Returns	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
the	O
Spanish	O
studio	O
MercurySteam	O
in	O
collaboration	O
with	O
Nintendo	O
EPD	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MercurySteam	O
head	O
Enric	O
Álvarez	O
described	O
their	O
collaboration	O
with	O
Nintendo	O
as	O
an	O
"	O
incredible	O
"	O
achievement	O
,	O
and	O
Sakamoto	O
in	O
return	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
studio	O
was	O
the	O
best	O
choice	O
for	O
a	O
Metroidvania	O
game	O
given	O
their	O
"	O
good	O
design	O
sensibility	O
"	O
and	O
respect	O
for	O
the	O
Metroid	B-Device
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sakamoto	O
had	O
expressed	O
interest	O
in	O
making	O
a	O
new	O
2D	O
Metroid	B-Device
game	O
,	O
which	O
had	O
not	O
been	O
done	O
since	O
Metroid	B-Application
:	I-Application
Zero	I-Application
Mission	I-Application
(	O
2004	O
)	O
,	O
for	O
a	O
few	O
years	O
before	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
development	O
started	O
in	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
hearing	O
that	O
MercurySteam	O
,	O
following	O
their	O
involvement	O
with	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
–	I-Application
Mirror	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fate	I-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
,	O
was	O
interested	O
in	O
taking	O
on	O
the	O
challenge	O
of	O
remaking	O
a	O
Metroid	B-Device
game	O
,	O
he	O
visited	O
their	O
studio	O
to	O
organise	O
a	O
collaboration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MercurySteam	O
specifically	O
pitched	O
Nintendo	O
a	O
remake	O
of	O
Metroid	B-Application
Fusion	I-Application
(	O
2002	O
)	O
,	O
but	O
Sakamoto	O
instead	O
wanted	O
to	O
recreate	O
Metroid	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Sakamoto	O
had	O
never	O
worked	O
on	O
the	O
original	B-Device
Game	I-Device
Boy	I-Device
game	O
,	O
he	O
believed	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
an	O
important	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
Metroid	B-Device
series	O
,	O
particularly	O
regarding	O
its	O
plot	O
point	O
of	O
Samus	O
encountering	O
the	O
last	O
Metroid	B-Device
,	O
and	O
so	O
he	O
was	O
enthusiastic	O
about	O
remaking	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
was	O
Sakamoto	O
's	O
platform	O
of	O
choice	O
to	O
employ	O
the	O
3D	O
visuals	O
and	O
a	O
dual-screen	O
setup	O
offered	O
by	O
the	O
portable	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sakamoto	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
potential	O
for	O
2D	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
Metroid	B-Device
franchise	O
had	O
opened	O
up	O
for	O
Nintendo	O
following	O
the	O
announcement	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
expressed	O
that	O
he	O
was	O
keen	O
to	O
evolve	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
traditions	O
in	O
2D	O
Metroid	B-Device
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
approach	O
was	O
to	O
add	O
to	O
aspects	O
that	O
improved	O
upon	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
core	O
concept	O
of	O
hunting	O
the	O
Metroids	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
moved	O
from	O
the	O
pixel	O
art	O
of	O
2D	O
Metroid	B-Device
games	O
to	O
3D	O
models	O
to	O
incorporate	O
varied	O
animations	O
and	O
use	O
different	O
camera	O
angles	O
to	O
enhance	O
the	O
cutscenes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
music	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Daisuke	O
Matsuoka	O
and	O
directed	O
by	O
Kenji	O
Yamamoto	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
co-composed	O
the	O
music	O
for	O
the	O
1994	O
game	O
Super	B-Application
Metroid	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
project	O
was	O
revealed	O
during	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Treehouse	O
livestream	O
at	O
the	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
2017	O
held	O
in	O
June	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
handheld	B-Application
game	I-Application
console	I-Application
on	O
15	O
September	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
special	O
edition	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
includes	O
a	O
reversible	O
cover	O
and	O
a	O
soundtrack	O
CD	O
called	O
Samus	O
Archives	O
,	O
featuring	O
25	O
tracks	O
from	O
numerous	O
Metroid	B-Device
games	O
including	O
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
European	O
Legacy	O
Edition	O
version	O
also	O
includes	O
a	O
soundtrack	O
CD	O
,	O
alongside	O
a	O
40-page	O
art	O
book	O
,	O
a	O
Morph	O
Ball	O
keyring	O
,	O
an	O
S-marked	O
pin	O
badge	O
,	O
a	O
download	O
code	O
for	O
Metroid	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
and	O
a	O
steelbook	O
designed	O
in	O
the	O
likeness	O
of	O
a	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
cartridge	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
Amiibo	B-Device
figurines	O
were	O
released	O
alongside	O
the	O
game	O
;	O
one	O
figurine	O
is	O
of	O
Samus	O
kneeling	O
in	O
the	O
pose	O
shown	O
on	O
the	O
cover	O
art	O
of	O
Metroid	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
while	O
the	O
other	O
is	O
of	O
a	O
Metroid	B-Device
creature	O
that	O
has	O
escaped	O
containment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
special	O
"	O
Samus	O
Edition	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
New	B-Device
Nintendo	I-Device
3DS	I-Device
XL	I-Device
console	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
alongside	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Metroid	B-Application
:	I-Application
Samus	I-Application
Returns	I-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Andrew	O
Webster	O
at	O
The	O
Verge	O
viewed	O
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
as	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
roots	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Peter	O
Brown	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
believed	O
that	O
it	O
represented	O
a	O
look	O
at	O
the	O
potential	O
future	O
for	O
2D	O
Metroid	B-Device
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Russ	O
Frushtick	O
of	O
Polygon	O
thought	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
visuals	O
were	O
"	O
remarkable	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
Webster	O
thought	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
3D	O
visuals	O
made	O
it	O
easier	O
and	O
more	O
playable	O
than	O
Metroid	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Webster	O
also	O
praised	O
its	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
handheld	B-Application
's	O
glasses-free	B-Algorithm
3D	I-Algorithm
effect	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
it	O
added	O
a	O
"	O
wonderful	O
"	O
sense	O
of	O
depth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ben	O
Reeves	O
of	O
Game	O
Informer	O
considered	O
the	O
games	O
environments	O
to	O
be	O
rich	O
in	O
detail	O
,	O
noting	O
the	O
graphics	O
being	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
Metroid	B-Device
Prime	O
sub-series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Frushtick	O
considered	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
a	O
counterattack	O
ability	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
major	O
improvement	O
to	O
the	O
2D	O
Metroids	B-Device
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Robinson	O
,	O
while	O
believing	O
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
fixed	O
problems	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
had	O
,	O
overall	O
considered	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
underwhelming	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
's	O
Samuel	O
Claiborn	O
complained	O
about	O
the	O
controls	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
Samus	O
's	O
complicated	O
weapon	O
options	O
have	O
players	O
"	O
working	O
the	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
shoulder	O
buttons	O
,	O
slider	O
,	O
and	O
face	O
buttons	O
in	O
a	O
downright	O
painful	O
way	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
its	O
first	O
week	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
,	O
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
was	O
ranked	O
eighth	O
in	O
an	O
all-format	O
chart	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
returned	O
to	O
the	O
top	O
sales	O
charts	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
eShop	O
in	O
June	O
2021	O
following	O
the	O
announcement	O
of	O
Metroid	B-Application
Dread	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Metroid	B-Application
:	I-Application
Samus	I-Application
Returns	I-Application
won	O
the	O
"	O
Best	O
Mobile	O
Game	O
"	O
award	O
at	O
the	O
Gamescom	O
2017	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
won	O
the	O
Best	O
Handheld	B-Application
Game	I-Application
category	O
at	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2017	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
Spanish	O
Game	O
"	O
at	O
the	O
Titanium	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
won	O
Destructoid	O
award	O
for	O
Best	O
Portable	O
Game	O
of	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
won	O
IGN	O
's	O
Best	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
Game	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
their	O
Best	O
of	O
2017	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
2017	O
Game	O
Critics	O
Awards	O
awarded	O
Samus	B-Application
Returns	I-Application
for	O
Best	O
Handheld	B-Application
Game	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
listed	O
it	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
five	O
best	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
games	O
in	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informer	O
gave	O
it	O
the	O
award	O
each	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
Mobile/Handheld	O
Exclusive	O
"	O
in	O
their	O
"	O
Best	O
of	O
2017	O
Awards	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
Handheld	B-Application
"	O
in	O
their	O
2017	O
Action	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
their	O
Reader	O
's	O
Choice	O
Best	O
of	O
2017	O
Awards	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
came	O
up	O
at	O
second	O
place	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
Mobile/Handheld	O
Exclusive	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
won	O
the	O
Tappan	O
Zee	O
Bridge	O
Award	O
for	O
Best	O
Remake	O
at	O
the	O
New	O
York	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2018	O
,	O
and	O
won	O
"	O
Handheld	B-Application
Game	I-Application
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
at	O
the	O
21st	O
Annual	O
D.I.C.E.	O
</s>
