Metroid 2 defined a new look for Samus

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Thankfully, Nintendo re-released the title for the 3DS Virtual Console on November 24th 2011, purchaseable in the eShop for only $4 which is a GREAT price for such an epic game. I remember paying $18 for the original Game Boy cartridge only a decade or so ago!

How Samus' Look Changes In Metroid 2

Here is an excerpt from my review, which I encourage you to give a read over at epinions.com (hit the link above).

“Pros: 8-bit Game Boy Masterpiece, Awesome Unique Premise, Origin of Iconic Power-Ups, Incredible End Boss
Cons: Seriously Outdated, Weak Graphics & Music, Repetitive Environments, Easy to Get Lost, No Map
The Bottom Line: One of the best Game Boy games EVER. Also weakest Metroid ever.

Additionally, two unique Power-Ups that you earn in Metroid 2 (very cool and now iconic Metroid abilities, which made their debut in this game) open up your ability to freely navigate in ways you couldn’t even dream of in the original Metroid. These abilities put the space above you (which is previously unaccessible) and even the roof of areas into play in Metroid 2. And this allows for more interesting level design that is utilized to great effect.

The Metroid 2 Opening Reveals Samus Starship

The uniquness of how the game is structured though really hits home in how you proceed. Progress in Metroid 2 is made by delving deeper and deeper into the underground depths of Planet SR388. However your ability to progress is obstructed by lethal acid that will kill you in seconds and keeps you from going ever-lower into the planet . . . Until you wipe out each Metroid in the given area you are currently exploring (press Start to pause the game and check the lower-right corner of the screen to see how many Metroids are left in your current area. You must kill them to proceed further than your current area).

Killing all of the Metroid’s in an area will cause an earthquake to occur, this earthquake will then lower the acid, allowing you to proceed ever deeper into the bowels of this alien world.

Metroids evolve in Metroid 2 from Infant to Mature, Alpha, Gamma, Zeta, Omega and...

Speaking of aliens (or is it… Aliens?), Metroid 2 is unique amongst the Metroid series in another very distinctive (and totally awesome) way… Metroid 2 is the only classic Metroid game that features every evolutionary phase of the Metroid creature! As you progress further in the game, you will face off against new species that are different phases of the Metroid lifeform!

And, as you’d expect, they get deadlier and deadlier (and less Metroid jellyfish-like-looking, I must confess) the further you get. And harder to kill. Until you reach the end and face-off against one of the greatest end-bosses in 8-bit Game Boy history! And while it can’t hold a candle to the totally epic conclusion of this game’s sequel (Super Metroid), it does one HELL of a job of holding its own.

These two aspects alone (different, and unique, phases of Metroids, and the end-boss) make Metroid 2 worth checking out for every Metroid fan, and possibly worth checking out even for none fans. These two aspects, as well as the third which I’ll discuss in a bit, truly makeup for the lackluster showing in the graphic and music departments discussed earlier.”

Samus Lookin' Good In This Awesome Fanart

Here is a gameplay video of Metroid 2 in action!

And here is the GREAT Metroid 2 Japanese commercial from 1991!

Here is the lame U.S. commercial for Metroid 2 (spoiler alert).