Original GB version

I just played Zelda 2 recently, and I definitely wouldn't lump M2 in with that. Metroid 2 is a very simplified version of the first Metroid, as it was released on GB, but it didn't try to undo basically all of the successful elements of the original game in the same way that Zelda 2 did. I'd compare it more to the difference between Link to the Past and Link's Awakening.

Slower like M1. You usually don't have to farm as much though because they added in save stations and recharge items.

I don't think that's entirely fair. Metroid II is a game for the original gameboy and in that respect it is a good game. I think it really would have benefitted from a DX version.

Also the original Mario 2 is a great game that got replaced by an unremarkable reskin of a mediocre game. Zelda 2 was the only one where Nintendo just outright botched things.

thanks maybe I'll try it

I mean of course they're not really bad but compared to 1 and 3 there is no contest they're all clearly at the bottom
The simple fact is they neither pioneered nor refined the formula and even fans often consider them skippable in the grand scheme of the franchise

All three are different enough to warrant a try. The original is a bit rough around the edges but it's not particularly long and you can easily emulate it. AM2R is like Zero Mission with Metroid 2's story/premise. Samus Returns is more action-focused.

The map consists of many smaller, non-linear areas all connected in a linear fashion. You basically seek out and destroy all the Metroids in an area, then it unlocks the next area.

I don't think Metroid 2 is comparable to Zelda 2 or Mario 2 at all. Those games were drastic departures from the first game. Metroid 2 took the concepts of Metroid 1 and expanded upon them, introducing many powerups and mechanics that became series staples. And it did this on much more restricted hardware, which makes it even more impressive. Metroid 1 is more like a labyrinth designed to confuse and frustrate the player, Metroid 2 is when the series started to have more of a focus on level design.

OK so I started M2
>you can enter the ship
>mind blown

For the atmosphere M2. Not even close. I actually didn't like how either remake removed the feeling of fear and suspense the original conveyed despite it being on the gameboy.

Due to the Gameboy limitations metroid 2 also introduced the iconic varia suit

AM2R but all of them are short and worth to play at least once

what? varia suit was in M1. what does it have to do with limitations?

play the original and am2r. there's a color mod for the original so maybe you don't even need to play am2r unless you really like those Zero Mission graphics
Samus Returns is basically another game, the feel is completely different for me

AM2R is pure soul. SR is soulless but fun.

Original GB version

In M1, the Varia Suit was just a palette swap. Since the Gameboy had a monochrome screen, they couldn't do the same thing so they changed the design of pauldrons to signify the change. It's now an iconic part of Samus's look.

I felt like Samus Returns suffers by being a remake on the 3DS. It's a good game but it just can't live to it's fullest potential.

Metroid II is soulful but dated.
AM2R is soulless and fun.
SR is soulless and unfun.

No version can fix the fundamental issue that you are fighting the same mini-boss Metroids over and over, but AM2R is clearly the best

Samus Returns introduces a bit of variety with each encounter since the arenas are a bit different. Plus both remakes do add completely new bosses, although again I'd say SR was better on this front than AM2R.

the shit budget "ruined" the game, not it being a GB game remake
when you fight the same enemy throughout the whole game (bats and frogs) you know the budget wasn't very good
with more enemies and more boss variants (like 2 or 3 metroids at once) it would have been much better even if they kept everything else the same

I'm trying to run the GB color hack but I get an error "this wouldn't run on original gameboy"
I'm using BGB.

AMR2

I don't see how the game would be better outside of the 3ds

Gameboy or AM2R.

Remake is a clusterfuck by MercurySteam, who fucked up the Lords of Shadow sequels and did the Lords of Shadow 3DS game.

Metroid II is better than Metroid.

ok works in visualboyadvance

But remakes tend to have smaller budgets because most of the pre-work for the game is finished.

>I'd say SR was better on this front than AM2R.
the 3 big guys are amazing but they are put at the very end of the game, absolutely shit pacing, before them there's only Arachnus and that's in Area 2 or 3 so quite early. AM2R has more unique bosses and they are put in every area as it should be, also sometimes you fight multiple alphas or gammas at once which makes the tedium of killing the 40 little shits faster. The only time SR tries to do something unique with the Metroids is when the gammas run away like faggots, funny the first time but not the third, fuck that shit.

The 3DS was a good console for a new Metroid game. It had two screens (so you could constantly reference the map) and the 360° aiming with the analog stick was a nice addition to the series. Perhaps the one thing I would complain about is that the 3DS's default control stick is awful, it has no grip so it's difficult to use precisely. I swapped mine out for a metal one with ridges and it's a massive improvement.

>Mario 2, Zelda 2, and Metroid 2
Best games in their series.

the GB version
if you haven't beaten that without reading guides you're gay and a virgin

>Metroid II is better than Metroid.
that's not hard to do, just add save points and it's already 1000x better

Gameboy version with this hack romhacking.net/hacks/4388/

weak bait

>It had two screens (so you could constantly reference the map)
That was a disadvantage for me. With that and the map scan ability, I played the game mostly looking at the bottom screen. It kinda ruined the exploration part of the game.

>Samus Returns adds Ridley as a secret boss.
>AM2R adds Genesis

Based on that alone, I'd have to give it to AM2R. Sure, Ridley can be a fun boss, but nothing gets back to those Alien roots like a fight against an acid spewing monster in a pitch black lab, all while his attacks ignore immunity frames. It really gets the blood pumpin.

youtube.com/watch?v=xbNH56Rxbxw