Summary
A homebrew developer is recreating the original NESMetroidgame to work on the Game Boy, in the same vein asMetroid 2: Return of Samus. The originalMetroidis a classic series that established a formula of exploration and is regularly praised by fans of the series, even if not every aspect of the title has aged gracefully. TheMetroidseries is a common subject for those looking to make fan games, regardless of whether said games come in the form of an older adventure being remade or a brand-new one being created.
Prominent remakes ofMetroidgames include the fan-madeAM2R, which is a full remake ofMetroid 2: Return of Samuson the Game Boy that brings it closer to thegameplay ofMetroid: Zero Mission, along with games likeMetroid: Samus Returns, an official remake of the second game by MercurySteam that was released on the Nintendo 3DS. The originalMetroidwas remade for the Game Boy Advance as the aforementionedZero Mission, which included vibrant sprite work, cutscenes, and even a new section that had Samus sneaking around in her Zero suit. One dedicated fan is recreating the original game in the same style as the more limitedMetroid 2.
This project, known asM2NES: Zebes Revisited, was created by homebrew developer LOO-E, who is recreatingMetroid 1withMetroid 2’s engine and constraints. This means porting thecolorful and sprawling NES gameto the limits of the Game Boy, which includes only grayscale sprites and a small screen size. These were limits thatMetroid 2was stuck with, and LOO-E is sticking to them with this recreation. LOO-E posted a preview trailer of this fan remake on their YouTube channel.
The M2NES Trailer Shows How Metroid 1 is Being Recreated in Metroid 2
The trailer highlights variousareas from the originalMetroidthat were remade forMetroid 2, and the comparisons between the original NES game and Game Boy recreation are quite interesting. While the game has been compressed to fit the smaller screen, the areas are still recognizable and are faithful recreations. LOO-E noted that some quality-of-life improvements were made with this recreation as well, such as giving the player access to refill points and save rooms.
The developer also teases thatM2NEShas a brand-new area called the Bendezium Mines, which is an abandoned Space Pirate mine that gives Samus new abilities. New items that give Samus power-ups fromMetroid 2will be encountered as the player fights through a group of space pirates. The game also features a color palette to replicate the look of the original NES game, which would likely be available if it wasplayed on a Game Boy Color.
This fan game is set to be released some time in 2024. Some fans have worried that the project will beshut down like theAnother Metroid 2 Remakefrom 2016. However,M2NESmight have some wiggle room due to it being a ROM hack, which might be enough to avoid legal trouble.
Metroid
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An NES classic, Metroid introduced the world to Samus Aran and established the fundamentals of the Metroidvania genre.
