If it weren't for Super Mario Odyssey, Metroid: Samus Returns would be my Game of the Show. I could immediately tell from the first few minutes of live gameplay on the Treehouse that this plays like a dream.
Samus is agile and acrobatic, each animation segueing smoothly into the next. There's this immediacy of control that comes across in the videos, from the tight shooting with its full-circle arc, to the crisp counterattacks dealing critical damage, giving Samus a much-needed option for pushing back enemies that corner her.
The levels seem perfectly calibrated in their proportions, as well, with just the right balance of tight spaces and open places for running, jumping, rolling, and mantling. They enable a zen-like flow that encourages non-stop action and exploration.
And the art direction looks great. Samus has striking poses accentuated by the dynamic camera transitions of cutscenes and counterattacks. The enemies look suitably savage and animalistic in their animations. The colors are vibrant and warm, popping off the screen with gorgeous golds and lavenders. And the well-sculpted environments have organic layers to them that will be well-served by stereoscopic 3D. Speaking of which, it's great to see this game supporting 3D.
I also applaud the use of the second screen, filling in the map in real-time. The player can even annotate it with icons, which will help you remember where you need to return later.
The amiibo are just icing on the cake. I imagine this is the start of a larger Metroid amiibo line that will in the future include Metroid Prime 4 — similar to how the Fire Emblem amiibo started with Echoes and is now continuing with Warriors.
What a wonderful game. MercurySteam may have had trouble in the past, but they're clearly capable with a winning formula like Metroid II as their template, and with the close supervision of Nintendo SPD and Sakamoto himself. Watching the two Treehouse Live streams and reading impressions like Game Informer ("I couldn't stop playing") should lay to rest any concern about this game's quality.
It's just so cool that now both the original NES Metroid and its GB sequel have been remade, with non-numbered titles ("Zero Mission" and "Samus Returns") that make the overall timeline more flexible. Just great stuff all around!