Samus Aran
The bounty hunter controlled by the player, sent to SR388 to eliminate the Metroid species.
Documented for this version
Which controls does this version use?
Actions
Arrow LeftArrow Right | Move left or right |
|---|---|
Arrow Up | Aim upward or enter a door when applicable |
Arrow Down | Crouch or aim downward |
A | Jump |
B | Fire the equipped beam or missile |
Start | Pause the game |
Control notes
The listed controls use the Game Boy button names rather than emulator mappings.
How it plays
How does Metroid II: Return of Samus play?
The game uses a side-view perspective across connected underground caverns on SR388. Samus searches for Metroids, defeats them in several evolutionary forms, and advances by reducing the planet's remaining population.
Players run, jump, shoot, roll into narrow spaces, and use beams, missiles, bombs, and special suits to open routes. The game has a single campaign rather than separate multiplayer modes. New abilities unlock previously inaccessible passages, while save stations and energy resources support progression through increasingly dangerous areas.
Plan your run
What is the best way to play Metroid II: Return of Samus?
Explore each region methodically and mark branching paths mentally, especially when a tunnel is blocked by an ability you have not yet obtained.
Conserve missiles for Metroid battles and use beams, bombs, and the Spider Ball to control space safely. Before entering a new area, refill energy and ammunition at available stations, and watch for environmental clues that indicate hidden passages.
Meet the cast
Who are the key characters?
Metroid
The parasitic alien life-form Samus must locate and destroy in its increasingly powerful evolutionary forms.
Queen Metroid
The final and largest Metroid encountered during Samus's mission on SR388.
Before you begin
What should you know before playing?
- 1
Use Morph Ball passages and bombable floors to check suspicious dead ends.
- 2
Different Metroid forms require different tactics; keep distance and observe their movement before firing.
- 3
Save often when a save station is nearby, particularly after gaining a major ability.
Community discussion
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