action adventure video game developed published nintendo game boy handheld game console second installment handheld title series released north_america november japan europe following year story follows protagonist playable character sent mission creatures home planet antagonistic space pirates obtain use gameplay involves killing fixed number player advance deeper planet tunnels developed produced worked game nintendo_entertainment_system developers game added round metal shoulders differentiate looked similar game boy limited display updated suit staple series appearing subsequent games unique color palette added console successor original game boy color screen game given generally favorable reviews critics praised story settings reviews criticized graphics audio follow game released available nintendo 3ds virtual console title gameplay action adventure game player controls protagonist fictional planet players advance game weapons kill fixed number creatures player given displays number remaining area creatures eliminated earthquake occurs planet lava levels decrease allowing travel deeper tunnels creatures encountered different evolution stages development cycle original alpha gamma developed organism stronger attack features save located planet allow players save progress continue session game features weapons new series tri splitting passes enemies shot equip beam time switch returning found features new suit allows jump infinitely access areas game sees return mode ball travel small tunnels addition game series feature spring ball climb walls ceilings giving freedom explore surfaces ceilings spring ball gives ability jump ball form plot previous bounty hunter ruined space pirates plans use newly discovered known ensure space pirates obtain sends teams home planet destroy teams disappear contracts finish mission exploring planet encounters destroys slowly decreasing planet population mission notices creature exhibits grow small like creatures large like destroying planet encounters battles queen killing proceeds return planet tunnels way finds egg broken shell thinking mother unable commit mission life exits tunnels helps clear way reaching planet surface board setting plot development developed produced worked previous game nintendo_entertainment_system directed designed serving main programmer marked new high point handheld game consoles graphics good bit graphics games nes game features enhancements predecessor include easier controls allow firing time jump shooting straight attack game utilizes cartridge battery backed memory saving player progress interview magazine revealed planet named motorcycle game boy black white graphics resulted changes gear eventually permanent original color differentiate upgraded version color suits appeared similar requiring developers develop visual indicator players determine suit wearing updated adding round metal shoulders suit game series involved developing successor original game boy color screen noted included special palette hardware makes look nice remarking game graphics comparable original nintendo_entertainment_system release nintendo released north_america november followed release japan january europe nintendo included game player choice marketing label north_america released japan downloadable game nintendo_power flash memory cartridge august nintendo announced game boy games super mario land golden coins revenge released nintendo 3ds virtual console end year released japan september north_america europe november reception considered critics weakest game franchise received nintendo_entertainment_system counterpart received generally favorable reviews single large level instead multiple small ones ign found game refreshing departure norm feel game ventured praised replay value considering non primary reason retrospective video series believed game maintained high standards set predecessor noted introduced new methods exploration series staples believed fans original noticed backgrounds detailed iteration noted difficulty improved original game inclusion hot spots health missiles hand particularly critical game finding game painful play describing dark spot brilliant series reputation parish found game premise ambitious adding provided series vital actions fuel plots sequels super similarly commented told pivotal chapters series overall plot praised visual detail writing platforms foreground enemies detailed easily identify trying kill contrast jones considered graphics average noted walls appeared players wandering identical tunnels parish complained aside visuals environment bland repetitive rocks sand details differentiate areas enemies simple parish found music downright painful contrasted moody atmospheric compositions series known cited music bad point game stating ambient sounds tend annoying hearing jones said lot time music steady beat certain areas slow moody tune begins play background noted game linear unimpressed audio visuals september nintendo_power staff members voted list games time magazine placed 34th place list games time games list nintendo_power ranked game best game nintendo console included list best game boy games nintendo_power listed 12th best game boy game boy color video game praising introducing staple abilities series game informer called ninth best game boy game noted fans sequel legacy follow released series creator remarked game developers conference moved ending influenced creating black white color palette games released attempts create colored versions programmer pseudonym created known project aims update game appearance cases visual designs zero mission claims features incredible graphics consider recreation original level design observed animations incredibly smooth colors vibrant backgrounds detailed scheduled release august
Metroid II: Return of Samus