Metroid: Samus Returns is a remake of a classic Metroid title, and that means there are a lot of tips that transcend time and apply to the new game. This article covers a few Metroid: Samus Returns tips in case you’re new to the series or just haven’t played a traditional Metroid game in some time. Of course there are a few tips that are new to Metroid: Samus Returns, so even veteran players can get some helpful tips out of this article.
Melee Counters
One of the best features in Metroid: Samus Returns is the Melee Counter ability. If you see a white ring flash around an enemy, or hear a clicking noise, this indicates a melee attack is coming. At this point you can press the Y button and Samus will perform a Melee Counter. Timing can be a bit tricky depending on the enemy, but it shouldn’t take long to get the timing down.
If you land a successful counter the enemy is stunned. However, it’s important to note that you can get a big damage boost immediately following a counter. To get the damage boost, don’t move Samus at all and simply press the Fire button. As long as Samus didn’t move, she will automatically target the enemy and launch an attack with a damage boost. If you move, the enemy will still be stunned, but you’ll have to manually aim your attack and you won’t get the nice damage boost either.
Bomb Jumping
Something that has been passed down from the original Metroid is the ability to bomb jump. This can help you reach out of the way areas before you obtain certain upgrades to your suit. It won’t always get you where you need to go, but it can be helpful more often than you may think.
To perform a bomb jump, shift into the Morph Ball form, then lay a bomb directly under Samus. When the bomb detonates Samus will launch herself into the air a short distance. Once Samus is in the air, plant another bomb and the blast will carry Samus even further. Now the timing can be a bit tricky here, and you need to make sure you don’t move Samus left or right during this process, but once you have the timing down it can be a very helpful ability.
Free Aim
In the old days if you wanted to his a specific target that was above or below Samus, you just had to jump or drop down and shoot the target along the way. Now you can use the Free Aim ability to get a more precise shot on an enemy target. Hold down the L shoulder button and Samus will enter her aiming stance. Now you can aim in a full 360 degree circle around Samus, hitting targets almost anywhere.
Enemy Paltforms
With the Ice Beam you can create your own platforms using enemies. All you have to do is charge up the Ice Beam and hit an enemy with it. This freezes the enemy in place for a short time. While the enemy is frozen, Samus can use them as a stepping stone to reach a nearby platform. Be careful once you have the Screw Attack upgrade because you may accidentally defeat the enemy instead of simply jumping on them.
Wall Jumps
Another technique that dates back to the early Metroid games is the ability to wall jump. If you spin jump toward a wall, you can press the Circle button and move the d-pad in the opposite direction of the wall and Samus will launch herself away from the wall. In tight vertical corridors you can use this technique to reach the top of an area, but it can also come in handy to reach platforms that are just slightly higher than a normal jump.
Be sure to check out our Metroid: Samus Returns game hub for more tips and stratgies!
