"Metroid II is easily one of the best handheld games ever!"

A few years ago (Summer of 2001), I was about to go on a vacation trip, and I wanted to get this game. It would give me something to play in the car. I knew it would be hard to find, because the game was about 10 years old. I checked Toys 'r' us, but they didn't have it. Next, I went to EB Games. I asked them, and they let me search through this box of old Gameboy games. After searching for a minute, I found what would soon become my favorite Gameboy game ever!

Graphics - 9/10
The graphics in this game are excellent for Gameboy graphics. It also looks nice on Gameboy Color. These graphics easily put the original game's graphics to shame. Samus is nicely detailed, and she looks great. The only thing that I didn't like is the backgrounds. They all look the same, so it's hard to tell where you're going sometimes. Other than that small problem, the graphics are great.

Sound and Music - 8/10
Ok, you might say that there's not much music, and it seems rather quiet. That's actually a good thing, because it gives the game a brilliant atmosphere. You're supposed to be alone on a planet full of enemies. The music gives you a better feel of the atmosphere compared to the first Metroid. The sounds are also good, such as jumping and shooting. Certain enemies also scream in pain as you blast them with your missiles.

Story - 5/10
Metroid II takes place after the original game and the Metroid Prime series. (although it was the second Metroid made, the time line has been interrupted through the years). After Samus destroyed Planet Zebes and the Space Pirates, the Galactic Federation orders her to go to the Metroids' home planet of SR388. Her mission is to eliminate all the Metroids on SR388.

Gameplay - 10/10
Metroid II doesn't get much respect, because few people have played this compared to the other Metroids. It's a shame because Metroid II is probably better than half of the Metroids. Metroid II added a lot of new abilities to the series. It added two new beam weapons, the space jump (jump as long as you want), the spider ball (you can stick to walls, and you can climb them), the spring ball (jump in ball form), and the ability to save your game (no more passwords!). It also marked the debut of Samus's Star Ship. As you can see, Metroid II added a lot to the series.

Metroid II is an Action Platforming game. You will shoot enemies with your arm cannon throughout the entire game. You can either use a beam weapon or missiles. Missiles are more powerful than most of the beams, but you can only carry a limited supply of them. You jump a lot in this game, usually in order to reach places. You can upgrade your jumping height later in the game. You can also roll into a ball to reach tight places or dodge enemy attacks.

Metroid II is a non-linear game. You can explore as much as you want, but to progress through the game, you must get items and abilities from Chozo Statues. These items allow you to reach new places and become more powerful. You can also get Energy Tanks and Missile Pods to increase the amount of energy or missiles you can have.

The main goal in Metroid II is to eliminate every Metroid. Nintendo was nice enough to include a counter at the bottom of the screen that tells you how many Metroids are left on the planet. On SR388 there is a liquid substance that causes damage to Samus. Sometimes, you can't get to the next area, because the liquid blocks her path. In order to drain the liquid, you must defeat every Metroid in the area. After you have done that, you can go to the next area and repeat the pattern again and again until you beat the game. There are also 5 different types of Metroids in this game, and missiles are required to beat all of them.

Replay value - 9/10
SR388 is a large planet, and after you beat the game, you might want to search out the Energy Tanks, Missile Pods, or items you missed. There are also three different endings, which can be unlocked by beating the game within a certain time limit.

Overall - 10/10
Metroid II is a spectacular game. Great atmosphere combined with fun gameplay make for an excellent gaming experience. You won't find many other Gameboy games that are this fun. It's very difficult to find, but if you ever see it, buy it. You'll be very glad that you did.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/09/04, Updated 08/09/05