Metroid: Samus Returns comes to Nintendo 3DS this year (update)

A Metroid adventure called Metroid: Samus Returns is in the works for Nintendo 3DS, and it will hit Sept. 15. Nintendo of Americap resident Reggie Fils-Aime debuted the first gameplay from the project during Nintendo’s E3 2017 Treehouse livestream.

Unlike last August’s Metroid Prime Federation Force, this is a full-fledged, sidescrolling Metroid game. Samus Aran is back in the driver’s seat — hence that title.

The title is reminiscent of Metroid 2: Return of Samus, as is the gameplay. The game is a “reimagination” of the 1991 Game Boy game, as members of Nintendo said during the stream. Just like that game, there will be plenty of divergent paths, bosses to take on and more in Samus Returns. As Nintendo said, it’s a “classic 2D Metroid to a T.”

Samus will have new abilities as well. These include melee counter, which allows her to get critical hits on enemies. She also has a full-range of motion for more precise aiming, as opposed to the 45-degree angle that she shoots at in the Game Boy game.

Mercury Steam is developing the Nintendo 3DS game, according to Nintendo. The studio is best known for the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow games.

Stick around with the Treehouse stream for more info on Samus Returns and other Nintendo Switch and 3DS titles. It will run live throughout the E3 week.

Update: Samus Returns will support amiibo, including two new figures coming out alongside the game.

There will also be a special edition release that has a soundtrack with music spanning the entire franchise. The game launches this September.