Let's get the plaudits out of the way early: AM2R is an amazing achievement by any standard. I've only played a few fangames over the years, and it blows them all out of the water, easily. If this were a commercial indie game released in a universe where Metroid didn't exist, it would do quite well. Compared to other entries in the series, however, AM2R goes about 90% down the path to besting Super Metroid, but it doesn't quite get there in the end.
Ultimately, this is (mostly) due to the limitations that DoctorM64 set for himself at the very beginning of the project. I understand he wanted to be true to the original game, but including nearly 50 repetitive fights with the various Metroid forms slows the game to a crawl. There are multiple sequences in this game that are just the same boss fought 3 or 4 times back to back, and it's just...not interesting from a gameplay perspective.
Which is a shame, because the rest of it is really, really good. I ended up 100%ing it, because it nails the mix of exploration, combat, and puzzles that the series is known for, arguably better than even Super Metroid. AM2R is also a game that controls remarkably well, which is probably my biggest issue with the series as a whole. Shinesparks and wall jumps actually feel good in AM2R, though if you don't know that shinespark-cancelling is a thing, you aren't going to be able to 100% the game. Not sure if that's the case for other actual Metroid games, but it definitely took me by surprise.
The repetitive Metroid battles contrast remarkably with the game's other bosses, which are quite difficult and involved by Metroid standards, but rarely unfair. I am definitely not a fan of the five-phase final boss fight, which is boring, lengthy, and punitive, but hey, it's a fangame, not everything's going to be perfect.
Overall, AM2R is an excellent Metroidvania that follows closely in the tradition of Zero Mission and the Actual Metroid 2 without falling prey to the excesses that typically come along with fangames. I highly recommend it.
Ultimately, this is (mostly) due to the limitations that DoctorM64 set for himself at the very beginning of the project. I understand he wanted to be true to the original game, but including nearly 50 repetitive fights with the various Metroid forms slows the game to a crawl. There are multiple sequences in this game that are just the same boss fought 3 or 4 times back to back, and it's just...not interesting from a gameplay perspective.
Which is a shame, because the rest of it is really, really good. I ended up 100%ing it, because it nails the mix of exploration, combat, and puzzles that the series is known for, arguably better than even Super Metroid. AM2R is also a game that controls remarkably well, which is probably my biggest issue with the series as a whole. Shinesparks and wall jumps actually feel good in AM2R, though if you don't know that shinespark-cancelling is a thing, you aren't going to be able to 100% the game. Not sure if that's the case for other actual Metroid games, but it definitely took me by surprise.
The repetitive Metroid battles contrast remarkably with the game's other bosses, which are quite difficult and involved by Metroid standards, but rarely unfair. I am definitely not a fan of the five-phase final boss fight, which is boring, lengthy, and punitive, but hey, it's a fangame, not everything's going to be perfect.
Overall, AM2R is an excellent Metroidvania that follows closely in the tradition of Zero Mission and the Actual Metroid 2 without falling prey to the excesses that typically come along with fangames. I highly recommend it.