Really kickass movement and nice music, the former of which is what convinced me to pick up the game. It was fun for a while, but unfortunately, it quickly became a game of "scour the entire map over and over again for the one tiny thing you missed". Exploration also stopped being enjoyable in dark areas, because the game doesn't have a ton of distinguishing textures to help inform the space around you. So, it's abandoned until further notice. I'd love to see this movement system in a game with sharper 3D graphics and s'more QoL. It'll only cost you a few bucks, though, so I'd say it's worth a pickup if you're a fan of parkour games.

Congratulations, Samus Returns. You're the first 3DS game to ever give me hand cramps.

The atmosphere is on point, and the soundtrack is great, but that's where the stringless positives end. It's just too painful trying to play the game with a circle pad. The lack of shinespark especially holds back both movement and puzzles. I know it's hilarious to suggest, but I think we might need yet Another Metroid 2 Remake for the game to reach its full potential. This time with better controls, less bosses, better pacing, shinespark included and some way for the baby metroid to not unlock half the game's collectibles at the 11th hour.

I did have fun overall, but I'm never going to replay it and I'm not going to recommend it or any other version of Metroid 2 to anyone.

Good:
- Grapple Hooks
- Expanded platforming paths
- Reasonable antagonists
- Sibling dynamics
- Driving sections

Not good:
- Worse controls
- Inconsistent/unsatisfying gunplay
- "Secret long lost brother" trope
- Glitch where dramatic and loud combat music kept playing in all cutscenes and on the main menu, kind of ruined the end of the game

Final verdict:
4.5/5, it's still got a ton of stuff to love but I wish the gunplay was closer to what it was in 1-3, then it would be closer to perfect.