 Available in A4 (£7.99) or A3 (£10.99)Description
The Return of Samus
Released for the Game Boy in 1991, Metroid II: Return of Samus takes Samus away from planet Zebes and sends her to SR388, the homeworld of the Metroid species. The Galactic Federation has discovered a dangerous Metroid population on the planet and sends Samus on a mission to eradicate the creatures before they can once again become a threat. Unlike the original Metroid, where the Space Pirates and Mother Brain were the primary targets, this adventure is centred around hunting down the Metroids themselves. As Samus explores the underground world of SR388, she encounters Metroids at different stages of their evolution. Each encounter becomes increasingly dangerous, with the creatures developing into larger and more powerful forms as the mission progresses.
Eventually, Samus reaches the Queen Metroid, but the conclusion of her mission takes an unexpected turn when a newly hatched Metroid imprints on her. The hatchling becomes an important part of the story that follows in Super Metroid.
Exploring SR388
Metroid II changes the structure of the original game while retaining its emphasis on exploration and discovery. SR388 is a sprawling underground environment filled with hostile creatures, hidden areas and mysterious structures. Samus must search through the planet while keeping track of her progress and locating the Metroids hidden throughout its various regions. The game also introduces an important progression mechanic: defeating enough Metroids causes the planet’s seismic activity to change, allowing Samus to progress deeper into SR388.
This gives the adventure a strong sense of purpose. Rather than simply exploring for the sake of exploration, every section of the planet is part of Samus’s mission to locate and eliminate the remaining Metroids.
The Evolution of the Metroids
One of the most distinctive features of Metroid II is the variety of Metroid forms encountered during Samus’s mission. The creatures evolve through several stages, including Alpha, Gamma, Zeta and Omega forms, each presenting a different challenge. The progression from the familiar floating Metroid to the much larger and more dangerous later forms gives the game an increasingly threatening atmosphere. The Queen Metroid represents the ultimate encounter and brings Samus’s mission to its conclusion.
This focus on the Metroid species also makes Metroid II particularly important to the wider story of the series. Nintendo describes the game as a fundamental chapter in the 2D Metroid storyline because it introduces Samus’s first encounter with the Metroid hatchling.
A Classic Game Boy Adventure
Metroid II was designed specifically for the original Game Boy, giving it a visual identity quite different from the NES game that came before it. The monochrome display, compact screen and deliberately dark atmosphere make the game instantly recognisable. Exploring SR388 through those limited shades of grey gives the planet an isolated and mysterious quality, while the simple sprites and environments have become an important part of its retro appeal.
The Game Boy hardware also meant that the adventure could be taken anywhere, making Metroid II one of Nintendo’s early examples of bringing the exploration-focused Metroid formula to a handheld system.
The game was later completely reimagined as Metroid: Samus Returns for Nintendo 3DS, but the original Game Boy adventure remains a distinctive piece of Metroid history.
Design & Style
This poster uses an authentic gameplay screenshot from the original Game Boy version of Metroid II: Return of Samus as its main image.
- Original Metroid II: Return of Samus Game Boy gameplay screenshot
- Distinctive monochrome Game Boy visuals showing Samus exploring SR388
- Metroid II title positioned above the gameplay image
- Developer, publisher, genre and launch platform information displayed in the top-right
- Six colour swatches sampled from the artwork positioned in the top-left
- Short description of the game and original release year positioned beneath the main image
- Original Game Boy platform branding incorporated at the bottom
- Clean gallery-style layout designed to turn an authentic retro gameplay moment into modern gaming wall art
If you prefer the original artwork rather than a gameplay moment, the Metroid II: Return of Samus Game Boy Key Art Poster is also available. The two designs provide different ways to celebrate Samus’s second adventure.
This gameplay design also follows naturally from the Metroid NES Gameplay Poster, allowing you to build a matching display around the first two classic Metroid games.
Print Details
- Available in A4 – 210 × 297mm
- Available in A3 – 297 × 420mm
- Printed on 240gsm Premium Gloss Photo Paper
- High-quality colour reproduction
- Designed for easy framing and display
- Ideal for gaming rooms, bedrooms, offices and retro gaming collections
Shipping
- Free UK shipping
- International shipping available
- Carefully packaged to help ensure your poster arrives in excellent condition
Perfect For
- Metroid fans
- Nintendo Game Boy collectors
- Retro gaming enthusiasts
- Samus Aran fans
- Classic Nintendo collectors
- 2D Metroid fans
- Game Boy nostalgia
- Gaming rooms and retro displays
- Fans of the original Metroid adventures
25% OFF WHEN YOU BUY 2+ POSTERS – DISCOUNT APPLIED AUTOMATICALLY
Add two or more posters to your order and the 25% discount is applied automatically at checkout.
This design also forms part of the Metroid 1–3 Gameplay Poster Bundle, bringing together gameplay designs from Metroid, Metroid II: Return of Samus and Super Metroid in one matching three-poster collection.
