Super Metroid

Last updated

Super Metroid
Smetroidbox.jpg
North American box art featuring Samus Aran battling Ridley
Developer(s)
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Director(s) Yoshio Sakamoto
Producer(s) Makoto Kano
Programmer(s) Kenji Imai
Artist(s)
Composer(s)
Series Metroid
Platform(s) Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Release
  • JP: March 19, 1994
  • NA: April 18, 1994
  • PAL: July 28, 1994
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Super Metroid [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] is a 1994 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third installment in the Metroid series, following the events of the Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus (1991). Players control bounty hunter Samus Aran, who travels to planet Zebes to retrieve an infant Metroid creature stolen by the Space Pirate leader Ridley.

Contents

Following the established gameplay model of its predecessors, Super Metroid focuses on exploration, with the player searching for power-ups used to reach previously inaccessible areas. It introduced new concepts to the series, such as the inventory screen, an automap, and the ability to fire in all directions. The development staff from previous Metroid games—including Yoshio Sakamoto, Makoto Kano and Gunpei Yokoi—returned to develop Super Metroid over the course of two years. The developers wanted to make a true action game, and set the stage for Samus' reappearance.

Super Metroid received acclaim, with praise for its atmosphere, gameplay, music and graphics. It is often cited as one of the greatest video games of all time. The game sold well and shipped 1.42 million copies worldwide by late 2003. Alongside Castlevania: Symphony of the Night , Super Metroid is credited for establishing the "Metroidvania" genre, inspiring numerous indie games and developers. It also became popular among players for speedrunning. Super Metroid was followed in 2002 by Metroid Fusion and Metroid Prime . It has been re-released on several Nintendo consoles and services.

Gameplay

Power-ups and abilities, such as the Grappling Beam, allow Samus to reach previously inaccessible areas. Her health, stock of weapons and a gridded mini-map are displayed on the top of the screen. Super Metroid Grapple Beam.png
Power-ups and abilities, such as the Grappling Beam, allow Samus to reach previously inaccessible areas. Her health, stock of weapons and a gridded mini-map are displayed on the top of the screen.

Super Metroid is a 2D side-scrolling action-adventure game, [2] [3] which primarily takes place on the fictional planet Zebes from the original game—a large, open-ended world with areas connected by doors and elevators. [4] : 18–19  The player controls Samus Aran as she searches the planet for a Metroid that has been stolen by Ridley, the leader of the Space Pirates. [4] : 5  Samus can run, jump, crouch, and fire a weapon in eight directions; she can also perform other actions, such as wall jumping—jumping from one wall to another in rapid succession to reach higher areas. The "Moon Walk" ability, named after the popular dance move of the same name, allows Samus to walk backwards while firing or charging her weapon. [5] : 8–9 

Throughout the course of the game, the player can acquire power-ups that enhance Samus's armor and weaponry, as well as grant her special abilities, allowing them to gain access to areas that were previously inaccessible. [3] The Morph Ball [lower-alpha 3] allows Samus to curl into a ball and roll into tight places; while in this form, she can plant bombs once a Bomb power-up is acquired. The Spring Ball adds the ability to jump while in Morph Ball form. [5] : 10–11  The Speed Booster can be used to run at high speeds and crash into barriers and enemies. [6] The Hi-Jump Boots allow for a higher jump, and the Space Jump allows Samus to jump in midair. [4] : 24  The Grapple Beam can be used to swing across open areas. [6] The X-ray Scope is used to see items and passages through hidden walls and other surfaces. [5] : 12 

The heads-up display shows Samus's health, the supply mode for Reserve Tanks, icons that represent weapons, and a map display showing her location and its surroundings. [5] : 7  The inventory screen allows the player to enable and disable weapons and abilities. While the beam weapons can be combined, the Spazer and Plasma beams cannot be used simultaneously. At the game's end, Samus obtains the Hyper Beam, a powerful weapon generated by the energy given to her by the "super Metroid", the matured version of the larval creature that she seeks over the course of the game. [7] [8] The backup units called Reserve Tanks can be used automatically when Samus's health is depleted. [4] : 14–15  The game also features an automap to help players navigate the different areas of the game. Additionally, the player can use the map computer found in each part of the planet to reveal unexplored areas. [4] : 13  To save their progress, the player must find and use one of the save stations scattered around the planet. [4] : 16  The game can also be saved at Samus's gunship, which fully recharges her health and ammunition as well. [4] : 18 Super Metroid has three endings based on the time taken to complete the game, which determine whether Samus poses with or without her suit. The best ending is achieved when the game is completed under three hours. [5] : 119  Additionally, an optional task alters the game's end slightly. If the player chooses to rescue the Dachora and the Etecoons, friendly creatures encountered by Samus in the game, they are shown leaving the planet in the distance. [5] : 118–119 

Plot

Samus Aran brings the last Metroid to the Ceres space colony for scientific study. Investigation of the specimen, a larva, reveals that its energy-producing abilities could actually be harnessed for the good of civilization. Shortly after leaving, Samus receives a distress call alerting her to return to the colony immediately. She finds the scientists dead, and the Metroid larva stolen by Ridley, leader of the Space Pirates. Samus escapes from the colony during a self-destruct sequence and follows Ridley to the planet Zebes. [11] She searches the planet for the Metroid and finds that the Pirates have rebuilt their base there. [4] : 5 

After defeating four bosses including Ridley in various regions of Zebes, Samus enters Tourian, [5] : 109  the heart of the Pirates' base, and fights several Metroids that have somehow reproduced. A single Metroid that has grown to enormous size attacks and nearly destroys Samus, but relents at the last moment. It is the larva that was stolen from Ceres; because Samus was present at its hatching on SR388, the Metroid has imprinted on Samus, recognizing her as its "mother". [5] : 113  [7] [12]

Samus fights Mother Brain, a biomechanical creature that controls the Zebes systems. Mother Brain overpowers Samus and again she is nearly killed, but the Metroid intervenes, crippling Mother Brain and healing Samus. Mother Brain rises again and kills the Metroid, but upon death, the Metroid gives Samus the Hyper Beam, a powerful weapon strong enough to kill Mother Brain. Samus escapes Zebes as it self-destructs. [5] : 116–119 

Development

Yoshio Sakamoto, the director and writer of Super Metroid, at the 2010 Game Developers Conference Yoshio Sakamoto - Game Developers Conference 2010 - Day 3 (2) cropped.jpg
Yoshio Sakamoto, the director and writer of Super Metroid, at the 2010 Game Developers Conference

Super Metroid was developed by Nintendo R&D1 [13] with a staff of 15 managed by Gunpei Yokoi. It was written and directed by Yoshio Sakamoto, and produced by Makoto Kano. [14] [15] [16] : 3  Intelligent Systems, who co-developed the original Metroid with R&D1, handled the programming. [17] The opening was narrated by Dan Owsen, a Nintendo of America employee. [14] [18]

Super Metroid was released almost a decade after the original Metroid. Sakamoto said: "We wanted to wait until a true action game was needed. [...] And also to set the stage for the reappearance of Samus Aran". [15] It took half a year for Nintendo to approve the project, and two further years to develop. [15]

The developers' primary goal was to make a "good action game". It is the first Metroid game to let Samus fire in all directions while moving. [15] It is also among the first open-world games with a map feature, which shows the outlines of rooms and indicates important locations and items. [13] The team wanted to create a large map, but found it difficult to organize the amount of graphic data involved, and so broke it into smaller parts. Areas from previous Metroid games were included to create a sense of familiarity. [15]

Shortly before the game's release, the North American Entertainment Software Rating Board, a self-regulating organization, was formed in response to the increasing violence in games such as Mortal Kombat (1992). [19] Asked whether he thought the controversy would cause a backlash for Super Metroid, Sakamoto explained that Samus's purpose is to maintain peace in the galaxy, saying: "It's not violence for the sake of violence". [15] The game was demonstrated at the Winter 1994 Consumer Electronics Show, and was named the best Super NES game at the show by GamePro . [20]

Audio

The music for Super Metroid was composed by Kenji Yamamoto and Minako Hamano, [14] [16] : 4  [21] and uses 16-bit versions of music from previous games. [15] The Super NES's sound hardware allowed the playback of samples simultaneously on eight channels, as opposed to three PSG channels and one noise channel of the NES. Yamamoto decided that rich and expressive sounds, such as a female chorus, would be required to portray the setting realistically. [22] He composed the main theme by humming while riding his motorcycle from work. [22] [23]

Yamamoto also served as a sound programmer, [23] and wrote a program that sends sound data to the audio chip. [22] He also created sound effects, [23] including those created for an infant Metroid to convey different emotions. [22] The simultaneous roles as a composer, a sound programmer and a sound effect creator gave Yamamoto ideas to produce a distinct Metroid soundtrack "with a sound programmer's ear, with a sound effect creator's ear, and with the approach methodology and theory of a composer". The arrangements and remixes of the game's themes were used in Metroid Prime and its sequels, because Yamamoto wanted to satisfy old Metroid fans, describing it as a "present" for them. [23]

A soundtrack album, Super Metroid: Sound in Action, was published by Sony Records on June 22, 1994. It contains 38 tracks and has a running time of 58:49. It includes the original Metroid soundtrack by Hirokazu Tanaka, and additional tracks arranged by Yoshiyuki Ito and Masumi Ito. [24]

Release

The game was released by Nintendo in Japan on March 19, 1994, [25] [26] in North America on April 18, [26] and in Europe on July 28. [26] It was distributed on a 24-megabit cartridge. [27] It was re-released through the Nintendo Power service in Japan on September 30, 1997. [28] [29] Super Metroid became available as a Wii Virtual Console game in North America on August 20, 2007, [30] [31] in Japan on September 20, [25] [32] and in Europe on October 12. [33] In Super Smash Bros. Brawl , it is also one of the trial games available in the "Masterpieces" section, which uses Virtual Console technology to emulate older hardware and have time constraints. [34] The game was later released on the Wii U Virtual Console in May 2013, initially available during the trial campaign for a cheaper price before reverting to its regular price the next month. [35] The New Nintendo 3DS-specific Virtual Console also received the release in April 2016. [36] In September 2017, Nintendo released the Super NES Classic Edition, which included Super Metroid among its games. [37] Super Metroid and other Super NES games were added to the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service in September 2019. [38]

Reception

Super Metroid was one of the highest rated games on review aggregator GameRankings. [39] Chris Slate of the Game Players video game magazine thoroughly enjoyed Super Metroid, claiming that it "easily lives up to everyone's high expectations". He was satisfied with how Nintendo mixed "smooth", "complex" gameplay, with "state-of-the-art" graphics and sound. Slate found the newly added auto-mapping feature something that players really needed, saying that it was the only feature in Super Metroid that the original Metroid should have had. Slate said that action fans will not miss Super Metroid, but also remarked that due to the large space available to explore and numerous secrets, the players will have to play through several times even after they have beaten it. [47] Nintendo Power mentioned that the game "may well be the best action adventure game ever", calling it the "wave of the future", and they praised the game's graphics, sound, and controls. [2] Electronic Gaming Monthly gave Super Metroid their "Game of the Month" award, comparing it favorably to the original Metroid and applauding the graphics, the many weapons and items available, and the music. Each of the four reviewers gave it scores of nine out of ten. [45] GamePro criticized the controls as often awkward or difficult and said that many of the power-ups are either lifted from other Super NES games or simple upgrades of other power-ups in the game, but praised the game's massive size along with the auto-mapping feature. [63] Andy Robinson of GamesRadar was pleased with the game's "phenomenal" soundtrack, complimenting it as "one of the best videogame scores of all time". [64]

Super Play critic Zy Nicholson said that Super Metroid is "more of an experience than a game", likening it to watching a late-night movie due to the cinematic structure and atmospheric graphics and sounds. He found the game so compulsive that he was tempted to play "without eating or sleeping". Super Play critic Tony Mott cited the atmosphere as its best aspect, and described it as a mixture of Aliens , Turrican , Exile , and Nodes of Yesod . Mott applauded the refined controls, and called Super Metroid "undoubtedly the best game I've played this year so far" and "a game destined for classic status". James Leach agreed with Nicholson and Mott that Super Metroid was what Mega Man X should have been, containing "everything I look for: playability, hidden tricks, powerful weapons and steamingly evil baddies". All three reviewers in their verdict called Super Metroid one of the best games for SNES platform. [57]

Edge criticized the graphics and short length, but praised Super Metroid as "intensely playable" and "full of memorable moments". [44] IGN called Super Metroid's Virtual Console version a "must-own", commenting that although the game was released nine months after the Wii launched, they felt that it was worth the wait. For players who have never played Super Metroid, IGN claims that they owe themselves as gamers to "finally find out about what you've been missing all these years". [50] In his review for GameSpot, Frank Provo found it "absolutely astonishing that Nintendo let 13 years go by before making Super Metroid readily available again", but considered the most important thing was that players "can now play this masterpiece without having to track down the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System cartridge or fumble with legally questionable emulators". Despite admitting that the Virtual Console version was essentially "nothing more than a no-frills, emulated version of a 13-year-old SNES game" that was no longer cutting-edge, he was still pleased with it and reiterated his belief that Super Metroid is "one of the best 2D action adventure games ever produced". [48]

Sales

In Japan, Super Metroid was the ninth-best-selling video game of 1994, with 531,000 copies sold that year. [65] In North America, despite receiving critical acclaim, Rus McLaughlin of IGN said that Super Metroid arrived at a time when the lifecycle of SNES platform was coming to an end. [66] Robinson similarly noted that, in a series tradition, the game was released at wrong place and time. [64] With the help of strong marketing from Nintendo, Super Metroid sold well in North America, [16] topping the Super NES sales chart in May 1994. [67] A year after its release, Nintendo placed it on their Player's Choice marketing label. [30] By late 2003, the game had shipped 1.42 million copies worldwide. [68]

Accolades

Super Metroid received several awards and honors. Electronic Gaming Monthly named Super Metroid a Game of the Month for May 1994, gave it an Editors' Choice award, [45] awarded it as the Best Action Game of 1994, [69] and named it the best game of all time in 2003. [70] [lower-alpha 4] IGN ranked Super Metroid 3rd (2003), 10th (2005) and 7th (2007) in its top 100 games of all time lists. [72] [73] [74] Likewise, IGN readers ranked the game 11th in its top 99 games of all-time list in 2005, [75] and 4th in its top 100 games in 2006. [76] Richard George of IGN also ranked Super Metroid 3rd in its top 100 SNES games, crediting its "flawless action, impeccable level design, out-of-this-world atmosphere, a totally badass heroine and an enormous overworld to explore". [77] GamesRadar named Super Metroid the best SNES game of all time, [78] while Nintendo Power named it the best game in the Metroid series, beating out Metroid Prime and Metroid: Zero Mission . [79] GamePro listed Super Metroid as one of the fifteen must-play retro games on the Wii. [80] Game Informer placed the game 29th on their top 100 games of all time in 2001. [81] In 2018, Complex listed the game 3rd on their "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time". They opined that Super Metroid is "tour de force from Nintendo" and described the gameplay as perfect. [82] In 1995, Total! rated the game 17th on its "Top 100 SNES Games". [83] In 1995, Flux magazine listed Super Metroid 62nd in their "Top 100 Video Games". They praised the game for its challenging gameplay and haunting atmosphere, although they felt that it is too similar to its predecessor. [84]

Legacy

Super Metroid is often regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time. [6] [16] [85] Jeremy Parish of USgamer remarked that Super Metroid is a "game you can return to time and again and always come away with some fresh insight or observation". [7] Andrew Webster of Ars Technica found the game's atmosphere impressive, and noted that the developers had perfected the aspect on solitude, a concept introduced in the first Metroid game. [3] Game Informer writer Joe Juba cited the game's ending as "one of the most memorable and empowering moments in gaming history". [8] In 2009, Official Nintendo Magazine called the game "challenging, deep and undeniably epic", placing it 24th on a list of the greatest Nintendo games. [86]

As Super Metroid gives players awards based on how long it took them to complete the game, and because its open-ended structure lends well to sequence breaking, it has become a popular choice for speedrunning, a style of play in which the player intends to complete the game as quickly as possible. [16] [85] [87] Super Metroid, alongside Konami's 1997 game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night , is also credited for establishing the "Metroidvania" genre. [88] [89] It was cited as an influence on other Metroidvania games, including Shadow Complex [90] and Axiom Verge . [91]

Several ROM hacks for Super Metroid were released by fans, which added new features that are not included in the original game. [92] Super Metroid: Redesign, created by "drewseph" in 2006, features new items, expanded areas and modified physics. [92] [93] [94] In 2011, a Japanese hacker named "SB" released a ROM hack titled Metroid: Super Zero Mission, which intends to combine elements from Super Metroid and Metroid: Zero Mission . [92] Later hacks, such as Hyper Metroid by "RealRed" and Super Junkoid by "P. Yoshi", further expand on the game's mechanics with altered game mechanics, graphical overhauls, and new stories. [95] [96]

Sequels

Nintendo did not release another Metroid game for eight years, as the series had not matched the success of the Mario and Legend of Zelda franchises. [16] Yokoi left Nintendo in August 1996, amid the failure of the Virtual Boy, and died in a car accident in October 1997. [97] [98]

Fans eagerly awaited a Metroid game for the Nintendo 64 (N64). [85] According to Nintendo producer Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo did not develop a Metroid game for the N64 as they "couldn't come out with any concrete ideas". [99] Sakamoto said he could not imagine how the N64 controller could be used to control Samus. Nintendo approached another company to make an N64 Metroid, but the offer was declined because the developers thought they could not make a game to equal Super Metroid. [100]

In late 2002, Nintendo released Metroid Fusion , a 2D sequel developed for the Game Boy Advance by Nintendo R&D1, [85] [101] [102] and Metroid Prime , a first-person game developed for the GameCube by American developer Retro Studios, and the first Metroid game to use 3D graphics. [85] [103] Both Fusion and Prime garnered acclaim, [16] with Prime winning several Game of the Year awards. [104] Metroid Prime received three spin-offs, 2009 compilation Metroid Prime: Trilogy , containing Prime, its 2004 sequel Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and 2007 Wii sequel Metroid Prime 3: Corruption , [16] [85] and an upcoming fourth sequel. [105] In 2010, Metroid: Other M was released, taking place between Super Metroid and Fusion. [106]

After a long development period, a fifth 2D game and sequel to Fusion, Metroid Dread , was released in 2021 for the Nintendo Switch to critical acclaim and developed by Metroid: Samus Returns developer MercurySteam. [107]

Related Research Articles

Metroid is an action-adventure game franchise created by Nintendo. The player controls the bounty hunter Samus Aran, who protects the galaxy from Space Pirates and other malevolent forces and their attempts to harness the power of the parasitic Metroid creatures.

<i>Metroid Prime</i> 2002 video game

Metroid Prime is a 2002 action-adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. Metroid Prime is the fifth main Metroid game and the first to use 3D computer graphics and a first-person perspective. It was released in North America in November 2002, and in Japan and Europe the following year. Along with the Game Boy Advance game Metroid Fusion, Prime marked the return of the Metroid series after an eight-year hiatus following Super Metroid (1994).

<i>Metroid II: Return of Samus</i> 1991 video game

Metroid II: Return of Samus is a 1991 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. The first Metroid game for a handheld game console, it was released in North America in November 1991 and in Japan and Europe in 1992. The game follows bounty hunter Samus Aran on her mission to eradicate the Metroids from their home planet, SR388, before the Space Pirates can obtain them. Players must find and exterminate the Metroids to progress.

<i>Metroid Fusion</i> 2002 video game

Metroid Fusion is a 2002 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. It was developed by Nintendo Research & Development 1, which had developed the previous Metroid game, Super Metroid (1994). Fusion is part of the Metroid series, and takes place between the events of Metroid: Other M and Metroid Dread. Players control the bounty hunter Samus Aran, who investigates a space station infected with shapeshifting parasites known as X.

<i>Metroid Prime 2: Echoes</i> 2004 video game

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is a 2004 adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. The sequel to Metroid Prime (2002) and the first Metroid game with a multiplayer feature, Echoes was released in North America, Europe and Australia in 2004 and in Japan under the name Metroid Prime 2: Dark Echoes in May 2005.

<i>Metroid: Zero Mission</i> 2004 video game

Metroid: Zero Mission is a 2004 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. It is a remake of the original Metroid (1986), and retells the story with updated visuals and gameplay.

Ridley (<i>Metroid</i>) Fictional antagonist of the Metroid franchise

Ridley, also known by his aliases Geoform 187 and the Cunning God of Death, is a fictional supervillain and the main antagonist of the Metroid series. An evil and aggressive draconic extraterrestrial, he became Samus Aran's archnemesis after murdering the latter's parents as he led a Space Pirate raid on her homeworld. Though having been destroyed numerous times by Samus, he is always resurrected, due in equal part to Space Pirate engineering and his natural regenerative ability, which allows him to swiftly recover from what would otherwise be fatal wounds as long as he is able to consume enough biomatter from his fallen adversaries.

<i>Metroid Prime Hunters</i> 2006 video game

Metroid Prime Hunters is a 2006 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo Software Technology and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. It was released in North America in March 2006, with other territories later. The story takes place in between the events of Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Players assume the role of series protagonist Samus Aran, who investigates a mysterious message that originated from the Alimbic Cluster and comes into contact with a legion of bounty hunters.

<i>Metroid Prime 3: Corruption</i> 2007 video game

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is a 2007 action-adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Wii. The seventh main game in the Metroid series, it was released in North America and Europe in 2007 and in Japan in 2008.

<i>Metroid Dread</i> 2021 video game

Metroid Dread is a 2021 action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It was released on October 8, 2021. Set after Metroid Fusion (2002), players control the bounty hunter Samus Aran as she investigates the source of a mysterious transmission on the planet ZDR. It retains the side-scrolling gameplay of previous 2D Metroid games and incorporates stealth elements.

Kenji Yamamoto is a Japanese video game musician working for Nintendo, notable for composing music in many titles of the Metroid series, mainly Super Metroid and the Metroid Prime trilogy. Yamamoto also plays a role as a music director at Nintendo, overseeing audio for several of their games. He frequently collaborates with fellow composers Minako Hamano and Masaru Tajima.

<i>Metroid Prime: Trilogy</i> 2009 video game compilation

Metroid Prime: Trilogy is a 2009 compilation of action-adventure games from the Metroid franchise developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It features three games from the Metroid franchise: Metroid Prime (2002), Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (2004) and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samus Aran</span> Video game character

Samus Aran is the protagonist of the video game series Metroid by Nintendo. She was created by the Japanese video game designer Makoto Kano and was introduced as the player character in the original 1986 game Metroid.

<i>Metroid</i> (video game) 1986 video game

Metroid is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The first installment in the Metroid series, it was originally released in Japan for the Family Computer Disk System in August 1986. North America received a release in August 1987 on the Nintendo Entertainment System in the Game Pak ROM cartridge format, with the European release following in January 1988. Set on the planet Zebes, the story follows Samus Aran as she attempts to retrieve the parasitic Metroid organisms that were stolen by Space Pirates, who plan to replicate the Metroids by exposing them to beta rays and then use them as biological weapons to destroy Samus and all who oppose them.

<i>Metroid: Other M</i> 2010 video game

Metroid: Other M is an action-adventure game developed by Team Ninja and Nintendo SPD and published by Nintendo for the Wii on August 31, 2010. It is part of the Metroid series, and takes place between the events of Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion. The player controls intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran, who investigates a derelict space station with a Galactic Federation platoon, including her former commanding officer, Adam Malkovich.

Metroid is a series of nonlinear science fiction action games published by Nintendo, featuring side-scrolling, metroidvania, and first-person shooter elements. The player character and protagonist of the series is Samus Aran, a space-faring bounty hunter who battles Space Pirates and a species called the Metroid.

<i>Metroid Prime: Federation Force</i> 2016 video game

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a 2016 cooperative first-person shooter video game developed by Next Level Games and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. Taking place after the events of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007), players assume the role of Galactic Federation Marines attempting to thwart the continuing advances of the Space Pirates after Samus Aran eradicated the deadly Phazon mutagen. The gameplay places a greater emphasis on the shooting mechanics and multiplayer, similar to its handheld predecessor Metroid Prime Hunters, albeit with cooperation instead of competition. It also includes a competitive soccer-based game mode known as Metroid Prime: Blast Ball.

<i>Metroid: Samus Returns</i> 2017 video game

Metroid: Samus Returns is a 2017 action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. It is a remake of the 1991 Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus. Players control series protagonist Samus Aran, a bounty hunter who is contracted by the Galactic Federation to exterminate the parasitic Metroid species on their home planet of SR388. While the story and structure parallel the original game, Samus Returns features redone graphics, updated controls and user interface, and new gameplay mechanics not seen in previous 2D Metroid titles, such as a melee counterattack and the ability to aim freely at any angle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SA-X</span> Fictional character

The SA-X is the main antagonist of the video game Metroid Fusion. She is a parasite that originally infected the protagonist, Samus Aran, as well as her Power Suit, before Samus was cured by injecting Metroid DNA into her. The SA-X later appears, having replicated her Power Suit, including all of her most powerful weapons from Super Metroid. She is pursuing Samus throughout the game, who is much weaker and thus must avoid her until she is able to fight back against the SA-X.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: スーパーメトロイド, Hepburn: Sūpā Metoroido
  2. ↑ The opening cutscene alternatively refers to the game as Metroid 3. [1]
  3. ↑ The game refers to the item as the "Morphing Ball".
  4. ↑ The magazine's 1997 listing of the best games of all time gave it the slightly more modest title of 6th best game of all time. [71]

Citations

  1. ↑ Nintendo R&D1, Intelligent Systems (April 18, 1994). Super Metroid (Super NES). Nintendo. Scene: Opening. 1994 / NINTENDO / PRESENTS / METROID 3{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 "Now Playing". Nintendo Power. Vol. 60. Nintendo of America. May 1994. p. 102.
  3. 1 2 3 Webster, Andrew (July 14, 2010). "Masterpiece: Super Metroid". Ars Technica . Condé Nast Digital. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Super Metroid instruction booklet. Nintendo of America, Inc. April 18, 1994. SNS-RI-USA.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pelland, Scott; Swan, Leslie; Bafus, Jeff (1994). Super Metroid: Nintendo Player's Guide. Nintendo of America.
  6. 1 2 3 Metroid Retrospective, Part 2 (video). GameTrailers . Defy Media. Event occurs at 0:18–5:40. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 Parish, Jeremy (February 13, 2014). "Daily Classic: 7 Reasons Super Metroid was an SNES Masterpiece". USGamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  8. 1 2 Juba, Joe (July 31, 2013). "Moments: Super Metroid's Hyper Beam". Game Informer . GameStop. Archived from the original on November 16, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  9. ↑ Quick, William Antonio (June 23, 2021). "Every Metroid Game In Chronological Order". TheGamer. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  10. ↑ Parish, Jeremy (August 5, 2015). "Page 2 | "I was quite surprised by the backlash": Kensuke Tanabe on Metroid Prime Federation Force". VG247. Retrieved February 15, 2023. First off, [Yoshio] Sakamoto is behind the main series, taking care of all of that, the timeline. I'm in charge of the Prime series. I had the conversation with him to decide where exactly would be a good spot for me to stick the Prime universe into that whole timeline and the best place would be between Metroid II and Super Metroid. As you know, there are multiple titles in the Metroid Prime series, but everything takes place in that very specific point. Metroid Series go down the line, but with the Prime Universe, we have to stretch sideways to expand it as much as we can in that specific spot.
  11. ↑ Wong, Kevin (December 19, 2014). "The Opening Sequence to Super Metroid is a Masterpiece". Kotaku . Gawker Media. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  12. ↑ Nutt, Christian (April 23, 2010). "The Elegance Of Metroid: Yoshio Sakamoto Speaks (Article page 2 of 3)". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  13. 1 2 Harris, John (September 26, 2007). "Game Design Essentials: 20 Open World Games". Gamasutra. p. 5. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  14. 1 2 3 "あのときサムスは裸だった". 任天堂公式ガイドブック スーパーメトロイド (in Japanese). Ape, Inc.; Nintendo Co., Ltd. 1994. pp. 90–95. ISBN   4-09-102474-2.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Everything you always wanted to know about Samus". Game Players. Vol. 7, no. 5. May 1994. pp. 18–20.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Robinson, Andy (October 23, 2007). "The History of Metroid". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  17. ↑ Nutt, Christian (April 23, 2010). "The Elegance Of Metroid: Yoshio Sakamoto Speaks". Gamasutra. United Business Media LLC. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  18. ↑ Dan Owsen (1998). "The MDb Interviews Dan Owsen" (Interview). Interviewed by TJ Rappel. Metroid Database. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  19. ↑ "When Two Tribes Go to War: A History of Video Game Controversy". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. March 7, 2004. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  20. ↑ "CES Showstoppers". GamePro . No. 57. IDG. April 1994. pp. 74–81.
  21. ↑ Aversa, Jillian (October 23, 2007). "Game music of the day: Super Metroid". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on May 17, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Sakamoto, Yoshio; Yamamoto, Kenji (2017). "Super Metroid Developer Interview" (transcript). Interviewed by Akinori Sao. Kyoto, Japan: Nintendo. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  23. 1 2 3 4 M4G Staff (October 5, 2007). "Interview with Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Sound Team at Retro Studios and Composer Kenji Yamamoto". music4games. Archived from the original on March 15, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ "Super Metroid Sound in Action". Square Enix Music Online. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  25. 1 2 スーパーメトロイド まとめ [スーパーファミコン]. Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  26. 1 2 3 "Super Metroid Release Summary". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  27. ↑ Kent, Steven L. (May 5, 1994). "Inside Moves -- When You Have To Come Inside, You Can Jam With The NBA, Play Ball With Ken Griffey Jr. Or Fight Evil Metroids With The Hot, New Video Games". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2009. Super Metroid incorporates 24 megabits of memory – a Super NES record – to create six very large worlds.
  28. ↑ "ニンテンドウパワー概要". www.nintendo.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 18, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  29. ↑ "書き換えソフト一覧". www.nintendo.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  30. 1 2 Rodriguez, Steven (August 21, 2007). "Virtual Console Recommendations: Virtual Console Mondays: August 20, 2007". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  31. ↑ Lindemann, Jon (August 10, 2007). "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Preview On Wii Shop Channel". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  32. ↑ "VC スーパーメトロイド" (in Japanese). Nintendo. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Virtual Console: Super Metroid". Nintendo of Europe. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  34. ↑ Sakurai, Masahiro (January 25, 2008). "Masterpieces". Smash Bros. Dojo!!. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  35. ↑ Green, Andy (January 26, 2013). "Nintendo Reveals Specific Dates For Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  36. ↑ Sarkar, Samit (March 3, 2016). "Nintendo bringing SNES games to Virtual Console on New Nintendo 3DS (update)". Polygon . Vox Media. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  37. ↑ Orry, Tom (July 31, 2017). "SNES Mini - Where to Pre-Order, Release Date, Price Games - Everything we Know". USgamer. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  38. ↑ Gartenberg, Chaim (September 5, 2019). "Super Nintendo games now available on the Switch". The Verge . Vox Media. Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  39. 1 2 "Super Metroid for Super Nintendo". Game Rankings. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  40. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Super Metroid – Review". AllGame . Archived from the original on February 16, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  41. ↑ "HiTech-Lady mischt Monster auf". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). October 1994. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  42. ↑ Marc; Spy. "Super Metroid". Consoles + (in French). pp. 100–103. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  43. ↑ Ahmet, Deniz (July 1994). "Super Metroid". Computer and Video Games . No. 152. pp. 64–65. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  44. 1 2 "Super Metroid Review". Edge . June 1994. Archived from the original on June 3, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  45. 1 2 3 "Review Crew: Super Metroid". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 60. EGM Media, LLC. June 1994. p. 28.
  46. ↑ "Legacy Review Archives". Game Informer . Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  47. 1 2 "Everything you always wanted to know about Samus". Game Players. Vol. 7, no. 5. May 1994. pp. 30–31.
  48. 1 2 Provo, Frank (August 27, 2007). "Super Metroid Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  49. ↑ Humphreys, Andrew (July 1994). "Super Metroid". Hyper . No. 8. pp. 32–35. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  50. 1 2 Thomas, Lucas M. (August 20, 2007). "Super Metroid Review". IGN. Archived from the original on May 6, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  51. ↑ Anagund (June 18, 2009). "Super Metroid". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  52. ↑ "Super Metroid". MANIAC (in German). July 1994. pp. 50–51. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  53. ↑ Markus; Philipp (June 1994). "Super Metroid". Mega Fun (in German). pp. 34–35. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  54. ↑ "Super Metroid Review". August 20, 2007. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  55. ↑ "Super Metroid". Nintendo Magazine System Super Metroid Special Feature. No. 12. June 1994. pp. 6–12. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  56. ↑ "Super Metroid". Player One (in French). No. 44. pp. 64–67. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  57. 1 2 Nicholson, Zy; Mott, Tony; Leach, James (June 1994). "Import Review: Super Metroid". Super Play . No. 20. Future Publishing. pp. 37–38.
  58. ↑ Frank (June 1994). "Super Metroid". Total! . No. 30. pp. 26–27. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  59. ↑ "Super Metroid". Video Games (in German). June 1994. pp. 100–101. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  60. ↑ "Supe Metroid". Games World . No. 2. August 1994. p. 15. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  61. ↑ Jay (August 1994). "Super Metroid". Super Action . No. 24. pp. 18–20. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  62. ↑ Keith; Damian; Ryan (July 1994). "Super Metroid". Super Gamer . No. 4. pp. 34–39. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  63. ↑ "ProReview: Super Metroid". GamePro . No. 59. IDG. June 1994. pp. 56–57.
  64. 1 2 Robinson, Andy (October 16, 2007). "The History of Metroid - page 4". gamesradar. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  65. ↑ "1994年のコンシューマーゲームソフトの売上" [1994 Consumer Game Software Sales]. Dengeki Oh (in Japanese). MediaWorks. Archived from the original on September 20, 2001. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  66. ↑ McLaughlin, Rus (August 24, 2007). "IGN Presents The History of Metroid". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  67. ↑ "EGM's Hot Top Tens" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly . July 1994. p. 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 15, 2020.
  68. ↑ 2004 CESA Games White Paper (Report). Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association. December 31, 2003. pp. 58–63.
  69. ↑ "Buyer's Guide". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 1995.
  70. ↑ "Top 100 Games of All Time". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 2003. Archived from the original on June 11, 2003. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  71. ↑ "100 Best Games of All Time". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 100. Ziff Davis. November 1997. p. 155.
  72. ↑ "IGN's Top 100 Games of All Time". IGN. 2003. Archived from the original on July 20, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  73. ↑ "IGN's Top 100 Games". IGN. 2005. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  74. ↑ "IGN Top 100 Games 2007: Super Metroid". IGN. 2007. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  75. ↑ "Readers' Picks Top 99 Games: 20-11". IGN. 2005. Archived from the original on April 29, 2005. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  76. ↑ "Readers' Choice 2006: The Top 100 Games Ever". IGN. Archived from the original on April 25, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  77. ↑ George, Richard. "Top 100 SNES Games: Super Metroid". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 27, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  78. ↑ GamesRadar staff (April 17, 2012). "Best Super Nintendo games of all time". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  79. ↑ Nintendo Power staff (October 2010). "Ultimate Metroid". Nintendo Power . Vol. 259. p. 73.
  80. ↑ Mike, Major (July 11, 2006). "15 Retro Games for the Wii You Must Play". GamePro. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  81. ↑ Cork, Jeff (November 16, 2009). "Game Informer's Top 100 Games Of All Time (Circa Issue 100)". Game Informer. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  82. ↑ Knight, Rich (April 30, 2018). "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time". Complex. Archived from the original on January 16, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  83. ↑ "Top 100 SNES Games". Total! (43): 42. July 1995.
  84. ↑ "Top 100 Video Games". Flux (4): 31. April 1995.
  85. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McLaughlin, Rus (August 24, 2007). "IGN Presents The History of Metroid". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  86. ↑ East, Tom (February 24, 2009). "100 Best Nintendo Games: Part 4". Official Nintendo Magazine . Future plc. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  87. ↑ Totilo, Stephen (June 14, 2005). "For Some Gamers, Merely Finishing A Game Isn't Enough". MTV News . Viacom International. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  88. ↑ Nutt, Christian (February 13, 2015). "The undying allure of the Metroidvania". Gamasutra . UBM plc. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  89. ↑ Mielke, James (November 23, 2016). "'Castlevania' Creator Koji Igarashi: 'I Don't Feel That I'm a Big Deal'". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media LLC. Archived from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017. [Koji Igarashi's] work inspired an entire genre that's partially named in honor of his work — the "Metroidvania", which is a reference to the sprawling, contiguous design sensibilities that define Symphony of the Night and Nintendo's Super Metroid.
  90. ↑ Mustard, Donald (August 28, 2009). "Making Shadow Complex: Donald Mustard Speaks". Gamasutra (Interview). Interviewed by Christian Nutt. UBM plc. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2009. Mustard:Super Metroid, to me, is the pinnacle of 2D game design, and there's no reason we shouldn't be pushing that pinnacle forward and see what else we can do with it.
  91. ↑ McShea, Tom (September 19, 2014). "Game Dev Recipes: Axiom Verge". USgamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on April 29, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015. "Super Metroid influenced the overall map structure," Happ says.
  92. 1 2 3 Earl, Victoria (July 24, 2013). "Why Super Metroid's Hacking Community is Still Going Strong". Gamasutra . UBM plc. p. 4. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  93. ↑ Edwards, Benj (September 5, 2006). "Hacksterpiece Theatre: Return to Zebes with Super Metroid Redesign". Vintage Computers and Gaming. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  94. ↑ Edwards, Benj (February 3, 2012). "10 Classic Video Game Hacks Everyone Should Play". PC Magazine . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  95. ↑ Walton, Dante (April 1, 2022). "10 Rom Hacks That Make It Hard To Go Back To The Original Game". CBR. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  96. ↑ McFerran, Damien (October 7, 2023). "This Awesome ROM Hack Turns Super Metroid Into An Entirely New Game". Time Extension. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  97. ↑ Varney, Allen (March 6, 2007). "The Escapist: Searching for Gunpei Yokoi". The Escapist . Defy Media. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  98. ↑ "Game Boy Inventor Dies in Car Crash". IGN . Ziff Davis. October 7, 1997. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  99. ↑ "Metroid Prime Roundtable QA". IGN . Ziff Davis. November 15, 2002. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
  100. ↑ "Yoshio Sakamoto discusses Metroid 64, Metroid Dread and the 3DS". GamesTM . September 14, 2010. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  101. ↑ Harris, Craig (August 22, 2002). "Metroid Fusion Hands-on". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  102. ↑ Lake, Max (August 26, 2002). "Metroid Fusion". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  103. ↑ Padilla, Raymond (November 12, 2002). "The Road to Metroid Prime". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 17, 2004. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  104. ↑ "Metroid Prime Bundle Announced". GameSpy. August 4, 2004. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  105. ↑ McFerran, Damien (June 13, 2017). "Metroid Prime 4 Confirmed For Nintendo Switch, But Retro Studios Isn't Involved". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  106. ↑ Snider, Mike (September 2, 2010). "Q&A: 'Metroid: Other M' director Yoshio Sakamoto". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  107. ↑ Gray, Kate (June 15, 2021). "Metroid 5 Is Coming To Switch As Metroid Dread, And It's 2D". Nintendo Life. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.