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|title            = Metroid (universe)
|title            = Metroid (universe)
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|developer        = [[Nintendo]]<br> [[Intelligent Systems]]<br>[[Retro Studios]]<br>Team Ninja<br>[[Next Level Games]]<br>[[MercurySteam]]
|developer        = [[Nintendo]]<br> [[Intelligent Systems]]<br>[[Retro Studios]]<br>Team Ninja<br>[[Next Level Games]]<br>[[MercurySteam]]
|publisher        = Nintendo
|publisher        = Nintendo
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|interwikipage    = Metroid (series)
|interwikipage    = Metroid (series)
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The '''''Metroid'' universe''' ({{ja|メトロイド|Metoroido}}, ''Metroid'') refers to the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series' collection of characters, stages, and properties that hail from Nintendo's long-running series of science-fiction action-adventure games. Conceived and inspired by Western media, the ''Metroid'' series has garnered a notable following outside of Japan, with a large number of titles having also been developed by Western studios. The series has had twelve official games released thus far, with most of them being near-universally praised by critics and players alike. This series, along with {{uv|Castlevania}}, were the progenitors of a subgenre of exploration-based adventure games known as "Metroidvania". The series also has a compilation (''Metroid Prime: Trilogy'') and two enhanced remakes (''Zero Mission'' and ''Samus Returns''). The main series revolves around the space-faring bounty-hunting exploits of a woman named [[Samus Aran]] trying to stop the terrors brought about by the parasitic {{s|metroidwiki|Space Pirates}} and their monstrous commander, [[Ridley]], while the ''Prime'' subseries revolves around Samus stopping the sentient mutagen substance Phazon and its avatar [[Dark Samus]].
The '''''Metroid'' universe''' ({{ja|メトロイド|Metoroido}}, ''Metroid'') refers to the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series' collection of characters, stages, and properties that hail from Nintendo's long-running series of science-fiction action-adventure games. Conceived and inspired by Western media, the ''Metroid'' series has garnered a notable following outside of Japan, with a large number of titles having also been developed by Western studios. The series has had twelve official games released thus far, with most of them being near-universally praised by critics and players alike, and it was the progenitor of a subgenre of exploration-based adventure games known as "Metroidvania". The series also has a compilation (''Metroid Prime: Trilogy'') and two enhanced remakes (''Zero Mission'' and ''Samus Returns''). The main series revolves around the space-faring bounty-hunting exploits of a woman named [[Samus Aran]] trying to stop the terrors brought about by the parasitic {{s|metroidwiki|Space Pirates}} and their monstrous commander, [[Ridley]], while the ''Prime'' subseries revolves around Samus stopping the sentient mutagen substance Phazon and its avatar [[Dark Samus]].


==Franchise description==
==Franchise description==
After the incredible success of ''[[Mario (universe)|Super Mario Bros.]]'' and {{uv|The Legend of Zelda}} for the Famicom / NES, Nintendo wished to branch out and create a game with fast-paced action like the former, but with intricate exploration like the latter. Nintendo Research and Development 1 division led by Yoshio Sakamoto with producer Gunpei Yokoi were tasked with making this game a reality. The team took inspiration from Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi horror film ''Alien'' for both aesthetics and structure. Like ''The Legend of Zelda'' before it, the team wanted to hide permanent upgrades around the labyrinthine levels and encouraged backtracking to find new secrets with recently acquired upgrades. This game eventually released in August, 1986 as ''{{b|Metroid|game}}'', the name being a portmanteau of "Metro" and "Android."  
After the incredible success of ''[[Mario (universe)|Super Mario Bros.]]'' and ''{{uv|The Legend of Zelda}}'' for the Famicom / NES, Nintendo wished to branch out and create a game with fast-paced action like the former, but with intricate exploration like the latter. Nintendo Research and Development 1 division led by Yoshio Sakamoto with producer Gunpei Yokoi were tasked with making this game a reality. The team took inspiration from Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi horror film ''Alien'' for both aesthetics and structure. Like ''The Legend of Zelda'' before it, the team wanted to hide permanent upgrades around the labyrinthine levels and encouraged backtracking to find new secrets with recently acquired upgrades. This game eventually released in August, 1986 as ''{{b|Metroid|game}}'', the name being a portmanteau of "Metro" and "Android."  


The game tasked bounty hunter [[Samus Aran]] with a lone mission to hunt down and kill all [[Metroid (creature)|Metroid]]s on planet {{iw|metroidwiki|Zebes}}, and taking down anyone and anything that gets in the way of the mission. While initially starting out with little more than basic weapons, Samus eventually finds a multitude of upgrades that will help find and take down any adversary. The game received praised for its inventive gameplay structure and its atmosphere, reveling in the sense of isolation and fear of what comes next. ''Metroid'' was also one of the first games to contain multiple endings, which were awarded based on how fast the game was completed; this had a hand in popularizing the concept of the "speedrun". Finally, ''Metroid'' was one of the first video games to feature a female protagonist - and this was initially presented to the gaming public as a concealed secret, even using masculine pronouns when referring to Samus in promotional material and the instruction manual, until the game was beaten in a fast-enough time. Despite this praise, the game only sold modestly in Japan, starting a trend of the franchise never performing well in that region. However, the 1987 North American release sold much better, and the game was overall considered a success. Also, in retrospect, this seminal entry has not aged particularly well, including a total lack of help over where to go and clunky feeling combat, especially compared to modern standards. Though most of these complaints are offset by its historical and cultural significance.
The game tasked bounty hunter [[Samus Aran]] with a lone mission to hunt down and kill all [[Metroid (creature)|Metroid]]s on planet {{iw|metroidwiki|Zebes}}, and taking down anyone and anything that gets in the way of the mission. While initially starting out with little more than basic weapons, Samus eventually finds a multitude of upgrades that will help find and take down any adversary. The game received praised for its inventive gameplay structure and its atmosphere, reveling in the sense of isolation and fear of what comes next. ''Metroid'' was also one of the first games to contain multiple endings, which were awarded based on how fast the game was completed; this had a hand in popularizing the concept of the "speedrun". Finally, ''Metroid'' was one of the first video games to feature a female protagonist - and this was initially presented to the gaming public as a concealed secret, even using masculine pronouns when refering to Samus in promotional material and the instruction manual, until the game was beaten in a fast-enough time. Despite this praise, the game only sold modestly in Japan, starting a trend of the franchise never performing well in that region. However, the 1987 North American release sold much better, and the game was overall considered a success. Also, in retrospect, this seminal entry has not aged particularly well, including a total lack of help over where to go and clunky feeling combat, especially compared to modern standards. Though most of these complaints are offset by its historical and cultural signifigance.


A sequel was then put into productions for Game Boy, which this time released in North America first in August 26, 1991 as ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid II: Return of Samus}}''. While very similar to the previous entry in terms of gameplay, his sequel did something that very few Nintendo series attempted to do during this time frame: directly continue the story from the previous game. Samus is now tasked with exterminating the last known population of metroids on planet {{iw|metroidwiki|SR388}}, including the {{iw|metroidwiki|Queen metroid}} and all of her eggs. However, Samus hesitated and refused to kill the last remaining metroid egg, and later handed the baby over to the {{iw|metroidwiki|Galactic Federation}}. Despite its important narrative influence on the series, the game was considered a step down from its predecessor, mostly due to being much more linear and was overall an easier experience. This caused sales to drop significantly, and put the series in a precarious position.
A sequel was then put into productions for Game Boy, which this time released in North America first in August 26, 1991 as ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid II: Return of Samus}}''. While very similar to the previous entry in terms of gameplay, his sequel did something that very few Nintendo series attempted to do during this time frame: directly continue the story from the previous game. Samus is now tasked with exterminating the last known population of metroids on planet {{iw|metroidwiki|SR388}}, including the {{iw|metroidwiki|Queen metroid}} and all of her eggs. However, Samus hesitated and refused to kill the last remaining metroid egg, and later handed the baby over to the {{iw|metroidwiki|Galactic Federation}}. Despite its important narrative influence on the series, the game was considered a step down from its predecessor, mostly due to being much more linear and was overall an easier experience. This caused sales to drop significantly, and put the series in a precarious position.


[[File:RidleyMeleeCameo.png|thumb|Samus fighting her archnemesis, [[Ridley]], as depicted in the [[opening movie]] of ''Melee'' (based on ''Super Metroid'').]]
[[File:RidleyMeleeCameo.png|thumb|Samus fighting her archnemesis, [[Ridley]], as depicted in the [[opening movie]] of ''Melee'' (based on ''Super Metroid'').]]
Another sequel was planned immediately after development wrapped, this time for the Super Famicom/SNES. Many members of the team that were not involved in the Game Boy entry, including Yoshio Sakamoto, returned for this entry, which would release in 1994 as [[Super Metroid]]. Immediately after the events of ''Return of Samus'', the Galactic Federation is ambushed by [[Ridley]] and the {{iw|metroidwiki|Space pirates}} who steal the baby metroid and flee to planet Zebes. Samus gives chase and hunts down the Space pirates in an effort to get the baby back. With vastly refined combat, exploration mechanics, world design, and dialogue-free storytelling, the game garnered universal acclaim and is often labeled by official publications as not only one of the best games on the SNES, but also one of the best video games ever made. The greatest irony is that the American and PAL versions of ''Super Metroid'' sold well as a result of aggressive marketing by Nintendo that was spurred on by the game's poor sales in Japan. Analysts proclaim that the Japanese release of ''Super Metroid'' was poorly timed, not only because of more commercially successful games being released at the time like ''{{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong Country}}'', but because of the launches of the next-generation systems Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. This was a major contributing factor to what became a now-legendary eight-year hiatus for the series, which remained dormant despite Samus' appearance in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' on the Nintendo 64, and Nintendo mentioning the possibility of an N64 installment which had never came to fruition.
Another sequel was planned immediately after development wrapped, this time for the Super Famicom/SNES. Many members of the team that were not involved in the Game Boy entry, including Yoshio Sakamoto, returned for this entry, which would release in 1994 as [[Super Metroid]]. Immediately after the events of ''Return of Samus'', the Galactic Federation is ambushed by [[Ridley]] and the {{iw|metroidwiki|Space pirates}} who steal the baby metroid and flee to planet Zebes. Samus gives chase and hunts down the Space pirates in an effort to get the baby back. With vastly refined combat, exploration mechanics, world design, and dialogue-free storytelling, the game garnered universal acclaim and is often labeled by official publications as not only one of the best games on the SNES, but also one of the best video games ever made. The greatest irony is that the American and PAL versions of ''Super Metroid'' sold well as a result of aggressive marketing by Nintendo that was spurred on by the game's poor sales in Japan. Analysts proclaim that the Japanese release of ''Super Metroid'' was poorly timed, not only because of more commercially successful games being released at the time like ''{{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong Country}}'', but because of the launches of the next-generation systems Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. This was a major contributing factor to what became a now-legendary eight-year hiatus for the series, which remained dormant despite Samus's appearance in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' on the Nintendo 64, and Nintendo mentioning the possibility of an N64 installment which had never came to fruition.


The franchise would continue its presence in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series as Samus reprised her role in ''Melee'', but no new core entry appeared to be on the horizon. This hiatus was broken in 2002 with two brand new entries released that year. The first was ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Fusion}}'' for the Game Boy Advance, which continued the story after ''Super Metroid''. The Galactic Federation realizes that metroids were natural predators to the {{iw|metroidwiki|X Parasite}}, which have begun invading all parts of the galaxy. Around this time, Samus gets infected by and X Parasite and nearly dies. The only way she was saved was to surgically remove her power suit and graft metroid DNA into her, which gave her the side effect of being able to consume X Parasite. Her new task is to hunt down any X Parasite before they destroy all life in the galaxy. The game was praised for its presentation and more in-depth story that ties in all previous entries, though was criticized for being more linear than any previous entry with many blatant efforts of handholding.
The franchise would continue its presence in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series as Samus reprised her role in ''Melee'', but no new core entry appeared to be on the horizon. This hiatus was broken in 2002 with two brand new entries released that year. The first was ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Fusion}}'' for the Game Boy Advance, which continued the story after ''Super Metroid''. The Galactic Federation realizes that metroids were natural predators to the {{iw|metroidwiki|X Parasite}}, which have begun invading all parts of the galaxy. Around this time, Samus gets infected by and X Parasite and nearly dies. The only way she was saved was to surgically remove her power suit and graft metroid DNA into her, which gave her the side effect of being able to consume X Parasite. Her new task is to hunt down any X Parasite before they destroy all life in the galaxy. The game was praised for its presentation and more in-depth story that ties in all previous entries, though was criticized for being more linear than any previous entry with many blatant efforts of hand holding.


The second release was ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime}}'' for [[Nintendo GameCube]], the series' inaugural transition into the third dimension as a first-person shooter. Set between ''Metroid'' and ''Metroid II'', Samus discovers that the Space Pirates were experimenting with a dangerous substance known as {{iw|wikipedia|Phazon}}, and must both learn how to harness and properly wield it, as well as defeat any creature corrupted by it. This entry was highly controversial prior to release. Not only was it being developed by a then-unknown company in the United States, the Texas-based [[Retro Studios]], but its presentation with a first-person perspective led to accusations of being a complete departure from the ''Metroid'' fabric for the worse. The released product ultimately allayed these concerns, as ''Metroid Prime'' garnered extremely enthusiastic acclaim from critics and fans for managing the task of faithfully transplanting the classic formula into three dimensions and using the first-person viewpoint to its advantage and became one of the GameCube's best-selling titles as a result, securing the franchise's place as a Nintendo staple for the foreseeable future.
The second release was ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime}}'' for [[Nintendo GameCube]], the series's inaugural transition into the third dimension as a first-person shooter. Set between ''Metroid'' and ''Metroid II'', Samus discovers that the Space Pirates were experimenting with a dangerous substance known as {{iw|wikipedia|Phazon}}, and must both learn how to harness and properly wield it, as well as defeat any creature corrupted by it. This entry was highly controversial prior to release. Not only was it being developed by a then-unknown company in the United States, the Texas-based [[Retro Studios]], but its presentation with a first-person perspective led to accusations of being a complete departure from the ''Metroid'' fabric for the worse. The released product ultimately allayed these concerns, as ''Metroid Prime'' garnered extremely enthusiastic acclaim from critics and fans for managing the task of faithfully transplanting the classic formula into three dimensions and using the first-person viewpoint to its advantage and became one of the GameCube's best-selling titles as a result, securing the franchise's place as a Nintendo staple for the foreseeable future.


[[File:Power Suit Samus - Brawl Trophy.png|thumb|Samus's [[Zero Suit Samus|Zero Suit]], worn beneath her Power Suit, was introduced in ''Zero Mission'' and replaced previous depictions of unsuited Samus. Trophy of [[Power Suit Samus]] from ''Brawl''.]]
[[File:Power Suit Samus - Brawl Trophy.png|thumb|Samus's [[Zero Suit Samus|Zero Suit]], worn beneath her Power Suit, was introduced in ''Zero Mission'' and replaced previous depictions of unsuited Samus. Trophy of [[Power Suit Samus]] from ''Brawl''.]]
Throughout the 2000s, the ''Metroid'' franchise settled into a more regular release schedule following ''Prime'' and ''Fusion''. On the console front, ''Metroid Prime'' would receive two direct sequels. the first was ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime 2: Echoes}}'' in 2004 for GameCube, which sees Samus fight a Phazon corrupted version of herself known as [[Dark Samus]], as well as restore the balance of light and dark energy among several planets. This game was well received, but ultimately seen as not a major step up to the formula. The second was ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime 3: Corruption}}'' in 2007 for [[Nintendo Wii]], which sees Samus corrupted by Phazon, and thus having to team up with other bounty hunters to defeat the returning Dark Samus and keep the Phazon under control. While the story was seen as nothing special, the brand new pointer controls were seen as revolutionary for a streamlined way to aim and shoot. The first two games games were then remastered in 2009 for Wii in Japan under the "New Play Controls" line, and these entries were then released internationally as a collection for Wii as ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime: Trilogy}}'', with major changes being updated textures and all games sharing the pointer controls setup. Physical copies of this game are now considered rare and valuable due to their limited run.
Throughout the 2000s, the ''Metroid'' franchise settled into a more regular release schedule following ''Prime'' and ''Fusion''. On the console front, ''Metroid Prime'' would receive two direct sequels. the first was ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime 2: Echoes}}'' in 2004 for GameCube, which sees Samus fight a Phazon corrupted version of herself known as [[Dark Samus]], as well as restore the balance of light and dark energy among several planets. This game was well received, but ultimately seen as not a major step up to the formula. The second was ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime 3: Corruption}}'' in 2007 for [[Nintendo Wii]], which sees Samus corrupted by Phazon, and thus having to team up with other bounty hunters to defeat the returning Dark Samus and keep the Phazon under control. While the story was seen as nothing special, the brand new pointer controls were seen as revolutionary for a streamlined way to aim and shoot. The first two games games were then remastered in 2009 for Wii in Japan under the "New Play Controls" line, and these entries were then released internationally as a collection for Wii as ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime Trilogy}}'', with major changes being updated textures and all games sharing the pointer controls setup. Phyisical copies of this game are now considered rare and valuable due to their limited run.


On the handheld front, ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid: Zero Mission}}'' released for the Game Boy Advance in February 2004. This is a full remake of the original ''Metroid'' with enhanced presentation, some gameplay improvements, and a new epilogue that would better tie this entry into the rest of the series. This entry was also the proper introduction of the [[Zero Suit Samus|Zero Suit]], which would become an iconic design for Samus. In 2005, the series debuted on the {{uv|Nintendo DS}} with ''{{iw|wikipedia|Metroid Prime Pinball}}''. While not a canon entry to the series, the game loosely retells the story of ''Metroid Prime'' in the form of a pinball game, with Samus as the ball. Then in 2006, also for the Nintendo DS, the game ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime Hunters}}''. Set between ''Metroid Prime'' and ''Metroid Prime 2'' the game sees Samus team up with other bounty hunters to defeat the Space Pirates. The game is essentially a first person shooter on the Nintendo DS. While praise was given for its ambition and excellent display of what the Nintendo DS is capable of, criticism was given to not all of its ideas landing.
On the handheld front, ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid: Zero Mission}}'' released for the Game Boy Advance in February 2004. This is a full remake of the original ''Metroid'' with enhanced presentation, some gameplay improvements, and a new epilogue that would better tie this entry into the rest of the series. This entry was also the proper introduction of the [[Zero Suit Samus|Zero Suit]], which would become an iconic design for Samus. In 2005, the series debuted on the {{uv|Nintendo DS}} with ''{{iw|wikipedia|Metroid Prime Pinball}}''. While not a canon entry to the series, the game loosely retells the story of ''Metroid Prime'' in the form of a pinball game, with Samus as the ball. Then in 2006, also for the Nintendo DS, the game ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime Hunters}}''. Set between ''Metroid Prime'' and ''Metroid Prime 2'' the game sees Samus team up with other bounty hunters to defeat the Space Pirates. The game is essentially a first person shooter on the Nintendo DS. While praise was given for its ambition and excellent display of what the Nintendo DS is capable of, criticism was given to not all of its ideas landing.


Following the Wii compilation's original release, Retro Studios would shift its focus to revitalizing another dormant Nintendo franchise in ''[[Donkey Kong (universe)|Donkey Kong Country]]'', leaving them preoccupied for the time being. After the conclusion of the ''Prime'' trilogy, the original visionaries like Yoshio Sakamoto would return for a console entry for the first time since ''Super Metroid''. Sakamoto would collaborate with Team Ninja with full creative freedom to make the Metroid game he always wanted to make. This game would release as ''Metroid: Other M'' in August 2010 for the Wii Taking place between ''Super Metroid'' and ''Metroid Fusion'', the game saw Samus team up with old friend from the Galactic Federation to figure out the cause of a distress signal, and in turn discover the horrific experiments on the ship that sent the signal that the Federation was partially responsible for and is trying to cover up. Its new third-person action-adventure gameplay aspects were generally well-received; however, some reviewers criticized its strikingly linear approach to level design, approach to characterization of Samus, the voice acting and dialogue (with the English dub directed by the non-English-speaking Yoshio Sakamoto), and the game's methods of telling a cutscene-heavy story, with these aforementioned elements causing a high degree of fan controversy and backlash. This, combined with the game's poor sales outside of Japan, dealt a critical blow to the series' success streak and marked the beginning of a second hiatus for the franchise.
Following the Wii compilation's original release, Retro Studios would shift its focus to revitalizing another dormant Nintendo franchise in ''[[Donkey Kong (universe)|Donkey Kong Country]]'', leaving them preoccupied for the time being. After the conclusion of the ''Prime'' trilogy, the original visionaries like Yoshio Sakamoto would return for a console entry for the first time since ''Super Metroid''. Sakamoto would collaborate with Team Ninja with full creative freedom to make the Metroid game he always wanted to make. This game would release as ''Metroid: Other M'' in August 2010 for the Wii Taking place between ''Super Metroid'' and ''Metroid Fusion'', the game saw Samus team up with old friend from the Galactic Federation to figure out the cause of a distress signal, and in turn discover the horrific experiments on the ship that sent the signal that the Federation was partially responsible for and is trying to cover up. Its new third-person action-adventure gameplay aspects were generally well-received; however, some reviewers criticized its strikingly linear approach to level design, approach to characterization of Samus, the voice acting and dialogue (with the English dub directed by the non-English-speaking Yoshio Sakamoto), and the game's methods of telling a cutscene-heavy story, with these aforementioned elements causing a high degree of fan controversy and backlash. This, combined with the game's poor sales outside of Japan, dealt a critical blow to the series's success streak and marked the beginning of a second hiatus for the franchise.


After being represented exclusively in cameos and crossovers throughout the 2010s, ''Metroid'' would suddenly return at E3 2015, with a new game in the series was announced for the Nintendo 3DS, ''{{iw|wikipedia|Metroid Prime: Federation Force}}''. Developed by Next Level Games as a multiplayer based spinoff of the ''Metroid'' series, released in 2016. The game is a cooperative first-person shooter, where the player assumes the role of a faceless Galactic Federation Marine and featuring gameplay elements similar to that of ''Metroid Prime Hunters''. The game also featured a side mode called "Blast Ball" in which two teams of four Federation troops blast a large soccer ball to the other team's goal. Much like ''Other M'' before it, the game was met with a highly polarized reception, though ''Federation Force'' was lambasted for its change in graphical style, heavily reduced focus on Samus, focus on combat over exploration, and its overall departure from the series' general tone. Further criticism was aimed at the fact that the first ''Metroid'' game announced after the franchise's five-year hiatus was a spin-off title and not a core entry in either the 2D series or the ''Prime'' series, particularly for the franchise's 30th anniversary. This was essentially the wrong game at the wrong time. On release, ''Federation Force'' sold poorly and was generally met with lukewarm reviews, now being considered "dead on arrival" to critics and fans.
After being represented exclusively in cameos and crossovers throughout the 2010s, ''Metroid'' would suddenly return at E3 2015, with a new game in the series was announced for the Nintendo 3DS, ''{{iw|wikipedia|Metroid Prime: Federation Force}}''. Developed by Next Level Games as a multiplayer based spinoff of the ''Metroid'' series, released in 2016. The game is a cooperative first-person shooter, where the player assumes the role of a faceless Galactic Federation Marine and featuring gameplay elements similar to that of ''Metroid Prime Hunters''. The game also featured a side mode called "Blast Ball" in which two teams of four Federation troops blast a large soccer ball to the other team's goal. Much like ''Other M'' before it, the game was met with a highly polarized reception, though ''Federation Force'' was lambasted for its change in graphical style, heavily reduced focus on Samus, focus on combat over exploration, and its overall departure from the series's general tone. Further criticism was aimed at the fact that the first ''Metroid'' game announced after the franchise's five-year hiatus was a spin-off title and not a core entry in either the 2D series or the ''Prime'' series, particularly for the franchise's 30th anniversary. This was essentially the wrong game at the wrong time. On release, ''Federation Force'' sold poorly and was generally met with lukewarm reviews, now being considered "dead on arrival" to critics and fans.


With the series once again in a rocky position, Nintendo surprised everyone with two new installments announced at E3 2017 - ''Metroid Prime 4'' for the [[Nintendo Switch]], and ''Metroid: Samus Returns'' for the Nintendo 3DS. The latter of the two is an enhanced remake of ''Metroid II: Return of Samus'' developed by MercurySteam, who previously handled the ''[[Castlevania (universe)|Castlevania: Lords of Shadow]]'' games. ''Samus Returns'' would release in September of that year and the reveal of these two games marked the true end of the main series' hiatus and, together with a new sub-line of ''Metroid'' [[amiibo]], signaled the return of ''Metroid'' as one of Nintendo's flagship franchises.
With the series once again in a rocky position, Nintendo surprised everyone with two new installments announced at E3 2017 - ''Metroid Prime 4'' for the [[Nintendo Switch]], and ''Metroid: Samus Returns'' for the Nintendo 3DS. The latter of the two is an enhanced remake of ''Metroid II: Return of Samus'' developed by MercurySteam, who previously handled the ''[[Castlevania (universe)|Castlevania: Lords of Shadow]]'' games. ''Samus Returns'' would release in September of that year and the reveal of these two games marked the true end of the main series' hiatus and, together with a new sub-line of ''Metroid'' [[amiibo]], signaled the return of ''Metroid'' as one of Nintendo's flagship franchises.
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While ''Samus Returns'' saw incredibly positive reception from fans and critics for bringing the series back to its roots despite lukewarm sales (which can be partly attributed to the waning lifespan of the 3DS), information on ''Metroid Prime 4'' was hazy at best. Shortly after the game's teaser announcement, it was confirmed that longtime developer Retro Studios would not be returning for the new entry. Instead, it would be handled by an unspecified new development team. Roughly two years later, even after the series saw an increase in representation in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', it was announced in January 2019 that the game's development would be restarted from scratch. Shinya Takahashi cited development struggles under the new team to meet the quality standards of the previous ''Metroid Prime'' titles and the expectations of series fans. As a result, series producer Kensuke Tanabe would restart the game's development, but with none other than the original developer of the ''Metroid Prime'' series - Retro Studios.  
While ''Samus Returns'' saw incredibly positive reception from fans and critics for bringing the series back to its roots despite lukewarm sales (which can be partly attributed to the waning lifespan of the 3DS), information on ''Metroid Prime 4'' was hazy at best. Shortly after the game's teaser announcement, it was confirmed that longtime developer Retro Studios would not be returning for the new entry. Instead, it would be handled by an unspecified new development team. Roughly two years later, even after the series saw an increase in representation in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', it was announced in January 2019 that the game's development would be restarted from scratch. Shinya Takahashi cited development struggles under the new team to meet the quality standards of the previous ''Metroid Prime'' titles and the expectations of series fans. As a result, series producer Kensuke Tanabe would restart the game's development, but with none other than the original developer of the ''Metroid Prime'' series - Retro Studios.  


Meanwhile, producer Yoshio Sakamoto would continue working with MercurySteam to develop a new 2D entry into the series. This would manifest in 2021 as ''Metroid Dread'' for the Nintendo Switch, a project 15 years in the making and the first proper continuation of the ''Metroid'' storyline since ''Fusion''. This game sees Samus travel to planet {{iw|metroidwiki|ZDR}}, only to be attacked and left stranded by a somehow living {{iw|metroidwiki|Chozo}}. Trying to find a way off the planet and investigate what this Chozo wants, Samus will learn long forgotten parts of galactic history, as well as her own past and heritage. The game was universally praised for being the culmination of the 2D ''Metroid'' formula with excellent controls, level design, and a good balance of exposition and environmental storytelling. This caused the game to sell over 3 million copies and become the best selling single release in the series, breaking its curse of each entry having relatively low sales.
Meanwhile, producer Yoshio Sakamoto would continue working with MercurySteam to develop a new 2D entry into the series. This would manifest in 2021 as ''Metroid Dread'' for the Nintendo Switch, a project 15 years in the making and the first proper continuation of the ''Metroid'' storyline since ''Fusion''. This game sees Samus travel to planet {{iw|metroidwiki|ZDR}}, only to be attacked and lefte stranded by a somehow living {{iw|metroidwiki|Chozo}}. Trying to find a way off the planet and investigate what this Chozo wants, Samus will learn long forgotten parts of galactic history, as well as her own past and heritage. The game was universally praised for being the culmination of the 2D ''Metroid'' formula with excellent controls, level design, and a good balance of exposition and environmental storytelling. This caused the game to sell over 3 million copies and become the best selling single release in the series, breaking its curse of each entry having relatively low sales.


A remaster of the first ''Metroid Prime'' game would release in early 2023, featuring a large graphical overhaul along with a more modern control scheme. Release to rave reviews, ''Prime Remastered'' would ensure the series' continued presence from there on. The game is also an indication of what directions ''Metroid Prime 4'' will take, though nothing about the game would materialize until June 2024, where first look at gameplay would finally be shown off in a Nintendo Direct. It is currently scheduled for a 2025 release.
A remaster of the first ''Metroid Prime'' game would release in early 2023 by Retro Studios, featuring a large graphical overhaul along with a more modern control scheme. Release to rave reviews, ''Prime Remastered'' would ensure the series' continued presence from there on. The game is also an indication of what directions ''Metroid Prime 4'' will take, though nothing about the game has materialized.


Overall, the ''Metroid'' series is often held up as one of Nintendo's greatest classic franchises and maintains a dedicated fanbase, particularly in the West. ''Super Metroid'' and the ''Metroid Prime'' trilogy in particular have garnered significant praise from fans and reviewers. Samus herself, while not achieving the same level of recognition or even marketability as [[Mario]] or [[Link]], is widely praised as one of Nintendo's most iconic characters and a groundbreaking example of proactive female protagonists in gaming.
Overall, the ''Metroid'' series is often held up as one of Nintendo's greatest classic franchises and maintains a dedicated fanbase, particularly in the West. ''Super Metroid'' and the ''Metroid Prime'' trilogy in particular have garnered significant praise from fans and reviewers. Samus herself, while not achieving the same level of recognition or even marketability as [[Mario]] or [[Link]], is widely praised as one of Nintendo's most iconic characters and a groundbreaking example of proactive female protagonists in gaming.
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===Fighters===
===Fighters===
{{image|Needs Samus/Zero Suit Samus Icon.}}
*<!--[[File:SamusZeroSuitSamusIcon(SSBB).png|50px|right|link=Samus/Zero Suit Samus]]-->'''[[Samus/Zero Suit Samus]]''' ([[Starter character|Starter]]): Unique to ''Brawl'', Samus can transform into Zero Suit Samus. Unlike other transformations, the player can switch between the two via [[Final Smash]] rather than their [[down special]] (or in Samus' case, also by a series of [[taunt]]s). While only Samus is shown on the [[character selection screen]], the player can start the match as Zero Suit Samus by holding down a certain button depending on the controller when selecting Samus.{{clr}}
*<!--[[File:SamusZeroSuitSamusIcon(SSBB).png|50px|right|link=Samus/Zero Suit Samus]]-->'''[[Samus/Zero Suit Samus]]''' ([[Starter character|Starter]]): Unique to ''Brawl'', Samus can transform into Zero Suit Samus. Unlike other transformations, the player can switch between the two via [[Final Smash]] rather than their [[down special]] (or in Samus' case, also by a series of [[taunt]]s). While only Samus is shown on the [[character selection screen]], the player can start the match as Zero Suit Samus by holding down a certain button depending on the controller when selecting Samus.{{clr}}
:*[[File:SamusIcon(SSBB).png|50px|right|link=Samus (SSBB)]]'''{{SSBB|Samus}}''': Shown in trailers as a returning character for ''Brawl'', Samus Aran has been visually touched up to look like her more detailed incarnation in the final sequence of ''Metroid: Zero Mission'', but otherwise plays similar to her ''Melee'' incarnation. Her Final Smash, the {{b|Zero Laser|Samus}}, is a huge beam that literally blows off her own armor to become a pile of throwable [[Power Suit Piece]]s and renders her as a new playable character, [[Zero Suit Samus]].{{clr}}
:*[[File:SamusIcon(SSBB).png|50px|right|link=Samus (SSBB)]]'''{{SSBB|Samus}}''': Shown in trailers as a returning character for ''Brawl'', Samus Aran has been visually touched up to look like her more detailed incarnation in the final sequence of ''Metroid: Zero Mission'', but otherwise plays similar to her ''Melee'' incarnation. Her Final Smash, the {{b|Zero Laser|Samus}}, is a huge beam that literally blows off her own armor to become a pile of throwable [[Power Suit Piece]]s and renders her as a new playable character, [[Zero Suit Samus]].{{clr}}
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===Stages===
===Stages===
*[[File:Icon-brinstarmelee.gif|right|link=Brinstar]]{{gameIcon|SSBM}}'''[[Melee Stages]]: [[Brinstar]]''' ([[Starter stage|Starter]]): One of the few stages to return from the previous game, it is mostly unchanged from ''Melee''.{{clr}}
*[[File:Icon-brinstarmelee.gif|right|link=Brinstar]]'''[[Melee Stages]]: [[Brinstar]]''' ([[Starter stage|Starter]]): One of the few stages to return from the previous game, it is mostly unchanged from ''Melee''.{{clr}}
*[[File:Icon-norfair.gif|right|link=Norfair]]'''[[Norfair]]''' ([[Starter stage|Starter]]): A new stage set in the fiery depths of [[Zebes]], this stage, like previous ''Metroid'' stages, features rising lava.  In addition to this, lava can come from the sides of the screens too, as well as in an enormous wave from the background that forces players to fight to stay inside a temporary safe zone to avoid damage.{{clr}}
*[[File:Icon-norfair.gif|right|link=Norfair]]'''[[Norfair]]''' ([[Starter stage|Starter]]): A new stage set in the fiery depths of [[Zebes]], this stage, like previous ''Metroid'' stages, features rising lava.  In addition to this, lava can come from the sides of the screens too, as well as in an enormous wave from the background that forces players to fight to stay inside a temporary safe zone to avoid damage.{{clr}}
*[[File:Icon-frigateorpheon.gif|right|link=Frigate Orpheon]]'''[[Frigate Orpheon]]''' ([[Starter stage|Starter]]): Set in the opening area of the first ''[[Metroid Prime]]'', which contains the Parasite Queen, this stage has an interesting twist. When the warning siren sounds, the stage flips, and what was once above the players becomes the new platforms to fight on.{{clr}}
*[[File:Icon-frigateorpheon.gif|right|link=Frigate Orpheon]]'''[[Frigate Orpheon]]''' ([[Starter stage|Starter]]): Set in the opening area of the first ''[[Metroid Prime]]'', which contains the Parasite Queen, this stage has an interesting twist. When the warning siren sounds, the stage flips, and what was once above the players becomes the new platforms to fight on.{{clr}}
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==Media with elements appearing in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series==
==Media with elements appearing in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series==
The ''Metroid'' universe has media represented throughout the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series with a total of 14 games and media. The latest game represented in this universe is ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Dread}}'', released on October 8, 2021.
The ''Metroid'' universe has media represented throughout the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series with a total of 16 games and media. The latest game represented in this universe is ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Dread}}'', released on October 8, 2021.


===''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid|game}}''===
===''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid}}''===
:''Main article: {{b|Metroid|game}}''
:''Main article: {{b|Metroid|game}}''
*Playable characters:
*Playable characters:
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*Playable characters:
*Playable characters:
**{{gameIcon|SSBU}} Dark Samus's design in ''Ultimate'' comes from this game.
**{{gameIcon|SSBU}} Dark Samus's design in ''Ultimate'' comes from this game.
**{{gameIcon|SSBB}} Zero Suit Samus's design in 'Brawl' comes from this game.
*Assist Trophies
*Assist Trophies
**{{GameIcon|SSB4}} Dark Samus's design and attacks as an Assist Trophy are based on her boss fight.
**{{GameIcon|SSB4}} Dark Samus's design and attacks as an Assist Trophy are based on her boss fight.
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===''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime: Federation Force}}''===
===''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime: Federation Force}}''===
*Music:
**{{gameIcon|SSBU}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Metroid|Main Theme - Metroid Prime: Federation Force}}'''": The title screen theme, sourced from this game.
*Spirits:
*Spirits:
**{{gameIcon|SSBU}} The Mech appears as a spirit.
**{{gameIcon|SSBU}} The Mech appears as a spirit.
*Music:
**{{gameIcon|SSBU}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Metroid|Main Theme - Metroid Prime: Federation Force}}'''": The title screen theme, sourced from this game.


===''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid: Samus Returns}}''===
===''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid: Samus Returns}}''===

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