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{{Infobox Character General
{{Infobox Character General
|name        = Zero Suit Samus
|name        = Zero Suit Samus
|image        = {{tabber|title1=Other M|tab1=[[File:Zero Suit Samus Other M Artwork.png|100px]]|title2=Zero Mission|tab2=[[File:ZeroSuitSamusArtwork.png|240px]]|title3=Casual Outfit (Zero Mission)|tab3=[[File:MZM Casual Outfit.png|241px]]|title4=Casual Outfit (Fusion)|tab4=[[File:MF Casual Outfit.png|241px]]}}
|image        = {{tabber|title1=Other M|content1=[[File:Zero Suit Samus Other M Artwork.png|100px]]|title2=Zero Mission|content2=[[File:ZeroSuitSamusArtwork.png|240px]]|title3=Casual Outfit (Zero Mission)|content3=[[File:MZM Casual Outfit.png|241px]]|title4=Casual Outfit (Fusion)|content4=[[File:MF Casual Outfit.png|241px]]}}
|caption      = [[File:MetroidSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert]]
|caption      = [[File:MetroidSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert-dark]]
Official artwork of Zero Suit Samus.
Official artwork of Zero Suit Samus.
|universe    = {{uv|Metroid}}
|universe    = {{uv|Metroid}}
|firstgame    = ''{{b|Metroid|game}}'' (1986, unarmored Samus)<!--as explained by this page, Smash uses Zero Suit Samus to represent unarmored Samus in general--><br>''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid: Zero Mission}}'' (2004, Zero Suit)
|firstgame    = ''{{b|Metroid|game}}'' (1986, unarmored Samus)<!--as explained by this page, Smash uses Zero Suit Samus to represent unarmored Samus in general--><br>''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid: Zero Mission}}'' (2004, Zero Suit)
|games        = ''[[Brawl]]''<br>''[[SSB4]]''<br>''[[Ultimate]]''
|games        = ''[[Brawl]]''<br>''[[SSB4]]''<br>''[[Ultimate]]''
|lastappearance= ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Dread}}'' (2021)
|lastappearance= ''{{s|mariowiki|WarioWare: Move It!}}'' (2023, cameo)
|console      = Game Boy Advance
|console      = Game Boy Advance
|species      = Human (augmented with {{iw|metroidwiki|Chozo}} DNA and {{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid|species}} [[metroidwiki:Vaccine "Metroid"|DNA]])
|species      = Human (augmented with {{iw|metroidwiki|Chozo}} DNA and {{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid|species}} [[metroidwiki:Vaccine "Metroid"|DNA]])
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|interwikipage= Zero Suit Samus
|interwikipage= Zero Suit Samus
}}
}}
'''Zero Suit Samus''' ({{ja|ゼロスーツサムス|Zero Sūtsu Samusu}}, ''Zero Suit Samus'') is [[Samus Aran]] while sporting her {{s|metroidwiki|Zero Suit}} instead of her {{s|metroidwiki|Power Suit}}. As the Power Suit completely obscures Samus' face and body in most cases, the Zero Suit is typically used in games to show her physical features, either as a narrative element or as a reward for the player.


The Zero Suit debuted in ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid: Zero Mission}}'', and has made recurring appearances since then. As demonstrated by two of Samus' Casual Outfits appearing as {{SSB4|alternate costume}}s beginning with ''Super Smash Bros. 4'', the identifier "Zero Suit Samus" can also loosely refer to unarmored versions of Samus in general, a concept that existed since ''Metroid''{{'}}s first installment.
'''Zero Suit Samus''' ({{ja|ゼロスーツサムス|Zero Sūtsu Samusu}}, ''Zero Suit Samus'') is [[Samus Aran]] sporting her {{s|metroidwiki|Zero Suit}}, the advanced bodysuit that she wears underneath her iconic {{s|metroidwiki|Power Suit}}. She most frequently appears in her Zero Suit (or other casual attire) at the end of each ''Metroid'', depending on the player's speed and efficiency at completing the game.
 
As demonstrated by two of Samus' casual outfits appearing as {{SSB4|alternate costume}}s beginning with ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', the identifier "Zero Suit Samus" simply refers to unarmored versions of Samus in general, a concept that has existed since the very first ''Metroid''.


==Origin==
==Origin==
While [[Samus Aran]] has been shown without her Power Suit since the ''Metroid'' series' first installment, usually as part of an ending sequence or briefly when her Power Suit runs out of energy, the Zero Suit debuted in ''Metroid: Zero Mission'', a Game Boy Advance remake of the original ''Metroid''. ''Metroid'' allowed Samus to be playable in a leotard by using the well-known "JUSTIN BAILEY" cheat code; ''Zero Mission'' expanded on this by incorporating a playable, suitless Samus into the game's narrative for the first time, granting her a unique style of stealth-based gameplay. Ever since ''Zero Mission'', Samus has appeared in her Zero Suit in every ''Metroid'' game except ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime Pinball}}'' and ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime: Federation Force}}'', although the latter features a Zero Suit-inspired paint job for the playable Federation mechs unlocked via [[amiibo]].
[[Samus Aran]] has been shown without her Power Suit since the ''Metroid'' series' first installment, usually as part of an ending sequence or briefly as her Power Suit explodes in game over animations. ''Metroid'' allowed Samus to be playable in a leotard by using the famous "JUSTIN BAILEY" cheat code. However, the Zero Suit properly debuted in ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid: Zero Mission}}'', a Game Boy Advance remake of the original ''Metroid''. The game expanded on this by incorporating a playable, suitless Samus into the narrative for the first time, granting her a unique style of stealth-based gameplay. Ever since ''Zero Mission'', Samus has appeared in her Zero Suit in every ''Metroid'' game except ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime Pinball}}'' and ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime: Federation Force}}'', although the latter features a Zero Suit-inspired [[amiibo]] costume.
 
The Zero Suit covers Samus completely from neck-to-toe in a cyan, skin-tight bodysuit with magenta {{s|metroidwiki|Chozo}} sigils on her back, left breast, and the back of her hands. While wearing it, Samus wears her hair in a ponytail, although she is occasionally seen with different hairstyles in different outfits (prior to the Zero Suit's debut, Samus would be more often seen with her hair loose).
 
Although Samus' eye and hair color varied widely across early games, most current depictions consistently give her blonde hair and blue to turquoise eyes. Despite this, Samus' "Zero Suit" character design has varied in nearly every appearance. Initial appearances would depict Samus with a high ponytail with a red hair tie, long sidetails, and lean musculature. ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime Hunters}}'' featured a heavy redesign for the Zero Suit that was not used in subsequent games, with a more simplistic, gloveless bodysuit and a different hairstyle for Samus.
 
''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid: Other M}}'' featured another drastic redesign by changing Samus' eye color (from blue to green-blue), her general hairstyle (a lower ponytail and much shorter sidetails), her general build (from tall with toned musculature to short and slim), and the Zero Suit itself (a more segmented appearance that is equipped with wedged heels). This general design was carried over to ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid: Samus Returns}}'', but with a few minor changes, most notably by giving Samus a blue hair tie and a more athletic body type akin to her ''Super Metroid'' appearance; an unused design for the game depicts her with an altered Zero Suit pattern, but she retains her ''Other M'' paneling in-game. Zero Suit Samus' ''Samus Returns'' in-game design would then return in ''Metroid Dread'', both for Samus' death sequence and for the final unlockable time-based completion reward image.
 
Within ''Metroid'' canon, Samus boasts superhuman athleticism even without her Power Suit, thanks to the Chozo infusing their DNA within her and training her in combat during her childhood. While she is also much more adaptive to alien environments than a normal human thanks to her Chozo DNA, she is still extremely vulnerable without her Power Suit, and thus must rely on stealth and her {{s|metroidwiki|Paralyzer}} instead of direct combat to achieve her objectives.
 
However, much like her fellow bounty hunter [[Captain Falcon]], Zero Suit Samus is depicted in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series with a varied and highly physical martial arts fighting style that compliments her superhuman athleticism. She is also notable for her impressive flexibility and gymnastic skills, with many of her attacks involving her in splits, doing cartwheels, and more. In addition, her Paralyzer is equipped with ''Super Smash Bros.''-specific design elements that grant it offensive potential.
 
Zero Suit Samus debuted in ''Metroid: Zero Mission'' in a playable endgame level. After defeating {{s|metroidwiki|Mother Brain}}, Samus escapes the {{s|metroidwiki|Space Pirate}}s' base on {{s|metroidwiki|Zebes}} and deactivates her Power Suit prior to piloting [[metroidwiki:Samus Aran's Gunship|her Gunship]]. However, Space Pirate ships shoot her down back onto Zebes' surface, destroying her Gunship and leaving her unable to activate her Power Suit. With the Zero Suit and her Paralyzer as her only methods of self-defense, Samus infiltrates the nearby {{s|metroidwiki|Space Pirate Mother Ship}} in order to steal one of the Space Pirates' ships and escape Zebes.
 
After stealthily navigating through the Mother Ship and stumbling upon the ruins of {{s|metroidwiki|Chozodia}}, an ancient Chozo city, Samus undergoes a [[metroidwiki:Ruins Test|test left behind by the Chozo]]. Upon successfully completing the test, she is granted [[metroidwiki:Legendary Power Suit|an advanced Power Suit]] that not only fully restores her previously lost abilities, but also grants her access to [[metroidwiki:Unknown Item|three upgrades that were incompatible with her previous Power Suit]]. Samus, now fully reequipped and upgraded, proceeds to escape Zebes via a Space Pirate ship after destroying {{s|metroidwiki|Mecha Ridley}} and the Mother Ship.
 
Samus also appears in her Zero Suit in a number of scenes in ''Other M''. In the beginning of the game, she activates her Power Suit by pressing the Chozo sigil on her breast. ''Other M'' is the second time in the series where Samus is playable in her Zero Suit, but like in ''Zero Mission'', this only occurs near the end of the game. In ''Other M''{{'}}s case, Zero Suit Samus becomes playable during the {{s|metroidwiki|Bottle Ship}}'s self-destruct sequence, and she once again has the Paralyzer as her only method of self-defense. ''Other M'' demonstrates that unlike the Zero Suit, the Power Suit will deactivate when Samus is unable to maintain a proper level of concentration, such as when she suffered a post-traumatic stress-induced panic attack upon encountering {{s|metroidwiki|Ridley}} in the [[metroidwiki:Sector 3 (Pyrosphere)|Pyrosphere]], or after she dies.


In other ''Metroid'' games, Samus' Zero Suit is mostly relegated to brief, non-playable appearances, usually as part of an ending sequence. Samus appears in her Zero Suit very briefly during ending sequences for ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime 2: Echoes}}'' and ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime 3: Corruption}}''. In ''Corruption'', Samus is shown briefly in her Zero Suit during the opening scene before she activates the Varia Suit while inside her ship. In both of these instances she deactivates her Varia Suit before or while entering her ship. She also wears the Zero Suit in the ending of ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime Hunters}}''.
The Zero Suit covers Samus completely from neck-to-toe in a cyan, skin-tight bodysuit with magenta {{s|metroidwiki|Chozo}} sigils on her back, left breast, and the back of her hands. Although Samus' eye and hair color varied widely across early games, most current depictions consistently give her blonde hair and blue eyes. Initial appearances would depict Samus with a high ponytail with a red hair tie, long sidetails, and lean musculature. ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime Hunters}}'' featured a redesign for the Zero Suit that was not used in subsequent games, with a more simplistic, gloveless bodysuit and a different hairstyle for Samus. ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid: Other M}}'' featured another drastic redesign by changing Samus' eye color (from blue to green-blue), her hairstyle (a lower ponytail and much shorter sidetails), her physical build (reducing her height and musculature), and the Zero Suit itself including wedged heels. This design was carried over to ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid: Samus Returns}}'' with minor changes, most notably by giving Samus a blue hair tie and a more athletic musculature akin to her ''Super Metroid'' appearance. Zero Suit Samus' ''Samus Returns'' design would return in ''Metroid Dread'', both for Samus' death sequence and for the final time-based completion reward.


Samus reappears in her Zero Suit in ''Metroid: Samus Returns'' for the Nintendo 3DS, where her Power Suit dissipates when she dies in-game -  which is nearly identical to her death sequence in ''Super Metroid''. In ''Metroid'' tradition, a more detailed view of her Zero Suit can be seen if the game's "best" ending is attained. While she is seen with her ''Other M'' Paralyzer, it is not used in-game. Higher difficulties replace the Zero Suit with a modernized "Justin Bailey" outfit (complete with green hair) or Samus' sportswear from the ending of ''Metroid Fusion''.
Aside from the Zero Suit itself, Samus has been shown in other types of clothing when outside of her Power Suit, with the most typical attires being revealing sportswear such as tank tops and shorts. Two such Casual Outfits (as named by outifts in Nintendo's ''Miitomo'' app), which are seen in certain endings for ''Zero Mission'' and ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Fusion}}'', appear as [[alternate costume]]s for Zero Suit Samus in ''SSB4'' and ''Ultimate''.


Because Samus' Power Suit covers her entire body, Zero Suit Samus and the general concept of a suitless Samus are frequently used as a reminder to the player that although Samus is stoic due to her tragic upbringing, she is still a human woman capable of emoting — a trope taken to great lengths in ''Other M''. This rings especially true in ''Super Smash Bros.'': in gameplay, Samus' face and voice are only used while she wears her Zero Suit Samus, yet while wearing her Power Suit, her face and voice are only noticeable in cutscenes and promotional material.
Zero Suit Samus rarely appears as playable in the ''Metroid'' games. She was first playable in this outfit in ''Metroid: Zero Mission'', for the aforementioned stealth segment. After losing her Power Suit in a crash-landing while escaping the planet Zebes, she was forced to evade Space Pirate forces with nothing but her Zero Suit and a self-defense {{s|metroidwiki|Paralyzer}} handgun. Zero Suit Samus was also playable in the extra ending of ''Metroid: Other M''. While returning to the derelict BOTTLE SHIP to retrieve the late Adam Malkovich's helmet, Samus briefly dematerialized her Power Suit to share a quiet moment with the memento. However, it was interrupted by the station's self-destruct alarm, forcing her to escape the exploding facility in her Zero Suit, carrying Adam's helmet and her Paralyzer for the lingering bioweapons obstructing her path.


Although Varia Suit remains as Samus' most iconic attire, the Zero Suit has nevertheless become very popular and somewhat synonymous with Samus, largely thanks to her appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' giving both fans and non-fans of ''Metroid'' a widespread look at the human woman being underneath the mysterious armor. As such, the Zero Suit has appeared as a bonus costume in non-''Metroid'' games, such as ''{{s|wikipedia|Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water}}'' and various installments of the ''{{uv|Monster Hunter}}'' series.
Within ''Metroid'' canon, Samus boasts superhuman athleticism even without her Power Suit, thanks to the Chozo infusing their DNA within her and training her in combat during her childhood. While she is also much more adaptive to alien environments than a normal human thanks to her Chozo DNA, she is still extremely vulnerable without her Power Suit, and thus must rely on stealth, agility, and her Paralyzer instead of direct combat to achieve her objectives.


Aside from the Zero Suit itself, Samus has been shown in other types of clothing when outside of her Power Suit, with the most typical attires being revealing sportswear. Two such Casual Outfits (as named by the ''Miitomo'' app), which are seen in certain endings for ''Zero Mission'' and ''{{s|metroidwiki|Metroid Fusion}}'', appear as [[alternate costume]]s for Zero Suit Samus in ''SSB4'' and ''Ultimate''.
However, much like her fellow bounty hunter [[Captain Falcon]], Zero Suit Samus is depicted in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series with a varied and highly physical martial arts fighting style that compliments her superhuman athleticism. She is also notable for her impressive flexibility and gymnastic skills, with many of her attacks involving her in splits, doing cartwheels, and more. Additionally, her Paralyzer is equipped with ''Super Smash Bros.''-specific design elements that grant it offensive potential, such as the ability to open into an electric beam whip similar to her Power Suit's Grapple Beam. Starting in ''Super Smash Bros. 4'', she was also equipped with wristbands and Jet Boots that improved her physical combat abilities. Her Paralyzer's beam whip and her Jet Boots have never appeared in the ''Metroid'' series.


==In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''==
==In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''==
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| {{StickerHead|Samus|Zero Suit Samus}}
| {{StickerHead|Samus|Zero Suit Samus}}
|}
|}
{{StickerPicBox|Running Zero Suit Samus|Metroid: Zero Mission}}
{{StickerPicBox|Running Zero Suit Samus|Metroid: ZM}}
{{StickerPicBox|Zero Suit Samus|Metroid: Zero Mission}}
{{StickerPicBox|Zero Suit Samus|Metroid: Zero Mission}}



Latest revision as of 13:31, May 20, 2024

For fighter info, see Zero Suit Samus (SSBB), Zero Suit Samus (SSB4), and Zero Suit Samus (SSBU).
This article is about the character Zero Suit Samus. For other pages with the name Zero, see Zero (disambiguation).
Zero Suit Samus
Zero Suit Samus Other M Artwork.png
ZeroSuitSamusArtwork.png
MZM Casual Outfit.png
MF Casual Outfit.png

MetroidSymbol.svg

Official artwork of Zero Suit Samus.

Universe Metroid
Debut Metroid (1986, unarmored Samus)
Metroid: Zero Mission (2004, Zero Suit)
Smash Bros. appearances Brawl
SSB4
Ultimate
Most recent non-Smash appearance WarioWare: Move It! (2023, cameo)
Console/platform of origin Game Boy Advance
Species Human (augmented with Chozo DNA and Metroid DNA)
Gender Female
Place of origin K-2L (birthplace)
Zebes (surrogate homeworld)
Created by Makoto Kanoh[1]
Designed by Hiroji Kiyotake[2]
Voice actor Alésia Glidewell
Article on Metroid Wiki Zero Suit Samus

Zero Suit Samus (ゼロスーツサムス, Zero Suit Samus) is Samus Aran sporting her Zero Suit, the advanced bodysuit that she wears underneath her iconic Power Suit. She most frequently appears in her Zero Suit (or other casual attire) at the end of each Metroid, depending on the player's speed and efficiency at completing the game.

As demonstrated by two of Samus' casual outfits appearing as alternate costumes beginning with Super Smash Bros. 4, the identifier "Zero Suit Samus" simply refers to unarmored versions of Samus in general, a concept that has existed since the very first Metroid.

Origin[edit]

Samus Aran has been shown without her Power Suit since the Metroid series' first installment, usually as part of an ending sequence or briefly as her Power Suit explodes in game over animations. Metroid allowed Samus to be playable in a leotard by using the famous "JUSTIN BAILEY" cheat code. However, the Zero Suit properly debuted in Metroid: Zero Mission, a Game Boy Advance remake of the original Metroid. The game expanded on this by incorporating a playable, suitless Samus into the narrative for the first time, granting her a unique style of stealth-based gameplay. Ever since Zero Mission, Samus has appeared in her Zero Suit in every Metroid game except Metroid Prime Pinball and Metroid Prime: Federation Force, although the latter features a Zero Suit-inspired amiibo costume.

The Zero Suit covers Samus completely from neck-to-toe in a cyan, skin-tight bodysuit with magenta Chozo sigils on her back, left breast, and the back of her hands. Although Samus' eye and hair color varied widely across early games, most current depictions consistently give her blonde hair and blue eyes. Initial appearances would depict Samus with a high ponytail with a red hair tie, long sidetails, and lean musculature. Metroid Prime Hunters featured a redesign for the Zero Suit that was not used in subsequent games, with a more simplistic, gloveless bodysuit and a different hairstyle for Samus. Metroid: Other M featured another drastic redesign by changing Samus' eye color (from blue to green-blue), her hairstyle (a lower ponytail and much shorter sidetails), her physical build (reducing her height and musculature), and the Zero Suit itself including wedged heels. This design was carried over to Metroid: Samus Returns with minor changes, most notably by giving Samus a blue hair tie and a more athletic musculature akin to her Super Metroid appearance. Zero Suit Samus' Samus Returns design would return in Metroid Dread, both for Samus' death sequence and for the final time-based completion reward.

Aside from the Zero Suit itself, Samus has been shown in other types of clothing when outside of her Power Suit, with the most typical attires being revealing sportswear such as tank tops and shorts. Two such Casual Outfits (as named by outifts in Nintendo's Miitomo app), which are seen in certain endings for Zero Mission and Metroid Fusion, appear as alternate costumes for Zero Suit Samus in SSB4 and Ultimate.

Zero Suit Samus rarely appears as playable in the Metroid games. She was first playable in this outfit in Metroid: Zero Mission, for the aforementioned stealth segment. After losing her Power Suit in a crash-landing while escaping the planet Zebes, she was forced to evade Space Pirate forces with nothing but her Zero Suit and a self-defense Paralyzer handgun. Zero Suit Samus was also playable in the extra ending of Metroid: Other M. While returning to the derelict BOTTLE SHIP to retrieve the late Adam Malkovich's helmet, Samus briefly dematerialized her Power Suit to share a quiet moment with the memento. However, it was interrupted by the station's self-destruct alarm, forcing her to escape the exploding facility in her Zero Suit, carrying Adam's helmet and her Paralyzer for the lingering bioweapons obstructing her path.

Within Metroid canon, Samus boasts superhuman athleticism even without her Power Suit, thanks to the Chozo infusing their DNA within her and training her in combat during her childhood. While she is also much more adaptive to alien environments than a normal human thanks to her Chozo DNA, she is still extremely vulnerable without her Power Suit, and thus must rely on stealth, agility, and her Paralyzer instead of direct combat to achieve her objectives.

However, much like her fellow bounty hunter Captain Falcon, Zero Suit Samus is depicted in the Super Smash Bros. series with a varied and highly physical martial arts fighting style that compliments her superhuman athleticism. She is also notable for her impressive flexibility and gymnastic skills, with many of her attacks involving her in splits, doing cartwheels, and more. Additionally, her Paralyzer is equipped with Super Smash Bros.-specific design elements that grant it offensive potential, such as the ability to open into an electric beam whip similar to her Power Suit's Grapple Beam. Starting in Super Smash Bros. 4, she was also equipped with wristbands and Jet Boots that improved her physical combat abilities. Her Paralyzer's beam whip and her Jet Boots have never appeared in the Metroid series.

In Super Smash Bros.[edit]

Suitless Samus in Super Smash Bros.

Samus's unmasked face, reflected off the visor on her helmet, can be seen in her congratulations screen. Additionally, when Samus is shot by a Ray Gun or hit by one of Pikachu's electric attacks, a female silhouette can be seen, representing her actual body.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

While Zero Suit Samus does not appear, a special trophy called "Samus Unmasked" shows Samus with her helmet in her hand. Multiple events in Japan allowed players to obtain the trophies, but no such events occurred elsewhere. The NTSC and PAL versions still have the trophies in their respective data, however, and the trophy can be obtained via Action Replay.

The Samus Unmasked trophy is shown from behind by default.

Trophy[edit]

Samus Unmasked's trophy in Melee
Samus Unmasked
It's said that the orphaned Samus Aran was raised by the few survivors of the Chozo race. They armed her with a Power Suit and taught her the ways of advanced combat; even burdened with her heavy suit, Samus is as graceful as a butterfly. In the Metroid series, it was standard that Samus would remove her helmet and armor if you cleared the game fast enough.
Metroid (8/89)

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

Zero Suit Samus as she appears in Brawl.

Zero Suit Samus is a newcomer in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, being playable by either holding the shield button while selecting Samus on the character select, using Samus' up and down taunts in quick succession, or using Samus' Final Smash. Her design is based on her appearance in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, albeit with slight modifications. Her playstyle has been described by many as being similar to Sheik's, in that she possesses many quick and acrobatic moves (in reference to her superhuman athleticism displayed in Metroid: Zero Mission) and is able to transform from another character. Zero Suit Samus is equipped with the Paralyzer she wielded in Zero Mission, which grants her the ability to fire paralyzing blasts. However, it can also be reconfigured into a Plasma Whip, which is a feature original to Brawl. Like her Power Suit's Grapple Beam, Plasma Whip also functions as a tether recovery.

Thanks to her outstanding mobility, fast attack speed, excellent air game, Power Suit Pieces, and the benefits granted by her Paralyzer and down smash, Zero Suit Samus is currently ranked 9th out of 38 on the tier list, placing her in the B tier though some argue she should be ranked even higher.

Trophy[edit]

Zero Suit Samus's trophy in Brawl
Zero Suit Samus
Samus Aran without her mighty Power Suit. In this condition, she does not have the firepower she's famed for but is in full possession of the agility and athleticism she gained through her childhood training with the Chozo. Without the armor, she's also much, much faster. The weapon she carries is a self-protection device known as a Paralyzer that stops enemies cold.
GB Advance: Metroid: Zero Mission

Stickers[edit]

Name Game Effect Fighter(s)
Running Zero Suit Samus Metroid: Zero Mission AttackWeapon+025Weapon (type) Attack +25 Samus Zero Suit Samus Samus (SSBB)Zero Suit Samus (SSBB)
Zero Suit Samus Metroid: Zero Mission AttackLeg+009Foot (type) Attack +9 Samus Zero Suit Samus Samus (SSBB)Zero Suit Samus (SSBB)
Brawl Sticker Running Zero Suit Samus (Metroid ZM).png
Running Zero Suit Samus
(Metroid: ZM)
Brawl Sticker Zero Suit Samus (Metroid Zero Mission).png
Zero Suit Samus
(Metroid: Zero Mission)

In Super Smash Bros. 4[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

Zero Suit Samus as she appears in Super Smash Bros. 4.

Zero Suit Samus returns as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4, albeit as a standalone character instead of being connected to her Power Suit. Like her Power Suit, the Zero Suit sports a marginally updated version of its design from Metroid: Other M, although it is now accompanied by a matching pair of Jet Boots and metal bracelets. The Jet Boots have changed her mobility and moveset in certain ways, whereas the bracelets are merely aesthetic. Samus' physical features are now a combination of her appearances in Other M and previous games including Zero Mission and Brawl. This results in a composite design original to the Smash series, befitting the fact that most of Zero Suit Samus' moveset was also created for Smash.

Zero Suit Samus retains many of her strengths from Brawl. This includes a very impressive air game, thanks to her neutral aerial being useful at setting up attacks, her back aerial being reliable for KOing, and her up aerial being excellent at juggling and capable of KOing. Her excellent mobility and Paralyzer's utility grant her a particularly powerful punishment game and supplement her strong combo game, the latter of which is capable of quickly dealing large amounts of damage and even earning early KOs. However, unlike in Brawl, her KO potential has been improved, most notably thanks to her new forward smash and her new up special, Boost Kick.

Despite all of these positives, Zero Suit Samus still suffers from a weak ground game, largely due to her grab game being laggy to the point of leaving her highly vulnerable to being punished if her grabs whiff. As she is still a lightweight, she is also susceptible to being KO'd early. However, Zero Suit Samus' strengths are agreed to largely outweigh her weaknesses, even in spite of her retaining her nerfs from Brawl and gaining new ones from game updates, which has been reflected in her achieving very strong tournament representation and results.

Due to her benefits and competitive success, Zero Suit Samus is currently ranked 6th out of 55 on the tier list, placing her in the A tier. While this placement is only a slight improvement from her placement in Brawl, it nevertheless results in her being assessed as a top-tier character instead of as a high-tier character as in Brawl.

Trophies[edit]

Zero Suit Samus's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Zero Suit Samus's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Zero Suit Samus
NTSC Samus is far from helpless when her Power Suit is deactivated. Sure, she loses a lot of the moves and weapons she had access to before, but her Jet Boots pick up the slack! She also has the Paralyzer, a versatile weapon that can shock her rivals or change into a Plasma Whip to grab edges and enemies.
GB Advance: Metroid: Zero Mission (02/2004)
Wii: Metroid: Other M (08/2010)
PAL Without her Power Suit, Samus Aran may not have her usual strength, special moves or over-powered arm cannon, but her Jet Boots definitely kick things up a notch in their own way. The Paralyzer, her gun, does just what you'd expect it to, but it can also turn into a whip for attacking and grabbing onto edges while falling.
GB Advance: Metroid: Zero Mission (04/2004)
Wii: Metroid: Other M (09/2010)
Zero Suit Samus (Alt.)'s trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Zero Suit Samus (Alt.)'s trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Zero Suit Samus (Alt.)
NTSCSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Zero Suit Samus's up special Boost Kick involves a series of fast kicks that end with a swift, sideways-launching one. A perfectly executed attack will hit eight times! Her down special Flip Jump can bury a grounded fighter in the dirt. She can kick midflip by pressing the special button.
NTSCSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U Zero Suit Samus's up special Boost Kick involves a series of fast kicks that ends with a swift, sideways-launching one. A perfectly executed attack will hit eight times! Her down special Flip Jump can bury a grounded fighter in the dirt. She can kick midflip by pressing the special button.
GB Advance: Metroid: Zero Mission (02/2004)
Wii: Metroid: Other M (08/2010)
PAL Zero Suit Samus's Boost Kick up special finishes with a swift sideways kick. If you start the move close to an opponent, you can hit them up to eight times and launch them sideways! Her main down special, Flip Jump, buries opponents if you land on them at the end of it. Alternatively, press the button again mid-flip for a drop kick.
GB Advance: Metroid: Zero Mission (04/2004)
Wii: Metroid: Other M (09/2010)

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

Zero Suit Samus in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Zero Suit Samus reappears as a standalone playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Her design has remained largely intact since Super Smash Bros. 4, but now features more detailed textures, a lighter hue, green eyes, and increased musculature, all of which are influenced from her in-game design in Metroid: Samus Returns. Zero Suit Samus has also gained a new Final Smash, in which she dons her Varia Suit and fires the Zero Laser from the top of her gunship.

For the first time, Zero Suit Samus is an unlockable character instead of a starter character.

Spirits[edit]

Fighter spirit[edit]

Primary spirit[edit]

No. Image Name Type Class Slots Base Power Max Power Base Attack Max Attack Base Defense Max Defense Ability Series
274
SSBU spirit Young Samus.png
Young Samus
Neutral
★★ 2 1458 5837 810 3243 540 2162 Shooting Items Power ↑ Metroid Series

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese ゼロスーツサムス, Zero Suit Samus
UK English Zero Suit Samus
France French (PAL) Samus sans armure Armor-less Samus
Quebec French (NTSC) Samus sans combinaison Suit-less Samus; see here.
Germany German Zero Suit Samus
Spain Spanish Samus Zero
Italy Italian Samus Tuta Zero Zero Suit Samus
China Chinese (Simplified) 零装甲萨姆斯, Zero Suit Samus Zero Armor Samus
Taiwan Chinese (Traditional) 零裝甲薩姆斯, Zero Suit Samus Zero Armor Samus
South Korea Korean 제로 슈트 사무스, Zero Suit Samus Zero Suit Samus
Netherlands Dutch Zero Suit Samus
Russia Russian Самус в нуль-костюме
Самус (НК) (on the character selection screen)
Samus in Zero Suit
Portugal Portuguese Samus con Armadura Zero Samus with Zero Armor

Trivia[edit]

  • Zero Suit Samus and the female Pokémon Trainer are the only playable fighters whose first appearances were in a remake.
  • Zero Suit Samus and Jigglypuff are the only characters in the Super Smash Bros. series to receive new special moves that render them helpless in subsequent installments, despite having debuted in the series without any. In Zero Suit Samus' case, she received Boost Kick as her up special in Super Smash Bros. 4, which renders her helpless after usage, unlike Plasma Wire, her up special in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
  • Zero Suit Samus is one of four characters to have a different Final Smash across every installment since Final Smashes were introduced; the other three are Pit, King Dedede, and R.O.B.
  • Zero Suit Samus' Canadian French name (Samus sans Combinaison) is somewhat out-of-context in natural French: although the word "combinaison" does mean "suit", it is more informally used for jumpsuit, which is ironically what the Zero Suit appears to be. Thus, "armure" (armor) used in the PAL version is more accurate to the usage of English "Suit" in Metroid series.
  • Zero Suit Samus is the third character in Smash, following Dr. Mario and Young Link, to be an alternate version of another playable character. However, unlike Dr. Mario or Young Link, Zero Suit Samus is not a moveset clone of her Power Suited self.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ultimate Nintendo FAQ - May 2002. N-Sider. Retrieved on 2007-03-23.
  2. ^ Credits for Metroid. MobyGames.