Metroid (universe)

Metroid (universe)
Developer(s)	Nintendo Retro Studios Team Ninja Next Level Games MercurySteam
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Makoto Kano Gunpei Yokoi Hiroji Kiyotake Yoshio Sakamoto
Genre(s)	Platformer Adventure First-Person Shooter
Console/platform of origin	Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom Disk System)
First installment	Metroid (1986)
Latest installment	Metroid: Samus Returns (2017)
Article on Metroid Wiki	Metroid (universe)

The Metroid universe (メトロイド, Metroid) refers to the Smash Bros. series' collection of characters, stages, and properties that hail from Nintendo's famous Metroid series of science-fiction adventure games. It is one of the company's most successful franchises. The series has had eleven official games released thus far, with most of them being near-universally praised by critics and gamers alike. The series also has a compilation (Metroid Prime Trilogy) and two enhanced remakes (New Play Control! Metroid Prime and New Play Control! Metroid Prime 2: Echoes). 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 Space Pirates and their monstrous leader, Ridley, while the Prime sub-series revolves around Samus stopping the sentient mutagen substance Phazon and its avatar Dark Samus.

Franchise description

After the perfect success of Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda for the Famicom/NES, Nintendo began work on an action game inspired by Ridley Scott's 1979 horror film Alien, Metroid. Nintendo set the game in the labyrinthine, subterranean cave network of a science-fiction alien planet to help impress a feeling of desperation and solitude on the player, and attempted to set the game apart from other games by making it a nonlinear adventure-based game that required exploration and backtracking. Like Zelda, Metroid helped pioneer the concept of acquiring permanent tools during the quest that would open up the way forward once the player returned to earlier areas. 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 until the game was beaten in a fast-enough time.

For all these reasons and more, the August 1987 release of Metroid for the NES was another revolutionary and enormously successful release for Nintendo. Metroid had a palpable effect on the future of the video game industry, integrating what was technically several styles of gameplay that had already revolutionized the industry on separate prior occasions into a new formula that was married with a foreboding atmosphere. The revelation that the player-character, Samus Aran - appearing as a suited, mechanized soldier that the instruction manual referred to with masculine pronouns - was a woman underneath the armor plating was lauded as innovative for blowing away established norms of females in video games (like the damsels in distress in Mario and Zelda). Many retrospectives, however, find faults with some of the original game's design and layout in comparison to modern action-adventure standards, and these shortcomings were only partially addressed in the first sequel, Metroid II: Return of Samus, released for Game Boy in November 1991.

Samus fighting her archnemesis, Ridley, as depicted in the opening movie of Melee (based on Super Metroid).

But by far the most significant evolution of the Metroid formula was the seminal Super Metroid, released on the SNES in April 1994. With vastly refined combat, exploration mechanics, world design, and even dialogue-free storytelling, the game garnered universal acclaim and is often labeled by official publications as 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 Donkey Kong Country, but because of the launches of the next-generation systems Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn. This was a big 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 a N64 installment which had never entered production.

The rebirth of the Metroid franchise at the end of 2002 was arguably one of the most daring and ambitious for any video game series; two completely separate, high-profile Metroid titles were released on the same day in the Americas, on November 17, 2002. Metroid Fusion, for the Game Boy Advance, was an all-new adventure based on the familiar two-dimensional formula of Super Metroid, but more noteworthy by far was Metroid Prime for the GameCube, the series' inaugural transition into three dimensions, which 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 as a first-person shooter led to accusations of being a complete departure from the Metroid fabric. The released product allayed these concerns, to say the least; Metroid Prime garnered extremely enthusiastic acclaim for managing the task of faithfully transplanting the classic formula into three dimensions and using the first-person perspective to its advantage, and became one of the GameCube's bestselling titles.

Samus's 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.

The Metroid franchise settled into a more regular release schedule following Prime and Fusion. Metroid: Zero Mission, for the Game Boy Advance in February 2004, was a retelling of the original Metroid in yet another new title structured in the design style introduced by Super Metroid. While the original title allowed Samus to be playable without her armor using a cheat code, Zero Mission established Samus' abilities when outside of the Power Suit, making Samus playable in the new "Zero Suit" as part of the narrative. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, for the GameCube in November 2004, was a Prime follow-up that changed several concepts and was tuned to a much higher level of difficulty. Metroid Prime Hunters was an ambitious effort to present the graphically intensive Metroid Prime first-person formula on the restrictive hardware of the Nintendo DS in March 2006. The Metroid Prime subseries concluded temporarily with the August 2007 release of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption for the Wii. The final chapter in the trilogy, the game introduced immersive motion controls to the series for controlling Samus and aiming her weapons, which were carried over to the Wii rereleases of the first two Prime games (all three games were later bundled as the limited-edition Metroid Prime Trilogy compilation for Wii).

After the conclusion of the Prime trilogy, Metroid: Other M was introduced in August 2010 for the Wii, developed by Team Ninja of Ninja Gaiden fame. Its new third-person action-adventure gameplay aspects were generally well-received; however, some reviewers criticized its approach to characterizing Samus, the voice acting and dialogue (with the English dub directed by the non-English-speaking Sakamoto), and the game's methods of telling a cutscene-heavy story, with the aforementioned elements causing a high degree of fan controversy and backlash. Thus, Other M sold significantly less than most previous console entries in the series outside of Japan, and marked the beginning of a second hiatus for the franchise.

During the Nintendo Digital Event at E3 2015, a new game in the series, Metroid Prime: Federation Force, was announced for the Nintendo 3DS and is a spin-off of the Metroid Prime series, with a 2016 release. The game is a co-op first person shooter, where the player assumes the role of a Galactic Federation Marine, featuring gameplay elements similar to that of Metroid Prime Hunters. Much like Other M before it, the game was met with a highly polarized reception for its graphical style, heavily reduced focus on Samus, focus on FPS combat over exploration, and its overall departure from the series' general style. Further criticism was aimed at the fact that the first Metroid game announced after the franchise's 5-year hiatus was a spin-off title.

With the controversy surrounding both Other M and Federation Force, as well as the five-year hiatus between them, the early-to-mid 2010s marked a period of uncertainty surrounding the state of the Metroid series. However, two new Metroid games were announced during E3 2017 - Metroid Prime 4 for the Nintendo Switch, and Samus Returns, an enhanced remake of Return of Samus, for the 3DS. 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.

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 as Mario or Link, is widely praised as one of Nintendo's most iconic heroines and a groundbreaking example of proactive female protagonists in gaming.

The Metroid series stars Samus Aran, a hardened, one-of-a-kind professional bounty hunter raised by a now-extinct race of bird-like humanoids named the Chozo and sporting a powered suit imbued with fantastic Chozo technology. With an arm-grafted cannon that can shoot a variety of projectiles seemingly without limit, and a suit function that affords Samus the seemingly superhuman ability to transform into a perfectly spherical metal ball that can self-navigate tight quarters, Samus is regularly called upon by the primary known sovereign government of the Metroid setting, the Galactic Federation, to go on infiltration missions into planets and compounds occupied by races of alien Space Pirates. The series' namesake is a floating, jellyfish-like lifeform called a Metroid, which has the seemingly supernatural ability to siphon life energy out of its victims; Space Pirates seek to breed and harness these creatures, so it is up to Samus, seemingly the only individual with the upgradeable weaponry capable of killing them, to explore Space Pirate-occupied worlds and destroy their operations down to the core. Each primary Metroid title adds to a chronology of canonical games, which is laid out below:

• Metroid / Metroid: Zero Mission: Samus' first mission is is to infiltrate the formerly Chozo-inhabited planet Zebes, since overtaken by Space Pirates, and destroy their standing forces and their stable of Metroids. Along the way, Samus battles the foremost "enforcers" of the Space Pirates - the colossal reptilian Kraid and the dragon-like Ridley (likely named after Alien director Ridley Scott) - and ends up battling the organic artificial intelligence helping dictate Pirate operations, Mother Brain. Immediately after a seemingly successful mission, however, Samus runs into some bad luck during her escape attempt, and is forced to find a way off the planet in just a body suit while equipped with a stun gun. After successfully escaping, Samus is able to harness the power of the ancient Legendary Power Suit (which more closely resembles her usual design) by proving herself at the Chozodia temple.

• Metroid Prime: Samus tracks remnants of the Space Pirates to another outpost on the planet Tallon IV, and she discovers that they are experimenting on augmenting their capacity for warfare with a mysterious mutagenic substance called Phazon, which was brought to the planet by an enigmatic meteor strike long ago. She destroys the Space Pirates' research and standing forces once again, but along the way inadvertently allows for the incidental birth of a dark opposite to herself, the sentient Phazon entity Dark Samus.

• Metroid Prime Hunters: When the Galactic Federation receives a mysterious telepathic message that the key to the "ultimate power" resides in the Alimbic star system, Samus is sent to investigate and possibly retrieve it, but six other rival bounty hunters from different alien species compete for the same goal.

• Metroid Prime 2: Echoes: The Galactic Federation loses contact with a federation marine vessel that engages a Space Pirate vessel near another Space Pirate outpost planet named Aether, and Samus is sent to investigate. She discovers the planet was struck by a similar Phazon meteor in its past, which has split the planet into light and dark dimensions. Samus must not only separately contend with the Space Pirates and Dark Samus itself, but even more threatening shadow creatures from the dark dimension, the Ing.

• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption: With the Space Pirates' Phazon-based operations now in disarray from Samus' meddling, the Space Pirates turn to Dark Samus for aid, and allow themselves to get indoctrinated by the entity. Dark Samus seeks to corrupt the galaxy with Phazon and has the Space Pirates launch simultaneous attacks on separate Federation planets, and Samus herself gets her suit corrupted during the struggle. Granted new technology that allows herself to harness her own suit's Phazon corruption, Samus goes on a planet-hopping quest to end the Phazon menace forever, even as her fellow bounty hunters become corrupted and turn against her. Along the way, Samus realizes the truth about the origin and nature of the Phazon-filled "living-meteors" called Leviathians.

• Metroid Prime: Federation Force: After Samus' elimination of the Phazon menace, the Space Pirates continue to serve as a threat in their own right. The Galactic Federation therefore initiates "Operation Golem" and deploys mech suits, controlled by elite Galactic Marines, in order to eliminate the Pirates. A significant Space Pirate presence is detected in the Bermuda System and the Marines are sent to eradicate them, with some assistance from Samus.

• Metroid II: Return of Samus / Metroid: Samus Returns: The Galactic Federation has deemed the Metroid species too great a threat to be allowed to live, and so tasks Samus to cull every individual specimen off the surface of the Metroid homeworld, SR388. Samus destroys Metroids that have matured into advanced, more monstrous forms, and squares off against the Metroid Queen itself, but at the end of her mission, she spares a lone hatchling and donates it to the Federation's research division.

• Super Metroid: However, a revived Ridley raids the research division and takes back the hatchling by force, and Samus returns to Zebes on another mission to thwart the Space Pirates' last efforts to preserve and harness the species. She infiltrates the Space Pirates' reconstructed subterranean base on Zebes, and discovers and once again battles each of her classic foes - Kraid, Ridley, and the Mother Brain - before detonating the entire planet and achieving the extinction of the Metroid species.

• Metroid: Other M: Samus follows a distress signal towards a "Bottle Ship" floating near a Federation vessel, and discovers some of her companions from her days in the Federation military, including commanding officer Adam Malkovich, on board in the middle of a mission he does not tell Samus about at first. After Adam begrudgingly allows her to cooperate with the platoon, they discover the first signs of a darker side to the Federation.

• Metroid Fusion: While leading scientists on a Federation-sanctioned survey across SR388, Samus is attacked by a native parasitic lifeform, the X Parasite, that was originally kept in check by its natural predator, the Metroids. Samus survives, but becomes permanently bound to a "fusion" form of her suit. The research station floating above the planet later becomes infested with X Parasites that mimic other organisms, and so Samus, whose new form is immune to the infestation, is sent on a mission by the Federation to fight and wipe out the creatures. Or at least, that is what Samus thinks her mission is strictly about...

In Super Smash Bros.

Despite there being no Metroid game on the Nintendo 64, the Metroid franchise is represented as one of several "standard universes" found in Super Smash Bros.. There is a total of one character and one stage representing Metroid, both which focus on the original Metroid, and the recent Super Metroid. This game makes Samus's only appearance on the Nintendo 64.

Character

• 
  Samus: A bounty hunter in a technologically advanced and flexible power suit, Samus Aran is an orphan from a Space Pirate attack. She was harbored by the benevolent Chozo race at a young age and infused with their heritage and technology, and she now serves the Galactic Federation as pretty much a one-woman army against the menace of the Space Pirates and their attempts to use the life-stealing Metroids to conquer the universe. In Smash 64, Samus appears as a starter playable character. Her neutral special is the Charge Shot, a chargeable ball of energy that Samus shoots out of her arm cannon. Her up special is the iconic Screw Attack first appearing in the original Metroid. Samus's down special is her Bomb from the original Metroid. This moves makes Samus turn into Morph Ball mode and lay a bomb, which will explode either after a set time period or upon contact with a character.

Stage

• 
  Planet Zebes: This stage is designed to resemble the general environment and hazards of the caverns of the titular planet that Metroid and Super Metroid take place in. It is a big platform with three platforms above it, and one on the right moving vertically. The stage features an ocean of acid that periodically rises up and submerges the lower portion of the stage. Touching the acid will damage a character and send them flying upward. Due to the acid, it is impossible, under normal conditions, to die by falling below the main platform.

Music

• 8: A remix of the Brinstar music from the original Metroid for NES. It is heard on Planet Zebes.
• 18: The victory fanfare of Samus is an orchestration of the music heard when Samus finds a new item or power-up in general Metroid games.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Much like the Smash 64, there was no new Metroid game released before Melee, so the majority of Metroid representation is still from the original Metroid and Super Metroid. This game features much more Metroid content than Smash 64, including one returning character, two new stages, and a handful of trophies. This game also introduces the first Metroid item.

Character

• 
  Samus: Samus returns as a starter character, and as the only Metroid character, probably because of the nature of Metroid games and how they do not seem to feature notable supporting characters. As with all returning characters, Samus gained a new side special, being her Missile attack from Super Metroid. She points her arm cannon in front of her, and shoots either a Homing Missile or a Super Missile depending on how the control stick is tapped. Samus is considered as the one of the two most buffed characters from Smash 64.

Stages

• 
  Planet Zebes: Brinstar: This stage is the spiritual successor to the original Planet Zebes stage, and it features a nearly identical layout; aside from the visuals, the only real difference to this stage is that parts of the stage can be damaged by players attacks, and destroying these can cause the elevated platforms to rise upwards to steep angles and the big lower platform to break apart into two. A large creature that is possibly the Mother Brain appears in the background, shaking whenever the lava comes up to it.
• 
  Planet Zebes: Brinstar Depths: This stage appears to be loosely based on Kraid's encounter in Super Metroid. A difficult stage to keep on top of, this is essentially a giant, craggy, circular mass of rock that floats above lava. The lava on the bottom of the screen does not damage the player like other Metroid stages, as it is merely a background effect symbolizing the blast line. The stage is routinely rotated by the gigantic alien monster Kraid in the background. It is impossible to grab onto any ledge in this stage.

Item

• Screw Attack: An upgrade that Samus can obtain ever since the original Metroid. It allows Samus to somersault into enemies in the, killing many instantly. In Melee, a character can pick up this item and perform the same action once they jump, similar to Samus's own up special. The character can also hurl it at an opponent and the opponent will automatically jump up whirling.

Music

• 7: Brinstar: A medley of three classic tunes from the original Metroid. First plays a techno remix of the first "Brinstar" area music. It is then followed by the short "game start" tune one hears whenever resuming a game file. Finally, a remix of the title screen plays before looping back into the first track. This is heard in the stage Brinstar, and acts as one of Samus's credits theme.
• 8: Brinstar Depths: A synth, techno remix of area music heard later on in the original Metroid, where Samus is particularly close to her encounter with Kraid. A bridge section consists of the short tune played in item rooms in the original Metroid. This is heard in the stage Brinstar Depths, and acts as one of Samus's credits theme.
• 41: Samus's Victory: The victory fanfare of Samus is an orchestration of the music heard when Samus finds a new item or power-up in general Metroid games.

Full Trophy List

• Samus Aran
• Samus Aran [Smash]
• Samus Aran [Smash] (2)
• Screw Attack
• Kraid
• Chozo Statue
• Samus' Starship
• Metroid
• Ridley
• Samus Unmasked

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

A fairly-decent amount of content from the Metroid franchise appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Characters

• 
  Samus: Shown by 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 apparently retaining her gameplay. Her Final Smash, the Zero Laser, is a huge beam that literally blows off her own armor to become a pile of throwable Power Suit Pieces and renders her as a new playable character, Zero Suit Samus.
• 
  Zero Suit Samus: The suitless version of Samus from Metroid: Zero Mission is playable via Samus' Final Smash. She fights acrobatically and carries a projectile attack in the form of her handheld Paralyzer gun, which she also uses as the basis for her Plasma Whip and Plasma Wire special attacks, both of which can be used for tether recovery. Zero Suit Samus' Final Smash involves a huge, blinding ball of light forming around her, returning her to status with the power suit.

On the final character select screen (after all characters are unlocked), Samus shares the fourth column with fellow Famicom/NES-originated characters Ice Climbers, R.O.B., and Pit.

Bosses

• 
  Ridley: Samus's arch enemy Ridley makes an appearance in the Subspace Emissary as a boss that Samus and Pikachu encounter in a facility on the Island of Ancients shortly after Samus regains her Power Suit. It would seem he is working for the Subspace Army, but no information really exists on his storyline importance.
• 
  Meta Ridley: Later in the game, when a slew of characters are escaping from the self-destructing Subspace Bomb Factory on Captain Falcon's Falcon Flyer, a rebuilt Ridley in the form as seen in Metroid Prime appears. While he is canonically just a modified Ridley, the fight plays out nothing like the previous Ridley fight. It is worth noting that Metroid is the only represented franchise to feature more than one boss fight.

Assist Trophy

• Metroid: A Metroid latches its body on a character's head and starts draining their health, increasing the character's damage percentage in the process.

Stage

• 
  Norfair: 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.
• 
  Frigate Orpheon: 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.
• 
  Melee Stages: Brinstar: One of the few stages to return from the previous game, it is mostly unchanged from Melee.

Music

See List of SSBB Music (Metroid series).

• Main Theme (Metroid) - A rock styled remix of the Brinstar theme from the first Metroid title. Aside from the vocals at the beginning of the track, this is taken almost directly from Metroid Prime Pinball, with the insertion of some extra instruments and the addition of the original Brinstar NES-like remix. It is used on the Norfair stage.
• Ending (Metroid) - An orchestrated version of the credits theme used in both the original Metroid and its remake, Metroid Zero Mission. It is used on the Norfair stage. This song is also played during both Samus and Zero Suit Samus' Classic Mode credits.
• Norfair - A quirky remix of the lesser-known Norfair theme from the original Metroid game. It is the theme of the Norfair stage.
• Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior - An orchestration of the credits theme of the SNES hit, Super Metroid. It is used on the Norfair stage.
• Vs. Ridley - A completely redone version of Ridley's theme that is featured in several Metroid games and originated in Super Metroid. It is used on the Frigate Orpheon stage.
• Vs. Parasite Queen - Taken directly from Metroid Prime, this was the track that played when Samus fought the Parasite Queen during the opening section of the game. It is used on the Frigate Orpheon stage.
• Opening/Menu (Metroid Prime) - A medley of two tracks from Metroid Prime--the title screen and the credits theme (which itself was an extension of the menu theme). With the exception of the vocals at the beginning, the title screen theme is taken directly from the game, while the credits theme is arranged. It is the theme of the Frigate Orpheon stage.
• Sector 1 - An orchestrated version of the background music of the first mission in Sector 1 in Metroid Fusion. It is used on the Frigate Orpheon stage.
• Vs. Meta Ridley - Taken directly from Metroid Prime, this was the background music that played during the fight against Meta Ridley. This same, unaltered track was also used in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. It is used on the Frigate Orpheon stage.
• Multiplayer (Metroid Prime 2) - A track taken directly from the multiplayer mode of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, which itself was a techno remix of the Brinstar background music from Super Metroid. It is used on the Frigate Orpheon stage.
• Brinstar (Melee) - Taken directly from Melee. It is used on the Brinstar stage.
• Brinstar Depths (Melee) - Taken directly from Melee. It is used on the Brinstar stage.
• Samus' victory theme - The "got item" fanfare featured in every single Metroid game to date, except Metroid: Other M.

Trophies

• Samus Aran
• Zero Suit Samus
• Zero Laser
• Power Suit Samus
• Screw Attack
• Metroid
• Samus (Fusion Suit)
• Samus (Power Suit)
• Samus (Varia Suit)
• Samus (Gravity Suit)
• Samus (Dark Suit)
• Dark Samus
• Ridley
• Meta Ridley
• Kanden
• Spire
• Weavel
• Noxus
• Trace
• Sylux
• Luminoth
• Space Pirate
• Parasite Queen
• Sheegoth
• Metroid Prime (Core)
• Metroid Prime (Exo)
• Gunship

Stickers

• Chozo Statue
• Dark Suit Samus
• Dark Samus
• Federation Trooper
• Gravity Suit Samus
• Gunship
• Kanden
• Kraid
• Metroid (Metroid: Zero Mission)
• Metroid (Metroid Pinball)
• Morph Ball
• Mother Brain (Metroid: Zero Mission)
• Ridley (Metroid: Zero Mission)
• Ridley (Metroid)
• Running Zero Suit Samus
• Samus (Metroid)
• Samus (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)
• Samus (Metroid Fusion)
• Special Token
• Starship
• Starship (Metroid Prime Hunters)
• Sylux
• Warrior Ing
• Zebes Inhabitant
• Zero Suit Samus

In Super Smash Bros. 4

The series has two characters as before but now both are separate choices on the character select screen and cannot transform into one another.

Characters

• 
  Samus: Samus Aran was confirmed to be a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4 during the E3 Nintendo Direct. Her suit's design is now lifted from the game Metroid: Other M, and she now has two new color palettes based on the Light Suit and Dark Samus. Unlike in Brawl, she cannot change into Zero Suit Samus.
• 
  Zero Suit Samus: Zero Suit Samus was confirmed to be a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4 in an April Nintendo Direct. Her design is heavily inspired by Metroid: Other M but retains notable elements consistent with her Brawl design. Unlike in Brawl, she cannot change into Samus, and now wears Jet Boots that buffs her jumps and kicks.

Boss

• Ridley: Ridley appears to be a stage boss. If he is attacked enough, he can fight alongside one of the players. He can also be KO'd, and players earn points for KOing him.

Assist Trophies

• Mother Brain: Mother Brain is guarded by Rinkas and uses a laser attack.
• Metroid: A Metroid latches its body on a character's head and starts draining their health, increasing the character's damage percentage in the process.
• Dark Samus: Dark Samus firing her arm cannon rapidly and creating blasts of phazon energy under players.

Common Enemies

• Kihunter: They appear as flying enemies in Smash Run for the 3DS version. They spit acid at players.
• Metroid: They appear as flying enemies in Smash Run for the 3DS version. They behave similarly to their Appearance as Assist Trophies, but can be easily defeated with ice attacks.
• Reo: They appear as flying enemies in Smash Run for the 3DS version.
• Geemer: They appear as enemies in Smash Run for the 3DS version.

Stage

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

• 
  Pyrosphere: A stage based on the Pyrosphere area of Metroid: Other M.
• 
  Norfair: Norfair returns from Brawl as a familiar stage. The lava has been given a more realistic glow effect.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

• 
  Brinstar: Brinstar returns as a stage exclusive to the 3DS version of SSB4. The acid is notably brighter.

Item

• Screw Attack: The Screw Attack returns from previous titles.

Trophy

These are all of the known Metroid trophies.

Both Versions

• Samus
• Samus (Alt.)
• Zero Suit Samus
• Zero Suit Samus (Alt.)
• Screw Attack
• Metroid
• Mother Brain
• Dark Samus

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

• Geemer
• Reo
• Kihunter
• Samus (Varia Suit)
• Samus (Gravity Suit)

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

• Zero Laser
• Gunship (Zero Suit Samus)
• Morph Ball
• Gunship
• Ridley
• Zero (Metroid)
• Joulion
• FG II-Graham
• Queen Metroid
• Zebesian
• Phantoon
• Nightmare (Metroid)
• Samus (Dark Suit)
• Adam Malkovitch
• Little Berdie
• King Kihunter
• Mystery Creature
• Vorash
• Melissa Bergman (MB)
• RB176 Ferrocrusher
• Madeline Bergman

Music

Original tracks

Arrangements and remixes unique to SSB4.

• Title (Metroid): an arrangement of "Title" from the original Metroid. It plays on Pyrosphere. It is featured on Disc 2 of A Smashing Soundtrack.
• Escape: an arrangement of "Escape" from the original Metroid. It plays on Pyrosphere.

Returning tracks

Arrangements and remixes from previous Smash titles.

• Brinstar: an arrangement of "Brinstar Area" from the original Metroid. It plays on Brinstar and Norfair. It is featured on Disc 1 of A Smashing Soundtrack.
• Brinstar Depths: an arrangement of "Kraid's Lair" from Metroid. It plays on Brinstar and Norfair.
• Main Theme (Metroid): an arrangement of "Brinstar Area" from Metroid featuring opening narration by Jay Ward. It plays on Norfair.
• Norfair: a remix of "Norfair" from Metroid. It plays on Norfair.
• Ending (Metroid): an arrangement of "Ending" from Metroid. It plays on Norfair.
• Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior: an arrangement incorperating "Theme of Super Metroid" and "Theme of Samus Aran, Galactic Warrior" from Super Metroid. It plays on Norfair.
• Vs. Ridley: an arrangement of "Big Boss Confrontation 1" from Super Metroid. It plays on Pyrosphere.
• Sector 1: a remix of "Sector 1" from Metroid Fusion. It plays on Pyrosphere.

Source tracks

Compositions and arrangements directly sourced from the Metroid series with no alterations.

• Vs. Parasite Queen: sourced from Metroid Prime. It plays on Pyrosphere.
• Vs. Meta Ridley: sourced from Metroid Prime. It plays on Pyrosphere.
• Multiplater (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes): though sourced from Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, the piece itself is a remix of "Brinstar Overgrown with Vegetation Area" from Super Metroid. It plays on Pyrosphere.
• Psycho Bits: sourced from Metroid Prime Hunters. It plays on the Pyrosphere.
• Lockdown Battle Theme: sourced from Metroid: Other M. It plays on the Pyrosphere.
• The Burning Lava Fish: sourced from Metroid: Other M. It plays on Norfair.
• Nemesis Ridley: sourced from Metroid: Other M. It plays on the Pyrosphere.

Victory fanfares

• Victory! Metroid Series: a remix of the fanfare played when Samus obtains a power-up or an addition to her Power Suit in the original Metroid. This same flourish plays when she defeats Kraid or Ridley as well. It is sourced from Brawl.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The Metroid series returns in Ultimate along with Samus and Zero Suit Samus where it has notably received a boost in representation with a new character, separate from Samus joining the roster in the form of Ridley and Dark Samus who returns from Smash 4 this time as an echo fighter of Samus.

Characters

• Samus: Samus returns once again as a playable fighter, and a member of the starting roster. Her appearance and moveset are largely unchanged from SSB4, with a key difference being that Samus can now charge her Charge Shot in the air.
• Zero Suit Samus: Zero Suit Samus is now an unlockable fighter, unlike her Varia Suited form. Much like her alternate self, her appearance and moveset are derived from her SSB4 appearance with a few changes, the most notable of which is a new Final Smash that has her temporarily don the Varia Suit and fire a laser from the top of her gunship.
• Ridley: Ridley makes his debut as an unlockable fighter in Ultimate. One of the largest playable characters, Ridley's design is largely inspired by his Super Metroid appearance, with some realistic details loosely similar to his Other M appearance.
• Dark Samus: Dark Samus makes her debut as an unlockable Echo Fighter of Samus. Dark Samus's design is based by her Metroid Prime 3: Corruption appearance.

Stages

• Brinstar: Returning as a retro stage.
• Brinstar Depths: Returning as a retro stage after a 17-year absence.
• Frigate Orpheon: Returning as a retro stage after being absent from Smash 4.
• Norfair: Returning as a retro stage.

Assist Trophies

• Mother Brain: Returning unchanged from Smash 4.
• Metroid: Returns mostly unchanged from Brawl and Smash 4, but can now be defeated with freezing attacks, like in Smash Run.

Music

The August 8th, 2018 Direct confirmed there will be a total of 25 songs from the Metroid series available in the Sound Test.

• Brinstar Depths: A new, violin-based arrangement of Kraid's Lair.
• Vs. Parasite Queen: A new arrangement showcased in the Smash-centric August Direct and heard in Dark Samus's character trailer.
• Splash Screen: A new theme from Metroid Prime: Federation Force, seen in the Sound Test in the August 8th, 2018 Direct.
• Area 1 - 5 Torrid Zone: A new theme from Metroid: Samus Returns, seen in the Sound Test in the August 8th, 2018 Direct.
• A new untitled arrangement of Big Boss Confrontation 1 from Super Metroid, heard in Ridley's character trailer.
• Brinstar: Heard in Samus's character trailer and in the August 8th, 2018 Direct.
• Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior: Heard in Zero Suit Samus's character trailer, but is currently unknown if it returns in the final game.
• Vs. Ridley: Heard during the reveal trailer for Ridley and during gameplay on the Frigate Orpheon stage during invitational tournaments.
• Metroid Prime: Opening / Menu: Seen in the Sound Test in the August 8th, 2018 Direct.
• Vs. Meta Ridley: Seen in the Sound Test in the August 8th, 2018 Direct.
• Multiplayer (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes): Seen in the Sound Test in the August 8th, 2018 Direct.
• Psycho Bits: Seen in the Sound Test in the August 8th, 2018 Direct.
• Lockdown Battle Theme: Seen in the Sound Test in the August 8th, 2018 Direct.
• The Burning Lava Fish: Seen in the Sound Test in the August 8th, 2018 Direct.
• Nemesis Ridley: Seen in the Sound Test in the August 8th, 2018 Direct.

Games with elements in Smash Bros. games

Metroid

• Playable characters:
  • Main character and Bounty Hunter Samus Aran is playable in all five Super Smash Bros. games. Her Screw Attack, Missile, Morph Ball, and Bombs originate from this game. One of her alternate costumes, though ostensibly based upon the Gravity Suit's sprite in Super Metroid, more closely resembles the Varia Suit in this game.
  • Ridley, a boss introduced in this game, appears throughout the Super Smash Bros. series before finally becoming playable in Ultimate. His smaller size and his fireballs' wave pattern are also from this game. One of his alternate costumes is based upon his in-game sprite.
• Assist Trophies:
  • The main enemies from this game, Metroids, appear as Assist Trophies starting in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
  • The final boss, Mother Brain, appears as an Assist Trophy starting in SSB4. She is accompanied by Rinkas, another enemy from the game.
• Stages:
  • Planet Zebes is a stage in Super Smash Bros.
  • Sub-areas of Zebes, Brinstar and Brinstar Depths, are stages introduced in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
  • The Brinstar Escape Shaft is based upon the series's escape sequences, introduced in this game.
  • Norfair is introduced as a stage in Brawl.
• Stage elements:
  • The Waver, a background element of Planet Zebes, originates as an enemy from this game.
  • The Chozo Statue, a trophy and background element of Brinstar, originates from this game.
  • Kraid, a Melee trophy and Brinstar Depths stage element, originates as a boss from this game.
• Trophies:
  • Samus Unmasked is based upon one of the possible endings of Metroid, in which Samus takes off her helmet but leaves her suit on.
  • The Reo, a 3DS trophy and Smash Run enemy, originates as an enemy from this game.
• Music:
  • Title (Metroid) is based primarily on "Title", as well as "Samus Aran's Appearance Fanfare" and "Ending".
  • Planet Zebes Stage is based on "Brinstar Area".
  • Brinstar (Melee) is based primarily on "Brinstar Area", as well as "Samus Aran's Appearance Fanfare" and "Title".
  • Main Theme (Metroid) is based on "Brinstar Area".
  • Brinstar Depths (Melee) is based primarily on "Kraid's Chamber", as well as "Silence".
  • Brinstar Depths (Ultimate) is based on "Kraid's Chamber".
  • Norfair is based on "Norfair Area".
  • Escape is based primarily on "Escape", as well as "Brinstar Area".
  • Ending (Metroid) is based on "Ending".
  • Samus's Victory is based on "Item Acquisition Fanfare".
  • An untitled remix of "Item Acquisition Fanfare" is Ridley's victory theme.
• Stickers of Energy Tank, Ridley, and Samus are based on artwork from this game.
• Metroid is available as a Masterpiece in Wii U.

Metroid II: Return of Samus

• The design of the Varia Suit, Samus's default costume, originates from this game.
• The Gunship originates from this game.
• The sticker of the Chozo Statue is based on artwork from this game.
• The Queen Metroid, which appears as a trophy in Wii U, originates as a boss from this game.

Super Metroid

• Playable characters:
  • Samus's design in Super Smash Bros., Melee, and Brawl is based primarily on her appearance from this game. One of her alternate costumes is ostensibly based on the Gravity Suit's in-game sprite, while another alternate costume introduced in Melee is based on the artwork of the Gravity Suit. Samus emerges from a Super Metroid-style Save Station when entering battle. Her dash attack animation is based on the Shinespark, and her Super Missile originates from this game.
  • Ridley's design in Ultimate is primarily based on his appearance from this game. In prior appearances in Melee and Brawl, his design is also based on his Super appearance. One of his alternate costumes is based on artwork for Super.
• Stage elements:
  • Ridley and the Waver's appearances in the background of Planet Zebes are based directly on their sprites from this game.
  • A Chozo Statue that stands up and walks around in the background of the Brinstar stage is based on the Torizo enemies from Super.
  • Kraid takes his Super appearance in Melee.
• Music:
  • Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior is based upon "Ending".
  • Vs. Ridley is based upon "Big Boss Confrontation BGM (Ridley, Draygon)".
  • An untitled remix of "Big Boss Confrontation BGM (Ridley, Draygon)" is set to appear in Ultimate.
• Trophies:
  • The Kihunter and Geemer, who appear as 3DS trophies and Smash Run enemies, originate as enemies from this game.
  • Phantoon originates as a boss from this game.
  • The Zebesian originates as an enemy from this game.
• The Metroid trophy contains a reflection of the Ceres Space Colony on its membrane.
• A clip of the Melee introduction features Samus and Ridley fighting in a 3-D re-enactment of their fight on Ceres at the beginning of Super Metroid, with Ridley holding the baby in his talons.
• The Brinstar Escape Shaft is modeled remarkably after Super, particularly resembling the platform-filled shaft Samus had to escape through in Super and the original Metroid, going from a cave-inspired scenery to a mechanical elevator room. The room at the top of the shaft seems to be based directly upon a room in Crateria.
• Super Metroid is available as a Masterpiece in Brawl and Wii U.
• The sticker of the Space Pirate is based on artwork from this game.

Metroid Fusion

• Alternate costumes:
  • One of Samus's alternate costumes introduced in Brawl is a palette swap based on the Fusion Suit.
  • One of Zero Suit Samus's alternate costumes is the blue outfit she wears underneath her Fusion Suit.
  • One of Ridley's alternate costumes is a palette swap based on Neo-Ridley.
• Music:
  • Sector 1 is based upon "Sector 1 (SRX)".
• Trophies:
  • The Fusion Suit appears as a trophy in Brawl.
  • Nightmare originates as a boss from this game.
• Stickers of Samus, Starship, and Zebes Inhabitant are based on artwork from this game.

Metroid Prime

• Stages:
  • The first location the player visits in the game, Frigate Orpheon, is a stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The Parasite Queen, a boss from the game, appears as a background character.
• Trophies:
  • The design of the Space Pirate and Power Suit trophies are based on their appearances in this game.
  • Sheegoth, Metroid Prime (Core), and Metroid Prime (Exo) originated as bosses from this game.
• Music:
  • Opening/Menu (Metroid Prime) is primarily based on "Metroid Prime Credits", as well as "Metroid Prime Theme" and unused opening narration.
  • Vs. Parasite Queen (Original) is ripped directly from this game.
  • Vs. Parasite Queen (Ultimate) is based on "Vs. Parasite Queen".
  • Vs. Meta Ridley is ripped directly from this game.
• Meta Ridley, who appears as a boss and trophy in Super Smash Bros., first appeared in this game. Meta Ridley later became one of Ridley's alternate costumes in Ultimate.

Metroid: Zero Mission

• Playable characters:
  • Zero Suit Samus originates from this game. She is able to crawl and walljump, and her moveset revolves around the Paralyzer, just like in her playable portion of Zero Mission.
  • One of Zero Suit Samus's alternate costumes is the orange outfit she wears in certain endings.
  • One of Ridley's alternate costumes is a palette swap based on promotional artwork of Ridley for Zero Mission. Another costume is a palette swap based on the Ridley Robot.
• Stickers of Gravity Suit Samus, Kraid, Metroid, Mother Brain, Ridley, Running Zero Suit Samus, and Zero Suit Samus are based on artwork from this game.
• The Mother Brain Assist Trophy is primarily modeled after her design in this game.

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

• Playable characters:
  • One of Samus' alternate costumes introduced in Brawl is a palette swap based on the Dark Suit.
  • One of Samus' alternate costumes in SSB4 is a palette swap based on the Light Suit. Another alternate costume exclusive to SSB4 is a palette swap based on Dark Samus.
  • Dark Samus first appeared in this game. Before becoming playable in Ultimate, she appeared as a Trophy in Brawl and Assist Trophy in SSB4.
• Trophies:
  • Dark Samus's trophy in Brawl is based on her design from this game.
  • Samus (Dark Suit) and Luminoth are trophies based on this game.
• Music:
  • Multiplayer (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes) is ripped directly from this game.
• Stickers of Dark Samus, Dark Suit Samus, Federation Trooper, Gunship, Luminoth, Samus, and Warrior Ing are based on artwork from this game.

Metroid Prime Pinball

• Music:
  • Main Theme (Metroid), while based on "Brinstar Area" from Metroid, is more specifically an extended version of the remix heard on the Pirate Frigate pinball table in this game.
• Stickers of Metroid, Morph Ball, and Special Token are based on artwork from this game.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

• Dark Samus's design in SSB4 and Ultimate comes from this game. Her moves as an Assist Trophy are based on her boss fight.

Metroid Prime Hunters

• Music:
  • Psycho Bits is ripped directly from this game.
• All bounty hunters from this game (Kanden, Spire, Weavel, Noxus, Trace, and Sylux) appear as trophies in Brawl.
• Stickers of Kanden, Starship, Sylux, and Weavel are based on artwork from this game.

Metroid: Other M

• Playable characters:
  • Samus and Zero Suit Samus's designs in SSB4 and Ultimate are based upon their appearances from this game.
  • Ridley's design in Ultimate incorporates some details and embellishments from his clone in this game.
• Stages:
  • The Pyrosphere appears as a stage.
• Enemies:
  • Reo, Kihunter, and Geemer enemies in Smash Run are based on their designs from this game. They also appear as trophies.
  • The Ridley clone is a boss that appears in Pyrosphere, and also appears as a trophy.
  • FG II-Grahams, Joulions, and Zeros appear as enemies on the Pyrosphere stage, and also appear as trophies.
• Trophies:
  • The Samus (Gravity Suit) trophy is based on the Gravity Feature from this game.
  • The Queen Metroid, Zebesian, Phantoon, and Nightmare trophies are based on their appearances in this game.
  • Adam Malkovich, Little Birdie, King Kihunter, Mystery Creature, Vorash, Melissa Bergman (MB), RB176 Ferrocrusher, and Madeline Bergman are from this game.
• Music:
  • Lockdown Battle Theme is ripped directly from this game.
  • The Burning Lava Fish is ripped directly from this game.
  • Nemesis Ridley is ripped directly from this game.

Metroid Prime: Federation Force

• Music:
  • Splash Screen is set to appear in Ultimate.

Metroid: Samus Returns

• Playable characters:
  • Zero Suit Samus' design in Ultimate is influenced by the character design changes she received in Samus Returns, with a lighter and more matte texture for the Zero Suit (otherwise nearly identical to the Other M suit in both games) and a more muscular frame.
• Music:
  • Area 1 - 5 Torrid Zone is set to appear in Ultimate.

Trivia

• Metroid is the only universe with more female than male playable characters.
  • It is also the only universe with multiple characters to have only one playable male character and a female villain not counting Wendy due to being an alternate costume for Bowser Jr.
• Metroid is one of two universes to have more than one playable villain, the other being the Mario universe.
• Of the Nintendo-created universes, Metroid is the only one to have a character (being Dark Samus) is created by a wholly-owned Nintendo subsidiary (being Retro Studios).
• The Metroid universe is the second universe to have 3 playable versions of the main character, the first being the The Legend of Zelda universe.

External links

• Metroid Wiki