Suits

Throughout the course of each game, Samus aquires one or more upgrade to her Power Suit. Each upgrade offers some new protection against specific environmental hazards as well as a reduction in damage taken (the degree of reduction varies significantly from upgrade to upgrade).

The Varia Suit upgrade lets Samus survive extreme tempertures, as well as reduce the damage she takes from enemy attacks. This armor is her most iconic suit upgrade. The upgrade adds Orange Outer armor, an extra layer of red armor just below her neck, and Bulky shoulder pads, giving the suit its iconic look.

The Gravity Suit lets Samus move faster under water. It also changes the color of the outer armor from Orange to Purple.

The Light Suit and Dark Suit protect Samus from dark Aether's atmosphere, with the Light Suit providing complete protection while the Dark Suit lowers the damage to one hp per second.

In the games

 * Metroid (NES): contains only one suit upgrade, the Varia suit
 * Metroid 2 Return of Samus(GB): contains only one suit upgrade, the Varia suit (First Varia Suit to have Bulky Shoulder pads)
 * Super Metroid(SNES): Contains two suit upgrades, Varia and Gravity
 * Metroid Fusion(GBA): Contains three suit upgrades, Varia, Gravity and UAM 1 (Metroid Fusion)
 * Metyroid Zero Mission(GBA): contains two suit upgrades and one other suit, Varia, Gravity and Zero respectively
 * Metroid Prime(GC): Contains one suit downgrade and three suit upgrades, Power,Varia,Gravity and Phazon respectively
 * Metroid Prime 2 Echoes(GC): contains two suit upgrades, Dark and Light
 * Metroid Prime 3 Corruption(WII): contains two suit upgrades, PED and Hazard shield
 * Metroid Prime Hunters(DS): NONE
 * Metroid Prime Pinball(DS): NONE