Wikitroid
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Wikitroid

One of Samus Aran's most crucial features in her missions has been her ability to create a Map of the current area she is in. The Power Suit maps out rooms as Samus progresses, but Samus can download full-fledged maps from Map Stations she comes across (except in Metroid Prime Hunters, Metroid Prime: Federation Force, and Metroid: Samus Returns, the latter of which instead features the map-revealing Scan Pulse).

2D Metroid series[]

ZeroMissionBrinstar

Zero Mission Brinstar map. Here, Save Stations, the Map Station, unobtained items (in O shapes) and Chozo Statues are marked.

The original Metroid and Metroid II: Return of Samus did not feature maps, thereby making gameplay somewhat difficult. Super Metroid was the first game to feature a map for all areas (except Ceres Space Colony) and this has been a feature ever since. 2-D maps are generally divided into Map Tiles which represent Scroll Blocks within the actual game. The map in Metroid Dread is a slight exception to this however, as it is more detailed with much smaller map tiles. Map data from a Map Station in Super Metroid would be highlighted in blue, and become pink as the player enters their respective Scroll Block. In Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission, Map Stations instead display unvisited rooms as gray; when Samus enters them, the tile turns blue (or pink in Fusion). Rooms not given on the map station are highlighted in green to make them stand out more as off the beaten path; these areas are described by Metroid: Zero Mission: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide as "unknown to the Zebesian mapmakers."[1] Metroid: Samus Returns and Dread simply use a dimmer color for map sections revealed by the Scan Pulse and Map Rooms respectively. Super Metroid marked bosses on the map using skeleton heads, placing a red X and square around the head when the boss was killed. Metroid Fusion also marks bosses on the map in a similar fashion but does not indicate when they are killed. Dread uses the head of an unknown creature, which is initially red but turns gray after the boss is killed.

Metroid Fusion, Metroid: Zero Mission and Metroid: Other M display item tallies and clear time on the map screen. In Metroid Fusion, the map will show item tallies for each type of pickup in total, and pressing the select button will narrow it down to the area Samus is in. It will also show a picture of each item on the top of the map with a check mark next to it once Samus has collected all of the items in that sector. In Zero Mission, it only shows pickup data for the area that Samus is in, though she can view the other maps by pressing the select button. A check mark will be placed next to each pickup counter in their respective area once they have all been collected. These games also will display doors on the map, matching the color of the door it is signifying. In Metroid: Zero Mission alone, heated rooms would be displayed in orange once they are entered, signifying that the Varia Suit would be needed to traverse them. In Metroid: Samus Returns, superheated rooms are displayed as red, even before they are entered. In Dread, the rooms are shown with a red color that turns orange when explored; similarly, supercooled rooms are displayed as blue. The top right corner of all 2D games from Super Metroid onward (except Samus Returns; see below) displays a Minimap. In later games, specific locations are pointed out, such as areas Adam Malkovich orders Samus to go to. In Zero Mission, the Chozo Statues reveal the locations of upgrades, but Samus is not restricted on her path and forced to seek out these upgrades, rather, she can do so whenever she prefers. 

Super Metroid also introduced items being pointed out on the map, specifically by a dot. This dot would appear to signify something of significance on the map, but did not show all hidden items. Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission expanded on this, making uncollected items be represented as circles on their respective map tile, and turn into dots when they are collected. These games also showed dots on almost any map tile that had an item in it, instead of only pointing out a few of them. Samus Returns uses a mixture; a circle signifies a hidden item, a sprite for the item itself (e.g. an Energy or Missile Tank) is used when it has been identified, and a simple dot shows collected items. Dread shows the item type at all times, though it turns slightly transparent once the item is collected. Prior to this, the general area surrounding the item flashes white to indicate an item is somewhere nearby.

In Super Metroid, Samus’s current position is indicated by a blinking yellow block on the Minimap and a white empty box on the main Map. in Metroid Fusion, Samus’s current position on both the main Map and the Minimap is indicated by a flashing white box. In Metroid: Zero Mission, her current position is once again marked by a flashing white box on the Minimap but is indicated by her Power Suit’s helmet on the main Map (or Samus’s face when in her Zero Suit). Samus Returns and Dread consistently represent her using her Power Suit's helmet.

Super Metroid featured a map of the entire planet when loading a save file from the Samus Data Screen, showing each area as hexagons. Prime and Echoes carried on this tradition in the World Maps.

The map in Metroid: Samus Returns is displayed on the Nintendo 3DS' bottom screen (much like in Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt and Metroid Prime: Federation Force), and can thus be moved either by touching it or by using any of the analog nubs. In addition to this, 10 pins per area of different colors can be placed on the map and serve as reminders to the player, and a Metroid Marker can be placed on the map using the Metroid amiibo. The map customization options return in Metroid Dread, minus the Metroid Marker. Also in Dread, the minimap on the HUD can be expanded by pressing left on the Joy-Con.[2]

In Other M, the map is similar to the ones in previous games. However, there are no map tiles, and entire rooms are added as they are entered. Each Navigation Booth Samus visits usually loads a certain amount of rooms on the Map, which are initially a dim color until she enters them. Samus’s current location on the Map is represented by a blue arrow, with a dimmer blue light being projected in front of whichever direction she is currently facing. In this game, items (which are usually revealed when Samus clears a room of enemies or examines the item in Search View) are indicated by a small blue circle, which disappears once Samus collects the item. Items contained within crates are not revealed on the Map until the post-credits sequence (unless Samus locates and destroys the crate), during which all remaining items will be marked. Also, the Minimap in this game seems more detailed than the main Map, which is especially noticeable in the Exam Center in the Biosphere, in which the building's rooms are not marked on the main Map but are displayed on the Minimap in proximity to Samus's location. Finally, the map in this game can be zoomed-in by pressing the A button on the Wii Remote.

Metroid Prime series[]

Unknown Solar System

Destination map, Corruption.

The map in the Metroid Prime series functions mostly like the 2D games, but with a major difference: rooms are displayed in holographic shapes and there is a legend and control display, but no clear time or tallies (these are left to other areas of the Pause Menu or Samus Data Screen). In all four games visited rooms are displayed in orange while non-visited rooms are blue. Samus' location is represented by a pulsating green arrow with a red tip. According to Metroid Prime Hunters, the map works using a Thermal Positioner that tracks Samus' position and identifies other important objects in the area. The interface for the map in Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is mainly identical, but changed in Metroid Prime Hunters and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.

All three Metroid Prime Trilogy games (Hunters excluded) feature Level and World Maps. Level focuses on the area Samus is currently in, while World Map allows her to examine maps of other areas. This resembles the map of Zebes seen in Super Metroid as both featured all areas in different colors, in shapes resembling clusters of honeycombs. Echoes features the ability to switch to the Dark Aether or Aether counterpart of the current room/area in the map viewer. The Dark room will be colored deep red. Hunters features the Tetra Galaxy Scan Screen with destinations that Samus can fly to in her Hunter Gunship, while in Corruption, she has a similar Galaxy Map with destinations for her new Gunship. In all games, locations are gradually added as they are discovered.

Because of the 3D nature of the Prime series, the maps of all games in it except Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt, the full Metroid Prime Hunters, and Metroid Prime: Federation Force feature a compass that shows cardinal directions. The first two Prime games also have the mini-map moved off-screen while in Morph Ball, likely as to not interfere with the game screen during Samus's speedy movement.

The Hint system in all three games in the trilogy causes some rooms to appear on the map before they are visited and names them while placing a question mark on the room's hologram and whatever objective is required (for example, a half-pipe found in Tallon Canyon). Downloaded, unvisited rooms that appear on the map do not display the room name until Samus has visited them, except in Corruption.

The Metroid Prime 3: Corruption key lists a purple "Grapple Voltage Door", though no such doors exist in the game. This may have been a scrapped gameplay element, though there are terminals that must be energized or drained using the Grapple Voltage, which power shields that sometimes block doors. Additionally, the yellow Multi-Lock Blast Shield door is featured in the key despite only being featured in one instance in the game.

In Corruption, the Chozo Observatory features a series of puzzles that utilize Elysian satellites to download Logbook entries on Tallon IV and Aether and also marking locations of expansions in almost all areas of the game (except the G.F.S. Valhalla) similarly to the 2-D games. The Pirate Homeworld satellite requires the X-Ray Visor and Nova Beam as the panel to trigger the satellite launch is blocked by Phazite. Individual rooms can be bookmarked for future reference, and are highlighted green when this is done.

There is a map on the right side of the screen in the Metroid Prime flash game.

Official data[]

Super Metroid manual[]

MAP DISPLAY
"A section of the map screen is displayed with Samus' present position in the center of the screen."
MAP SCREEN
"If you press the START button during game play, the action will be paused, and the map screen for the current area will be displayed. Press the START button again to resume play.
The pink areas on the map indicate where Samus has been. You can scroll the screen by pressing the Control Pad directions."

Super Metroid Nintendo Player's Guide[]

MAP
"This small Box shows your location and the surrounding areas. Blue shows unexplored area."
MAP SCREEN
"If you press Start during your mission, the game will pause and you will go to the main Map screen. The areas that you have explored will be pink. Missile and Energy Charge locations and Save Points will be show up, too."

Super Metroid Players' Guide[]

"When you press Start during a game, a map screen for the current area's displayed. The pink areas on the map indicate where Samus has already been. You can also scroll around the screen by using the control pad.

The following items are displayed on the screen:

Samus' current position

The position of data save units (the last save position is displayed in yellow)

The position of the map computer

Last Save Station

Nintendo Power Issue 162, page 38[]

MAPPING: Getting Around in Style
"If an open-ended world with hundreds of areas sounds like a lot to remember, Samus has you covered. Her suit has a mapping system that is both functional and easy to use. By pressing the Z Button, you can bring up a map that shows where you have been, where you need to go and what rooms are still unexplored."

Metroid Prime manual[]

Mp prodmap

Metroid Prime Production Map.

MAP
"This area shows a small section of the current map. If you press the Z Button, you'll call up the full-screen map (see page 24)."
MAP
"By pressing the Z Button during game play, you can call up a three-dimensional map display of the region Samus is currently in. Unless Samus has downloaded the full map for that particular region by finding a Map Room, the only areas that will appear will be ones that she has explored already. Once she downloads the map, however, rooms she has explored will glow orange while those yet to be explored will appear without color.
The coloured dots on the map are exits-the colours indicate which weapons will open the doors. Samus herself will appear as an arrow pointing in the direction she currently faces. You can zoom in or out with the L and R Buttons, move around with the C Stick, or rotate the 3-D display with the Control Stick. To view the World Map, press the A Button. To toggle the map key on and off, press the Y Button."

Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide[]

Map
"This displays the room you're currently exploring and the immediate area. Here you'll be able to see nearby doors and get a general idea of the direction you're facing. You can view a larger version of the map by pressing [Z]. There you'll be able to see all of the areas you've explored. This is especially useful when attempting to travel great distances."

Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]

LOCAL MAP
"The map will scroll as you move through the game. If you want to view a full map, press the Z Button."

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]

LOCAL MAP
"This is a small map of your current location. Press Z to see a larger map."

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Premiere Edition[]

Mini-Map
"The green arrow in the center of this small map represents Samus's position. The map rotates as Samus changes direction. For a larger view of the map, press [1] to enter the map screen."
Map
"At any time during the game, press [1] to bring up the map screen. The green arrow at the map's center represents Samus's current position. You can rotate and tilt the 3-D map by moving the control stick. You can also pan the map view by holding down [Z] and moving the control stick. Pan the view to select other rooms on the map. Once a room is selected, press [A] to access an enlarged view of it."
Room Name
"All rooms in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption have unique names. The name of the currently selected room appears in this box at the bottom of the display."
Pickup Count
"This display shows how many pickups you've retrieved. There are 100 pickups in the game. You need at least 75 to see the first bonus ending and all 100 to see the second bonus ending."

Metroid Fusion manual[]

MAP
"Displays the map for the area in which Samus is present."
THE MAP SCREEN
"Press START to pause the game and pull up the map screen. Press START again to exit the map screen and return to the game.
On this screen, the areas that Samus has explored will appear in pink. Use the +Control Pad to scroll across the map. Press the A Button to confirm Samus's current objective.
Any areas shown in green are hidden areas that did not originally appear on the map. There is a good possibility that these areas contain valuable secrets. Use a variety of techniques to find these areas, as they can dramatically affect the progress of the game."

Metroid Fusion: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]

MAP
"The shaded parts on each area's map show places that you have already explored. Green-colored rooms did not appear on the area's original map."
MAP
"A small map showing rooms in the immediate area appears in the upper-right corner of the main screen."

Metroid: Zero Mission manual[]

Map
"This partial map shows the area immediately surrounding Samus's location."
THE MAP SCREEN
"Press START to pause the game and view the Map screen. Press START again to exit the Map screen and return to the game. Press the A Button on the Map Screen to view the World Map.
On the Map screen, areas Samus has explored will appear in blue. Areas in green are hidden rooms that are not recorded on standard area maps. There is a good possibility that these areas contain valuable secrets. Use whatever techniques you have at your disposal to seek these areas out."

Metroid: Zero Mission: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]

Discovering Zebes
"As you make your way to the Mother Brain and beyond, the map for each region will become more complete. Most regions contain a map room, where you can download a layout of the area's known shafts and corridors. Places that you have explored and that appear on the official map are shaded blue on the map screen. Secret areas that you've uncovered are shaded green. Sections that are overtaken by extreme heat show orange on the map screen. You'll need the Varia Suit to explore those areas without taking damage.
The displayed map grows as you explore and download data in map rooms. The map shows Chozo Statues, destinations that Chozo Statues have pointed out to you, save rooms and map rooms. Tanks you've collected appear as dots. Known tanks that you have not collected appear as open circles."

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes manual[]

MAP
"A small section of the current map, with exits highlighted. If you press the Z Button, you'll call up the full-screen map (see page 22)."
MAP
"Press the Z Button during game play to call up a 3-dimensional map display of the region Samus is currently in. Unless Samus has downloaded the full map for that particular region, the only areas that will appear will be ones that she has explored already. Once she downloads the map, however, rooms she has explored will glow orange while those yet to be explored will appear without colour.
Coloured dots on the map indicate exits; press the Y Button to bring up a key that will help you decipher what weapon will open each exit, as well as pinpoint specific environmental features like translators, portals, elevators, ammo-recharge stations, save stations, and hints. Samus herself will appear as a green arrow pointing in the direction she currently faces. You can zoom in or out with the L and R Buttons, move around with the C Stick, or rotate the 3-D display with the Control Stick. To view the World Map, simply press the A Button; press the A Button again to zoom in from the World Map."

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption manual[]

MAP SCREEN
"PRESSING [1] WILL TAKE YOU TO SAMUS'S DATA BANKS WHERE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, YOU CAN STUDY MAPS OF THE AREAS YOU'VE BEEN. AS YOU PROCEED THROUGH THE GAME, YOU WILL RECORD EVERY ROOM YOU ENTER ON THE MAP, AND YOU WILL ALSO DOWNLOAD AREA MAPS THROUGH INTERACTION WITH CHARACTERS AND COMPUTERS. TO ALTER THE VIEWING ANGLE OF THE MAP, SIMPLY TILT THE CONTROL STICK. IF YOU HOLD DOWN [Z] AS YOU TILT THE CONTROL STICK OR HOLD DOWN [A] AS YOU MOVE THE CURSOR AROUND, YOU CAN SCROLL THROUGH THE MAP. PRESS [A] TO ZOOM IN ON A HIGHLIGHTED ROOM. PRESS [A] WHILE HIGHLIGHTING THE CURRENT PLANET OR GALAXY MAP ICONS IN THE LOWER-RIGHT TO JUMP BETWEEN MAPS OF VARIOUS AREAS. PRESS AND HOLD [2] TO BRING UP A KEY FOR MAP NAVIGATION.
ON THE MAP SCREEN, YOU CAN ALSO USE THE ICONS ON THE BORDERS OF THE SCREEN TO ACCESS SAMUS'S INVENTORY (A LIST OF HER CURRENT POWER-UPS) OR LOG BOOKS, WHICH CONTAIN DOWNLOADED INFORMATION ABOUT CREATURES, LORE, OR IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES. A ROOM WITH A "?" USUALLY INDICATES THE LOCATION YOU SHOULD GO TO NEXT. YOU CAN ALSO ACCESS ALL CONTROL OPTIONS HERE BY SELECTING THE CONTROLS ICON--ON THIS SCREEN, YOU CAN MODIFY THE SAME OPTIONS THAT YOU CAN ACCESS FROM THE TITLE SCREEN (SEE PAGE 4)."

Metroid Prime Trilogy manual[]

Metroid Prime[]

Map
"This shows a 3-D map of your surroundings."
Map Screen
"Press the 1 Button to display a map of the current area. The places you have visited so far will be displayed in orange. On the Map Screen, press the A Button to display the world map and check which parts of the world you have visited so far. Additionally, if you download a map at the Map Station in each area, the areas you have not visited yet will appear in blue."
Map Icons
"Items displayed with ??? will be revealed as the game progresses."
Samus's current location
"Samus is facing in the direction of the arrow."

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes[]

Map
"This shows a 3-D map of your surroundings."
Map Screen
"Press the 1 Button to display a map of the current area. The places you have visited so far will be displayed in orange. On the Map Screen, press the A Button to display the world map and check which parts of the world you have visited so far. Press the 2 Button to switch between the Light Aether map and the Dark Aether Map. If you download a map at the Map Station in each area, the areas you have not visited yet will appear in blue."
Map Icons
"Items displayed with ??? will be revealed as the game progresses."
Samus's current location
"Samus is facing in the direction of the arrow."

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption[]

Map
"This shows a 3-D map of your surroundings."
Map
"An area map focused on the current area is displayed. Areas where you have not visited are shown in blue, and areas where you have visited are shown in orange. Press and hold the 2 Button to see details of the icons and controls for each screen.
Note: On the area map, point at a room and press the A Button to change to the room map and see details about that room."
Map Sub-Menu
"Zoom in on Samus's current location.
Display a map of the current planet.
Display the galaxy map.
Select a room you are interested in, and then select this icon to bookmark that room."

Metroid Prime Trilogy: Prima Official Game Guide[]

Viewing the Map
"Samus always has access to a handy 3D map of her current whereabouts. All rooms that have been visited are highlighted in a special color, and their names appear onscreen as you scroll through them. Rooms that have not been visited do not appear on the map unless the area's schematic has been downloaded from the local Map Station. Use the map to keep on course and ensure that you don't miss visiting any special areas."

Metroid Prime Hunters manual[]

Viewing the Map
"Press START to display your current location in the 3-D map on the Touch Screen. Use the stylus to manipulate the 3-D map.
Door/Entrance/Exit
Samus's Location - Samus's location is displayed in red.
Symbols on the Map - Review various features, including door types, compatible weapons, etc.
START - Press START to return to the default screen.
QUIT Icon - Touch here to abort the game and return to the title screen. Your progress will not be saved."

Metroid Prime: Federation Force manual[]

Full Map
"A map of the entire region."
Area Map
"A map of the area you are currently in."
Arena Map
"Check other players' positions and the ball's location."

Metroid: Other M manual[]

Map (current area)
"The [arrow icon] in the centre is Samus. The [target icon] marks a target location."
Item
"This indicates an item to be found (see p. 19).
(Not all items will be marked.)"
Door
"Open doors are green; locked doors will appear in red."
Map Screen
"If you press the + Button while playing, you'll go to the Map Screen, where you can check Samus' current and target locations. Press the 1 Button (or the - Button in Search View) to access a variety of information."
Reading the Map
"Scroll with the +Control Pad (or by moving the pointer in Search View), zoom in/out with the A Button."
SECTOR SELECT
"The sectors (locations) you've been to will be displayed. Select a sector to change the map displayed."

Metroid: Other M Tutorials[]

"MAP
Use [+] to see where you are and where you need to go."

"Blue dots on the map show the location of items."

"A blue dot will appear once all the enemies around that item are defeated."

Metroid: Samus Returns website[]

Map
"An enhanced mapping system, which populates as you discover new areas and allows you to place pins in points of interest, making it easier to return later on."

Metroid: Samus Returns manual[]

SR388 Area Map

Metroid: Samus Returns World Map when in Area 3

Map menu
"Touch this to display the map menu screen (page 8)."
Using the Map Menu Screen
"Press [Start] on the main screen or touch [file] to open the map menu screen.
  • Press [L] to view the Aeion ability screen and [R] to view the equipment screen."
Percentage of items collected and number of pins placed
"Shows the current area's item collection percentage and how many pins you have placed on that area's map."
Map menu
"Touch the icons to do the following."
World map
"Displays a map of the entire planet. Select an area to check its map."
Scan amiibo
"If you have an amiibo (page 11) you can scan it to gain bonuses or unlock new modes in the game."
Map icon legend
"Shows a list of all map icons and their meanings."
System
"Confirm control settings or restart the game from an earlier point."

Metroid: Samus Returns Official Guide[]

HOW TO PLAY - BASICS - THE TOUCHSCREEN (p. 7)
MAP
"The bottom screen's primary job is to display your map. Item tank locations are marked with circle icons. Uncovered item tanks appear as specific item icons, revealing their identities. If you collect an item tank, its location is marked with a dot on the map."
HOW TO PLAY - BASICS - PAUSE MENU (p. 7)
MAP
"While the game is paused, use the stylus to scroll around the map and see a fuller picture."
MAP OF SR388
"Click the jagged-shape icon on the left side of the bottom-middle panel to be taken to all the areas you've visited on SR388 so far. A displayed percentage marks how many item tanks you've collected in that area."
HOW TO PLAY - BASICS - PAUSE MENU (p. 8)
MAP ICONS
"If you ever find yourself looking at an icon on the in-game map and wondering what it is, click the "i" icon on the bottom of the bottom screen to view a legend of every icon you've encountered up to that point."

Metroid Dread tutorials[]

Map loaded for first time
"If an area on the map is blinking, it indicates a hidden item there."
After Map of Artaria downloaded
"On the Map, the yellow rooms are saving facilities. The purple rooms contain transportation devices."

Metroid Dread loading screen tip[]

MAP
"When you first enter an E.M.M.I. Zone, its boundaries and exits will be automatically identified on your map. Knowing where the exits are located will dramatically increase your odds of survival."

Metroid Dread Report, Volume 3[]

4. Exploration
"The games in the Metroid series don’t follow a linear “clear the stage” setup—they are exploratory action games where you journey through a sophisticated, maze-like world. Picking up new items and weapons along the way lets you expand the areas you can visit, allowing you to explore new destinations and discover alternate routes. Map-reading and navigation skills can be quite helpful.
The map itself has evolved, too. Where previous maps used a simple cell-based view, this new map has become a more detailed navigational tool that can show things like differing terrains."
Icon Highlight
"This feature allows you to highlight and view the same type of icons across all area maps. It can be extremely handy when looking for places you can newly explore after obtaining an ability."
Marker
"Place up to six markers of different colors anywhere you’d like on the map. These markers will also appear on your minimap during gameplay."
Zoom
"You can zoom in and out on the map screen to get a better look at things."
Hidden item hints
"Glowing places on the map indicate there are hidden items within that range."
Expand the minimap
"During normal gameplay, pressing the Left Directional Button on the Joy-Con™ controller will expand your view of the minimap in the top-right corner of the screen."
~Transmission from the dev team~
"Since the Metroid series of games is all about exploring, it was clear to us that the map—the foundation of exploration—would be an important thing for us to focus on. This new map is powered up from previous, traditional maps in terms of look and function, which we think will make exploring the world feel even smoother than before.
In addition, players can enjoy greater freedoms when exploring compared to in previous installments, which might encourage you to try new strategies each time you play through."

Metroid.nintendo.com[]

FIND YOUR WAY
"The locations Samus travels are added to the map screen. Consult it to orient yourself, deduce your next destination, and search for secrets."
ADJUST YOUR VIEW
"Zoom in and out of the full map screen to get a better look at things. During normal gameplay, you can also press the Left Directional Button on the Joy-Con™ controller to expand your view of the minimap in the top-right corner of the screen."
TERRAIN
"Get a better sense of place with terrain outlines for each location."
MARKERS
"Place up to six markers of different colors anywhere you’d like on the map. These will also appear on your minimap."
ICON HIGHLIGHT
"Highlight and view the same type of map icons across all area maps. Handy for identifying newly accessible areas after obtaining an ability."
HIDDEN ITEM HINTS
"Glowing places indicate there are hidden items within that range."

Metroid Dread loading screen tips[]

MAP
When you first enter an E.M.M.I. Zone, its boundaries and exits will be automatically identified on your map. Knowing where the exits are located will dramatically increase your odds of survival.
ICON HIGHLIGHT
Align your cursor with an icon on the Map screen, and press Switch Dread Y button to highlight all icons of the same kind throughout an area map.
MAP MARKERS
Press Switch Dread A button on the Map screen to place a marker. These markers will also be displayed on your minimap, which can be helpful while exploring.
HIDDEN-ITEM HINTS
Certain locations on your map will flash white to indicate there is a hidden item in the vicinity.
ROOM COLORS
You can save your game in locations marked in yellow on your map. Travel to other areas using a shuttle or elevator from locations marked in purple.
MINIMAP RANGE
The yellow frame on the Map screen indicates the display range of your minimap.
E.M.M.I. AND THE MINIMAP
An E.M.M.I. that enters your minimap range is displayed as a red dot.
EXPANDING THE MINIMAP
During play, press Switch Dread Left button to expand the minimap. Any further input will cause the minimap to return to its default size.
LOST?
If you don't know where to go next, look for clues using the Highlight Icon function on your Map screen. Reviewing your Mission Log might help as well.

Development notes[]

Despite the lack of a map in the NES version of Metroid, the game has a map when played on a PlayChoice-10 arcade machine.[3]

An early screenshot of Super Metroid only featured an Energy Meter and the minimap on the Heads-Up Display. The minimap was in the center of the HUD, rather than the right corner as in the final game.[4]

Asked about designing the map for Metroid Prime, Karl Deckard said that Retro Studios knew from the beginning a 3D map was the best way to guide players through Tallon IV.[5]

Trivia[]

  • All Doors appear as white squares on the Map in the Metroid Prime Demo.
  • In the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc, an peach/orange colored door exists in the Map Key. It is unknown what kind of door this would have been, as Orange doors do not exist anywhere in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. It is believed to be an early Yellow Hatch color, which is brighter in the final game.
    • The darker coloration in the Bonus Disc more closely reflects a Yellow Hatch's coloration from Super Metroid.
  • Also in the Bonus Disc, a Portal in the Map Key is labelled as a "Dimensional Portal".

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ^ Metroid: Zero Mission: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide pg. 29
  2. ^ Metroid Dread Report, Volume 3: Seven Points That Define the 2D Saga
  3. ^ ReyVGM (VGMuseum1). "The Arcade version of Metroid (released on the Playchoice-10 Arcade board), was the first game of the series to have a map. The Arcade cabinet has second screen showing a partial map of Brinstar." 4 October 2020 6:52 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/VGMuseum1/status/1312888404066140160
  4. ^ Kottpower. "Super Metroid Beta Footage (1993-1994)". YouTube. August 25, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2022. (starts at 2:12)
  5. ^ "Metroid.jp Interview: Retro Studios", Shinesparkers, 2021-02-26. Retrieved on 2021-02-26. 



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