Super Metroid

This article is written from the Real Life point of view

This article is about the game. For the article about the Nintendo Power comic series, see Super Metroid (Nintendo Power comic). For the manga, see Super Metroid (manga).

Super Metroid
Super Metroid original box art.
Developer(s)	Nintendo R&D1
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Distributor(s)	Gunpei Yokoi (general manager) Yoshio Sakamoto (director) Makoto Kanoh (producer)
Release date(s)	SNES March 19, 1994 / April 18, 1994 July 28, 1994 Virtual Console September 20, 2007 / August 20, 2007 October 12, 2007
Genre(s)	Action adventure
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: K-A (Kids to Adults)
Platform(s)	SNES Virtual Console
Media	24-megabit cartridge

Super Metroid, also known as Metroid 3 (スーパーメトロイド Sūpā Metoroido) is an adventure video game developed by Nintendo R&D1 and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Super Metroid is the third installment in the Metroid series. With its 24-megabit cartridge size, it was the largest game available for the console at the time of its release.Super Metroid is a 2D platform video game with action and adventure elements. Game progression revolves around gathering power-ups that allow Samus Aran to overcome obstacles in order to access new parts of the world. Like most 2D Metroid games, the world has a non-linear design and features many hidden areas, making exploration a central concept of the game. It is considered one of the greatest games in the video game industry and the definitive Metroid game.

Super Metroid was released on the Wii's Virtual Console on August 20, 2007. It was also made to be one of the demos in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, allowing 3 minutes of play from 3 different saves.

Plot

The title screen for Super Metroid.

After exterminating the Metroids on SR388 in Metroid II: Return of Samus, Samus Aran brings the infant Metroid to the Ceres Space Colony, likely staying at the colony while scientists study the young metroid. The scientists' findings show that the powers of Metroids could be harnessed for the benefit of mankind. Leaving the Metroid in their care, Samus leaves Ceres in search of a new bounty to hunt. However, shortly after leaving, Samus picks up a distress call from Ceres and returns to investigate. As Samus explores the space colony, she finds the power is out and eventually finds bodies lying about the room that contained the Metroid. She continues investigating and meets Ridley once again — holding the container with the Metroid inside in his claws. Samus and Ridley fight, though Ridley flies out of the station. At the same time, a countdown begins, showing Samus has 60 seconds before the station explodes. Samus quickly returns to her gunship and flies to the nearby Zebes in pursuit of Ridley.

The entrance to Tourian, guarded by the Golden Statue.

The Space Pirate base that was destroyed in the first Metroid game has now been rebuilt. It should be noted that a whole section of Crateria, the first section of Zebes, looks like Tourian from the Metroid (dubbed Old Tourian), with Mother Brain's old control chamber inferring that it is the remains of the Space Pirate base from the original Metroid. Samus sets out to locate the infant Metroid and prevent the Space Pirates from gaining use of its powers. As in the previous games, Samus is forced to delve into the planet through its many caverns to hunt down the Space Pirates. This time, however, Samus can only enter Tourian by destroying four bosses: Kraid, the giant lizard whose base makes up a large part of Brinstar; Phantoon, an entity that controls the destroyed Wrecked Ship and reroutes its power supply to Mother Brain; Draygon, a crustacean monster that occupies a submerged pirate lab in Maridia; and Ridley himself, who controls Norfair and his lair.

After defeating all four of the bosses, and finding Mochtroids, unsuccessful clones of Metroids, Samus battles her way through Tourian, encountering newly bred Metroids. After passing through several corridors filled with Metroids, she encounters a Metroid larger than the rest. Before she attacks it, the giant Metroid drains 99.9% of her life force. However, it seems to recognize Samus; it appears that this huge Metroid is the infant taken from SR388. According to the Nintendo Power Player's Guide, the huge Metroid is named "Super Metroid".

Samus fighting the first form of Mother Brain.

After the Metroid departs, Samus recovers her energy and confronts Mother Brain. After Samus destroys the creature's stasis tank and inflicts enough damage, Mother Brain attaches itself to a giant mechanical body and the battle begins again. During the battle, Mother Brain uses a massive burst of energy from its eye, nearly destroying Samus. Samus finds herself unable to move while Mother Brain charges up to finish her off. Before the final blow can be inflicted, however, the once Infant Metroid suddenly attacks Mother Brain, draining its energy until it appears dead. The Metroid then attaches itself to Samus and begins feeding its energy to her. However, Mother Brain soon recovers and begins firing upon the hatchling, weakening it until it lifts off of Samus. A final shot destroys the hatchling, leaving its remains to fall upon Samus.

Mother Brain decimating Samus.

Pulsating with energy from Mother Brain, Samus now possesses the almighty Hyper Beam. With it, she easily destroys Mother Brain, who falls to the floor and turns to dust. This in turn triggers a self-destruct sequence, giving Samus three minutes to escape through the emergency evacuation shaft of the original base. Along the way, Samus rescues several Etecoons and a Dachora and makes it to her gunship just in time and takes off, watching the planet explode in a flash of light.

Gameplay

Super Metroid's gameplay is very similar to the other Metroid games in the series, though it is better known for its non-linearity. Due to this, Super Metroid is often used for speed runs.

Super Metroid takes place on the large, open-ended planet of Zebes. Samus progresses through the planet by finding power-ups that enable her to access new areas, much like other 2D Metroid titles. For example, finding the Morph Ball allows Samus to obtain the Missiles, and finding them lets her access several more areas.

The game introduced new abilities and concepts, for example, combining weapons, and the ability for Samus to customize herself: She can change her suit and disable and enable her abilities. She can also perform a "Moon Walk," which allows her to walk backward while firing.

Power-ups/Suit upgrades

Main Article: List of items in Super Metroid

From the inventory screen, you can enable or disable weapons and other abilities that Samus has gathered by collecting power-ups.

The use of weapons, power-ups and other suit upgrades in Super Metroid is twofold: to defeat enemies and to overcome obstacles found in the environment.

Energy Tanks

Energy tanks can be collected throughout Zebes to increase Samus' maximum energy total.

Reserve Tanks

There are also four reserve tanks, which hold up to 400 backup energy units, to be used upon depletion of main energy.

Beams

Samus's arm cannon, like the rest of her Power Suit, is highly modular and upgradable. Her starting weapon is the Power Beam, which is relatively weak and useless against later enemies and most bosses. There are six upgrades, each of which increases the abilities of the Power Beam by combining with the previous upgrades:

• Charge Beam: Acquired in Brinstar. This beam allows Samus to charge up a stronger than normal beam shot.
  

• Ice Beam: Acquired in Norfair. The Ice Beam is capable of freezing enemies, allowing Samus to use them as walkable platforms. This beam is extremely useful for defeating Metroids
• . The metroids can also be defeated by three power bombs.
  

• Wave Beam: Acquired in Norfair. The Wave Beam is capable of passing through walls.
  

• Spazer Beam: Acquired in Brinstar. Shoots three parallel yellow needle shaped shots. Cannot be equipped at the same time as the Plasma Beam.
  

• Plasma Beam: Acquired in Maridia. A green, needle shaped shot that can pass through enemies, capable of hitting multiple enemies at a time.
  

• Hyper Beam: Acquired at the end of the game, during the fight with Mother Brain. Its energy source is based upon the deadly attack that was used against Samus by the Mother Brain, that even nearly defeated Samus. It is the most powerful beam, though cannot be charged.

Suits

At the beginning of the game, Samus's Power Suit is yellow and offers very little environmental protection. Each of the following suit modifications also reduce damage sustained by Samus.

• Varia Suit: Acquired in Brinstar, this upgrade to the Power Suit allows Samus to withstand the extreme temperatures of Norfair and changes the suit to an orange color, as well as a slight decrease in damage taken.

• Gravity Suit: Acquired in the Wrecked Ship, this upgrade to the Power Suit enables Samus to move in liquid environments unhindered and changes the suit to a purple color. The Gravity Suit also allows Samus to move through lava/magma unharmed.

Miscellaneous

• Morph Ball: This power-up, acquired in Brinstar, makes its return from the original Metroid. It allows Samus to roll into a ball in order to go through small passageways and to deploy bombs.

• Bombs: When in Morph Ball mode, Samus' Power Suit can deploy two types of bombs. Ordinary bombs, which are primarily used for destroying obstacles that block Samus's path. Power Bombs are another available upgrade. Power Bombs are deployed the same way as ordinary bombs, but thier explosion is of a much greater magnitude, releasing a field of destruction that (after expanding) implodes upon itself. Despite their power they, are usually only used to open special doors, obstacles, and to clear a room of enemies.

• Spring Ball: Acquired in Maridia, this power-up allows Samus to jump while in Morph Ball mode.

• Screw Attack: The Screw Attack is a jumping technique that transforms Samus's somersault jump into a whirling sawblade of energy.

Boots

These upgrades deal with Samus' running and jumping abilities.

• High Jump Boots: Acquired in Norfair, these boots nearly double Samus' vertical leap.

• Space Jump: Acquired in Maridia, these boots allow Samus to repeatedly somersault in mid-air.

• Speed Booster: Acquired in Norfair, the Speed Booster allows Samus to accelerate to near super-sonic speeds while running.

Other items

• Missiles: Missiles are used to open locked doors and to defeat enemies that are invulnerable to regular beams.

• Super Missiles: Super Missiles are similar to ordinary missiles but carry five times the power. They are capable of opening doors that missiles cannot, and there are many enemies that cannot be destroyed with any other weapon in Samus's arsenal. The impact of a Super Missile can dislodge enemies crawling on walls and ceilings.

• X-Ray Scope: The X-Ray Scope, found in Brinstar, allows Samus to see hidden passageways and the weaknesses of blocks.

• Grappling Beam: The Grappling Beam, acquired in Norfair, allows Samus to swing from certain blocks and airborne enemies on an arc of electricity. The Grappling Beam, while apparently powerless, can actually be used to defeat a number of enemies, especially in Maridia. Draygon can be defeated using it and a special technique.

Areas

Maridia.

Ceres Space Colony

Ceres Space Colony is where the game begins and the scene of the discovery that the Metroids could be used for the good of mankind. All of the people were killed by Ridley when he came to the colony. The colony was blown to pieces when Samus and Ridley left the station.

Crateria

The surface area of planet Zebes. The surface of the planet is plagued by acid rain, thus the living creatures are mostly found below surface level. This is where Samus's ship lands as well.  

Brinstar

The jungle area of Zebes, teeming with life. The area of Brinstar explored in this game is mostly different from that of the original mission. Kraid's Lair is located in this area.

Norfair

It lies deep below the surface and thus requires that its visitors carry sufficient protection from the incredible heat. Ancient Chozo ruins can be found in the deepest parts of lower Norfair, where Ridley's Lair can be found.

Wrecked Ship

A long time ago, astronauts belonging to an ancient civilization crashed on Zebes. This is what remains of their space ship. The ghost Phantoon has shut down the Wrecked Ship, making most of it inaccessible at first. Before the fight the ship is in totel darkness and a ghost will show up and attack Samus. Due to the location of the Space Pirate Mothership in Metroid: Zero Mission, fans have speculated that it is intended to be the Wrecked Ship depicted in Super Metroid. However, Zero Mission director Yoshio Sakamoto has dismissed this possibility, saying that the two ships are separate - during Zero Mission the player passes through an area that appears to be outside the Super Metroid wrecked ship in Crateria, whilst the Mother Ship has not yet landed.

Maridia

The water world of Zebes. Most of Maridia occupies territory that was once part of Brinstar. The area contains an aquatic Pirate laboratory where they have bred a mostly unsuccessful Metroid clone called the Mochtroid. The giant crustacean creature Draygon is the guardian of this area.

Tourian

The control center of the Zebesian Space Pirates and Mother Brain. The location has shifted to a more secure area since Metroid/Metroid: Zero Mission.

Enemies

Bosses

Kraid

Kraid was a boss in the original NES game, along with Ridley. He is considerably larger than before, taking up the space of two vertical screens. Although many players speculated that Kraid somehow grew since the first game, Metroid: Zero Mission has since retconned Kraid to have a consistent size between games. Outside Kraid's chamber, a seemingly fresh human corpse is found. Although the identity has never been revealed, the body resembles a Galactic Federation trooper.

Phantoon

Phantoon is a ghostly flying creature who taps into Mother Brain's brainwaves and feeds off the Wrecked Ship's energy supply. Unlike most bosses which are fought at or near the end of a level, Phantoon must be defeated before the rest of the Wrecked Ship area may be explored.

Draygon

Draygon is an enormous sea creature that resides in Maridia. Its hard armor-like shell provides it with a great amount of defensive strength and is guarded by several wall-mounted cannons.

Ridley

Ridley, the monster whom Samus fought in the original NES game, makes his comeback as one of the hardest bosses in the game. He is responsible for the bloodbath at Ceres Space Station and the kidnapping of the infant Metroid.

Mother Brain

The final boss, this entity is a disembodied brain in a tank protected by deadly Rinka laser rings, automated defense cannons, and self-regenerating organic life support conduits. When it is down a new body comes from the bottom and Mother Brain can move. After the second defeat a countdown then starts.

Mini-bosses

Torizo

The Torizo appears to be a simple Chozo statue which possesses the Morph Ball Bomb, until Samus takes the item from it. A Chozo-like creature then bursts out of the statue and attacks using its claws and energy waves.

Spore Spawn

The Spore Spawn is a native inhabitant of the subterranean jungles of Brinstar. It consists of an entire room of plant biomatter connected to a large, head-like pod which can swing about the room. Spores are constantly released from the ceiling of the room during the battle.

Crocomire

This denizen of Norfair is a red, eight-eyed, thick-skinned beast that can tolerate even the hottest temperatures. It is massive, and its primary mode of attack consists of rushing toward Samus in an attempt to push her back into a spiked wall. Just prior to its death, it jumps at Samus for one final attack as a skeleton, but the attempt is in vain as it simply collapses into a pile of bones.

Botwoon

Botwoon is a serpent-like creature with a crocodile's head. Its main attack simply consists of rushing between the various burrows in its chamber in wide arcs. It will occasionally reveal only its head from one of the burrows and will shoot energy beams at Samus.

Gold Torizo

A much more difficult incarnation of the Torizo fought in lower Norfair. It guards the Screw Attack.

Minor Enemies

Space Pirate

Space Pirates are the main villains in the game. They can fire beams from their claw-like weapons and climb walls. As the story progresses they get much stronger and harder to kill, some needing a specific beam or item to kill them.

Ki-Hunter

Ki-Hunters are wasp-like allies of the Space Pirates that spit acid and slash with their scythes.

• List of creatures in Super Metroid

Friends

Not all inhabitants of Zebes are hostile towards Samus. In Brinstar, Samus may also encounter the following helpful creatures:

Etecoons

A wall-jumping trio of small, four-limbed creatures that demonstrate the difficult wall-jumping technique with considerable ease. They sing the item collection song when they appear. They are encountered in an area that can only be exited through the use of wall-jumping, bomb-jumping, or space jumping. These creatures are green in Super Metroid, but appear blue in Metroid Fusion and other artwork.

Dachora

A green alien that resembles an ostrich. The Dachora demonstrates the Shinespark technique, which is required to escape from the area in which it is found. It has a nest with an egg in Super Metroid, which is later a hatched baby in Metroid Fusion.

After defeating Mother Brain and starting the self-destruction of Zebes, you may choose to save these friendly creatures. A flashing metal door appears in Crateria, the one that originally led you to acquire the Morph Ball Bomb. In this chamber the creatures appear to be trapped. Samus can destroy the opposite facing wall so that the aliens may escape. This causes a slight change in the ending cutscene, in which a flash of light can be seen escaping from the planet. This ending is canon, as the creatures show up alive and well in Metroid Fusion.

Reception

At the time of its release, Super Metroid was universally praised. To this day, it remains one of the most popular and critically lauded games not only for the SNES, but in all of gaming history. It has sold 1.4 million units (780,000 in Japan and 460,000 in North America), becoming a Player's Choice. It frequently appears in "best games of all time" lists; Electronic Gaming Monthly has named Super Metroid the best game of all time, and IGN ranked it the third best game of all time in its 2003 "top 100" list, and fourth best game of all time in its most recent 2006 list, with the motivation:

“

Hailed as one of the best 2D adventures ever, Nintendo's sci-fi epic still provides one of the most thought out and intriguing gameplay experiences around. Ranging from extensive platform challenges to gigantic boss battles to a comprehensive power-up system, Super Metroid has attained a divine place in the hearts of longtime gamers. Certainly, it stands as something players and developers can idolize for years to come.

”

Swedish game publication Super PLAY ranked Super Metroid number 6 in the "top 100" list its March 2003 issue, commenting on its atmosphere:

“

The graphics and sound form a wonderful symbiosis, creating an almost tangible atmosphere. Concerning the looks, there is no individual part that sticks out; the game maintains an even, stable, and thoroughly crafted graphical style. The music mostly consists of reserved, dark and mystical melodies that lurk in the background. After a while they consume you, fully immersing you in the Samus role. And the role is indeed an exciting one to play. The pure joy of exploration is on top and constantly makes you thirst for more.

”

In a Metroid feature in its December 2002 issue, Super PLAY also noted the game's care to detail:

“

Super Metroid remains one of the most well made adventures ever produced. Every detail, from the echoing ice shafts to the statue that shifts color to illustrate which of the game's four bosses have been defeated, is indicative of an almost manic dedication among the developers at R&D1.

”

Legacy

Super Metroid served as a formula for subsequent 2D games in the Metroid series, as it refined and provided a definitive version of concepts introduced in the first two Metroid games.

The two-dimensional Castlevania games beginning with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night on the PlayStation/Sega Saturn and continuing on the Game Boy Advance and DS borrow elements from Super Metroid, such as the "retraversal" style of gameplay involving items that give new abilities to access new areas, as well as the style of map. This has led to the creation of the terms "Castleroid" and "Metroidvania" when describing similar action-adventure games.

Speed Running

Super Metroid's open-ended gameplay style has made it a popular choice for speed runs. Due to the non-forced storyline and optional powerups, many players compete to see who can complete the game fastest, or with the fewest items, or both. This has caused Super Metroid to be a major contributor to the speedrun phenomenon, and one of the most popular games for both assisted and unassisted speedruns. Most speed runs are available from the Internet Archive.

Tricks

• Early super missiles

Records

• Best time: 0:32 [1] by Satoru 'Hotarubi' Suzuki

• Best 100% time: 0:55 by Red Scarlet

• NBMB: 72% by Red Scarlet

• Tool-assisted, 100%: 0:47 by Jacy

• Tool-assisted, speed: 0:25 by hero of the day

• Low %: 14% in 1:18 by Smokey

• Glitchless 100%: 1:05 by Smokey

• Tool-assisted, low %: 14% in 0:35 by T.S.

Older runs

• 100% in 0:56 by Smokey

• 100% in 0:58 by Smokey

• 100% in 1:00 by Red Scarlet

Trivia

• Super Metroid was almost canceled three times during its development due to the fact that it was the largest game ever created up to that point.

• Super Metroid is the only 2D Metroid game in which the Grappling Beam is used.

• The game's cartridge appears in a WarioWare: Smooth Moves microgame.
• Super Metroid is the first Metroid game to render Samus' visor as transparent (during the prologue).