Metroid (universe)
| Metroid (universe) | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Nintendo Intelligent Systems Retro Studios Team Ninja Next Level Games MercurySteam |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Designer(s) | Gunpei Yokoi Yoshio Sakamoto Makoto Kano Hiroji Kiyotake |
| Genre(s) | Platformer Adventure First-Person Shooter Metroidvania |
| Console/platform of origin | Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom Disk System) |
| First installment | Metroid (1986) |
| Latest installment | Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (2025) |
| Article on Metroid Wiki | Metroid (universe) |
TheMetroid universe (メトロイド,Metroid) refers to theSuper Smash Bros. series' collection of characters, stages, and properties that hail from Nintendo's long-running series of science-fiction action-adventure games. Conceived and inspired by Western media, theMetroid series has garnered a notable following outside of Japan, with a large number of titles having also been developed by Western studios. The series has had twelve official games released thus far, with most of them being near-universally praised by critics and players alike. This series, along withCastlevania, were the progenitors of a subgenre of exploration-based adventure games known as "Metroidvania". The series also has a compilation (Metroid Prime: Trilogy) and two enhanced remakes (Zero Mission andSamus Returns). The main series revolves around the space-faring bounty-hunting exploits of a woman namedSamus Aran trying to stop the terrors brought about by the parasiticSpace Pirates and their monstrous commander,Ridley, while thePrime subseries revolves around Samus stopping the sentient mutagen substance Phazon and its avatarDark Samus.
Franchise description[edit]
After the incredible success ofSuper Mario Bros. andThe Legend of Zelda for the Famicom / NES, Nintendo wished to branch out and create a game with fast-paced action like the former, but with intricate exploration like the latter. Nintendo Research and Development 1 division led by Yoshio Sakamoto with producer Gunpei Yokoi were tasked with making this game a reality. The team took inspiration from Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi horror filmAlien for both aesthetics and structure. LikeThe Legend of Zelda before it, the team wanted to hide permanent upgrades around the labyrinthine levels and encouraged backtracking to find new secrets with recently acquired upgrades. This game eventually released in August, 1986 asMetroid, the name being a portmanteau of "Metro" and "Android."
The game tasked bounty hunterSamus Aran with a lone mission to hunt down and kill allMetroids on planetZebes, and taking down anyone and anything that gets in the way of the mission. While initially starting out with little more than basic weapons, Samus eventually finds a multitude of upgrades that will help find and take down any adversary. The game received praised for its inventive gameplay structure and its atmosphere, reveling in the sense of isolation and fear of what comes next.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, even using masculine pronouns when referring to Samus in promotional material and the instruction manual, until the game was beaten in a fast-enough time. Despite this praise, the game only sold modestly in Japan, starting a trend of the franchise never performing well in that region. However, the 1987 North American release sold much better, and the game was overall considered a success. Also, in retrospect, this seminal entry has not aged particularly well, including a total lack of help over where to go and clunky feeling combat, especially compared to modern standards. Though most of these complaints are offset by its historical and cultural significance.
A sequel was then put into productions for Game Boy, which this time released in North America first in August 26, 1991 asMetroid II: Return of Samus. While very similar to the previous entry in terms of gameplay, his sequel did something that very few Nintendo series attempted to do during this time frame: directly continue the story from the previous game. Samus is now tasked with exterminating the last known population of metroids on planetSR388, including theQueen metroid and all of her eggs. However, Samus hesitated and refused to kill the last remaining metroid egg, and later handed the baby over to theGalactic Federation. Despite its important narrative influence on the series, the game was considered a step down from its predecessor, mostly due to being much more linear and was overall an easier experience. This caused sales to drop significantly, and put the series in a precarious position.
Another sequel was planned immediately after development wrapped, this time for the Super Famicom/SNES. Many members of the team that were not involved in the Game Boy entry, including Yoshio Sakamoto, returned for this entry, which would release in 1994 asSuper Metroid. Immediately after the events ofReturn of Samus, the Galactic Federation is ambushed byRidley and theSpace pirates who steal the baby metroid and flee to planet Zebes. Samus gives chase and hunts down the Space pirates in an effort to get the baby back. With vastly refined combat, exploration mechanics, world design, and dialogue-free storytelling, the game garnered universal acclaim and is often labeled by official publications as not only one of the best games on the SNES, but also one of the best video games ever made. The greatest irony is that the American and PAL versions ofSuper 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 ofSuper Metroid was poorly timed, not only because of more commercially successful games being released at the time likeDonkey Kong Country, but because of the launches of the next-generation systems Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. This was a major contributing factor to what became a now-legendary eight-year hiatus for the series, which remained dormant despite Samus' appearance inSuper Smash Bros. on the Nintendo 64, and Nintendo mentioning the possibility of an N64 installment which had never came to fruition.
The franchise would continue its presence in theSuper Smash Bros. series as Samus reprised her role inMelee, but no new core entry appeared to be on the horizon. This hiatus was broken in 2002 with two brand new entries released that year. The first wasMetroid Fusion for the Game Boy Advance, which continued the story afterSuper Metroid. The Galactic Federation realizes that metroids were natural predators to theX Parasite, which have begun invading all parts of the galaxy. Around this time, Samus gets infected by and X Parasite and nearly dies. The only way she was saved was to surgically remove her power suit and graft metroid DNA into her, which gave her the side effect of being able to consume X Parasite. Her new task is to hunt down any X Parasite before they destroy all life in the galaxy. The game was praised for its presentation and more in-depth story that ties in all previous entries, though was criticized for being more linear than any previous entry with many blatant efforts of handholding.
The second release wasMetroid Prime forNintendo GameCube, the series' inaugural transition into the third dimension as a first-person shooter. Set betweenMetroid andMetroid II, Samus discovers that the Space Pirates were experimenting with a dangerous substance known asPhazon, and must both learn how to harness and properly wield it, as well as defeat any creature corrupted by it. This entry was highly controversial prior to release. Not only was it being developed by a then-unknown company in the United States, the Texas-basedRetro Studios, but its presentation with a first-person perspective led to accusations of being a complete departure from theMetroid fabric for the worse. The released product ultimately allayed these concerns, asMetroid Prime garnered extremely enthusiastic acclaim from critics and fans for managing the task of faithfully transplanting the classic formula into three dimensions and using the first-person viewpoint to its advantage and became one of the GameCube's best-selling titles as a result, securing the franchise's place as a Nintendo staple for the foreseeable future.
Throughout the 2000s, theMetroid franchise settled into a more regular release schedule followingPrime andFusion. On the console front,Metroid Prime would receive two direct sequels. the first wasMetroid Prime 2: Echoes in 2004 for GameCube, which sees Samus fight a Phazon corrupted version of herself known asDark Samus, as well as exploring planetAether, and its alternate versionDark Aether, populated by theIng, as she restores the balance of light and dark energy between the two Aethers. This game was well received, but ultimately seen as not a major step up to the formula. The second wasMetroid Prime 3: Corruption in 2007 forNintendo Wii, which sees Samus corrupted by Phazon, and thus having to team up with other bounty hunters to defeat the returning Dark Samus and keep the Phazon from corrupting other planets, ultimately travelling to planetPhaaze, the source of all Phazon, and destroying it. While the story was seen as nothing special, the brand new pointer controls were seen as revolutionary for a streamlined way to aim and shoot. The first two games games were then remastered in 2009 for Wii in Japan under the "New Play Controls" line, and these entries were then released internationally as a collection for Wii asMetroid Prime: Trilogy, with major changes being updated textures and all games sharing the pointer controls setup. Physical copies of this game are now considered rare and valuable due to their limited run.
On the handheld front,Metroid: Zero Mission released for the Game Boy Advance in February 2004. This is a full remake of the originalMetroid with enhanced presentation, some gameplay improvements, and a new epilogue that would better tie this entry into the rest of the series. This entry was also the proper introduction of theZero Suit, which would become an iconic design for Samus. In 2005, the series debuted on theNintendo DS withMetroid Prime Pinball. While not a canon entry to the series, the game loosely retells the story ofMetroid Prime in the form of a pinball game, with Samus as the ball. Then in 2006, also for the Nintendo DS, the gameMetroid Prime Hunters. Set betweenMetroid Prime andMetroid Prime 2 the game sees Samus team up with other bounty hunters to defeat the Space Pirates. The game is essentially a first person shooter on the Nintendo DS. While praise was given for its ambition and excellent display of what the Nintendo DS is capable of, criticism was given to not all of its ideas landing.
Following the Wii compilation's original release, Retro Studios would shift its focus to revitalizing another dormant Nintendo franchise inDonkey Kong Country, leaving them preoccupied for the time being. After the conclusion of thePrime trilogy, the original visionaries like Yoshio Sakamoto would return for a console entry for the first time sinceSuper Metroid. Sakamoto would collaborate with Team Ninja with full creative freedom to make the Metroid game he always wanted to make. This game would release asMetroid: Other M in August 2010 for the Wii Taking place betweenSuper Metroid andMetroid Fusion, the game saw Samus team up with old friend from the Galactic Federation to figure out the cause of a distress signal, and in turn discover the horrific experiments on the ship that sent the signal that the Federation was partially responsible for and is trying to cover up. Its new third-person action-adventure gameplay aspects were generally well-received; however, some reviewers criticized its strikingly linear approach to level design, approach to characterization of Samus, the voice acting and dialogue (with the English dub directed by the non-English-speaking Yoshio Sakamoto), and the game's methods of telling a cutscene-heavy story, with these aforementioned elements causing a high degree of fan controversy and backlash. This, combined with the game's poor sales outside of Japan, dealt a critical blow to the series' success streak and marked the beginning of a second hiatus for the franchise.
After being represented exclusively in cameos and crossovers throughout the 2010s,Metroid would suddenly return at E3 2015, with a new game in the series was announced for the Nintendo 3DS,Metroid Prime: Federation Force. Developed by Next Level Games as a multiplayer based spinoff of theMetroid series, released in 2016. The game is a cooperative first-person shooter, where the player assumes the role of a faceless Galactic Federation Marine and featuring gameplay elements similar to that ofMetroid Prime Hunters. The game also featured a side mode called "Blast Ball" in which two teams of four Federation troops blast a large soccer ball to the other team's goal. Much likeOther M before it, the game was met with a highly polarized reception, thoughFederation Force was lambasted for its change in graphical style, heavily reduced focus on Samus, focus on combat over exploration, and its overall departure from the series' general tone. Further criticism was aimed at the fact that the firstMetroid game announced after the franchise's five-year hiatus was a spin-off title and not a core entry in either the 2D series or thePrime series, particularly for the franchise's 30th anniversary. This was essentially the wrong game at the wrong time. On release,Federation Force sold poorly and was generally met with lukewarm reviews, now being considered "dead on arrival" to critics and fans.
With the series once again in a rocky position, Nintendo surprised everyone with two new installments announced at E3 2017 -Metroid Prime 4 for theNintendo Switch, andMetroid: Samus Returns for the Nintendo 3DS. The latter of the two is an enhanced remake ofMetroid II: Return of Samus developed by MercurySteam, who previously handled theCastlevania: Lords of Shadow games.Samus Returns would release in September of that year and the reveal of these two games marked the true end of the main series' hiatus and, together with a new sub-line ofMetroidamiibo, signaled the return ofMetroid as one of Nintendo's flagship franchises.
WhileSamus Returns saw incredibly positive reception from fans and critics for bringing the series back to its roots despite lukewarm sales (which can be partly attributed to the waning lifespan of the 3DS), information onMetroid Prime 4 was hazy at best. Shortly after the game's teaser announcement, it was confirmed that longtime developer Retro Studios would not be returning for the new entry. Instead, it would be handled by an unspecified new development team. Roughly two years later, even after the series saw an increase in representation inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, it was announced in January 2019 that the game's development would be restarted from scratch. Shinya Takahashi cited development struggles under the new team to meet the quality standards of the previousMetroid Prime titles and the expectations of series fans. As a result, series producer Kensuke Tanabe would restart the game's development, but with none other than the original developer of theMetroid Prime series - Retro Studios.
Meanwhile, producer Yoshio Sakamoto would continue working with MercurySteam to develop a new 2D entry into the series. This would manifest in 2021 asMetroid Dread for the Nintendo Switch, a project 15 years in the making and the first proper continuation of theMetroid storyline sinceFusion. This game sees Samus travel to planetZDR, only to be attacked and left stranded by a somehow livingChozo. Trying to find a way off the planet and investigate what this Chozo wants, Samus will learn long forgotten parts of galactic history, as well as her own past and heritage. The game was universally praised for being the culmination of the 2DMetroid formula with excellent controls, level design, and a good balance of exposition and environmental storytelling. This caused the game to sell over 3 million copies and become the best selling single release in the series, breaking its curse of each entry having relatively low sales.
A remaster of the firstMetroid Prime game would release in early 2023, featuring a large graphical overhaul along with a more modern control scheme. Release to rave reviews,Prime Remastered would ensure the series' continued presence from there on. The game is also an indication of what directionsMetroid Prime 4 will take, though nothing about the game would materialize until June 2024, where first look at gameplay would finally be shown off in a Nintendo Direct. Its name would officially be revealed asMetroid Prime 4: Beyond. The game was released on December 4, 2025 for both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.Metroid Prime 4: Beyond received a postive reception, with main praise going towards its level design, gameplay additions, and enhanced graphical additions for the Switch 2 version. The main criticisms for the game comes from the addition of non-player characters and open-world elements for the first time in the series.
Overall, while always considered an underdog in terms of sales, theMetroid series is often held up as one of Nintendo's most prestigious franchises and maintains a dedicated fanbase, particularly in the West.Super Metroid and theMetroid Prime trilogy in particular have garnered significant praise from fans and reviewers. Samus herself, while not achieving the same level of recognition or marketability asMario orLink, is widely praised as one of Nintendo's most iconic characters and a groundbreaking example of proactive female protagonists in gaming.
InSuper Smash Bros.[edit]
Despite there being noMetroid title on the Nintendo 64, theMetroid franchise is represented as one of several "standard universes" found in the firstSuper Smash Bros. installment. In total, there is one character and one stage representing the series, both which focus on the originalMetroid and the more recentSuper Metroid. This game makes Samus's first and only appearance on the Nintendo 64, and she was one of the four characters originally conceived for the pitch ofSuper Smash Bros. as a Nintendo all-stars crossover game, the other three being Mario, Donkey Kong, and Fox McCloud.
Fighter[edit]
- Samus (Starter): An intergalactic bounty hunter in a technologically advanced and flexible Power Suit, Samus Aran is a bona fide warrior who was orphaned from a Space Pirate attack at a young age. She was harbored by the benevolent Chozo race at a young age and infused with their heritage and technology, and she now allies with the Galactic Federation as ostensibly a one-woman army against the menace of the Space Pirates and their attempts to use the life-stealing Metroids to conquer the universe. InSmash 64, Samus appears as a starting roster. Herneutral special is theCharge Shot, a chargeable ball of energy that Samus shoots out of her arm cannon. Herup special is theScrew Attack first appearing in the originalMetroid. Finally, herdown special is herBomb from the originalMetroid, in which she turns into the Morph Ball and lay a bomb that will explode either upon contact after a set amount of time.
Stage[edit]
- Planet Zebes (Starter): This stage is designed to resemble the general environment and hazards of the caverns of the titular planet thatMetroid andSuper 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 rising acid, however, it is impossible under normal conditions to be KO'd by falling below the main platform.
Music[edit]
- Planet Zebes Stage: A remix of the Brinstar music from the originalMetroid for NES. It is heard onPlanet Zebes.
- 18: Samus Wins: The victory theme ofSamus is an orchestration of the music heard when Samus finds a new item or power-up in generalMetroid games.
InSuper Smash Bros. Melee[edit]
Much like the originalSmash 64, there was no newMetroid game released beforeMelee, so the majority ofMetroid representation is still from the originalMetroid andSuper Metroid. This game features much moreMetroid content thanSmash 64, including one returning character, two new stages, and a handful of trophies. This game also introduces the firstMetroid item.
Fighter[edit]
- Samus (Starter): Samus returns as a starter character, and as the onlyMetroid character, likely because of the nature ofMetroid games and how they do not tend to feature notable supporting characters. As with all returning characters, Samus gained a newside special, being herMissile attack fromSuper 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 to be one of thetwo most buffed characters fromSmash 64.
Stages[edit]
- Planet Zebes:Brinstar (Starter): This stage is the spiritual successor to the originalPlanet 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 attacking them, 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 brain-like creature appears in the background, shaking whenever the lava comes up to it.
- Planet Zebes:Brinstar Depths (Unlockable): This stage appears to be loosely based on Kraid's encounter inSuper 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 theblast line. The stage is routinely rotated by the gigantic alien monsterKraid in the background. It is impossible to grab onto any ledge in this stage.
Adventure Mode stage[edit]
- Brinstar Escape Shaft: Based on the escape sequences in mostMetroid games, Brinstar Escape Shaft appears as the second part of Stage 4 in Adventure Mode. After defeating Samus on Brinstar, a warning message appears, taking the player to the Brinstar Escape Shaft. The player is tasked with climbing up to the escape pod within thirty seconds. If the player fails to reach the escape pod in time, they will lose a stock. Regardless of whether or not the player makes it to the escape pod, they will move on to Stage 5.
Item[edit]
- Screw Attack: An upgrade that Samus has been able to obtain ever since the originalMetroid. It allows Samus to somersault into enemies in the air, killing many instantly. InMelee, 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[edit]
- 7: Brinstar: A medley of three classic tunes from the originalMetroid. The first part of the medley is 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 on theBrinstar stage, and acts as one of Samus's credits themes. It is Song 7 in theSound Test.
- 8: Brinstar Depths: A synth, techno remix of area music heard later on in the originalMetroid, where Samus is particularly close to her encounter withKraid. A bridge section consists of the short tune played in item rooms in the originalMetroid. This is heard in the stageBrinstar Depths, and acts as one of Samus's credits themes. It is Song 8 in the Sound Test.
- Samus's Victory: The victory theme ofSamus is an orchestration of the jingle heard when Samus finds a new item or power-up in theMetroid games. It is Song 41 in the Sound Test.
Trophies[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
A fairly decent amount of content from theMetroid franchise appears inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl.
Fighters[edit]
| This article is in need of additional images. The editor who added this tag suggests:Needs Samus/Zero Suit Samus Icon. If you have a good image for this article, upload ithere. |
- Samus/Zero Suit Samus (Starter): Unique toBrawl, Samus can transform into Zero Suit Samus. Unlike other transformations, the player can switch between the two viaFinal Smash rather than theirdown special (or in Samus' case, also by a series oftaunts). While only Samus is shown on thecharacter selection screen, the player can start the match as Zero Suit Samus by holding down a certain button depending on the controller when selecting Samus.
- Samus: Shown in trailers as a returning character forBrawl, Samus Aran has been visually touched up to look like her more detailed incarnation in the final sequence ofMetroid: Zero Mission, but otherwise plays similar to herMelee incarnation. Her Final Smash, theZero Laser, is a huge beam that literally blows off her own armor to become a pile of throwablePower Suit Pieces and renders her as a new playable character,Zero Suit Samus.
- Zero Suit Samus: The suitless version of Samus fromMetroid: Zero Mission is playable via Samus' Final Smash. She fights acrobatically and carries a projectile attack in the form of her handheldParalyzer gun, which she also uses as the basis for herPlasma Whip andPlasma Wire special attacks - both of which can be used fortether recovery. Zero Suit Samus' Final Smash involves a huge, blinding ball of light forming around her, returning her to her 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 charactersIce Climbers,R.O.B., andPit.
Bosses[edit]
- Ridley: Samus's arch enemy Ridley makes an appearance in theSubspace Emissary as aboss that Samus andPikachu 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 his "Meta" form as seen inMetroid Prime appears. While he is canonically just a modified Ridley, the fight plays out nothing like the previous Ridley fight. It is worth noting thatMetroid is the only represented franchise to feature more than one boss fight.
Stages[edit]
Melee Stages:Brinstar (Starter): One of the few stages to return from the previous game, it is mostly unchanged fromMelee.- Norfair (Starter): A new stage set in the fiery depths ofZebes, this stage, like previousMetroid 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 (Starter): Set in the opening area of the firstMetroid 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.
Item[edit]
- Screw Attack: The Screw Attack item returns inBrawl. However, the item is now placed on the user's body when equipped rather than holding it. This means it cannot be thrown at other players.
Assist Trophy[edit]
- 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.
Music[edit]
Original tracks[edit]
- Main Theme (Metroid) - A rock styled remix of the Brinstar theme from the firstMetroid title. Aside from the vocals at the beginning of the track, this is taken almost directly fromMetroid Prime Pinball, with the insertion of some extra instruments and the addition of the original Brinstar NES-like remix. It is used on theNorfair stage.
- Ending (Metroid) - An orchestrated version of the credits theme used in both the originalMetroid and its remake,Metroid Zero Mission. It is used on theNorfair 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 originalMetroid game. It is the theme of theNorfair stage.
- Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior - An orchestration of the credits theme of the SNES hit,Super Metroid. It is used on theNorfair stage.
- Vs. Ridley - A remix of Ridley's theme that is featured in severalMetroid games and originated inSuper Metroid. It is used on the Frigate Orpheon stage.
- Opening/Menu (Metroid Prime) - A medley of two tracks fromMetroid 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 theFrigate Orpheon stage.
- Sector 1 - An orchestrated version of the background music of the first mission in Sector 1 inMetroid Fusion. It is used on the Frigate Orpheon stage.
Returning tracks[edit]
Brinstar (Melee) - Taken directly fromMelee. It is used on theBrinstar stage.
Brinstar Depths (Melee) - Taken directly fromMelee. It is used on theBrinstar stage.
Source tracks[edit]
- Vs. Parasite Queen - Taken directly fromMetroid 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.
- Vs. Meta Ridley - Taken directly fromMetroid Prime, this was the background music that played during the fight against Meta Ridley. This same, unaltered track was also used inMetroid Prime 3: Corruption. It is used on the Frigate Orpheon stage.
- Multiplayer (Metroid Prime 2) - A track taken directly from the multiplayer mode ofMetroid Prime 2: Echoes, which itself was a techno remix of the Brinstar background music fromSuper Metroid. It is used on the Frigate Orpheon stage.
Victory theme[edit]
- Victory! Metroid Series - The "get item" fanfare featured in every singleMetroid game to date except forMetroid: Other M.
Trophies[edit]
Stickers[edit]
Masterpiece[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. 4[edit]
TheMetroid series is one of the better represented series inSmash 4. Not only do all characters fromBrawl return with updated designs and most secondary content (the Screw Attack item, the Metroid Assist Trophy, the Ridley boss, most stages, and music), but it includes a wealth of new content, including two new Assist Trophies, a new stage, and two new music arrangements. Much of the new content derives fromMetroid: Other M, which was released between the releases ofBrawl andSmash 4 in 2010.
Fighters[edit]
- Samus (Starter): A galactic bounty hunter who fights to eradicate the Metroid threat. Samus Aran was confirmed to return during theE3 2013Nintendo Direct. This is the firstSmash Bros. title where her orangeVaria Suit is no longer based on its design inSuper Metroid. It now reflects its design inMetroid: Other M, though it includes details not in the source material, such as perforated metal and black vents between the seams. HerGrapple Beam has been significantly improved as agrab andtether, and the speed of a fully poweredCharge Shot has been increased. Due to limitations of the Nintendo 3DS hardware, Samus can no longer transform into Zero Suit Samus by any means. She has two new alternate costumes for8-Player Smash: one is based on theLight Suit fromMetroid Prime and the other is based on her rival from thePrime saga,Dark Samus.
- Zero Suit Samus (Starter): Space Warrior Samus Aran as she appears in the eponymousZero Suit fromMetroid: Zero Mission. She was confirmed to return during the dedicated April 2014 Smash Bros. Direct. LikeFox andMarth, Zero Suit Samus has a composite design that combines elements from several titles, includingZero Mission,Metroid Fusion, andMetroid: Other M. Uniquely toSmash, Samus is equipped with a pair of Jet Boots that emphasize buffs made to her kick-based attacks and jumps. Like the Grapple Beam, thePlasma Wire of herParalyzer has been significantly improved as a tether. No longer bound to her Varia Suit, Zero Suit Samus summons herGunship and fires powerful beams for herFinal Smash.
Stages[edit]
for Nintendo 3DS[edit]
Brinstar (Starter): Staged in acavernous area onPlanet Zebes, the setting of the originalMetroid andSuper Metroid. Acid rises and falls at the bottom of stage and burns players on contact. What resembles a massive egg sac wiggles in the distance, and aChozo statue is in the immediate background. The acid is more vibrant than it was inBrawl, likely to stand out more on the 3DS's screen. It is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 2 ofAll-Star Mode as ahome stage for Samus. ItsΩ form is a spacious floating platform likeFinal Destination.
for Wii U[edit]
Norfair (Starter): Staged in amagma-filled cavern deep within Planet Zebes. Like Brinstar, the volatile magma sea rises and falls, often covering the lowermost platforms. Rushing waves of magma periodically engulf the stage's platforms and can only be avoided by entering the protective safe zones. The magma glows more intensely than it did inBrawl. Norfair is large enough to accommodate8-Player Smash, but the magma does not rise. It is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 6 ofAll-Star Mode as ahome stage for Samus. ItsΩ form is a spacious floating platform likeFinal Destination.- Pyrosphere (Starter): A spacious arena within thelava-filled sector of theBottle Ship, the setting ofMetroid: Other M. The primary platform is Pyrosphere's Geothermal Power Plant. Secondary floating platforms flank the Power Plant, making the stage similar toPokémon Stadium 2. The main gimmick of the stage is that Ridley resides here as a stage boss. Otherwise,Joulions andFG II-Graham units appear as enemies that will attack nearby opponents.Zeros also appear but are harmless. They can be picked up and tossed at opponents. Pyrosphere is large enough to accommodate8-Player Smash, but Ridley does not appear and the background lava is removed. It is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 2 ofAll-Star Mode as ahome stage for Zero Suit Samus. ItsΩ form is a spacious floating platform likeFinal Destination.
Item[edit]
- Screw Attack (status): A badge from the originalMetroid. When equipped, the player's first and second jumps are replaced with energized, rotating jumps that damage opponents on contact. It is an iconic item in theMetroid series and serves as the series icon inSmash.
Assist Trophies[edit]
Bold italics denote an Assist Trophy new to theSmash Bros. series.
- Metroid: The eponymous jellyfish-like parasite of theMetroid series. It hovers around the stage before attaching to a nearby opponent's head, inhibiting their motion and increasing their damage percentage. It does not attack the summoner. It also appears as an enemy in Smash Run andSmash Tour.
- Mother Brain: One of the main antagonists of theMetroid series. She is an enormous, disembodied brain with one unblinking eye. InSmash, she is restricted to herControl Capsule and attacks opponents with her Laser Brain Attack fromSuper Metroid. Though sessile, a swarm ofRinkas hover around her and cause damage on contact. Opponents can attack her to stall her attacks and make her disappear prematurely. She does not attack the summoner.
- Dark Samus: An antagonist from theMetroid Prime titles in the guise of Samus. She fires rapid-fire beams and large spheres ofPhazon from her arm cannon to attack opponents. She does not attack the summoner.
Enemies[edit]
Enemies that appear in both Smash Run in the 3DS version and Smash Tour in the Wii U version.
- Metroid: The eponymous jellyfish-like parasite of theMetroid series. In Smash Run, it hovers around the stage before attaching to a nearby opponent's head, inhibiting their motion and increasing their damage percentage. It is most weak toice-based attacks, an attribute carried over from theMetroid games. In Smash Tour, it steals stats from the first player it makes contact with on the board and grants the stats to whichever player bumps into it next. It also appears as an Assist Trophy.
Smash Run enemies[edit]
Enemies exclusive to the 3DS version. They appear in Smash Run.
- Geemer: An insectile creature from the originalMetroid that scuttles on floors, walls, and ceilings. Its body is covered in spikes that cause damage to opponents on contact. It is most vulnerable to projectile attacks. It resembles its appearance inSuper Metroid. A similar being appears in the Wii U version insideMaster Fortress.
- Kihunter: A vespine creature fromSuper Metroid. It slashes at opponents with scythe-like claws and spits acid that temporarily stuns opponents. Its design comes fromMetroid: Other M. Its larval form,Zero, appears on the Pyrosphere stage in the Wii U version.
- Reo: Acicada-like creature fromSuper Metroid. It hovers and swoops down at opponents in a "U" shaped trajectory, damaging opponents with its giant claws. Its design comes fromOther M.
Mii Costume[edit]
Outfit[edit]
Samus's Armor (DLC): The outfit is based on Samus Aran's Power Suit fromOther M. The costume was released asdownloadable content on July 31, 2015. An official Mii based on Samus's likeness can be downloaded via QR code on the official site.
Headgear[edit]
Music[edit]
Original tracks[edit]
Arrangements and remixes unique toSSB4.
- Title (Metroid): An arrangement of "Title" from the originalMetroid. It plays on Pyrosphere. It is featured on Disc 2 ofA Smashing Soundtrack.
- Escape: an arrangement of "Escape" from the originalMetroid. It plays on Pyrosphere.
Returning tracks[edit]
Arrangements and remixes from previousSmash titles.
Brinstar: An arrangement of "Brinstar Area" from the originalMetroid. It plays on Brinstar and Norfair. It is featured on Disc 1 ofA Smashing Soundtrack.
Brinstar Depths: An arrangement of "Kraid's Lair" fromMetroid. It plays on Brinstar and Norfair.
Main Theme (Metroid): An arrangement of "Brinstar Area" fromMetroid featuring opening narration by Jay Ward. It plays on Norfair.
Norfair: A remix of "Norfair" fromMetroid. It plays on Norfair.
Ending (Metroid): An arrangement of "Ending" fromMetroid. It plays on Norfair.
Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior: An arrangement incorporating "Theme of Super Metroid" and "Theme of Samus Aran, Galactic Warrior" fromSuper Metroid. It plays on Norfair.
Vs. Ridley: An arrangement of "Big Boss Confrontation 1" fromSuper Metroid. It plays on Pyrosphere.
Sector 1: A remix of "Sector 1" fromMetroid Fusion. It plays on Pyrosphere.
Source tracks[edit]
Compositions and arrangements directly sourced from theMetroid series with no alterations.
- Vs. Parasite Queen: fromMetroid Prime. It plays on Pyrosphere.
- Vs. Meta Ridley: fromMetroid Prime. It plays on Pyrosphere.
- Multiplater (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes): Though sourced fromMetroid Prime 2: Echoes, the piece itself is a remix of "Brinstar Overgrown with Vegetation Area" fromSuper Metroid. It plays on Pyrosphere.
- Psycho Bits: fromMetroid Prime Hunters. It plays on Pyrosphere.
- Lockdown Battle Theme: fromMetroid: Other M. It plays on Pyrosphere.
- The Burning Lava Fish: fromOther M. It plays on Norfair.
- Nemesis Ridley: fromOther M. It plays on Pyrosphere.
Victory theme[edit]
- Victory! Metroid Series: An orchestrated flourish of the fanfare played when Samus obtains a power-up or an addition to herPower Suit in the originalMetroid. This same flourish plays when she defeatsKraid or Ridley as well. It is sourced fromBrawl.
Trophies[edit]
Masterpieces[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
TheMetroid series has undergone one of the most substantial expansions of the "perfect-attendance" franchises. Along with the twoSmash 4 veterans returning with updated movesets, two newcomers were introduced: one being a unique fighter and the other an Echo Fighter. The series's presence has also gone from being heavily skewed towardsOther M to a more generous representation from across the franchise, including theMetroid Prime titles, even incorporating elements from the more recent installments on Nintendo 3DS. Many Spirits and several new music tracks both sourced and remixed round off the rest of the representation of the entireMetroid franchise. This is the first title to have unlockableMetroid fighters.
Fighters[edit]
- 04.Samus (Starter): The legendary bounty hunter returns as a starter fighter. Her appearance and moveset are largely unchanged fromSmash 4, being based on her Varia Suit fromOther M, with a key difference being that Samus can now charge herCharge Shot in midair. Otherwise she has been heavily buffed to rely on a more patient and threatening playstyle.
- 29.Zero Suit Samus (Unlockable): The suitless incarnation of the legendary bounty hunter returns as a unlockable fighter after being a starter inBrawl andSmash 4. Much like her power-suited counterpart, her design and moveset are derived from her previous appearance with a few changes, the most notable of which is a newFinal Smash that has her temporarily don the Varia Suit and fire the Zero Laser from the top of hergunship. Otherwise, she has received a myriad of buffs and nerfs to rebalance her toolkit and not exploit certain techniques.
- 65.Ridley (Unlockable): Samus's longtime archrival and the Cunning God of Death makes his highly-anticipated playable debut as an unlockable newcomer inUltimate. One of the largest playable characters, Ridley's design is largely inspired by hisSuper Metroid appearance, with some realistic details loosely similar to hisOther M appearance. His moveset is animalistic in nature, relying on brutal offense to deliver massive damage, particularly from his wings and tail. He can jump multiple times in the air, and two of his alternate costumes featureMeta Ridley's cybernetic enhancements.
- 04ε.Dark Samus (Unlockable): Samus's Phazon-powered doppelgänger and chief antagonist of theMetroid Prime series makes her playable debut as an unlockableEcho Fighter. Her design is based onMetroid Prime 3: Corruption and some notable differences from her base character include floatier movement and jumps, attacking one-handedly, slightly faster rolls, a slightly smaller forward smash, and Phazon-inspired visuals for her attacks and taunts.
Stages[edit]
AllMetroid stages except for
Planet Zebes and
Pyrosphere return from previousSmash games. Pyrosphere was removed most likely due to Ridley's playable status, and Planet Zebes was likely cut due to its similarity to Brinstar.
Brinstar Depths (Starter): Returns as a retro stage after a 17-year absence, now with some grippable ledges.
Frigate Orpheon (Starter): Returns as a retro stage after being absent fromSmash 4.
Items[edit]
- Screw Attack (status): Returns from the previous game as a wearable item.
Assist Trophies[edit]
All past Assist Trophies return except forDark Samus, due to her becoming a fighter.
- Metroid: Returns mostly unchanged fromBrawl andSmash 4; it floats around the stage and latches on to an opponent to deal damage. Can now be KO'd and is especially vulnerable to ice attacks.
- Mother Brain: Returning unchanged fromSmash 4; she momentarily pesters opponents with Rinkas from all angles before unleashing a giant laser beam.
Mii Costume[edit]
Outfit[edit]
Headgear[edit]
Music[edit]
Original tracks[edit]
Arrangements and remixes unique toUltimate.
- Brinstar Depths: A new, violin-based arrangement of "Kraid's Chamber" fromMetroid.
- Vs. Ridley: A new arrangement of "Big Boss Confrontation BGM (Ridley, Draygon)" fromSuper Metroid, with some elements of "Theme of Samus Aran" sprinkled in as well. Incidentally, this arrangement was done by the same composer as theBrawl rendition of the song.
- Vs. Parasite Queen: An arrangement of "Vs. Parasite Queen" fromMetroid Prime, replacing the original sourced theme from previousSmash games.
Returning tracks[edit]
Arrangements and remixes from previousSmash titles.
Brinstar (64): A remix of "Brinstar" fromMetroid. Returns fromSmash 64.
Brinstar (Melee): A medley of tracks fromMetroid, including "Brinstar", "Samus Appears", and "Title". Returns fromMelee.
Brinstar Depths (Melee): A remix of "Kraid's Chamber" and "Silence" fromMetroid. Returns fromMelee.
Brinstar (Brawl): A remix of the theme from the Pirate Frigate Table inMetroid Prime: Pinball, which itself is a remix of "Brinstar" fromMetroid, featuring narration from Jay Ward in the beginning. Returns fromBrawl.
Norfair: A remix of "Norfair Area" fromMetroid. Returns fromBrawl.
Ending - Metroid: A remix of "Ending" fromMetroid. Returns fromBrawl.
Vs. Ridley (Brawl): A remix of "Big Boss Confrontation BGM (Ridley, Draygon)" fromSuper Metroid. Returns fromBrawl.
Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior: A remix of "Ending" fromSuper Metroid. Returns fromBrawl
Sector 1: A remix of "Sector 1 (SRX)" fromMetroid Fusion. Returns fromBrawl.
Opening/Menu - Metroid Prime: A remix of "Metroid Prime Theme" and "Metroid Prime Credits" fromMetroid Prime. Returns fromBrawl.
Title Theme - Metroid: A remix of "Title" fromMetroid. Returns fromSmash for Wii U.
Escape: A remix of "Escape" fromMetroid. Returns fromSmash for Wii U.
Source tracks[edit]
Compositions and arrangements directly sourced from the Metroid series with no alterations.
- Vs. Meta Ridley: The theme played when fightingMeta Ridley, sourced fromMetroid Prime.
- Multiplayer - Metroid Prime 2: Echoes: The default music of multiplayer matches, sourced fromMetroid Prime 2: Echoes.
- Psycho Bits: The theme played when fighting thePsycho Bit enemy, sourced fromMetroid Prime Hunters.
- Lockdown Battle Theme: The miniboss theme, sourced fromMetroid: Other M.
- The Burning Lava Fish: The theme played when fightingVorash, sourced fromMetroid: Other M.
- Nemesis Ridley: The theme played when fighting Ridley, sourced fromMetroid: Other M.
- Main Theme - Metroid Prime: Federation Force: The title theme, sourced fromMetroid Prime: Federation Force.
- Magmoor Caverns - Metroid: Samus Returns: The theme played in areas of extreme heat in the 3DS game, which itself is a remix of theMagmoor Caverns theme fromMetroid Prime, which itself is a remix of the Lower Norfair theme fromSuper Metroid, sourced fromMetroid: Samus Returns.
- Boss Battle 4 - Metroid: Samus Returns: The theme that plays when fighting aZeta Metroid, sourced fromMetroid: Samus Returns.
- End Results - Metroid: Samus Returns: The theme played on the end screen, sourced fromMetroid: Samus Returns.
Victory themes[edit]
- Victory! Metroid Series: An orchestrated flourish of "Item Acquisition Fanfare" fromMetroid. Unchanged fromBrawl andSmash 4. Used by Samus and Zero Suit Samus.
- Victory! Metroid Villains: An intense and aggressive remix of "Item Acquisition Fanfare" fromMetroid. Used by Ridley and Dark Samus.
Spirits[edit]
Media with elements appearing in theSuper Smash Bros. series[edit]
TheMetroid universe has media represented throughout theSuper Smash Bros. series with a total of 14 games and media. The latest game represented in this universe isMetroid Dread, released on October 8, 2021.
Metroid[edit]
- Main article:Metroid
- Playable characters:
Main character and Bounty HunterSamus Aran is playable in all fiveSuper Smash Bros. games. HerScrew Attack,Missile,Morph Ball, andBombs originate from this game. One of her alternate costumes, though ostensibly based upon the Gravity Suit's sprite inSuper Metroid, more closely resembles the Varia Suit in this game.
Ridley, a boss introduced in this game, appears throughout theSuper Smash Bros. series before finally becoming playable inUltimate. His smaller size and his fireballs' wave pattern are also from this game. One of his alternate costumes resembles his in-game sprite.
Zero Suit Samus's red alternate costume inBrawl is based on her leotard from the end of this game.
Samus's helmet and armor appears as costumes for Mii Gunners inSmash 4 andUltimate.
- Assist Trophies:
The main enemies from this game,Metroids, appear asAssist Trophies starting inBrawl.
The final boss,Mother Brain, appears as an Assist Trophy starting inSmash 4. She is accompanied byRinkas, another enemy from the game.
- Stages:
Planet Zebes is a stage inSuper Smash Bros.
Sub-areas of Zebes,Brinstar andBrinstar Depths, are stages introduced inMelee.
TheBrinstar Escape Shaft is based upon the series's escape sequences, introduced in this game.
Norfair is introduced as a stage inBrawl.
- Stage elements:
- Items:
TheScrew Attack, which first appeared in this game, appears as an item starting inMelee.
- Boss:
Ridley appears as a boss in theSubspace Emissary.
- Enemies:
Geemer appears as an enemy inSmash Run, and Dark versions of Geemers appear in theMaster Fortress.
Reo appears as an enemy in Smash Run.
- Trophies:
Chozo Statue, Ridley, Kraid, and Metroid appear as trophies.
Samus Unmasked is based upon one of the possible endings ofMetroid, in which Samus takes off her helmet but leaves her suit on.
Samus wearing theVaria Suit appears as a trophy inBrawl andSmash for 3DS.
Samus wearing thePower Suit appears as a trophy inBrawl.
Geemer and Reo appear as trophies.
The Morph Ball appears as a trophy.
- Stickers:
Stickers of Energy Tank, Ridley, and Samus are based on artwork from this game.
AChozo Statue, Kraid, the Morph Ball, a Metroid (as two stickers) and Mother Brain appear as stickers inBrawl.
- Spirits:
- Music:
"Brinstar (64)": A remix of "Brinstar" from this game.
"Brinstar (Melee)": An arrangement of "Brinstar", "Samus Appears", and "Title" from this game.
"Brinstar Depths (Melee)": An arrangement of "Kraid's Chamber" and "Silence" from this game.
"Brinstar (Brawl)": An arrangement of "Brinstar" from this game, featuring opening narration from Jay Ward.
"Norfair": A remix of "Norfair Area" from this game.
"Ending - Metroid": A remix of "Ending" from this game.
"Title Theme - Metroid": An arrangement of "Title" from this game.
"Escape": An arrangement of "Escape" and "Brinstar" from this game.
"Famicom Medley" (for 3DS / Wii U): Contains a section of "Brinstar".
"Brinstar Depths": A violin-based arrangement of "Kraid's Chamber" from this game.
"Victory! Metroid Series": A remix of "Item Acquisition Fanfare" from this game.
"Victory! Metroid Villains": A remix of "Item Acquisition Fanfare" from this game.
- Misc:
Metroid II: Return of Samus[edit]
- Playable characters:
The design of the Varia Suit, Samus's default costume, originates from this game.
TheGunship originates in this game, and is used inZero Suit Samus's Final Smash inSmash 4, known asGunship, as well as appearing in Zero Suit Samus and Ridley's Final Smashes inUltimate. It also appears as Zero Suit Samus'son-screen appearance inSmash 4.
- Trophies:
- Stickers:
- Spirits:
The Chozo Statue appears as a Spirit using its artwork for this game.
The Gunship andQueen Metroid appear as spirits.
Super Metroid[edit]
- Main article:Super Metroid
- Playable characters:
Samus's design inSmash 64,Melee, andBrawl 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 more closely resembles the artwork of the Gravity Suit. Samus emerges from aSuper Metroid-style Save Station when entering battle. Her dash attack animation is based on the Shinespark, and herSuper Missile originates from this game.
Zero Suit Samus's black alternate costume inBrawl is based on her outfit from the end of this game.
Ridley's design inUltimate is primarily based on his appearance from this game. One of his alternate costumes resembles artwork for this game.
- Stages:
TheBrinstar Escape Shaft is modeled remarkably afterSuper, particularly resembling the platform-filled shaft Samus had to escape through inSuper and the originalMetroid, 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.
- 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 theTorizo enemies from this game.
Kraid takes his appearance from this game inMelee.
Zeros appear onPyrosphere.
- Items:
The Screw Attack's design inMelee is based on its in-game sprite from this game.
The Power Bomb and Shinespark appear aspowers in Smash Run.
- Boss
- Enemies:
Kihunters, which first appeared in this game, appear as enemies in Smash Run.
- Trophies:
Ridley's trophy is based on his appearance from this game.
The Metroid trophy contains a reflection of the Ceres Space Colony on its membrane.
Samus in theGravity Suit, which first appeared in this game, appears as a trophy inBrawl andSmash for 3DS.
The Kihunter appears as a trophy inSmash for 3DS.
Phantoon, aZebesian, and a Zero appear as trophies inSmash for Wii U.
- Stickers:
- Spirits:
- Music:
"Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior": An arrangement of "Ending" from this game.
"Vs. Ridley (Brawl)": An arrangement of "Big Boss Confrontation BGM (Ridley, Draygon)" from this game.
"Vs. Meta Ridley": A track is taken directly fromMetroid Prime, where it plays while fighting Meta Ridley. The track itself is a remix of the Vs. Ridley theme.
"Multiplayer - Metroid Prime 2: Echoes": A remix of the Upper Brinstar theme which is directly taken fromMetroid Prime 2: Echoes.
"Nemesis Ridley": A remix of the Vs. Ridley theme which is directly taken fromMetroid: Other M.
"Vs. Ridley": An arrangement of "Big Boss Confrontation BGM (Ridley, Draygon)" and "Theme of Samus" from this game.
"Magmoor Caverns - Metroid: Samus Returns": A remix of the Lower Norfair theme from this game which is directly taken fromMetroid: Samus Returns.
- Misc:
Metroid Fusion[edit]
- Playable characters:
One of Samus's alternate costumes introduced inBrawl is a palette swap based on theFusion Suit.
One of Zero Suit Samus's alternate costumes is the blue Casual Outfit she wears underneath her Fusion Suit.
One of Ridley's alternate costumes is a palette swap resemblingNeo Ridley.
- Trophies:
Samus in the Fusion Suit appears as a trophy inBrawl.
Nightmare, who originates as a boss from this game, appears as a trophy inSmash for Wii U.
- Stickers:
- Spirits:
Nightmare, the Fusion Suit, andX Parasite appear as a spirits.
- Music:
"Sector 1": A remix of "Sector 1 (SRX)" from this game.
Metroid Prime[edit]
- Playable characters:
According to Sakurai, one of Samus's alternate costumes is ostensibly based upon the Gravity Suit fromMetroid Prime. However, it should be noted that this alternate costume is also present in previousSmash games that predatePrime.
Ridley has aMeta Ridley costume.
- Stages:
The first location the player visits in the game,Frigate Orpheon, is a stage inBrawl. TheParasite Queen, a boss from the game, appears as abackground character.
- Bosses
Meta Ridley appears as a boss in theSubspace Emissary.
On thePyrosphere stage, the Ridley clone's powered-up form is referred to as "Meta Ridley" in theSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U 50-Fact Extravaganza video.
- Trophies:
The design of the Space Pirate and Power Suit trophies are based on their appearances in this game.
Sheegoth,Parasite Queen,Metroid Prime (Core), and Metroid Prime (Exo), which originate as bosses from this game, appear as trophies inBrawl.
- Spirits:
ThePhazon Suit and the Parasite Queen appear as spirits.
The Gravity Suit appears as a Spirit using its artwork for this game.
Meta Ridley appears as a fighter spirit.
- Music:
"Opening/Menu - Metroid Prime": A medley of "Metroid Prime Theme" and "Metroid Prime Credits", with unused opening narration.
"Vs. Parasite Queen": The theme played when fighting a Parasite Queen, sourced from this game.
"Vs. Meta Ridley": The theme played while fighting Meta Ridley, sourced from this game.
"Vs. Parasite Queen": A new arrangement of the Parasite Queen battle theme from this game.
Metroid: Zero Mission[edit]
- Playable characters:
Zero Suit Samus originates from this game. She is able tocrawl andwalljump, and her moveset revolves around theParalyzer, just like in her playable portion ofZero Mission.
One of Zero Suit Samus's alternate costumes is the orange Casual Outfit she wears in certain endings.
One of Ridley's alternate costumes is a palette swap resembling promotional artwork of Ridley forZero Mission. Another costume is a palette swap resemblingMecha Ridley.
- Stage elements:
Large column-like Chozo statues in the background ofNorfair are based upon a statue seen in the Crateria Chozo Ruins in this game.
- Items:
- Assist Trophies:
- Stickers:
- Spirits:
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes[edit]
- Playable characters:
One of Samus's alternate costumes introduced inBrawl is a palette swap based on theDark Suit.
One of Samus's alternate costumes inSSB4 is a palette swap based on theLight Suit. Another alternate costume exclusive toSSB4 is a palette swap based on Dark Samus.
Dark Samus, who first appeared in this game, is a playable character inUltimate.
- Assist Trophies:
- Trophies:
Luminoth appears as a trophy inBrawl.
Dark Samus appears as a trophy inBrawl andSmash 4, using her originalEchoes design inBrawl.
Samus in the Dark Suit appears as a trophy inBrawl andSmash for Wii U.
- Stickers:
Stickers of Dark Samus, Dark Suit Samus,Federation Trooper, Gunship, Luminoth, Samus, andWarrior Ing are based on artwork from this game.
- Spirits:
TheDark Suit and Light Suit appear as spirits.
- Music:
"Multiplayer - Metroid Prime 2: Echoes": The "Hunters" multiplayer theme, sourced from this game.
Metroid Prime Pinball[edit]
- Music:
"Brinstar (Brawl)": While based on "Brinstar" fromMetroid, this is more specifically an extended version of the remix heard on the Pirate Frigate pinball table in this game.
Metroid Prime Hunters[edit]
- Trophies:
- Stickers:
- Spirits:
- Music:
"Psycho Bits": The Psycho Bit battle theme, sourced from this game.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption[edit]
- Playable characters:
- Assist Trophies
- Spirits:
Gandrayda andOmega Ridley appear as spirits.
Metroid: Other M[edit]
- Playable characters:
- Stages:
ThePyrosphere appears as a stage.
- Stage elements:
The Ridley clone is a boss that appears in Pyrosphere.
FG II-Grahams andJoulions appear as enemies on the Pyrosphere stage.Zeros also appear as enemies, using their design from this game.
- Enemies:
- 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.
FG II-Graham, Joulion,Adam Malkovich,Little Birdie,King Kihunter,Mystery Creature,Vorash,Melissa Bergman (MB),RB176 Ferrocrusher, andMadeline Bergman are from this game.
- Spirits:
- Music:
"Lockdown Battle Theme": The miniboss theme, sourced from this game.
"The Burning Lava Fish": The theme that plays when fighting Vorash, sourced from this game.
"Nemesis Ridley": Ridley's theme, sourced from this game.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force[edit]
- Spirits:
- Music:
"Main Theme - Metroid Prime: Federation Force": The title screen theme, sourced from this game.
Metroid: Samus Returns[edit]
- Playable characters:
- Spirits:
- Music:
"Magmoor Caverns - Metroid: Samus Returns": The lava caves theme, sourced from this game.
"Boss Battle 4 - Metroid: Samus Returns": TheZeta Metroid battle theme, sourced from this game.
"End Results - Metroid: Samus Returns": The theme that plays while displaying the clear time, sourced from this game.
Metroid Dread[edit]
Trivia[edit]
- Metroid was the first franchise inSmash history to have female characters represented in any form asSamus debuted as a fighter in the original game.
- Metroid andXenoblade Chronicles are the only universes with more than one playable character to have more female than male playable characters.
- It is also the only universe to have a female villain, if excludingWendy due to her being an alternate costume forBowser Jr.
- Metroid is one of four universes to have more than one playable character who has often served as an antagonist, the others being theMario,Donkey Kong, andKirby universes.
- Of the Nintendo-created universes,Metroid is the only one to have a character (beingDark Samus) created by a wholly-owned Nintendo subsidiary (being Retro Studios).
- Every playableMetroid character, with the exception of Zero Suit Samus inBrawl, utilizes some form of laser for theirFinal Smash.
- Metroid is the only veteran franchise inUltimate to introduce multiple new fighters in the base game.
External links[edit]
| Fighters | Samus (SSB ·SSBM ·SSBB ·SSB4 ·SSBU) ·Zero Suit Samus (SSBB ·SSB4 ·SSBU) ·Ridley (SSBU) ·Dark Samus (SSBU) |
|---|---|
| Assist Trophies | Metroid ·Dark Samus ·Mother Brain |
| Bosses | Ridley ·Meta Ridley |
| Stages | Planet Zebes ·Brinstar ·Brinstar Depths ·Frigate Orpheon ·Norfair ·Pyrosphere Brinstar Escape Shaft (Adventure Mode) |
| Item | Screw Attack ·Power Suit Piece |
| Enemies | Geemer ·Kihunter ·Metroid ·Reo ·FG II-Graham ·Joulion ·Zero |
| Other | Gunship ·Kraid |
| Trophies,Stickers andSpirits | Trophies (SSBM ·SSBB ·SSB4) ·Stickers ·Spirits |
| Music | Brawl ·SSB4 ·Ultimate |
| Masterpieces | Metroid ·Super Metroid |

