Metroid
Metroid is Nintendo's 1986 NES masterpiece that invented exploration-based action. As bounty hunter Samus Aran, infiltrate planet Zebes, gather power-ups in any order, and destroy Mother Brain in this genre-defining classic.
About Metroid (NES)
Metroid is Nintendo’s 1986 NES classic (1987 in the West) that created an entire genre. You are Samus Aran, a galactic bounty hunter sent to planet Zebes to destroy Mother Brain, the biomechanical supercomputer controlling the Space Pirates and their stolen Metroid organisms.
Unlike linear action games of its era, Metroid dropped players into a vast, interconnected alien labyrinth with almost no guidance. Progress comes from exploration: every new power-up — the Morph Ball, Missiles, the Ice Beam — opens previously sealed paths, creating the “Metroidvania” loop of exploration, discovery, and backtracking that countless games still imitate. Its moody atmosphere, nonlinear design, and one of gaming’s most famous plot twists made it a landmark.
Detailed Gameplay
Open-Ended Exploration
Zebes is divided into Brinstar, Norfair, Kraid’s Lair, Ridley’s Lair, and Tourian. You can tackle areas in multiple orders, bombing floors and shooting walls to reveal hidden passages. The game famously gives you almost no direction — mapping the world yourself is part of the challenge.
Power-Up Progression
Samus starts fragile but grows formidable: the Morph Ball rolls through tight tunnels, Missiles blast red doors and bosses, the Ice Beam freezes enemies into platforms, and the Screw Attack turns jumps into spinning destruction. Energy Tanks and Missile expansions reward thorough explorers.
Mini-Bosses and Mother Brain
Kraid and Ridley guard their lairs as gatekeepers — defeating both unlocks the path to Tourian, the final zone. There, waves of Metroids drain your energy on contact before the climactic battle against Mother Brain, whose glass tank and Rinkas demand precise missile fire.
Password System
The original release used 24-character passwords to save progress, recording items, energy, and missiles. Modern play keeps your exploration intact between sessions — write down that password or use save states.
Game Highlights
- Invented the Metroidvania: nonlinear exploration and ability-gated progress started here.
- Atmospheric alien world: eerie music and desolate caverns created unmatched NES mood.
- Samus Aran’s debut: one of gaming’s first great heroines, with a legendary end-game reveal.
- True player freedom: minimal hand-holding — your curiosity is the guide.
- Iconic power-ups: Morph Ball, Screw Attack, and Ice Beam became series staples.
- Memorable bosses: Kraid, Ridley, and Mother Brain set the template for epic encounters.
- Secrets everywhere: bombable floors, hidden energy tanks, and sequence-breaking routes.
- Speedrun legend: a pioneer of sequence breaking and one of speedrunning’s founding games.
Controls
Move Samus with the D-pad and jump with A. Press B to fire the beam — hold Up on the D-pad to aim upward. Press Down while standing to curl into the Morph Ball; in ball form, press B to drop bombs once you find them. Press Start to pause and view your collected items, missiles, and energy. Select does nothing. Master the bomb-jump (timing bombs under the Morph Ball) to reach secrets early.
Tips and Strategies to Win
- Bomb everything. Floors, walls, and ceilings hide passages everywhere — when stuck, bomb and shoot every surface.
- Farm energy before bosses. Grind weak enemies to fill Energy Tanks; Kraid and Ridley hit hard.
- Get the Ice Beam early. Freezing enemies into stepping-stone platforms opens shortcuts across Norfair and beyond.
- Map as you go. Sketch the zones on paper or memorize landmarks — getting lost is the game’s biggest threat.
- Stock missiles for Tourian. Metroids are only vulnerable to the Ice Beam plus missiles; enter the final zone with a full missile count.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who is the main character of Metroid? A: Samus Aran, a galactic bounty hunter in a powered exosuit. The original 1986 game’s ending famously revealed Samus is a woman — a landmark moment in gaming history.
Q: What is the goal of the original Metroid? A: Infiltrate planet Zebes, defeat the Space Pirate leaders Kraid and Ridley, then descend into Tourian to destroy Mother Brain and wipe out the Metroids.
Q: Is Metroid really non-linear? A: Yes. After the opening area, you can explore Brinstar, Norfair, and the bosses’ lairs in several orders. Skilled players even sequence-break to grab late-game items early.
Screenshots
