Metroid

Metroid

Overview & History

Released by Nintendo in 1986 for the Famicom Disk System and brought to the North American NES in August 1987, Metroid pioneered a sprawling, interconnected sub-surface design philosophy that would birth an entire genre. Set in the year 2005 (Cosmic Year), the storyline follows the intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran on a grim mission to planet Zebes. Space Pirates have raided a Federation cargo ship and stolen parasitic lifeforms known as Metroids—gelatinous organisms capable of draining energy from living hosts. If weaponized by the Mother Brain, humanity faces annihilation. Dropped into the alien caverns with no tutorial, players experience absolute isolation, fighting their way through the organic labyrinths of Brinstar and Norfair, eventually facing the cybernetic mastermind Kraid and the colossal mechanical beast Ridley.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike linear platformers of its era, Metroid relies entirely on non-linear exploration, environmental progression, and backtracking. Samus begins her journey sluggishly, able only to jump and fire a basic beam. However, traversing Zebes requires uncovering hidden upgrades scattered across secret walls and vertical shafts. Acquiring the Morph Ball allows Samus to roll through narrow tunnels and drop bombs to blast hidden floor blocks. The High Jump Boots and Screw Attack transform vertical movement into fluid acrobatics, while the iconic Varia Suit reduces incoming damage and grants access to scorching volcanic regions. Combat is deliberate and precise; enemies respawn whenever Samus transitions between screens, making energy management and item farming vital to survival. The game features multiple endings based entirely on how fast Samus completes her mission, incentivizing speedruns long before the term was mainstream.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move Samus left/right, aim upwards, or crouch into Morph Ball mode
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause