Metroid

Famicom Disk System

Famicom Disk System

In the future, the Galactic Federation and the pirates of planet Zebes are at war. Pirates have stolen an unknown life-form, recently discovered on the planet SR388. The life-form, designated "Metroid", is in a state of suspended animation and, according to analysis, was the cause of the complete...

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Developer
Nintendo R&D1

Released on
1986

Size
1 Player

Version
Famicom Disk System

Requirements
Nintendo Famicom Disk System

Downloads
Platform

Publisher
Nintendo

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

In the future, the Galactic Federation and the pirates of planet Zebes are at war. Pirates have stolen an unknown life-form, recently discovered on the planet SR388. The life-form, designated “Metroid”, is in a state of suspended animation and, according to analysis, was the cause of the complete destruction of SR388. If the Metroid ever got loose, the alien could destroy countless other systems. It is up to the space bounty hunter Samus Aran to land on Zebes and find her way through the perilous terrains of Brinstar and Norfair, destroy the Pirates, as well as their alien enforcers, Ridley and Kraid, and rid the planet of the alien life form before the pirates complete their plans of world destruction.

Using the cybernetic enhancements of her Power Suit, Samus can use a range of weapons and defenses to destroy the enemy. She can also absorb enemies powers into her Power Suit to increase her defense and chance of survival. Using her weapons and special abilities, she must find her way to the central chamber of Tourian and destroy the Mother Brain, the mysterious leader behind the Space Pirates.

Metroid

Overview & History

Released in August 1986, the Famicom Disk System version of Metroid offered a distinct experience compared to its North American cartridge counterpart, notably utilizing the quick-load, rewritable floppy disk medium to save progress directly. Set on the cavernous, biomechanical alien planet Zebes, the storyline follows the bounty hunter Samus Aran on a desperate mission to exterminate the parasitic Metroid organisms before the villainous Space Pirates, led by Mother Brain, weaponize them against the galaxy. This seminal title pioneered the "Metroidvania" subgenre by abandoning linear level progression in favor of a sprawling, interconnected labyrinth. Players must scavenge for scattered power-ups that act as essential keys, gradually unlocking previously inaccessible sectors of the subterranean world. The game's atmospheric, isolated mood is heightened by Hirokazu Tanaka's haunting electronic score, perfectly capturing the claustrophobia of hunting space pirates in an alien biosphere.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Samus begins her journey ill-equipped, possessing only a basic plasma beam and a standard jump. Core gameplay mechanics revolve around aggressive exploration and item collection. Players acquire iconic upgrades such as the Morph Ball to roll through narrow tunnels, the Bombs to shatter brittle flooring, the High Jump Boots, and the Screw Attack for devastating mid-air maneuverability. Energy tanks expand Samus's health pool, while missile expansions increase her explosive ordnance capacity to breach blast doors. Unlike later iterations, Samus does not possess a visible map screen, forcing players to mentally map out vertical shafts, deceptive false walls, and treacherous acid pools. Defeating alien lifeforms yields energy refills and missiles, encouraging players to master combat physics while dodging relentless swarms of enemies. Ultimately, the game tracks your completion time, rewarding swift explorers with distinct ending sequences that famously reveal Samus Aran's gender.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move Samus left/right, crouch, or aim upward/enter doors
Action Keys: Attack / Jump / Roll into Morph Ball
Enter: Start / Pause