![Boxes of the Metroid games, plus a Samus bobblehead figurine, and a T-shirt in its package.](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Metroid_games.jpg)
Metroid is a video game series published by Nintendo and primarily produced by the company's first-party developers, though second-party Fuse Games and third-party Team Ninja have also developed for the series. It debuted in Japan with Metroid[a] on August 6, 1986, and was later released in North America (August 1987) and PAL regions (January 15, 1988). All Metroid video games have been developed exclusively for Nintendo video game consoles and handhelds, dating from the Nintendo Entertainment System to the current generation of video game consoles. The franchise consists of eleven video games, the latest of which was released in 2021. Comics, manga adaptations, and soundtracks have also been released.
The series revolves around Samus Aran, a bounty hunter who protects the galaxy from the Space Pirates and their attempts to harness the power of fictional organisms, especially the eponymous Metroids. The series' gameplay contains elements from shooter, platforming, and adventure games. It is known for its non-linear progression and solitary exploration.[1] The 2D Metroid games are side-scrollers, and the 3D Metroid Prime series gives the player a first-person perspective,[1] while Other M is a third-person shooter with the ability to switch to first-person view.[2] Metroid is one of Nintendo's most successful franchises, with over 17 million copies sold by September 2012.[3] The games have received varying levels of critical acclaim.[1][4]
Video games
[edit]Metroid series
[edit]Title | Details |
---|---|
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 1986 – Famicom Disk System[5] 1987 – Nintendo Entertainment System[5] 2004 – Game Boy Advance[7] 2007 – Wii Virtual Console[8] 2012 – 3DS Virtual Console[9] 2016 – NES Classic Edition 2018 – Nintendo Switch |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):[12][13][14] |
Release years by system: 1991 – Game Boy[12] 2011 – 3DS Virtual Console[15] 2023 – Nintendo Switch |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):[17] |
Release years by system: 1994 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[17] 2007 – Wii Virtual Console[8] 2013 – Wii U Virtual Console[8] 2016 – 3DS Virtual Console (New Nintendo 3DS model only) 2017 – Super NES Classic Edition 2019 – Nintendo Switch |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):[19] |
Release years by system: 2002 – Game Boy Advance[19] 2011 – 3DS Virtual Console[20][21] 2014 – Wii U Virtual Console[22] 2023 – Nintendo Switch |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):[24] |
Release years by system: 2004 – Game Boy Advance[24] |
Notes: | |
Original release date(s):[26] |
Release years by system: 2010 – Wii[26] |
Notes:
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Original release date(s):[27][28]
|
Release years by system: 2017 – Nintendo 3DS |
Notes:
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Original release date:[29]
|
Release years by system: 2021 – Nintendo Switch |
Notes:
|
Metroid Prime series
[edit]Title | Details |
---|---|
Original release date(s):[30] |
Release years by system: 2002 – GameCube[30] 2009 – Wii[31] |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):[34] |
Release years by system: 2004 – GameCube[34] 2009 – Wii[31] |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):[39] |
Release years by system: 2005 – Nintendo DS[39] |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):[42] |
Release years by system: 2006 – Nintendo DS[42] |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):[46] |
Release years by system: 2007 – Wii[46] |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):[48] |
Release years by system: 2009 – Wii[49] |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2016 – Nintendo 3DS[51] |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2023 – Nintendo Switch |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2025 – Nintendo Switch[54] |
Soundtracks
[edit]Title | Release date | Length | Label | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Super Metroid – Sound in Action | June 22, 1994[55] | 58:49 | Sony Records | |
Notes:
| ||||
Metroid Prime & Fusion Original Soundtracks | June 18, 2003[58] | 2:12:00 | Scitron | |
Notes:
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Printed media
[edit]Comic books
[edit]Game | Company | Publisher | Release date | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metroid | Valiant Comics | Nintendo Comics System, issue #2 | July 1990[61] | ||||
Notes:
| |||||||
Super Metroid | Nintendo | Nintendo Power, issues #57–61 | February–May 1994[63] | ||||
Notes:
| |||||||
Metroid Prime | Dreamwave Productions | Nintendo Power, issues #164–166 | January–March 2003 | ||||
Notes: |
Manga
[edit]Game | Publisher | Release date | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metroid | Wanpakku Comics | 1986 | |||||
Notes:
| |||||||
Super Metroid | Shounen Oh Game Comic, issue #1 | August 1994 | |||||
Notes:
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Metroid | Monthly Magazine Z | November 2003[68]–May 2004[69] | |||||
Notes: | |||||||
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes | Comic Bom Bom | July 2005–January 2006 | |||||
Notes:
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Samus and Joey | Comic Bom Bom | ||||||
Notes:
|
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f McLaughlin, Rus (August 15, 2007). "IGN Presents The History of Metroid". IGN. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ Cabral, Matt (February 24, 2010). "Metroid: Other M: A Change of Perspective". Kotaku. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- ^ Guinness World Records 2013: Gamer's Edition. Guinness World Records Ltd. 2012. p. 154. ISBN 9781904994954.
- ^ Parish, Jeremy (May 25, 2011). "Dial Other M for Murder: Is the Metroid Series Dead?". 1UP.com. News Corporation. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Release Information for Metroid". MobyGames. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
- ^ "Metroid Release Summary". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ "Classic NES Series: Metroid Company Line". GameSpot. August 18, 2004. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
- ^ a b c Casamassina, Matt (August 10, 2007). "Metroid Classics for Wii". IGN. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ "Nintendo eShop: Metroid". Nintendo. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ Varanini, Giancarlo (October 25, 2002). "Metroid Prime, Fusion connection revealed". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
- ^ "Metroid Zero Mission Game Guide: Secrets". IGN. Archived from the original on April 8, 2004. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
- ^ a b "Metroid II: Return of Samus release data". GameFAQs. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
- ^ Sora Ltd. (March 9, 2008). Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) (1.0 ed.). Nintendo. Level/area: Nintendo Chronicle.
Game Boy — 11/1991 Metroid II: Return of Samus
- ^ "Game Boy (original) Games" (PDF). Nintendo of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 3, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
- ^ Elston, Brett (August 17, 2011). "Metroid II, Mario Land 2, Mega Man and more coming to 3DS eShop this year". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on January 2, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ TJ Rappel. "The MDb Interviews Dan Owsen". The Metroid Database. Archived from the original on July 30, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2006.
Dan: Well, since R&D 1 was involved in the development of Game Boy color, I think they were able to put a special "Metroid palette" in the GBC hardware. This makes Metroid II look really, really nice on Game Boy Color. In fact, it looks a lot like the NES game on GBC
- ^ a b c "Super Metroid release data". GameFAQs. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 6, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
- ^ Sakurai, Masahiro (January 25, 2008). "Masterpieces". Smash Bros. Dojo!!. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
- ^ a b "Metroid Fusion Release Summary". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ Thomas, Lucas M. (July 29, 2011). "Nintendo's 3DS Ambassador Program: Behold Your Rewards". IGN. Archived from the original on August 1, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
- ^ "Nintendo Power Vol. 271". Future. August 31, 2011.
{{cite magazine}}
: Cite magazine requires|magazine=
(help) - ^ Hinkle, David. "Wii U Virtual Console gets first Game Boy Advance games in April". Joystiq. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
- ^ "Hints and Secrets - Metroid Fusion". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
- ^ a b "Metroid: Zero Mission Release Summary". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ Lee, Justin (February 2, 2004). "Metroid Creator Talks Zero Mission". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ a b c McElroy, Justin (June 2, 2009). "Team Ninja collaborating with Nintendo on Metroid Other M". Joystiq. Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
- ^ Pereira, Chris (June 13, 2017). "E3 2017: Metroid 2 Remake Samus Returns Announced For 3DS". GameSpot. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ Byford, Sam (June 13, 2017). "Nintendo brings back 2D Metroid with Samus Returns for 3DS". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ Peters, Jay (June 15, 2021). "Metroid Dread is real, and it's coming to the Switch". The Verge. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- ^ a b "Metroid Prime Release Summary". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ a b Tanaka, John (October 2, 2008). "First Look: Wii de Asobu Pikmin". IGN. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
- ^ "Metroid Prime 2 EGM Afterthoughts". 1UP.com. November 30, 2004. Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
- ^ a b Tanaka, John (October 10, 2008). "First Look: Wii de Asobu Pikmin". IGN. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved January 25, 2009.
- ^ a b "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Release Summary". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 13, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ メトロイド プライム2 ダークエコーズ オフィシャルサイト [METROID PRIME2 DARK ECHOES OFFICIAL SITE] (in Japanese). Nintendo. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- ^ Gantayat, Anoop (March 4, 2005). "Metroid Prime 2 Dated in Japan". IGN. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ Casamassina, Matt (November 11, 2004). "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes review". IGN. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
- ^ Marrow, Mark (November 4, 2004). "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes - 60Hz Only". PALGN. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
- ^ a b "Metroid Prime Pinball Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ Harris, Craig (October 21, 2005). "Metroid Prime Pinball review". IGN. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- ^ Harris, Craig (August 22, 2005). "Metroid Pinball Rumbles". IGN. Archived from the original on April 12, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- ^ a b "Metroid Prime Hunters Release Summary". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
- ^ Harris, Craig (September 21, 2004). "Metroid a DS Pack-in". IGN. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
- ^ The History of Metroid: Part 4. GameTrailers. July 7, 2007. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
- ^ Harris, Craig (February 9, 2006). "Metroid Gets Voice Chat". IGN. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
- ^ a b "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Release Summary". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ Lindemann, Jon (August 10, 2007). "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Preview On Wii Shop Channel". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
- ^ "Metroid Prime Trilogy at Nintendo". Nintendo. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- ^ Balicki, Lukasz (May 22, 2009). "Nintendo Announces Metroid Prime Trilogy". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- ^ "IGN: Metroid Prime Trilogy Preview". IGN. Archived from the original on May 25, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- ^ "Metroid Prime is Returning in the Weirdest of Ways". Kotaku. June 16, 2015. Archived from the original on June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- ^ "The Verge: The next Metroid Prime is coming to Nintendo 3DS next year". The Verge. June 16, 2015. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- ^ "Metroid Prime™ Remastered for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Official Site". www.nintendo.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ Lyles, Taylor (June 18, 2024). "Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Gameplay Finally Revealed". IGN. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Super Metroid – Sound in Action". Play-Asia. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ^ Nintendo R&D1 (August 6, 1986). Metroid (Nintendo Entertainment System). Nintendo.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Nintendo R&D1 (March 19, 1994). Super Metroid (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Nintendo.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Metroid Prime & Fusion Original Soundtracks". CD Japan. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
- ^ Retro Studios (November 15, 2002). Metroid Prime (GameCube). Nintendo.
- ^ Nintendo R&D1 (November 15, 2002). Metroid Fusion (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Nintendo Comics System Comic Books". Valiant Comics. Archived from the original on October 26, 2006. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
- ^ "Metroid Checklist". Valiant Comics. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
- ^ Itoh, Benimaru (February–May 2004). "Super Metroid". Nintendo Power. No. 57–61. ISSN 1041-9551. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009.
- ^ Oxford, Nadia (September 30, 2004). "Funny Pages: Games as Comics, Past and Present". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2009.
- ^ "Metroid Prime". Nintendo Power. No. 164–167. Dreamwave Productions. January–March 2003. ISSN 1041-9551. Archived from the original on February 5, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
- ^ "Manga/Strategy Guide". Metroid (メトロイド). Wanpakku Comics. 1986. Archived from the original on July 7, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
- ^ "Super Metroid (スーパーメトロイド)". Shounen Oh Game Comic. Shounen Oh Comics. Kobunsha. August 1994. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009.
- ^ a b "Part 1" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ^ a b "Part 2" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
- ^ "Part 1" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 4, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ^ "Part 2" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 4, 2003. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
- ^ "Metroid Prime (メトロイド プライム)". Comic Bom Bom. Kodansha. July 2005 – January 2006. OCLC 38107748. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
- ^ "Comics & Manga Listing". Metroid Database. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
External links
[edit]- Official Metroid website Archived March 26, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- Metroid comics and manga at the Metroid Database