The Top 40 Metroid Moments: Honoring 40 Years of the Metroid Series
On August 6th, 2026, the Metroid series turns 40 years old.
Very few series have stood the test of time like Metroid, and you could argue that Metroid is thriving now more than it ever has. There’s certainly been some ups and downs along the way, but the struggle is part of what makes being a Metroid fan so special — each success feels like it’s our success, each setback feels personal, and each year this series perseveres, it feels like it was by the will of the community . Metroid has always felt like the black sheep of Nintendo — a series that didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the cutesy, whimsical catalogue Nintendo is known for, but at the same time, a series that stood out because it was offering something different, something you couldn’t get anywhere else if you were a Nintendo fan.
Despite feeling like a series that’s perpetually waiting for its big break, Metroid has went on to produce 14 mainline games (plus a handful of collections and remakes), sell over 22 million copies to date, help create and define a new genre of game colloquially known as “Metroidvania,” innovate the speedrunning world with the greatest donation incentive ever created, and so much more. No series has done so much while being given so little.
To celebrate this monumental fortieth milestone, the Omega Metroid team and friends collaborated, negotiated, politicked, and hammered out a list of the 40 Greatest Metroid Moments of all time, which we are excited to reveal today!
Before we get to that, though, we need to set the table a bit. What is a moment? We’ve defined it as generally something each player would experience the same way, and as something that captures a brief period of time rather than an all encompassing experience. We’ve included in-game story moments, gameplay moments, real-world reveal moments, and some others that fall somewhere in between. Lastly, we’ve tried to weigh a few things when considering what makes a great Metroid moment: overall importance to the Metroid series, historical significance, surprise factor, effect on the fandom, etc.
Curating the list down to only 40 entries was extremely hard, and many tough decisions had to be made. There were a few honorable mentions — the elevator losing power in Metroid Fusion, running away from the Diggernaut in Samus Returns, blasting Mother Brain with the final missile in NEStroid, to name a few — that just didn’t make the cut. And while we know everyone will likely have a favorite moment that isn’t included on our list or is in a far different place than you may have had it, we hope you enjoy what we put together! You’ll hear from each member of the team as they explain why they chose their moments and what makes them special, so buckle in for a long read.
Before we begin, it should go without saying that there will be massive spoilers for nearly every game in the series, so if you’re a Metroid newcomer, be advised!
So here it is. Omega Metroid presents… the Top 40 Metroid Moments in the Series!
40. Super Metroid 4 Player Race at AGDQ 2014
Super Metroid
When I think of a favorite moment not just in Metroid but gaming in general, I think of this race. In 2014, I was a degenerate college kid. Gaming was becoming more and more popular, more and more mainstream. Streaming and esports were both on the rise. Looking back, it all might have seemed small and archaic compared to where things are now. But back then, it was like the wild west, like a whole new frontier for so much of what I loved and spent doing every day.
I was a big speedrunning fan watching runners like Siglemic grind Super Mario 64, but Super Metroid was the other classic speedrunning game I fell in love with. At the same time, Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) had become a must-watch streaming and speedrunning event every year. Super Metroid, naturally, was part of this big speedrunning fiesta that I spent night and day following.
This race had it all. It was a kind of competitive speedrunning event that had rarely, if ever, had been done before. It featured four of the best Super Metroid runners in the world at the time. And when it all came together, the drama, intensity, and technical skill on display made the race genuinely one of the most fascinating and enthralling showcases of speedrunning ever. It cemented Super Metroid’s legacy as one of the best speedrunning games of all time. I felt like I was watching an actual sporting event, and Metroid was at the center of it! It was awesome to see my love of Metroid, speedrunning, and competitive gaming all come together for one unforgettable moment.
This is a race that I recommend to anyone regardless of what games they love and how they like to play them. Besides how awesome it is and that it involves Metroid, it was very much a representation of things to come, as speedrunning would only grow from that point on, and evolve as a spectacle sport and community.
If you’ve never watched it, what are you waiting for? It’s a must-watch for all Metroid fans and gamers alike!
– Dakota Lasky
39. Phantoon Emerges in the Bottle Ship
Metroid: Other M
Let’s start off with an acknowledgement right off the top here: Metroid: Other M was filled with multiple dreadful moments.
From the cheesy dialog and deadpan delivery of lines, to the constant bait-and-switch with boss fights that never happen, to that Ridley scene, it could probably be argued most of Other M’s most memorable and impactful moments would be better placed on a Top 40 Infamous Metroid Moments list than the one we are curating here. But it’s for this reason why Phantoon showing up as a surprise Easter Egg boss at the end of the epilogue of Other M stands out as such a highlight — it was a legitimately awesome moment in a game that seemed like it didn’t know how to make those.
Maybe it was because the ending of Other M, and the weird quasi-boss fight with MB, was so awkward that an additional “final boss” felt so nice; maybe it’s because this final section of the game was open and free, and felt the most like a traditional Metroid game as Other M got; maybe it was because Phantoon got a galactic glow-up and we were seeing this giant ghost in 3D for the first time; or maybe it’s as simple as this fight was just really fun, a fully powered Samus taking on a fan favorite boss and its minions. But this was a really welcome moment and sent players who finished Other M’s epilogue home on a high note — and really, that’s a moment worth celebrating given all the other noise around this title.
– Andy Spiteri
38. The Power Goes Out in the Xenoresearch Lab
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
When I think of the emotional responses I want out of a Metroid title, the main trio that defines the series for me is “fear,” “excitement,” and “curiosity.” These three responses are relevant to nearly every entry on this list we’ve compiled. One of my personal favorites manages to incorporate all three into a wicked emotional rollercoaster: the power going out in Xenoresearch.
After entering SkyTown East, we stumble upon a Space Pirate base of operations that must be fought through. Everything seems like a normal Pirate skirmish up until we arrive at a lone research pod secluded from the rest of the base. Immediately upon opening the door, we’re greeted with the husked remains of a Space Pirate who was clinging onto the door in their last moments (followed by a haunting sound cue I must add). A first-time player is probably startled by this moment and has no idea of what to make of it, but series veterans know EXACTLY what this means… Metroids! The inside of the pod reveals more Space Pirate husks with some especially grotesque scan entries detailing how they each met their grisly ends. We continue exploring the pod up to Xenoresearch, where a new species of Metroid is held in containment behind makeshift energy barriers. As the player explores the area, it becomes increasingly obvious that these Metroids will break free at some point and will need to be dealt with, but all we can do is continue down the hallway.
At the very end, we’re greeted by a similar energy shield housing the next item we need, the Seeker Missiles. Next to that shield is an Energy Cell conduit in the wall with wiring directly leading to the shield and outside the room. It’s at this moment where the player likely connects the dots and realizes exactly what’s about to go down. As expected, upon leaving the room, we’re greeted by all of those Metroid containers destroyed with zero signs of life before being ambushed further down the hallway. Worse, these evolved Phazon Metroids will phase through your ice missiles, making them extremely difficult to freeze.
It’s difficult to instill a single moment into what is ultimately a longer sequence, but this moment where you know you have to cut the power and set the Metroids free to progress is the defining moment that makes this whole setup and everything that follows afterwards so memorable to us.
– Doominal Crossing
37. Rundas Is Impaled
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Despite the Space Pirates and Dark Samus failing to take Norion, Samus, Ghor, Gandrayda, and Rundas are infected with Phazon and forced into a coma. Samus awakens one month later, only to be given the PED Suit while unconscious and tasked with find the missing bounty hunters that woke up one week prior. Samus’ first stop is on the fiery planet of Bryyo where Rundas was dispatched to, and it didn’t take long to see his handy work.
Multiple members of the native Reptilicus are frozen to the walls in ice throughout nearly every room Samus travels through after arriving in the Cliffside Airdock. After Samus acquires the map data for the area, you can actually catch a glimpse of Rundas in the distance, watching you, before using his ice powers to leave the room. Samus doesn’t encounter Rundas again until she travels nearly halfway through he Fiery Airdock, but this time Rundas is standing on a nearby ledge and doesn’t say a word, contrasting his personality during the opening sequence of Metroid Prime 3. This all comes to a head when Rundas seemingly helps Samus defeat a group of Space Pirates, only to attack Samus moments later. He’s been completely corrupted and is now under Dark Samus’s control.
The boss fight with Rundas is short but sweet, despite the pain of having to fight your comrade to the death. Once Rundas is defeated, it seems as if he has returned to his senses somewhat, looking around and eventually at Samus, until suddenly his power erupts from underneath him, causing Rundas to be impaled by his own ice again and again and again. Metroid is no stranger to dark subject matter, yet large portions of it have already happened or are simply implied. Actually seeing it through something so violent, especially to a character the player has most likely gotten attached to, is not the end many people saw coming. This feeling of helplessness, and how attached players were to Rundas in such a short time, made this a bitter yet unforgettable moment.
– Griffen Olney
36. The X Infect Samus on SR388
Metroid Fusion
Before I began writing this, I decided to quickly re-familiarize myself with Metroid Fusion’s opening and booted it up on my Switch. I thought I remembered it fairly well. I did not remember that the beginning animation — the very first thing you see when loading the game — is Samus suddenly crashing into an asteroid, seemingly to her demise. It’s one heck of an opener, to say the least.
Samus was assigned as security detail to Biologic, a research team of the Galactic Federation. During an expedition to monitor SR388’s ecosystem after the Metroid’s extinction, a then-unknown entity “attacked” her with seemingly no ill effects. In truth, this was one of the now-dreaded X parasites, waiting for Samus to be in control of her ship before seizing control of her body and attempting to fly the ship itself, with nearly disastrous consequences. The parasite quickly multiplied and infected the organic pieces of her Power Suit, necessitating their surgical removal and transforming it into the nimble but weaker Fusion Suit. Meanwhile, Samus was administered with a Metroid “vaccine” to purge the X from her body, adding Metroid DNA to her already complicated genome.
Fusion’s opening quickly and effectively introduces the terrifying spectre of the X: an insidious, seemingly soulless killer that was able to instantly incapacitate Samus Aran, the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy. It sets the tone for the rest of the game as you navigate the B.S.L. with your guard up at all times, always on the back foot while the X parasites wreak havoc on the space station faster than you can fix it. The benefits and consequences of the Metroid vaccine needed to cure the infection had dramatic effects, including making her the only living being capable of defeating the X parasites.
Metroid is now somewhat known for the unfortunate circumstances that inflict Samus with “physical amnesia” — losing all of her equipment at the start of a mission. However, Fusion stands out as an absolutely spine-chilling implementation of this trend, with an unknown predator rapidly usurping her own body and armor, then proceeding to use those very things against her. The very concept still haunts me to this day.
– Camelia Kettledragon
35. Samus Unlocks the Legendary Power Suit
Metroid: Zero Mission
After a brutal stealth gauntlet through Chozodia as Zero Suit Samus, players are surprised with a cryptic cutscene featuring Chozo murals and hieroglyphs. In what appears to be a flashback, a young child holding the hand of a towering Chozo, the Old Bird, gazes upon these images. The child fades into adult Samus, a sharp cut opening her closed eyes into a stern, determined glare. Albeit short, this sequence carried a punch, juxtaposed with the graphical style from the rest of the game up until this point, helping its gravity settle into the player’s mind.
The atmospheric, ghostly memory fades all too quickly, into one of the most intense boss fights in the game – the Chozo Test. It was time for Samus to overcome the trial she knew would be in her future from such a young age. The only way to damage the Chozo Test is to attack its orb, which sometimes carries the mirror image of Samus. If you time attacks poorly, hitting the visage of Samus will damage her instead. The fight requires timing and restraint, which feels counterintuitive so late in the narrative.
Upon defeat, the darkness lifts. The test feels truly triumphant as another cutscene fires up, and Samus becomes embraced by the upgraded Fully Powered Suit, equipped with the Plasma Beam, Gravity Suit, and Space Jump, items that you had previously acquired but where unable to actually use. Few rewards feel as satisfying. The scene feels like such a full-circle moment for fans of the franchise. Players can rejoice after seeing Samus at her most vulnerable, finally encased in her ultimate form with all the resources she so rightfully earned. It is a powerful representation of her bond with the Chozo that is not seen with as much clarity in many other points in the series.
– Nicole Scott
34. Galactic Federation Troopers Are Wiped Out by the Ing
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
One of the biggest pillars in the Metroid games has been the sense of isolation. Most of the games whether in the 2D line or the Prime series feature Samus entirely alone against the enemies that she must defeat. Remnants of previous battles and some story tell us that people were there before and died, but it was never explicitly shown.
Early in Metroid Prime 2, though, that changed. As Samus is still early in her recon of the planet Aether and uncovering what’s happened, she stumbles upon a deserted Galactic Federation ship. After interfacing with the data log, a cutscene plays showing what happened to the Troopers that were sent to the planet. After they arrived, the Ing attacked and killed every single one of the Troopers in a devastating attack. Despite the best efforts of the Galactic Federation, they were no match for and ultimately wiped out by the Ing in a series of quick takedowns and brutal attacks. Upon the video’s end, Samus looks over the lifeless body of a Federation Trooper near the device.
This moment stands out as brutal depiction of not just what the Ing are capable of, but why Samus is usually alone on her adventures. Since Samus is almost always a last-resort option to stop a problem, most places she visits have already seen many deaths, but as a player all of this was inferred. This is the first time the player can see the process that led to that isolation, and it’s viscous nature makes it an unforgettable moment.
– Rez
33. Discovering Sanctuary Fortress
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Stumbling upon a new area in a Metroid title and being awestruck at the introductory room is practically a series tradition at this point. The impressive vistas, the art direction, the music, and the overall “aura” as the kids say contribute to some of the series’ most creative and memorable areas. One of the most effective examples of this takes place in Sanctuary Fortress from Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
The planet Aether where Metroid Prime 2 takes place is in the midst of an interdimensional war stemming from a rift caused by a mysterious meteor many millennia ago. The meteor impact along with the war itself have collectedly ravaged the lands of the once-majestic Aether, leading to the ruins of numerous civilizations, arid deserts that were once tamed with greenery, and lush jungles that turned into flooded swamps. These are the types of dilapidating sights the player is cued in to expect as they progress through the adventure. Upon the restoration of the second light energy controller, U-Mos tells Samus that the next controller is located in the cliffside, painting a similarly dreary picture to the previous areas that were visited.
So you can imagine the surprise on every player’s face when they took the elevator down to instead find a bright green, grey, and blue neon technofuturism-styled interior hallway, something vastly different from the architecture shown off prior. That’s only a small taste however, as leaving the hallway and stepping into Sanctuary Entrance is where the true scope of the Fortress reveals itself — an outstretched bridge leading to the main cliffside where the advanced weapons facility lies as Kenji Yamamoto’s main theme for the fortress fades in. From the open ground, digitized pieces of code that almost look like reverse rainfall can be seen stemming from the open air surrounding the cliffside. In the distance on the lower levels, you can see all sorts of brightly lit structures producing a similar type of neon-green light as the fortress itself. To call this vista breathtaking would frankly be an understatement, as to this day it remains one of the most memorable and unique pieces of art direction in the entire series.
– Doominal Crossing
32. Lights Out in Phendrana Research Lab
Metroid Prime
Metroid has consistently straddled the line between adventure and horror gameplay. Samus is usually stranded on an alien planet all alone and surrounded by hostile wildlife and enemy forces. Most of the time it leans more into the lonely adventurer trope but every now and then we get a glimpse of what it might look like if the series focused more on the horror aspect that the franchise’s movie inspiration Alien is famous for. A fantastic example of that is in the original Metroid Prime game when the power goes out in the Phendrana Drifts lab.
Once you’ve delved sufficiently deep into the Space Pirate’s secret lab in Phendrana, you will acquire the X-Ray Visor at the bottom of a large room filled with captured Metroids. Then suddenly the lab will lose power and all the lights will go out, forcing the player to experience first-person pitch-black gameplay with the only visibility being provided by ambient lights and the power of the X-Ray Visor. Space Pirates drop from the ceiling in jump-scare fashion while Metroids break containment the moment you approach their tanks. You’ve already been through this area once before, but backtracking in the pitch-black presents new challenges and hits some horror-inducing emotional highs that weren’t present when the lights were on. Metroid still leans more into the adventure side of things, but these moments are especially impactful when tastefully sprinkled in.
This is yet another example of Metroid using its incredible areas multiple ways to tell different environmental stories. This trend would be used again throughout the series usually to great effect: Sectors 2 & 5 in Metroid Fusion, Artaria & Cataris in Metroid Dread, and Ice Belt & Flare Pool in Metroid Prime 4. It’s a time-honored Metroidvania tradition, and it’s always exciting to see how the next installment will implement this dynamic concept.
– Metroda
31. Samus vs Dark Samus in Sanctuary Fortress
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Dark Samus is one of the most iconic antagonists in the Metroid franchise. Present in all three Prime games, Dark Samus acts as the driving force behind seemingly everything that goes wrong in the Trilogy.
While Dark Samus appears first in Prime 1, players don’t get to face off against the character until Prime 2. However, the first encounter is just a taste of what’s to come. After defeating Dark Samus in a close-quarters brawl in Agon Wastes, the rematch comes in Sanctuary Fortress. As Samus enters the elevator room, there’s a perfect shot, symmetrical with Dark Samus on one side of the pillar and Samus on the other — a perfect encapsulation of the battle between good and evil, light and dark. As the fight between the two begins, Dark Samus activates the elevator, causing the entire room to start moving upwards. Early on it plays out about the same as the first encounter, however, as the elevator reaches the top, Dark Samus reveals a new range of abilities that shows the strength of the opponent Samus must best. The dark doppelganger moves frantically, makes Samus use her new visors, and pushes the Bounty Hunter to her maximum.
This moment stands out because of the intrigue built by Dark Samus’s appearances previously and the reveal of the true power she possesses. The atmosphere of this fight is also phenomenal, as the two foes are locked into the elevator as it hurdles upwards and ends on the roof overlooking the pretty lights of Sanctuary Fortress. It makes for a boss battle unlike any other.
– Rez
30. Samus vs Quadraxis
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
There are so many extraordinary boss fights throughout the Metroid series (including more brought up further down the list). Everyone will give you a unique answer of which one is their favorite, but for myself, that title undoubtedly goes to Quadraxis from Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
Samus has fought her fair share of giant behemoths, but none tower quite as high as the almighty Quadraxis unit. This military-grade robot was one of a series of offensive weapons created by the Luminoth to aid them in their war for survival against the Ing. The intent was to create an autonomous fighter without any organic components that could resist Ing possession. As the Luminoth unfortunately learned however, these machines were still just as susceptible to possession even without organic components, resulting in all of their units being consumed into the horde.
Samus has to defeat the possessed Quadraxis to access Sanctuary Fortress’s dark energy controller, and it’s a boss fight unlike any other! Rather than hammering a specific weak point over and over again, Quadraxis requires you to disassemble it piece by piece in three phases until nothing remains.
In the first phase, you need to take out the knee joints while trying to avoid being crushed. The second phase involves destroying the head module’s shielding while Quadraxis spawns in Dark Quads to assist it. Finally, the last phase has you using the Spider and Boost Ball abilities to climb onto the exposed module and destroy the main control unit for good. It’s an incredibly visceral fight that utilizes tons of Samus’s kit obtained throughout the game, and even has some fun tech that can speed up the process once you’ve mastered them. All of this is backed up by a killer boss theme composed by the GOAT himself, Kenji Yamamoto.
– Doominal Crossing
29. Raven Beak Asserts His Dominance
Metroid Dread
In the Metroid series, it is not a rare event to see Samus encounter a foe of extraordinary strength in the opening minutes. Super Metroid against Ridley and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes with the Ing Horde are two particularly memorable instances of this, but this framing is arguably done the best in Metroid Dread’s opening minutes.
After opening the game with a recap of Metroid Fusion, Dread instantly places Samus upon her descent onto Planet ZDR. This is cut short, however, by instantly switching to showing Samus, in a different suit than in the descent, recovering from unconsciousness and recollecting what had just happened. In truth, Samus had arrived at the lowest point available on the planet, Artaria… and she lost a battle, immediately.
She was met by the warrior we know now as Raven Beak, one of the last Chozo alive, and belonging to the Mawkin tribe. Very soon after taking first glances at the other, the two engaged in instant combat, with a variety of flashy and striking moves being used on both sides. The duel came to a very quick end, however, when after a strike to his head, Raven Beak rushed Samus down, choking her in midair and speaking in Chozo… all before a mysterious glow covered our Heroine.
This scene is a marvel, not only displaying the power of Samus in the moves she performs, but also how strong our rival will be, if he can overcome even this display of strength. Such an encounter is even more intriguing, as it is designed with gameplay in mind; every single move performed by Samus is also a notable counter to the matching attacks within the final boss encounter. It truly opens the game in the best way possible, by filling the player with a fear of when they may meet next… and if they can alter the result that came before.
– Pikmineer
28. Samus Acquires Vi-O-La
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Look… motorcycles are just cool. Science-fiction motorcycles? Even better. So when Samus stepped onto the Vi-O-La for the first time, it almost felt like a dream come true. To be clear: the Gunship is awesome and it’s synonymous with Samus Aran. But seeing the coolest bounty hunter in the galaxy cruise across the desert on an alien motorbike? That was something special.
Many of us tried to power up the Vi-O-La as soon as we saw it, even if we knew it wouldn’t work without the Vi-O-La Suit. Finally revving up and then taking off was a delight that made me cackle like a child on Christmas morning (seriously!). Racing around the Test Circuits was also far more fun than expected, and I had an urge to revisit them and improve my times despite no actual reward for doing so.
Returning to Sol Valley aboard Vi-O-La was an entire new layer of satisfaction. Speeding down that long hallway, landing in the Valley, and then driving into the sands was when Vi-O-La truly felt like “yours.” Driving around a large space made me realize how much I loved this bike. It was easy to control, quite fast, and already geared up to take down enemies with its power slides and chakrams. It was hard to resist the temptation to just coast around the dunes instead of actually taking care of the task at hand.
Obtaining this psychic motorbike isn’t the grandest event in Metroid history, but it is still one of the most exciting, and that giddy feeling never fully dissipated as I kept playing. The Vi-O-La radiates style, finesse, and just pure fun. Sometimes, that’s all you need for a memorable moment.
– Camelia Kettledragon
27. The Tower Escape Sequence
AM2R
AM2R is a game full of surprises and cool set pieces, but one that many will say is the highlight of the game is the Tower Escape.
Once Samus has defeated all the Metroids in the Tower section, the lava in the area will recede, revealing a secret door at the base of the Tower. She’ll first be greeted by a pair of heavy metal doors that will very slowly open on her approach. This then leads to an underground extension of the Tower, guarded by a small handful of robots, but significantly less protected than the Tower above. This more isolated atmosphere, combined with the haunting slowed-down cover of “Lower Norfair” from Super Metroid, complements a journey of foreboding. There must be something dangerous down here.
Eventually, Samus reaches the bottom. It appears to be some kind of reactor, but at the end of the room is a Chozo statue, holding… the Power Bombs? Eager to test her new ability (and locked in the room regardless), Samus detonates a Power Bomb to escape, but this damages the reactor. Samus gets a notification that the Tower will explode, and she must escape as soon as possible! Samus runs through vents, breaking barriers in her way, until she eventually gets back into the main halls. Her passage is blocked by a defending Tank Prototype robot, but after blowing up its armor, its weak spot is exposed and Samus makes quick work of it. However, the Tower is still exploding, and the timer shows no signs of relenting. She’s almost out, but the timer shows that the Tower will explode at any moment! The first door slowly opens, and she runs to the second door, desperately hoping it will open in time, and…
BOOM! Right as the door is about to open, the Tower detonates, and Samus is flung through the room by the explosion, leaving Samus, and the player, with single hit point left.
The atmosphere with the sirens, constant explosions, and the seemingly strict timer makes this part of the game extremely intense. It’s a fun kind of stress, and is by far the most unique escape sequence of any 2D Metroid game, solidifying it as a worthy top 40 moment
– GameWyrm
26. Metroid Prime Remastered Is Shadow Dropped
Nintendo Direct February 2023
The Nintendo Direct of February 8th, 2023 had plenty of great reveals for things like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pikmin 4, and the addition of Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games for the NSO service. Metroid fans, however, received an announcement that no one saw coming. Nintendo revealed the trailer for Metroid Prime Remastered — and what a sight it was!
Every aspect of Metroid Prime’s visuals were not only brought up to modern standards, but could have been considered as the best looking Nintendo game ever made at the time. Effects like the rain of Tallon Overworld landing on Samus’s visor and arm cannon, the snow in Phendrana Drifts looking practically like real snow, and distorted visual effects for the heat of the lava in Magmoor Caverns… no detail was ignored to bring Tallon IV to life like never before.
Running at a smooth 60 FPS at essentially all times, multiple control options and unlockables, and this new coat of paint made this release more than anyone could have hoped for. After years of rumors for a Metroid Prime Trilogy HD for the Nintendo Switch, this seemed like the culmination of what Metroid fans had been wanting for a long time. What truly ascended this announcement to being one of the greatest moments for a Metroid fan is that Metroid Prime Remastered was shadow dropped and had the digital version release the same day it was announced. This nearly made me fall out of my seat.
Being able to replay one of my favorite games in a new way the same day it got announced made this a moment no Metroid fan will forget.
– Griffen Olney
25. The SA-X Hunts Samus in Sector 2
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Fusion was the fourth instalment in the Metroid franchise and the follow-up to the franchise defining, and critically acclaimed, Super Metroid. With big shoes to fill, Metroid Fusion had to have something that made it stand out — something that not only made it different than its predecessor, but excellent in a different way.
Enter: SA-X. The SA-X has multiple stand-out moments, but that differentiating moment comes when Samus encounters the SA-X herself. In Sector 2 of the B.S.L., Samus drops into an upper part of a room and watches as The SA-X hunts. For the first time in the franchise Samus, the hunter, became the hunted. A battle against it would be fruitless, so the only hope was to run and wait to find a better way to defeat the inhuman clone of herself.
Normally, players are given more than enough firepower to explore an area with the confidence to take down any enemy that awaits. But this time the normal vast and curiosity-driven exploration felt more cramped and survival based. As the player, all you can do is listen for the echoing footsteps on the deserted facility floor… and be ready to run when you drop down. A short sprint filled with intense action, this causes the players to test their mettle and reflexes under pressure like Samus has never faced.
This moment stands out because of how much it defines Fusion as a whole. Whether looking at it during the time it was released or in retrospect, like we are now, the SA-X turning Samus into its prey was a moment unforgettable to anyone who thought Samus was untouchable.
– Rez
24. The Baby Metroid Helps Samus Defeat Proteus Ridley
Metroid: Samus Returns
In a series that, in many entries, is relatively short on dialogue, having exceptionally empowering characters can be a bit of a rare find. While the Metroid series certainly has remarkable characters (especially the lead, Samus Aran), one that is so unique is the Baby Metroid, which debuted in Metroid II: Return of Samus, and had its biggest moment in Super Metroid. This character became known for its powerful story told without a single word spoken. So when Metroid: Samus Returns, a modern remake of the Game Boy classic was announced, it meant the iconic start to the story was getting a refresh. This refresh had even more potential due to how the story is told for the Baby Metroid’s story was told; there was no script to update, only an improvement in visuals and animations.
Following the original game rather closely, the Baby Metroid joins Samus for the last small chunk of her adventure while reaching the surface of SR388 yet again (although some collectibles can be backtracked for as well). But, this time, instead of a peaceful end to the crusade… a new boss instead awaits at the gunship, that being Proteus Ridley. During the fight, Samus and Ridley engage in extremely brutal skirmishes, often being intercut with vignettes and cutscenes depicting each side exchanging blows. To Samus’ aid, however… is the Baby Metroid. At multiple times through the fight, it not only helps save Samus from blows, but actively helps in the gameplay by restoring decent segments of Samus’ energy tanks.
The fight is a rather large addition to the game’s pacing as a whole, with it even being a potential criticism to the game… but the specific use of the Baby Metroid here? I would argue it is the greatest change in either of the two Metroid series remakes. It brings an emotional connection to the Baby Metroid from moment one, and gives the instant understanding that the species as a whole is NOT evil. Yes, this theme appears elsewhere, but in this fight it shows that Metroids can care, they want to help and protect, and they have some level of companionship with other creatures. It brings together a sense of familiarity that makes the rest of the series even more profound, with the rest of the 2D Metroid series being bound TO the Baby Metroid. When Samus is fighting Mother Brain after seeing the Baby Metroid’s defining moment in Super… when the reason Samus is able to survive the events of Fusion is shown… to the powers she awakens in Dread.
This moment retroactively strengthens the entire 2D Metroid series through this one connecting scene, and, for that reason, it earns its place in legendary moments.
– Pikmineer
23. Enter Sylux: Metroid Prime 4 Gameplay Reveal
Nintendo Direct June 2024
The year was 2024. It had been over seven years since the first teaser of Metroid Prime 4 had been shown off by Nintendo, followed by years of radio silence. That all ended with a simple message: “Cosmic Year 20X9 Galactic Federation Research Facility.”
Most Metroid fans immediately knew what this meant. Before we had any more time to process things, we were greeted by a gorgeous set piece of Samus’ Gunship landing on a planet with our heroine jumping out in style in a slick but faithful rendition of her famous Power Suit.
We. Were. Back.
Without diving into hindsight if you did or didn’t enjoy Metroid Prime 4 once it released, at this time, the fanbase was in harmony with our excitement. Scanning was back. Space Pirates were back. Then came the entrance and electric guitar riff heard round the Metroid world: Sylux was back and he even had some Metroids to join him. Years of fanfic, speculation, hype, and hope since the ending to Metroid Prime 3 all culminated in this reveal. We were finally getting a proper modern Prime game and making good on the promises shown in the secret endings of both Prime 3 and Metroid Prime Federation Force. This was nothing short of a fantastic moment in the history of the franchise. It might not have lasted or lived up to its potential, but you couldn’t find a negative opinion during these times and that is why it mattered so much.
– Metroda
22. Ridley’s Shadow Looms Large Over Phendrana Drifts
Metroid Prime
One could argue that every visit to Phendrana Shorelines is a meaningful moment in and of itself. Stepping into that crisp, open air, seeing snowflakes gently fall atop a white expanse, hearing the gentle piano notes of Kenji Yamamoto’s incredible musical theme — it all offers an instant serenity, a sudden relief from the intense dangers faced in other regions of Tallon IV. But for all that this frigid region could mean for Metroid Prime players, one cinematic moment in particular stands out as a strikingly poetic portrait of a longtime adversary.
At the end of Samus’ first expedition into Phendrana Drifts, our Hunter looks over the Shorelines from a high cliff, when, suddenly, her eye catches a large shadow cast across the ground — its stark presence made all the more apparent over the sheer white landscape. With its vast pair of wings, slender body with sharp claws, and long pointed tail, who or what that casts this silhouette is undeniable. And gazing upwards into the clouded sky, Samus’ suspicions are confirmed: Meta Ridley, as expected, survived planetary re-entry and now prowls the surface of Tallon IV.
However, where most encounters with Ridley would end in explosions and beam fire, Samus here escapes notice and is able to simply observe her enemy in concealed safety. And from that vantage point, she is granted a unique perspective at her most-dreaded foe. Ridley is, of course, never to be dismissed as anything other than dangerous predator searching endlessly for his prey. But, somehow, amongst the gentle winds of Phendrana’s Shorelines, the revived Space Pirate leader looks almost majestic — a misunderstood beast that, under different circumstances, could have flown a more dignified path.
– Rod Lloyd
21. From 1 to 10: The Metroid Counter Goes Up
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Metroid II’s mission brief was simple: exterminate every last Metroid on planet SR388. Completing this mission required Samus to continually adapt to an ever-changing labyrinth of tunnels and the rapidly evolving Metroids inside them. It had been a challenging job, but it was nearly done, with one Metroid left to destroy…
After climbing a massive (and utterly lifeless…) pit, Samus rolls through a tunnel underneath an egg of some kind. However, before you can wonder if this is really the “last” one… the Metroid counter goes berserk, and there’s suddenly NINE Metroids on SR388! Once Samus exits the tunnel, she discovers that these new Metroids are still in their original form and very eager to remind her just how dangerous they are. The reveal is even more dramatic in Samus Returns: the radar beeps with a ferocious intensity, and Samus frantically looks around the cave to identify these new threats as the counter ticks up (to eleven Metroids this time!).
What makes this moment truly stand out is the complete subversion of expectations. At first, many of us were anticipating the final Metroid to be an epic and challenging fight. Once we saw the egg, it was “… wait, is this it?” We may have even briefly grappled with the reality of eradicating an entire species. But that was all out the window once there were 9(+) Metroids left. It was utterly impossible to prepare for what was coming next; you just had to watch, react, and adapt as quickly as possible.
I played Samus Returns before Metroid II (I’m on the younger side), and the sudden ambush instilled a powerful sensation of panic. I’m sure most players of the original just sat there in silence, dumbstruck by this twist. And I absolutely love that: one of the greatest things a game can do is surprise us in ways we can’t predict and yet compel us to keep going to the end. However you first experienced it, this moment left many of us (and possibly Samus) with just one thought in our minds:
“Oh, you’ve got to be KIDDING me!”
– Camelia Kettledragon
20. Saving the Animals
Super Metroid
As Samus explores the depths of Zebes in Super Metroid, she’ll discover secret areas in which she’ll meet friendly wildlife who will teach her new techniques. There are the Etecoons, small, green, and adorable mammals which will sing the Item Get jingle, then show her how to wall jump. There are also the Daichora, a green ostrich with a hatchling that shows Samus how to Shinespark. With these new abilities, Samus can access new areas, and will fondly remember them.
However, eventually Samus defeats Mother Brain, resulting in the entire planet self-destructing. As she heads for her ship, she can take a detour in Brinstar to the room where she received the Morph Ball Bombs and fought the Torizo. Here, she’ll find the animals once again, panicking. She can shoot open the back wall, allowing them to escape, and when Samus leaves the planet, a white light can be seen escaping Zebes, showing the animals survived.
This has become a really powerful and iconic moment in Super Metroid, to the point that in modern speedruns, despite it losing time, it is common to make saving the animals be an incentive for charity drives. For anyone worried about them, their survival was even canonized. In Fusion, Samus will reunite with these characters, and they will eventually even return the favor.
– GameWyrm
19. Crocomire’s Brutal Demise
Super Metroid
Super Metroid does an incredible job breaking up its isolated exploration with memorable moments and set pieces. For me the section that has stuck with me the most is encountering the monster Crocomire. This miniboss fight is slightly different than the rest of the boss fights in the game as defeating Crocomire is not dependent on inflicting a set amount of damage to it until it dies. Instead, the battle becomes a reverse tug of war as you have to push Crocomire back and try to gain ground.
Eventually it can be backed up and pushed onto a bridge over hot lava, which collapses as the creature falls in and dies in one of the most horrific scenes in the series that I’ve encountered. It’s hard not to feel sympathy when it cries out in pain and its skin melts off the bone. Replaying this recently with my wife, we were both shocked by this moment.
That alone would be enough to secure its place as one of the top Metroid moments, but it doesn’t end there. After the battle you are lulled into a false sense of security. When attempting to leave the room, Crocomire bursts through the wall in skeletal form, seemingly ready to continue the battle. This is not actually another round of battle though. It is more a last gasp as Crocomire crumbles into a pile of bones. A fantastic exclamation point on one of my favorite Metroid battles.
– Gooey Fame
18. Samus and Meta Ridley Battle While Falling
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
As the conclusion of the Metroid Prime Trilogy, the opening sequence of Metroid Prime 3 seems like it’s starting slow with Samus exploring the GFS Olympus. However, this doesn’t last long, as the Space Pirates attack the fleet in orbit and the Federation base below. Once Samus arrives on planet Norion, she gets to work reactivating the three power generators to bring Norion’s defenses back online, and after activating the first generator she gets her first glimpse at her nemesis.
Meta Ridley flies just over head and can be seen blasting the base in the background before flying off, but that won’t be the last Samus sees of him. As Samus approaches the second generator, she’s ambushed by Ridley twice in Morph Ball, getting him to leave long enough to progress. Once she gets inside, it seems she’s safe, but once she activates the second generator, Meta Ridley reveals he’s been here the entire time before tackling Samus and sending her crashing into the massive shaft below.
This starts one of the coolest and most personal boss battles in the series, let alone Ridley fights specifically. The sense of scale is apparent with the meter at the bottom of Samus’ HUD, telling her how many thousands of meters she has until she reaches the bottom. Using his body to cling to the walls, Ridley causes pieces to fly off as shrapnel Samus has to dodge or shoot while also dodging Ridley’s massive beams of plasma while shooting Ridley’s mouth whenever she can. Once Ridley gets more room he immediately grabs Samus, where she has to cause enough damage to get him to let go. The fight ends with Samus landing on Ridley’s face, forcing his mouth open and firing 3 Power Beam shots before getting rescued by Rundas. It’s easily one of the most epic fights in the Metroid series.
– Griffen Olney
17. Samus Discovers the B.S.L.’s Restricted Zone
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Fusion is one of the most story-heavy titles in the series. It largely relies on character dialogue made through text exchanges to convey its plot, but it has plenty of Metroid’s signature environmental storytelling to pair alongside it. Nowhere is that environmental storytelling more effective than when Samus discovers the Restricted Zone.
Up to this point in the story, Samus is following direct orders from a computerized commanding officer whom she refers to as “Adam.” Adam assesses the state of the X infestation on board the facility and tasks Samus to specific areas with the goal of clearing out the parasites and regaining her abilities. At numerous points, Samus goes slightly off the beaten path to acquire an item, or to bypass an obstacle without direct approval, but she never outright disobeys her orders for the majority of the mission.
That all changes when Samus regains her Wave Beam ability, allowing her to bypass the security systems safeguarding the BSL’s Restricted Zone. Samus enters this unmarked portion of the facility to discover a secret Metroid breeding program. It’s at this moment the BSL’s true purpose is revealed: to create new Metroids and to recreate the environment of SR388 to fully mature and evolve them through their lifecycles. Up to this moment, it had been assumed that the Metroids were extinct, making this quite the impactful reveal.
– Doominal Crossing
16. Samus vs Ridley in Norfair
Super Metroid
Over the course of this list, you’ll have read about some absolutely incredible moments centered around boss fights, all of them awesome in their own way. There is one fight, however, that in my estimation stands above the rest, and that is Samus’s ultimate showdown with Ridley, deep in the heart of Norfair.
There are several factors that make this fight so awesome; the buildup is almost unrivaled. The bond between the Baby Metroid and Samus has only grown stronger in subsequent years, so when Ridley storms the Ceres Space Colony and steals the infant, it feels like a very personal attack. The fact that Samus just let’s Ridley slip through her fingers before he escapes makes it worse.
Once Samus locates Ridley’s domain in Norfair, the music starts to ramp up, the enemies get tougher, and the atmosphere becomes so much more hostile; the walls literally feel like they are closing in. And then… you get to Ridley’s room.
Nothing in this series gets my blood pumping like this fight. There’s no strategy to speak of other than who can hit their opponent faster and harder. From the second Ridley appears, it’s guns out, fire at will. Ridley takes an insane amount of damage and gives it right back, leading to the feeling of a fast-paced heavyweight tilt between two hosses that don’t care about making the fight pretty – they just care about hurting their opponent. While other boss fights on this list embrace a more cerebral, puzzle-like approach, this fight just showcases the pure barbaricness of these rivals.
The insane barrage of missiles, fire, tail attacks, Screw Attacks, combined with the personal stakes, hostile atmosphere, and ultimate demise of Samus’s arch nemesis make this one of the best Metroid moments of all time.
– Andy Spiteri
15. The Final Chozo Memory
Metroid: Samus Returns
For over 30 years, the Chozo were portrayed as a near-universal force for good. They still made mistakes thanks to poor judgment, hubris, or desperation, but they made all of those with the best intentions. The very idea of any Chozo acting selfishly or cruelly was simply inconceivable.
And yet.
The history of SR388 is chronicled in the Chozo Memories of Samus Returns; from their very first landing and discovery of Aeion, through to witnessing the X parasites, all the way up to the creation, release, and rapid containment of the Metroids. The final memory shows two Chozo speaking to one another after finally sealing the planet, with all seeming well… until the player achieves 100% completion, which reveals a dark secret: Chozo slain by fellow Chozo, the attacker’s arm cannon still smoking, the memory colored red as if soaked with blood, all as the music fades from the triumphant Theme of Samus to an unsettling, eerie ambience.
The significance of this moment cannot be understated. Long term, it set up the overarching plot of Metroid Dread, as well as the antagonistic and power-hungry Raven Beak. But in the moment itself, this was the most shocking reveal imaginable. Think about it: the Chozo! The people that saved and raised Samus! The wise counsels to the Luminoth, Bryyonians, humans, and countless others! The great civilization that sought to protect the entire galaxy from terrors beyond imagination! Even the sight of a Chozo Statue meant a sigh of relief out loud, as it was (usually) a symbol of respite and guidance.
For all of Metroid’s history, the Chozo’s benevolence and good nature was never once in doubt. The final Memory turned that idea on its head with a terrifying, yet thrilling, harbinger of what was to come. All with a single image that, well… filled us with dread.
– Camelia Kettledragon
14. Power Bombing the Glass Tube in Maridia
Super Metroid
One of the proudest traditions in Metroid made its debut here in Super Metroid: Power Bombing a glass tube to break it, allowing players to explore areas further. This has returned in nearly every Metroid game that has come after. While it might not seem groundbreaking at first, it is a beautiful example of Metroid’s environmental storytelling leading to new ways to take in and explore the surroundings.
The first time the glass hallway appears, you are unable to proceed into Maridia by any other route… until you clue in that maybe you could blow up the transparent pipe crossing through Maridia to reach the area. Nintendo probably had a hunch that this might be difficult to figure out so they included a scene of Samus doing this in the title screen montage if you let it play for long enough. While destructible walls and floors have always been a thing in Metroid, completely shattering a large piece of what you thought was just the background environment took this to a whole new level.
While I played Super Metroid later in life, my first Metroid game was Metroid Fusion and I definitely fell victim to the power bombing pipe that blocks your progress late in Sector 4. It made me realize that even if you think you know the layout of the map, there are always possibilities hidden just outside your view. It may seem like a simple trope to some now, but Power Bombing these pipes is a 30+ year old tradition that reminds us every time not to take the environment for granted or just at face value.
– Metroda
13. “The Last Metroid Is in Captivity”
Super Metroid
March 19th, 1994 — After seven long years, Metroid finally returned to a Nintendo home console, players finally permitted to lead Samus on another galaxy-sized mission. We all know the end of that story by now: Super Metroid took full advantage of the Super Nintendo to deliver one of the greatest gaming experiences of all time. But equally important is how Nintendo chose to start that story: with two simple sentences.
“The last Metroid is in captivity… The Galaxy is at peace.”
Succinct and yet so evocative, these words effectively sum up Samus’s first two adventures and establish the status quo heading into the events of Super. Paired with Samus’s backstory on the following screens and the atmospheric theme music, this announcement of a harmonious galaxy perfectly sets the stage for the conflict to come. And the voiced narration, though a bit crude by today’s standards, itself was a flex by Nintendo, who, even nearly four years into its lifespan, were still eager find new ways to show off the technical capabilities of their modern machine.
A nonstop parade of technical achievements, Super Metroid’s prologue on the Ceres Space Colony stands as one of the best and most cinematic opening sequences on the Super Nintendo. The jaw-dropping visuals (Mode 7, anyone?), the robust sound quality, the effective script, and the brilliant pacing all work together to deliver a first act that is stylistic, spectacular, and surprising. But let’s not forget where all the action starts: with two brief sentences that confidently bear the expositional weight of an adolescent franchise.
They might as well be Metroid’s, ” A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….”
– Rod Lloyd
12. Zero Suit Sequence Begins
Metroid: Zero Mission
The original Metroid for the NES and Famicom was a foundational game not only for the series it would spawn, but for gaming as a whole, being the basis for the eventual Metroidvania genre. When it came time to remake the game for the Game Boy Advance, it turned out to be an incredibly faithful reimagining instead, introducing a lot of new concepts for the franchise’s premiere entry. Despite these new updates, up until the original game’s final moments, it was an incredibly faithful remake, keeping many of the same map locations… that is, until the original’s exact final moment.
After defeating Mother Brain and performing the escape sequence from Tourian, where the game was expected to end, Samus instead gets shot down by Space Pirate forces, crash landing near the Pirate Mothership and the formerly abandoned Chozodia. As a result of the harsh encounter, Samus’ gunship and suit are entirely destroyed, leaving Samus to explore the vast majority of the next area… without any protection or viable weapons. This section is called the “Zero Suit Section,” as it entails Samus exploring the areas with only the bodysuit under her Chozo armor and with a stun gun at her side. This stun gun, unsurprisingly, can only slow enemies. A single hit will knock out an entire Energy Tank; thankfully, save stations now replenish health too!
This moment in the series is legendary, not only for providing additional content to the original game and a gameplay style entirely new to the series, but for also Samus as a character. This is the first time in the series since, strikingly, the original game that players could play as Samus outside of the Power Suit. This sequence is memorable and remarkable for what it represents for the series as a whole, showing Samus in her most and least powerful. Once the sequence is over, retreading steps with the Fully-Powered Suit equipped, is one of the most cathartic moments in the series — a bombastic finale for an exceptional remake.
– Pikmineer
11. Samus Lands in Crateria
Super Metroid
It was a dark and stormy night. After failing to save the Baby Metroid from Ridley on Ceres Space Station, Samus chases her longtime foe down to the surface of Zebes and we are treated to one of the most dynamic and atmospheric entrances in the entire Super Nintendo catalogue. The sideways rain, the lightning in the background, and Samus calmly emerging from her Gunship lets players know immediately that this new version of Zebes is far more alive and full of surprises than what they may have experienced in Metroid on the NES.
The music does not immediately kick in yet while you are free to begin exploring this hostile new world, adding to the sense of foreboding danger. After some quiet, mostly uneventful cave tunnels, Samus arrives in a familiar area to anyone who played the first Metroid: the destroyed remains of Tourian following the explosion of Mother Brain. Smoke quietly covers the area as you traverse through this updated rendition of the previous endgame location and you arrive at the same starting point of the first game in order to secure the morph ball once again.
Super Metroid knew just how to build both a compelling environmental narrative while also showcasing the updated power and graphics of the Super Nintendo. Not a single word or text is given from the moment Samus touches down in Crateria, yet, you are overwhelmed by the atmosphere and the environmental storytelling that has become synonymous with Metroid.
Truly a legendary start to a legendary game.
– Metroda
10. AM2R Releases on Metroid’s 30th Anniversary
AM2R
Another Metroid 2 Remake, also known as AM2R, is a game that shouldn’t exist.
This fan-made remake of Metroid 2, developed and primarily made by Milton “DoctorM64” Guasti, is a labor of love that took over 10 years to make, was released to great critical acclaim — even getting a nomination at the 2016 Game Awards — before ultimately succumbing to Nintendo’s DCMA. Guasti and team tirelessly poured over every detail, ensuring the remake was both faithful in the ways you would want it to be, and innovative in the ways it needed to be. The release of a fan game might not sound special reading that, but to fully understand why this games release meant so much, you have to go back to the mid 2010’s.
Coming off the decidedly ill-received Metroid: Other M, and after the disastrous announcement of Metroid Prime: Federation Force, the Metroid series had never felt lower than it did going into 2016. Nintendo had no plans to honor the 30th anniversary of Metroid, and morale was low. Enter AM2R, a love letter to all things Metroid, a game that brought the Metroid community together and became a rallying cry for Nintendo to do more with the Metroid series following the game’s takedown. It was a galvanizing occurrence, an almost defiant, “Well, if Nintendo won’t celebrate Metroid’s 30th anniversary, we will!”
It also helped that the game was amazing. Guasti and team clearly understood what makes a 2D Metroidvania tick, as not only did they produce a full game — very rare when speaking about fan made projects — but they produced one that could arguable rival any “official” Metroid entry in terms of quality. The movement felt fluid, the music was haunting, the atmosphere was incredible, and it was clear Guasti just got it when it came to knowing what makes a great Metroid game.
We’ll probably never see anything like AM2R again, which is why its release cracks the top ten on our list.
– Andy Spiteri
9. Ridley Revealed for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Nintendo Direct June 2018
Growing up, I was deep in the trenches, battling it out on the message boards and forums over Ridley being in Smash Bros. When people said he was “TOO BIG,” I was one of those diehard fans fighting back. In a sea of trolls and Geno lovers, Ridley in Smash was my white whale. Fast forward to 2018, now out of college and working a real job, I couldn’t believe my eyes when Ridley had finally been revealed as a newcomer.
Of course, I was head over heels being able to play as Ridley in a video game for the very first time. But as a longtime fan, it was even more satisfying to see Metroid get the representation it deserved in the fabled fighting game franchise. Metroid would have its major “big bad” character included for Samus to fight, just like Mario, Link, and others had been able to fight their archnemeses in Smash for quite some time. Metroid had overcome a longtime running joke to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the other Nintendo greats. It felt like, in a way, Metroid had “made it.”
All those years, I had to believe that Ridley would eventually make his way into the game. I had to #KEEPDREAMING. At times, I did think, “What if it never happens?” In the end, to finally be vindicated made all those hours typing away in defense of my favorite video game dragon worth it.
– Dakota Lasky
8. Samus Transforms into a Metroid
Metroid Dread
In many ways, this moment was the culmination of all Metroid storylines and lore in the numbered series.
You see, ever since Super Metroid, the Metroid series had always been in an awkward state where the series was named after an enemy/character that “no longer existed.” Any time I’d introduce the series to someone, they’d point to Samus and ask, “Is that Metroid?” With Metroids being abundant in the first two games, and then there just being one, and then “none,” no one would be blamed for asking why the series was still called Metroid when Metroids were hardly in the series anymore.
This moment had been hinted at throughout the game, particularly against the final E.M.M.I., but it’s not until Samus enters the dramatic final encounter against Raven Beak that the reveal becomes fully realized, as she uses the innate powers of the Baby Metroid to become the ultimate weapon.
With Samus finally channelling her Metroid DNA and essentially transforming into a Metroid near the end of Metroid Dread, all those underlying concerns and questions became moot. Samus is the Metroid now! Not only was this moment wonderfully done by the collaboration between Nintendo and Mercury Steam (and the build up to it throughout the game as well), but the payoff of Samus now becoming the thing she had originally been told to destroy, as well as the series now pivoting to being named after the main character (in a way), was amazing to see as a longtime Metroid fan. With this moment capping off the current Metroid timeline, I personally can’t wait to see where they take the series next.
– Elias Thompson
7. Samus Lands in Tallon Overworld
Metroid Prime
As your ship lands on Tallon Overworld, the weight of having lost everything sets in. This feeling of isolation looms over Samus, and thereby, the player, reflected in this eerie yet lush landscape. Entering this atmosphere – literally and metaphorically – sets the foundation for the rest of the game. The world is desolate, haunting, and vast. Yet, it chokes the player with uncertainty and beauty. What feels like a recognizable green landscape, not unlike something you’d see on Earth, is just a cloak for the secrets that lie beyond.
Few moments make this impact more apparent than the when players look up to the sky, letting the raindrops prickle Samus’s visor. It is impossible not to get lost in this. The game did not have to consider these physics, yet it is one of the most stand-out moments in a game full of mind-bending lore and bloodthirsty boss fights. For a game to make a moment of quiet this memorable is a testament to Metroid Prime’s legacy – prioritizing emotive environments in equal measure to heart-throbbing tension.
The strengths of the entire Metroid franchise are represented in this moment. You are immersed and alone, surrounded by strange vegetation and danger that you have to overcome. Yet, something about Tallon Overworld feels as familiar as it does alien, making it an unforgettable opening to one of the most legendary entries in the franchise. The iconic design, epic entry, wondrous music, and bewildering aura make the descent to Tallon Overworld one of the most celebrated openings to any video game.
– Nicole Scott
6. The SA-X Arrives in the B.S.L.
Metroid Fusion
There may not be a more unforgettable intro in the Metroid series than the SA-X.
After being infected with the lifeform-copying X parasite and subsequently cured with the Metroid vaccine derived from the Baby Metroid’s DNA, Samus finds herself immune to X parasite attack, making her the ideal candidate to board the B.S.L. Space Station to combat the X outbreak. However, Metroid Fusion is quick to let players know this isn’t going to go down like usual. No way — post vaccine surgery, Samus is in a state that she’s not used to: weakened, vulnerable, and hunted.
This feeling is perfectly encapsulated early on in Metroid Fusion. As Samus is finding her footing in the B.S.L. space station and adjusting to her new weakened state, she takes the elevator down into the lower levels of the Main Deck, and instead of the camera switching over to Samus as she’s riding down, instead the shot lingers on the elevator room… and then it happens.
The wall blows apart with destructive force, and out walks… Samus? Or so we think, until the camera zooms in on “Samus’s” face to reveal cold, lifeless eyes — the eyes of the SA-X. After surveying the area, the SA-X blasts the adjacent door with her missiles, completely destroying it, and slowly, methodically walks off, searching for her prey.
This moment was so impactful because it was a visceral realization of the worst fears in the Metroid universe: what if Samus wasn’t a good person? What if she was an indestructible killing machine, bound by no morals, no conscious, nothing. Furthermore — what if we were powerless to stop her? A moment that didn’t make the cut on this list but is worth mentioning here as well — what if there was more than one of these monsters? I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who had shivers go up their spine hearing there were no less than ten SA-X’s aboard the B.S.L.
This introduction does so much to establish the enormous threat that the SA-X presents without ever having to say a word, and makes players come face to face with a darker alternate timeline where Samus isn’t the hero — she’s the danger.
– Andy Spiteri
5. “I’ll End This. Once and For All”
Metroid Dread
It was only nine words, but they reverberated through Metroid fandom like nothing that had came before:
“Don’t worry… I’ll end this. Once and for all.”
Samus’ response, in the Chozo native tongue, to Quiet Robe in Metroid Dread was probably as shocking as anything else that happened in that game. Our heroine is famously (infamously?) a woman of few words, so to hear her finally vocalize what we all wanted to hear from her simply hit differently than the rest of the non-stop action that filled Dread’s areas. It wasn’t the first time she had spoken, though many Metroid fans tend to choose to ignore the events of Other M, and her voiceless dialogues with Adam in Metroid Fusion don’t truly compare to hearing the titular character finally voice her perspective.
Samus has always been a silent, strong protagonist, preferring to get the job done and leave rather than stay and accept credit or rant on about her own greatness. That’s what made this moment so impactful for the series: it was a rare moment to see the softer, human side of Samus appealing to a friendly face with whom she shares a lineage and backstory with. While she clearly didn’t trust Quiet Robe at first, she quickly realized the situation, listened to his plea, and chose to reaffirm her intentions and abilities to him in their shared language. Samus could’ve explained to Adam why she was pursuing this mission in the first place, she could’ve cursed Raven Beak for his deception and power-hungry nature, but she stayed silent (minus the primal screams of rage, of course). However, when it came to Quiet Robe, she decided that gestures and action simply weren’t enough: she wanted to let this new (but at the same time old) friend know that she was the one for the job and to place his faith in her. Samus always gets the job done, but this time it was personal and she wanted Quiet Robe to understand that.
This may seem like a small moment for other franchise characters, but I know myself and many other fans rightfully freaked out in a good way when we experienced this moment in Dread. We don’t need Samus to be a monologuing cliché machine, but this moment truly let us know Samus was not to be messed with.
– Metroda
4. After 16 Years, Metroid Dread Is Announced
Nintendo Direct June 2021
It’s pretty rare for the announcement of a new Metroid title not to excite us, but we all agreed that the biggest one by far was Metroid Dread. To understand the context of why this reveal was so massive for the Metroid community, we have to go back in time to cover the extensive history and legacy of this game.
The name “Metroid Dread” first appeared in Game Informer’s June 2005 issue, listed as “a 2D Metroid adventure” in development for the Nintendo DS. No official announcement was made by Nintendo, but fans would spend years speculating what this title could play like and if it would follow up on the events of the previous original 2D Metroid title, Metroid Fusion.
In 2007, following the release of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, fans came across a scan entry that read, “Experiment status report update. Metroid project ‘Dread’ is nearing the final stages of completion.” Many players interpreted this as a hint pointing towards an imminent reveal of the game, however still there hadn’t been any official announcement from Nintendo.
After years of inactivity, Metroid Dread became a legend in the community up until its official announcement during the June 15th, 2021 Nintendo Direct, fulfilling a sixteen-year prophecy in the making. The game living up to the decade and a half of anticipation only added to what is still to this day largely considered the greatest reveal in Metroid history.
– Doominal Crossing
3. Samus Spares the Baby Metroid
Metroid II: Return of Samus / Metroid: Samus Returns
Very few moments, if any, have as much of a narrative impact in the Metroid saga as Samus’s act of mercy in sparing the last Metroid.
As we all know, Samus’s mission on SR388 was the complete eradication of the Metroid species, a species deemed too dangerous to be left alive and used as Space Pirate bioweapons again. After a long and arduous journey to the heart of the planet, Samus destroys the Queen Metroid and completes her mission… until one small hatching emerges from a lone egg.
While this scene played out in the original Metroid II, it’s Samus Returns’ version that’s my favorite, as we view the Baby Metroid from Samus’s visor, and as she lines up her shot to kill the hatching and complete her mission… Samus stops, and embraces the Baby. It showed another side of Samus’s character; gone was the stoic killer, and in her place was a character capable of empathy, compassion, and dare I say love for this little creature, who viewed Samus as its mother. It showed Samus was a character with agency who would do what she thought was right, and not just blindly follow orders.
In my opinion, this is when Samus truly becomes the legendary figure we know her to be today. By showing mercy, she changes the fate of the universe forever. The story of Metroid in many ways is the story of Samus and the infant Metroid, and this first chapter in that story is beautiful.
This one decision from Samus sets off a chain of events that, to this day, is continuing to propel the 2D Metroid storyline forward, including one particularly unforgettable scene…
– Andy Spiteri
2. The Baby Metroid Saves Samus
Super Metroid
It’s impossible to talk about this moment without the context of the previous moment, and together, they make up some of the finest storytelling in the series, all without ever really saying a word.
After delivering the last Metroid to the Ceres Space Colony, the Space Pirates attack and abduct the Baby, taking it back to the Planet Zebes, forcing Samus to confront the various threats placed in front of her. After eliminating Ridley, Samus sees the broken glass tube that previously held the Baby inside, with no sign of her “child” in sight. Samus would finally see the Baby again in Tourian, although this infant wasn’t so small anymore — instead, it had evolved into the titular Super Metroid, and was in the process of draining Samus’s life energy until, at the last second, it recognized its “mother” and flees.
After battling her way through Tourian and destroying Mother Brain’s first form, Samus is then overwhelmed as Mother Brain transforms and hits Samus with a laser attack so devastating, Samus can’t even move after. As Mother Brain is charging up the laser again, ready to finish Samus off, out of nowhere, the Baby Metroid comes in for the save, leeching away Mother Brains power and transferring it to Samus.
It’s a scene that I cheered out loud at the first time that I saw it, and still do, even though I know what tragedy awaits just seconds after this heroic act. As Mother Brain recovers and continues her attack, the Super Metroid protects Samus until its final life gives away; the Baby’s ultimate sacrifice giving Samus the power she needs to defeat the leader of the Space Pirates, once and for all.
This moment is absolutely devastating, as Samus loses the closest thing to family that she has. And yet, in its final moments, the Baby Metroid showed Samus that she was right to spare it; that mercy was the only thing that allowed good to defeat evil. It also showed Samus and the players that no lifeform is inherently dangerous, and there is good to be found everywhere, even in the least likely of places.
Storytelling at its absolute finest. Metroid at its absolute finest.
– Andy Spiteri
1. Samus Is Revealed To Be a Woman
Metroid
Although it may seem obvious now in present day, the most shocking, groundbreaking, and ultimately greatest moment in the Metroid series is the reveal of famed Bounty Hunter Samus Aran as a woman.
To understand the full impact of this moment, one needs to travel back in time to the mid-1980s, when video games were still in their infancy. The prevailing demographic playing games was men, so it was no surprise that nearly every game that featured a playable protagonist was a male. Mario, Link, Mega Man, and more became household names, while female characters were typically reserved for the traditional “damsel in distress” role. When Metroid was released all those years ago, there was no reason to think this cool robot-looking figure named Samus wouldn’t follow the traditional route of other strong male leads — the game’s manual even explicitly referred to Samus as male! But there was a shocking scene awaiting those who rolled credits on Samus’s debut adventure.
For players that were able to complete Metroid in under 5 hours, a bombastic secret was revealed — the badass cyborg warrior was, in fact, a woman! This woman didn’t need saving, nor was she depicted in a sexualized manner — she was a feared and renowned Bounty Hunter. While Samus technically wasn’t the first female protagonist in video game history, she was certainly the most impactful, as this proved that women leading large studio games would not only be accepted by audiences, but celebrated.
I remember being a young boy, playing Super Smash Bros. on Nintendo 64 and finding out from her trophy description that Samus was a woman and feeling shocked — even in the late 90s, it wasn’t super common to have women depicted like Samus was. It was a great shock, and one that really impacted me as a youngster: it normalized the idea that women could kick just as much — and in Samus’s case, way more — butt than any male could in that lead spot, and made me really appreciate the daringness of making this move.
Samus is often referred to as the first lady of video games, and it was this daring decision in the very first Metroid game that not only helped pave the way for countless other great female leads, but showed that Metroid was a different type of Nintendo adventure — one that, on the back of its new gaming icon, Samus — would continue to trailblazer for the next 40 years.
– Andy Spiteri
There we go! Omega Metroid’s Top 40 Metroid Moments! What did you think? Are there any big time omissions? Moments ranked too high? Or did the list get it mostly right? We’d love for you to let us know in our Discord server or on Bluesky.
Properly conveying what this series means to me and everyone who contributed is something that I have a hard time putting into words, but I’ll try. As someone approaching 40 years old myself, I can say growing up alongside this series and being a fan has made my life better for it. Creating the Omega Metroid community was something I dreamed of doing to give back to a series that had given me so much and truly helped shape me as a person.
Being a Metroid fan isn’t always easy, and I think it’s because of this that the fandom seems especially close. Being a small part of that has been incredibly rewarding.
Here’s to 40 more years <3
A massive thanks to everyone that contributed to this monster article – please follow and support their work!
Andy Spiteri, Omega Metroid Webmster
Doominal Crossing, Omega Metroid Manager
Camelia Kettledragon, Omega Metroid Editor
Griffen Olney, Omega Metroid Editor
Pikmineer, Omega Metroid Editor
Dakota Lasky, Omega Metroid Podcast Contributor
GameWyrm, Omega Metroid Projects Team
Gooey Fame, Host of Flashback64 Podcast
Rod Lloyd, Editor-in-Chief of Zelda Dungeon
Nicole Scott, Zelda Dungeon Copy Editor
Elias Thompson, MetroidHQ Webmaster
Andy Spiteri is the Webmaster of Omega Metroid and Host of the Omega Metroid Podcast, The Zelda Cast, and Virtual Theater. Probably drinking a Tim Horton’s Double Double as you read this.
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