METROID

Galactic civilization has peaked. Peace reigns throughout star systems, trade lines run unhindered, and the numerous species of the universe live in harmony.

Unfortunately, the peace didn't last. Innocent lives came under fire from Space Pirates - a group of alien beings literally bent on looting trade ships and inflicting as much devastation as possible. The Pirates quickly made a name for themselves by raiding trade ships and leaving their occupants stranded in space.

The Galactic Federation - the governing body of the united galaxy - fared little against the chaos. The Space Pirates continued to wreck havoc unchecked, eventually raiding and annihilating the human colony K-2L.

Against all odds, a lone human child survived the carnage. Members of the Chozo race - wise and ancient bird-like beings - arrived at the site and rescued the three-year-old girl: Samus Aran. Giving her a new home among their kind on planet Zebes, the Chozo gave Samus a new purpose in life. Training her in their ancient art of combat, the Chozo honed Samus' skills and built her a custom Power Suit to one day take the fight back to the Pirates.

Years later, long since Samus left Zebes for the stars, the Pirates revealed the full extent of their treachery. Assaulting Zebes and forcing the remaining Chozo population into exile, the planet quickly fell into enemy hands to serve as their new fortified base of operations.

Despite delivering blow after blow to the beleaguered Galactic Federation, the governing council managed to keep their operations afloat. But the Pirates had recently acquired a new trump card. Raiding a secret Federation scientific expedition tasked with exploring the remote world of SR388, the Pirates acquired a new prize: the scientists had discovered a previously undiscovered lifeform known as Metroids.

These parasitic beings proved almost as dangerous as the Pirates themselves. Capable of draining the life force from any hapless victim, the simple-minded Metroids gave the Pirates all they needed for galactic domination.

Securing their Metroid specimens deep within Zebes, the Pirates began multiplying the parasites alarmingly fast. With little options left, the Galactic Federation hired a respected bounty hunter - a now fully matured Samus - to infiltrate the Pirate's fortress on Zebes, eradicate the threat they posed and ensure their Metroid army never leaves the planet.

Her mission is ultimately three-fold: protect galactic civilization by striking at the heart of the Pirates, honour the Chozo legacy within herself, and avenge the loss of her parents all those years ago...

Game specifications and release dates

  • Developer:
  • Publisher:
  • Playable on:
    • Famicom Disk System (FDS)
    • Nintendo (NES)
    • Game Boy Advance
    • Nintendo Wii (Virtual Console)
    • Nintendo 3DS (eShop)
    • Nintendo Wii U (eShop - Virtual Console)
Famicom Disk System / Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Japan  Aug 06, 1986
USA  Aug 15, 1987
Europe  Jan 15, 1988
Australia  1988
Game Boy Advance
Japan  Aug 10, 2004
USA  Oct 25, 2004
Europe  Jan 07, 2005
Australia  Jan 07, 2005
Nintendo Wii (Virtual Console)
Japan  Mar 03, 2008
USA  Aug 13, 2007
Europe  Jul 20, 2007
Australia  Jul 20, 2007
Nintendo 3DS (eShop)
Japan  Feb 29, 2012
USA  Mar 01, 2012
Europe  Mar 15, 2012
Australia  Mar 15, 2012
Nintendo Wii U (eShop - Virtual Console)
Japan  Aug 14, 2013
USA  Jul 11, 2013
Europe  Jul 11, 2013
Australia  Jul 11, 2013

Package artwork