Samus Aran
A bounty hunter who enters Zebes to destroy the Space Pirates and the Metroids.
Documented for this version
Which controls does this version use?
Actions
Arrow LeftArrow Right | Move Samus left or right |
|---|---|
Arrow Up | Aim the arm cannon upward |
Arrow Down | Crouch or enter Morphing Ball form when appropriate |
A | Jump |
B | Fire the arm cannon or launch a missile after missiles are selected |
Select | Switch between beam shots and missiles |
Start | Pause the game |
Combos and sequences
Arrow DownA | Enter Morphing Ball form while airborne Requires the Morphing Ball. |
|---|---|
SelectB | Fire a missile Requires missiles and missile ammunition. |
How it plays
How does Metroid play?
Metroid presents Zebes as a connected network of scrolling rooms rather than a simple sequence of levels. Samus explores Brinstar, Norfair, and other regions, fights enemies, searches for energy and missile expansions, and defeats major guardians before confronting Mother Brain.
Progress depends on discovering abilities such as the Morphing Ball, Bombs, Ice Beam, Varia Suit, and Screw Attack. Missiles open red doors and defeat certain enemies, while the elevator system links major areas. There is no built-in map, so navigation relies on landmarks and memory. Samus can run, jump, shoot in several directions, roll into narrow spaces, and return to earlier areas after gaining new equipment.
Plan your run
What is the best way to play Metroid?
Explore methodically and remember room layouts, because the NES game has no map. Shoot suspicious walls and floors, and revisit earlier areas whenever a new ability changes what is reachable.
- Collect energy tanks and missile expansions whenever possible.
- Use the Ice Beam to freeze Metroids, then destroy them with missiles.
- Keep missiles for red doors, bosses, and enemies that resist normal shots.
- Save a comfortable energy reserve before entering Norfair or a guardian’s area.
Meet the cast
Who are the key characters?
Mother Brain
The central leader and final boss of the Space Pirate operation on Zebes.
Ridley
A Space Pirate commander and one of Zebes’s major guardians.
Kraid
A massive guardian encountered in one of Zebes’s hostile regions.
Metroid
Dangerous floating organisms that can drain Samus’s energy when they attach to her.
Documented inputs
What cheats and unlocks are documented?
Faster completion affects the ending rankThe game grades your completion time, so efficient routes and minimal backtracking can improve the final result.
Before you begin
What should you know before playing?
- 1
Bomb suspicious floors and walls; many passages are hidden.
- 2
The Morphing Ball, Ice Beam, and Varia Suit are essential for opening new routes.
- 3
Memorize elevator locations because there is no in-game map.
Community discussion
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