![Boxes of the Metroid games, plus a Samus bobblehead figurine, and a T-shirt in its package.](https://web.archive.org/web/20150514092412im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cc/Metroid_games.jpg/300px-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 (メトロイド Metoroido?) 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 is Metroid: Other M for the Wii. Comics and manga adaptations, and video game soundtracks released on audio CDs are also available and occasionally figurines.
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 17.44 million units sold by September 2012.[3] The games have received varying levels of critical acclaim,[1] while the most recent game Other M has met with polarizing reviews.[4] No Metroid games nor any other form of media in the franchise has been announced since the release of Other M. Shinya Takahashi, the general manager of the Nintendo Software Planning & Development, stated that Nintendo has plans for 2D and 3D Metroid titles "in the near future".[5]
Contents
Video games
Metroid series
Title | Details |
---|---|
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 1986 – Famicom Disk System[6] 1987 – Nintendo Entertainment System[6] 2004 – Game Boy Advance[8] 2007 – Wii Virtual Console[9] 2012 – 3DS Virtual Console[10] |
Notes:
|
|
Original release date(s):[13][14][15] |
Release years by system: 1991 – Game Boy[13] 2011 – 3DS Virtual Console[16] |
Notes:
|
|
Original release date(s):[18] |
Release years by system: 1994 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[18] 2007 – Wii Virtual Console[9] 2013 – Wii U Virtual Console[9] |
Notes:
|
|
Original release date(s):[20] |
Release years by system: 2002 – Game Boy Advance[20] 2011 – 3DS Virtual Console[21][22] 2014 – Wii U Virtual Console[23] |
Notes:
|
|
Original release date(s):[25] |
Release years by system: 2004 – Game Boy Advance[25] |
Notes:
|
|
Original release date(s):[27] |
Release years by system: 2010 – Wii[27] |
Notes:
|
Metroid Prime series
Title | Details |
---|---|
Original release date(s):[28] |
Release years by system: 2002 – Nintendo GameCube[28] 2009 – Wii[29] |
Notes:
|
|
Original release date(s):[32]
|
Release years by system: 2004 – GameCube[32] 2009 – Wii[29] |
Notes:
|
|
Original release date(s):[37]
|
Release years by system: 2005 – Nintendo DS[37] |
Notes:
|
|
Original release date(s):[40]
|
Release years by system: 2006 – Nintendo DS[40] |
Notes:
|
|
Original release date(s):[44]
|
Release years by system: 2007 – Wii[44] |
Notes:
|
|
Original release date(s):[46]
|
Release years by system: 2009 – Wii[47] |
Notes:
|
Soundtracks
Title | Release date | Length | Label | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Super Metroid – Sound in Action | June 22, 1994[49] | 58:49 | Sony Records | |
Notes:
|
||||
Metroid Prime & Fusion Original Soundtracks | June 18, 2003[52] | 2:12:00 | Scitron | |
Notes:
|
Printed media
Comic books
Game | Company | Publisher | Release date | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metroid | Valiant Comics | Nintendo Comics System, Issue #2 | July 1990[55] | ||||
Notes:
|
|||||||
Super Metroid | Nintendo | Nintendo Power, Issues #57–61 | February–May 1994[57] | ||||
Notes:
|
|||||||
Metroid Prime | Dreamwave Productions | Nintendo Power, Issues #164–166 | January–March 2003 | ||||
Notes: |
Manga
Game | Publisher | Release date | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metroid | Wanpakku Comics | 1986 | |||||
Notes:
|
|||||||
Super Metroid | Shounen Oh Game Comic, Issue #1 | August 1994 | |||||
Notes:
|
|||||||
Metroid | Magazine Z | November 2003[62]–May 2004[63] | |||||
Notes: | |||||||
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes | Comic Bom Bom | July 2005–January 2006 | |||||
Notes:
|
|||||||
Samus and Joey | Comic Bom Bom | ||||||
Notes:
|
References
- ^ a b c d e f McLaughlin, Rus (August 15, 2007). "IGN Presents The History of Metroid". IGN. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ Cabral, Matt (2010-02-24). "Metroid: Other M: A Change of Perspective". Kotaku. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
- ^ Guinness World Records 2013: Gamer's Edition. Guinness World Records Ltd. 2012. p. 154. ISBN 9781904994954.
- ^ Parish, Jeremy (2011-05-25). "Dial Other M for Murder: Is the Metroid Series Dead?". 1UP.com. News Corporation. Archived from the original on 2014-08-01. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
- ^ Totilo, Stephen (2014-06-12). "Nintendo Is Planning A Future For Both 2D And 3D Metroid". Kotaku. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
- ^ a b c d "Release Information for Metroid". MobyGames. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
- ^ "Metroid Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ "Classic NES Series: Metroid Company Line". GameSpot. August 18, 2004. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
- ^ a b c Casamassina, Matt (August 10, 2007). "Metroid Classics for Wii". IGN. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ "Nintendo eShop: Metroid". Nintendo. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
- ^ Varanini, Giancarlo (October 25, 2002). "Metroid Prime, Fusion connection revealed". GameSpot. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
- ^ "Metroid Zero Mission Game Guide: Secrets". IGN. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
- ^ a b "Metroid II: Return of Samus release data". GameFAQs. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
- ^ Sora Ltd. (2008-03-09). "Super Smash Bros. Brawl". Wii (v1.0). 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 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "任天堂の3DSバーチャルコンソールサイト" (in Japanese). Nintendo of Japan. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- ^ TJ Rappel. "The MDb Interviews Dan Owsen". The Metroid Database. 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. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
- ^ Sakurai, Masahiro (2008-01-25). "Masterpieces". Smash Bros. Dojo!!. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
- ^ a b "Metroid Fusion Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ Thomas, Lucas M. (2011-07-29). "Nintendo's 3DS Ambassador Program: Behold Your Rewards". IGN. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "Nintendo Power Vol. 271". Future. 2011-08-31.
- ^ Hinkle, David. "Wii U Virtual Console gets first Game Boy Advance games in April". Joystiq.
- ^ "Hints and Secrets - Metroid Fusion". GameSpy. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
- ^ a b "Metroid: Zero Mission Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ Lee, Justin (February 2, 2004). "Metroid Creator Talks Zero Mission". GameSpy. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ a b c McElroy, Justin (2009-06-02). "Team Ninja collaborating with Nintendo on Metroid Other M". Joystiq. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
- ^ a b "Metroid Prime Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ a b Tanaka, John (October 2, 2008). "First Look: Wii de Asobu Pikmin". IGN. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
- ^ "Metroid Prime 2 EGM Afterthoughts". 1UP.com. November 30, 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
- ^ a b Tanaka, John (October 10, 2008). "First Look: Wii de Asobu Pikmin". IGN. Retrieved January 25, 2009.
- ^ a b "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Release Summary". GameSpot. 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. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
- ^ Gantayat, Anoop (March 4, 2005). "Metroid Prime 2 Dated in Japan". IGN. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
- ^ Casamassina, Matt (November 11, 2004). "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes review". IGN. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
- ^ Marrow, Mark (2004-11-04). "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes - 60Hz Only". PALGN. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
- ^ a b "Metroid Prime Pinball Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ Harris, Craig (October 21, 2005). "Metroid Prime Pinball review". IGN. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- ^ Harris, Craig (August 22, 2005). "Metroid Pinball Rumbles". IGN. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- ^ a b "Metroid Prime Hunters Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
- ^ Harris, Craig (September 21, 2004). "Metroid a DS Pack-in". IGN. 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. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
- ^ a b "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ Lindemann, Jon (August 10, 2007). "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Preview On Wii Shop Channel". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
- ^ "Metroid Prime Trilogy at Nintendo". Nintendo. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
- ^ Balicki, Lukasz (2009-05-22). "Nintendo Announces Metroid Prime Trilogy". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
- ^ "IGN: Metroid Prime Trilogy Preview". IGN. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
- ^ "Super Metroid – Sound in Action". Play-Asia. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ^ Nintendo R&D1 (August 6, 1986). "Metroid". Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo.
- ^ Nintendo R&D1 (March 19, 1994). "Super Metroid". Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo.
- ^ "Metroid Prime & Fusion Original Soundtracks". CD Japan. 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.
- ^ "Nintendo Comics System Comic Books". Valiant Comics. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
- ^ "Metroid Checklist". Valiant Comics. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
- ^ Itoh, Benimaru (February–May 2004). "Super Metroid". Nintendo Power (57–61). ISSN 1041-9551.
- ^ Oxford, Nadia (September 30, 2004). "Funny Pages: Games as Comics, Past and Present". 1UP.com. Retrieved January 25, 2009.
- ^ "Metroid Prime". Nintendo Power (Dreamwave Productions) (164–167). January–March 2003. ISSN 1041-9551.
- ^ "Metroid (メトロイド)". Wanpakku Comics. 1986.
- ^ "Super Metroid (スーパーメトロイド)". Shounen Oh Game Comic. Shounen Oh Comics (Kobunsha). August 1994.
- ^ a b "Part 1" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ^ a b "Part 2" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
- ^ "Part 1" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ^ "Part 2" (in Japanese). Kodansha. 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.
- ^ url=http://www.metroid-database.com/manga/listing.php?vid=7
External links
|