List of Metroid media

Boxes of the Metroid games, plus a Samus bobblehead figurine, and a T-shirt in its package.
Packaging for all Metroid games released prior to Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.

Metroid is a video game series published by Nintendo and primarily produced by the company's first-party developers, though second-party Fuse Games and third-party Team Ninja have also developed for the series. It debuted in Japan with Metroid[a] on August 6, 1986, and was later released in North America (August 1987) and PAL regions (January 15, 1988). All Metroid video games have been developed exclusively for Nintendo video game consoles and handhelds, dating from the Nintendo Entertainment System to the current generation of video game consoles. The franchise consists of eleven video games, the latest of which was released in 2021. Comics, manga adaptations, and soundtracks have also been released.

The series revolves around Samus Aran, a bounty hunter who protects the galaxy from the Space Pirates and their attempts to harness the power of fictional organisms, especially the eponymous Metroids. The series' gameplay contains elements from shooter, platforming, and adventure games. It is known for its non-linear progression and solitary exploration.[1] The 2D Metroid games are side-scrollers, and the 3D Metroid Prime series gives the player a first-person perspective,[1] while Other M is a third-person shooter with the ability to switch to first-person view.[2] Metroid is one of Nintendo's most successful franchises, with over 17 million copies sold by September 2012.[3] The games have received varying levels of critical acclaim.[1][4]

Video games

[edit]

Metroid series

[edit]
Title Details
Metroid

Original release date(s):
 Release years by system:
1986 – Famicom Disk System[5]
1987 – Nintendo Entertainment System[5]
2004 – Game Boy Advance[7]
2007 – Wii Virtual Console[8]
2012 – 3DS Virtual Console[9]
2016 – NES Classic Edition
2018 – Nintendo Switch
Notes:
Metroid II: Return of Samus

Original release date(s):[12][13][14]
  • NA: November 1991
  • JP: January 21, 1992
  • PAL: May 21, 1992
 Release years by system:
1991 – Game Boy[12]
2011 – 3DS Virtual Console[15]
2023 – Nintendo Switch
Notes:
Super Metroid

Original release date(s):[17]
  • JP: March 19, 1994
  • NA: April 18, 1994
  • PAL: July 28, 1994
 Release years by system:
1994 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[17]
2007 – Wii Virtual Console[8]
2013 – Wii U Virtual Console[8]
2016 – 3DS Virtual Console (New Nintendo 3DS model only)
2017 – Super NES Classic Edition
2019 – Nintendo Switch
Notes:
Metroid Fusion

Original release date(s):[19]
  • NA: November 17, 2002
  • PAL: November 22, 2002
  • JP: February 14, 2003
 Release years by system:
2002 – Game Boy Advance[19]
2011 – 3DS Virtual Console[20][21]
2014 – Wii U Virtual Console[22]
2023 – Nintendo Switch
Notes:
  • Japanese version had adjustable difficulty levels, while international versions featured a single difficulty.[23]
  • Released simultaneously with Metroid Prime in North America.
Metroid: Zero Mission

Original release date(s):[24]
  • NA: February 9, 2004
  • PAL: April 8, 2004
  • JP: May 27, 2004
 Release years by system:
2004 – Game Boy Advance[24]
Notes:
  • Remake of Metroid, with improved graphics, new gameplay features and additional content.
  • Includes the original game as an unlockable extra.[25]
Metroid: Other M

Original release date(s):[26]
  • NA: August 31, 2010
  • JP: September 2, 2010
  • PAL: September 3, 2010
 Release years by system:
2010 – Wii[26]
Notes:
Metroid: Samus Returns

Original release date(s):[27][28]
  • WW: September 15, 2017
 Release years by system:
2017 – Nintendo 3DS
Notes:
  • Remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus.
Metroid Dread

Original release date:[29]
  • WW: October 8, 2021
 Release years by system:
2021 – Nintendo Switch
Notes:
  • The first Metroid game for the Nintendo Switch.

Metroid Prime series

[edit]
Title Details
Metroid Prime

Original release date(s):[30]
  • NA: November 17, 2002
  • JP: February 28, 2003
  • PAL: March 21, 2003
 Release years by system:
2002 – GameCube[30]
2009 – Wii[31]
Notes:
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

Original release date(s):[34]
  • NA: November 15, 2004
  • EU: November 26, 2004
  • AU: December 2, 2004
  • JP: May 26, 2005
 Release years by system:
2004 – GameCube[34]
2009 – Wii[31]
Notes:
Metroid Prime Pinball

Original release date(s):[39]
  • NA: October 24, 2005
  • AU: December 1, 2005
  • JP: January 19, 2006
  • EU: June 22, 2007
 Release years by system:
2005 – Nintendo DS[39]
Notes:
Metroid Prime Hunters

Original release date(s):[42]
  • NA: March 20, 2006
  • EU: May 5, 2006
  • AU: May 25, 2006
  • JP: June 1, 2006
 Release years by system:
2006 – Nintendo DS[42]
Notes:
  • Preceded by Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt, which was a multiplayer demo included as a pack-in title with the launch of the original Nintendo DS in all regions except Japan.[43]
  • First game in the series with online multiplayer.[44]
  • First Nintendo DS game to allow voice chat between players over the internet.[45]
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Original release date(s):[46]
  • NA: August 27, 2007
  • PAL: October 26, 2007
  • AU: November 8, 2007
  • JP: March 6, 2008
 Release years by system:
2007 – Wii[46]
Notes:
  • The first Metroid game for the Wii.
  • First game in the series to include a preview accessible online via a console.[47]
Metroid Prime: Trilogy

Original release date(s):[48]
  • NA: August 24, 2009
  • EU: September 4, 2009
  • AU: October 15, 2009
 Release years by system:
2009 – Wii[49]
Notes:
  • Contains Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2 and Metroid Prime 3, all with Wii Remote controls.[50]
Metroid Prime: Federation Force

Original release date(s):
  • NA: August 19, 2016
  • JP: August 25, 2016
  • EU: September 2, 2016
  • AU: September 3, 2016
 Release years by system:
2016 – Nintendo 3DS[51]
Notes:
  • The first Metroid game for the Nintendo 3DS.
  • Contains a game titled Metroid Prime: Blast Ball, a soccer-themed multiplayer minigame.[52]
Metroid Prime Remastered

Original release date(s):
  • WW: February 8, 2023
 Release years by system:
2023 – Nintendo Switch
Notes:
  • Remastered version of Metroid Prime.
  • Contains the original GameCube and gyroscopic control schemes as well as a standard dual-stick control scheme.[53]
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Original release date(s):
  • WW: TBA
 Release years by system:
2025 – Nintendo Switch[54]

Soundtracks

[edit]
Title Release date Length Label
Super Metroid – Sound in Action June 22, 1994[55] 58:49 Sony Records
Notes:
Metroid Prime & Fusion Original Soundtracks June 18, 2003[58] 2:12:00 Scitron
Notes:

Printed media

[edit]

Comic books

[edit]
Game Company Publisher Release date
Metroid Valiant Comics Nintendo Comics System, issue #2 July 1990[61]
Notes:
  • Consists of three short stories across one issue, themed after, but not directly adapting the game:[62]
    • The Coming of a Hero (2 pages), by George Caragonne, James Brock, Bob Layton, Jade, Kathryn Bolinger.
    • Metroid (1 page), by George Caragonne, Mickey Ritter, Jan Harpes, Jade.
    • Deceit Du Jour (10 pages), by Mark McClellan and Bill Vallely, Vince Mielcarek, Bob Layton, Jade, Joe Q and The Gradations.
Super Metroid Nintendo Nintendo Power, issues #57–61 February–May 1994[63]
Notes:
  • Five-part adaptation of the game by Benimaru Itoh.[64]
Metroid Prime Dreamwave Productions Nintendo Power, issues #164–166 January–March 2003
Notes:
  • Two-part adaptation of game.[65]
  • Written by Kato Li (script), Sigmund Torre (art, with one page by Pat Lee), Gary Yeung and Alan Wang (colors).

Manga

[edit]
Game Publisher Release date
Metroid Wanpakku Comics 1986
Notes:
  • 195 page Manga/Strategy Guide, released only in Japan.[66]
Super Metroid Shounen Oh Game Comic, issue #1 August 1994
Notes:
  • 18-page adaptation, consisting of comedic strips with four panels.[67]
Metroid Monthly Magazine Z November 2003[68]–May 2004[69]
Notes:
  • Two-volume manga, tells the backstory of Samus Aran up to the events of Metroid.
  • Written by Kouji Tazawa (script) and Kenji Ishikawa (art).[68][69]
  • The first two chapters of Volume 1 received an online version with color and sound effects.[70][71]
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Comic Bom Bom July 2005–January 2006
Notes:
  • Adaptation of the game, released across seven issues of the magazine.[72]
  • Written by Hisashi Matsumoto.
Samus and Joey Comic Bom Bom
Notes:
  • 5-part manga involving the adventures of Samus Aran and a boy called Joey from a frontier planet.[73]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Japanese: メトロイド, Hepburn: Metoroido
  2. ^ Japanese: メトロイドプライム2: ダークエコーズ, Hepburn: Metoroido Puraimu Tsū: Dāku Ekōzu

References

[edit]
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  3. ^ Guinness World Records 2013: Gamer's Edition. Guinness World Records Ltd. 2012. p. 154. ISBN 9781904994954.
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  66. ^ "Manga/Strategy Guide". Metroid (メトロイド). Wanpakku Comics. 1986. Archived from the original on July 7, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  67. ^ "Super Metroid (スーパーメトロイド)". Shounen Oh Game Comic. Shounen Oh Comics. Kobunsha. August 1994. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009.
  68. ^ a b "Part 1" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  69. ^ a b "Part 2" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  70. ^ "Part 1" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 4, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  71. ^ "Part 2" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 4, 2003. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
  72. ^ "Metroid Prime (メトロイド プライム)". Comic Bom Bom. Kodansha. July 2005 – January 2006. OCLC 38107748. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  73. ^ "Comics & Manga Listing". Metroid Database. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
[edit]

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