Metroid
メトロイド
- Year
- 1986
- Developer
- Nintendo R&D1
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Platform
- FC / NES
- Hardware
- Family Computer (8-bit)
- Genre
- Action-Adventure
- Players
- 1 player
- Controls
- D-pad + A (jump) / B (fire)
- Series
- Metroid series
Gameplay Screenshots
About This Game
Metroid drops you alone on the planet Zebes as Samus Aran, a bounty hunter in a powered suit, with no map and no instructions. Your job is to find the Metroids - the energy-draining organisms the Space Pirates are weaponising - in the caverns beneath the surface.
Its structure is what made it radical: the world is one continuous, interconnected maze of vertical shafts and hidden passages, and progress comes from abilities rather than keys. Morph Ball, Bombs, the Ice Beam, the Varia Suit; each upgrade silently opens several earlier dead ends. The reveal that the armoured hero is a woman was one of the most famous twists of the 8-bit era, and the entire Metroidvania genre traces directly back to this cartridge.
- One continuous open world with no map screen - exploration is the game
- Ability-gated progression: Morph Ball, Bombs, Ice Beam, Varia Suit
- Multiple endings determined by your completion time
- Samus Aran's identity reveal, one of the era's iconic twists
Version History
- Famicom Disk System (Japan)1986-08-06
Original Japanese disk release.
- NES US version1987-08
Cartridge release with battery save - the version on this page.
- Metroid: Zero Mission2004
Game Boy Advance remake that reimagined Zebes with a map system.
Cheats & Secrets
JUSTIN BAILEYPlay as Samus without her Power SuitEnter this password on the continue screen: JUSTIN BAILEY ------ ------ (dashes in place of the unused slots). Samus starts in a leotard instead of the armoured suit and is extremely fragile - a famous and genuine password from the original ROM.
NARPAS SWORD0 000000 000000Maximum equipment debug runThis debug password grants every upgrade and infinite missiles/health. It is a leftover development password present in the retail ROM, not a fan invention.
Tips & Strategy
Bomb every floor
The Morph Ball and Bombs hide more secret passages than any other tool. In a shaft that dead-ends, drop a bomb and stand still.
Ice Beam first, then missiles
Frozen enemies become platforms. Freezing a flying enemy at the right height is often the only way to reach a ledge before you have the Space Jump.
Track your timer mentally
Endings change at set completion times. If you want the best ending, plan a route on your second playthrough rather than exploring blindly.
Health and missile tanks stack
Every Energy Tank adds 100 energy. Grabbing them early turns the Ridley and Kraid fights from endurance tests into normal fights.
Download Resources
Resource packs for this game are provided through the button below.
⬇ Coming soon