Super Metroid cover
FranchiseMetroidSeriesMetroid

Super Metroid

Critic score1 critic
First release
Mar 19, 1994
Developer
Nintendo R&D1
Genres
Adventure, Platform, Shooter · Action, Science fiction, Thriller

The Space Pirates, merciless agents of the evil Mother Brain, have stolen the last Metroid from a research station, and once again Mother Brain threatens the safety of the galaxy! Samus Aran must don her awesome array of high-tech weaponry to retrieve the deadly Metroid hidden deep within the cave-riddled planet Zebes. Super Metroid features excellent graphics, with a huge variety of enemies and worlds to explore. The side-view action will be familiar to many players, only now there are new weapons and items, including the Grappling Beam, which allows Samus to swing across large chasms, and the X-Ray Scope, which reveals secret passages.

Also known as Metroid 3

Attributes

No Attributes added.

Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
After Samus completed her mission and eradicated the entire Metroid population on SR388 as commanded by the Galactic Federation (sans the Metroid Hatchling, which she nicknamed "Baby"), she brought the Hatchling to the Ceres Space Colony for research. However, shortly after she left, she received a distress signal from the Station and returned to investigate. When Samus arrives at the Space Science Academy where the Baby was being studied, she finds all the scientists slaughtered and the containment unit that held the Baby missing. Upon further exploration of the Station, she finds the Baby in a small capsule. As she approaches, Ridley appears and grabs the capsule. After a brief battle, Samus repels Ridley, and he activates a self-destruct sequence to destroy Ceres. After escaping the explosion, Ridley flees to Zebes, and Samus goes after him.Read more

After Samus completed her mission and eradicated the entire Metroid population on SR388 as commanded by the Galactic Federation (sans the Metroid Hatchling, which she nicknamed "Baby"), she brought the Hatchling to the Ceres Space Colony for research. However, shortly after she left, she received a distress signal from the Station and returned to investigate. When Samus arrives at the Space Science Academy where the Baby was being studied, she finds all the scientists slaughtered and the containment unit that held the Baby missing. Upon further exploration of the Station, she finds the Baby in a small capsule. As she approaches, Ridley appears and grabs the capsule. After a brief battle, Samus repels Ridley, and he activates a self-destruct sequence to destroy Ceres. After escaping the explosion, Ridley flees to Zebes, and Samus goes after him.

Release dates
Super Famicom
Mar 19, 1994
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Apr 18, 1994
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Jul 28, 1994
All 13 release dates
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Aug 1994
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
1996
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Nov 1997
Wii
Aug 20, 2007
Wii
Sep 20, 2007
Wii
Oct 12, 2007
Wii
Apr 26, 2008
Wii U
May 15, 2013
Wii U
May 16, 2013
New Nintendo 3DS
Apr 14, 2016
Time to beatIGDB · recorded
Main Story
4h
Main + Extras
10h
Completionist
12h
Game modes
Single player
Perspective
Side view
Where to buy
Keywords
aliens, exploration, 2d, 16-bit, metroidvania
… All 38, time manipulation, female protagonist, action-adventure, side-scrolling, time limit, pixel art, wall jump, darkness, boss fight, explosion, single-player only, countdown timer, nintendo power, damsel in distress, virtual console, save point, unstable platforms, real-time combat, secret area, multi-phase boss, liberation, mercenary, sequence breaking, scripted events, isolation, nintendo switch online, wii virtual console, nintendo 3ds virtual console, wii u virtual console, nintendo gateway system, battery save, interconnected-world, player's choice

At a Glance

Critic Score
100
Main Story (IGDB)
4h
Main + Extras (IGDB)
10h
Completionist (IGDB)
12h

How it plays

Languages

  • Englishinterface, audio
  • Deutschinterface
IGDB · recorded 30 Oct 2026
Also in 2 other languages

Language data: IGDB · recorded 30 Oct 2026