While Mario and Zelda are often cited as Nintendo's biggest franchises, few video game series attract as loyal and dedicated a following as Metroid.
Since the first NES game in the '80s players have become hopelessly immersed in the world of Samus Aran, and after a long period without any new games, we've been gifted the superb Metroid: Samus Returns and have Metroid Prime 4 to look forward to.

Given the status of the franchise, it should come as no great shock to learn that Slope's Game Room's latest "Complete History" video - which focuses on Metroid, obviously - is over an hour long. It goes into incredible detail regarding Samus' adventures and outings, and although it will take up your entire lunch hour (and more) it's well worth a watch.
Comments 34
May check it out later.
I'll watch this while playing Samus Returns.
Metroid reminded us Nintendo fans that we also have the equivalent of that bizarre & creepily dedicated fandom know as SONIC THE HEDGEHOG FANS
Metroid fans surpassed the bitter Mega Man fan base to reach the same level as that blue furry goblin.
It only took them 25 years!
I'll check it out later today, or this weekend. Thanks, NL!
Huge shame that people don't support the Metroid series like they do with the Mario or Zelda games.
Just imagine if Metroid Prime 4 got the sales that Odyssey is getting, once it comes out. This series is totally deserving of huge sales. Samus Returns on 3DS is fantastic and yet, nearly no one is buying it....
@HawkeyeWii Yep, and that's the biggest problem Metroid always had: it's own fanbase.
The fans love to cite "Other M and Federation Force sold bad because they're bad games that nobody asked for!" or "Nintendo doesn't care about Metroid, WHERE IS MY METROID?"
Yet here we got Samus Returns selling a mere 185.000 units first week on the freaking 3DS. So what's the excuse now? It's not first person? Don't get me started on Prime Trilogy sales...
AMHYV - Another Metroid History Youtube Video. Only this time with the voice-over of an irritating Brit.
Sack-a-moh-toh! Yeah you 'bugger off'.
@Yalaa If an excuse is necessary, it'll probably be that it's a bad game/a remake/coming out on a dying console (not on the switch)/AM2R is better.
@-Green- I wouldn't say that samus returns is bad. I beat it last month but it didn't leave much of an impact on me. I pretty much went "yup that's a metroid game" and haven't picked it back up since I beat it. It doesn't really do enough new for me and I have a lot of tiny nitpicks with the game that brought tje experience down for me.
@Oat I haven't actually played the game, tbh, but from what my friend told me, she said it was mostly an issue of it being a remake of Metroid 2. She ended up liking the game, despite disliking the original, but the general structure of it brought it down for her.
From what I seen of it though, it seems like a fine game.
@-Green- I bought the game day 1 and finished it that same week and let me tell you... This game is worth every penny it's one of the best Metroid games I've ever played and in my top 5 best Metroid games.
What your friend said however is true, i loved looking for and killing the Metroids but I understand how others can find this repetitive since there are 40 of them and killing them is the only goal of the game.
It's also one of the more linear Metroid games but this game just did so much right that it outweights it's flaws. One thing that I really love about it is its difficulty, it's pretty challenging even with the melee attack but like some have said, it could've used some less handholding.
Lastly i think the dying 3DS argument makes no sense, the system is still selling great and with many good games yet to release Samus Returns had no reason to sell this bad after all the drama fans made over Federation Force.
@-Green- yeah that was the same issue for me. I didn't realize how tedious a linear metroid was until I played it. Backtracking really becomes a pain when you're primarily doing it to get missle and health upgrades and nothing else. It also got very repetitive fighting metroids, especially that second form that keeps running away. Also the very last fight in the game seemed unnecessary and I could have done without it. I won't say who it is due to spoilers
@HawkeyeWii The Nintendo brand itself, for its First/Second party developed games is so high at the moment, off of BotW and Odyssey that a big push on another classic franchise might be all the support a new Prime will need. Non/semi/casual fans will consider a new Prime like, "am I going to get another Zelda-Mario-Switch experience from this game!?" For me personally, this sentiment has me excited to buy Xenoblade, when I had little interest before. Especially after hearing Monolith Soft (Nintendo owned second party) pitched in on BotW.
First played Metroid II in the early 90's on my friends Gameboy, but I never truly got into Metroid until I got Super Metroid for the SNES back in '95 and it was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen in a videogame. Huge bosses, that eerie and unusual soundtrack, spoken dialogue and levels which rotated was impressive to see back in those days, especially for those of us who couldn't afford an Amiga 1200.
Even to this day I still regard Super Metroid as the best platformer ever made, it's just gaming perfection.
Before this, there was the GameTrailers Metroid Retrospective.
I was about to say 'oh, another Metroid history video', but then I saw it was Slope's Game Room. His history videos are probably the best, most researched and entertaining on YouTube (along with Gaming Historian) in my opinion, so I'll definitely be giving it a watch.
I made an account just so I could share my input on this, curious if others feel the same way I do.
As soon as this game was announced I pre-ordered the special edition and eagerly waited for release day. After picking it up and sinking a few hours into it, I honestly couldn't stop thinking, I wish this game was on the Switch.
I'm not trying to hate on the 3ds since I've enjoyed mine for many years but after getting the Switch, I don't have as much fun playing the 3ds anymore.
With the little gaming time I have, I always find myself gravitating back to the Switch because the experience IMO is more enjoyable. Maybe the Switch has spoiled me, idk. Anyone else have these feels?
@Dang69 Monolith Soft is a First Party dev, not a Second Party dev.
This was fun to watch.
They should bring Samu‘s Return over to the Switch ASAP once the Mario hype calms done!
I hope that this will give the franchise a nice boost.
@Yalaa Because Metroid is a game franchise the hardcore gamers care about. Most hardcore Nintendo fans have moved on to the Switch, and getting a 3DS entry when Nintendo has released SO many games on the Switch is just not practical from a cost-perspective for most people. I picked up a Switch and a new laptop this year. I only had enough for a few Switch games. Hard to justify purchasing a new Metroid if it's on the 3DS only.
Not saying that speaks for everyone, but I think it relates to a lot of people. Metroid Prime 4, or hell, a Metroid Prime Triloigy HD, on the Switch will be a much bigger sales success in my opinion.
Just my thoughts though.
EDIT: They could have released a new game for any franchise on the 3DS and I wouldn't have purchased it. Too many new games on a new system (Zelda, Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, ect.) that I just had no time or money for any 3DS entries this year. Nintendo has a history of not releasing enough titles in a year, but this year, they gave too much imo. A lot of games, specifically 3DS titles, didn't get the attention they deserved. Metroid, Ever Oasis, Lady Layton, even Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon! None of my friends who love Pokemon even care about those new entries!
Ok that video is long but will watch it some other time.
@Yalaa Yes, I completely agree with you. Everyone who calls themselves a Metroid fan should buy this game.
It's not perfect, but it is a great game in its own right. I'm on my fourth play through. Backtracking to 100% it can be a bit tedious (to me that's the same as any Metroid game). But it's a lot of fun just doing a run through without feeling obligated to pick up everything. I think the game totally holds up with the best of the other 2D Metroids and introduces some interesting new ideas.
Personally I'm fine with it being on 3DS. I like having the 2nd screen, and I think the 3D environments are beautiful. Anyway, Switch is getting Prime 4. Why not a little Metroid goodness on 3DS?
I hope they keep making 2D Metroid games. A Switch port in the future could be cool, or Prime Trilogy HD, leading up to the release of Prime 4. It's such a shame Metroid doesn't sell like the Marios and Zeldas.
.... 3:40 mark...
"instantly joined this fairly new company Nintendo"......
So I am guessing their previous 80ish years of existence did not count since it wasn't in gaming or electronics?
I’d watch this but I’m too busy playing Fantasy World Dizzy.
Am I the only one who thinks the success of Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey probably gave whatever team that is working on Metroid Prime 4 a big boost of morale?
As usual a huge thanks to Nintendolife for posting my video
@Crashlewis I don't feel the same way honestly. The 3DS is still a lot of fun for me, and is easier to take anywhere due to it's smaller size. Plus it just has tons of games. The Switch is great, but I use it more as my at home console and rarely use it as a portable. Most of it's games just aren't built for on the go gaming either. I could see my perspective changing if I ever get a second Switch for on the go though.
@evilnatt Please don't comment if you don't have anything meaningful to say. It's off-topic and we consider it spam.
That was an entertaining video. One tiny mistake, though: Metroid Prime is NOT a first person shooter, but a first person adventure with shooter elements.
What an incredible, video, my friend. Thankyou for working so tirelessly on this one. Simply Awesome!
One of my favourite Youtube channels. Been a fan for over a year now.
@Yalaa
It really is a shame. The original Metroid Prime is pretty inarguably one of the top 10 greatest games of all-time and I think it's lifetime sales are under 2 million.
I really REALLY hope Metroid Prime 4 sells well. Hell, I might even buy 2 copies myself. People don't know what they are missing out on.
@Link41 Yeah you're right - just randomly read over the weekend that Bandai Namco's small, remaining share was outright bought off by Nintendo in like 2012 (before that Nintendo was the majority owner after BN sold off most of their share). I thought they still had like 10 percent of the company.
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