History Trivia / Metroid

** Creator/YoshioSakamoto is often criticized by fans for supposedly considering the ''Prime'' games [[CanonDiscontinuity non-canon]], which wasn't helpful considering this was allegedly said in the midst of ''Other M''[='s=] divisive reception. He never said anything of the sort; he has always considered the ''Prime'' games to be canon, but regards them as separate adventures featuring Samus ([[GaidenGame which is true]]). The belief that he doesn't see them as canon came from him explaining that the events of the ''Prime'' games have no impact on the plot of ''Other M''. ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', a remake of the second game that came later in the decade, would incorporate elements from the ''Prime'' sub-series ([[spoiler:as well as showing Ridley transitioning from Meta Ridley to his organic self in ''Super Metroid'']]) to firmly establish their canonicity to the 2D games.

* AcclaimedFlop: ''Metroid'' is widely held up as a revolutionary game series, being one of Nintendo's premiere franchises on the NES, and with many well-received entries credited for helping to [[{{Metroidvania}} found an entire genre]]. At the same time, only four games in the entire franchise[[note]]''Super Metroid'', ''Metroid Fusion'', ''Metroid Prime'', and ''Metroid Prime 3: Corruption''[[/note]] have ever broken one million copies sold. By comparison, ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' alone has sold more copies than ''every Metroid game combined''.

* FranchiseKiller: ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' was seen as this, as its poor reception put the franchise on a six-year hiatus from 2010 to 2016.[[note]]The franchise had previously had an even longer ''eight-year'' hiatus from [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid 1994]] to [[VideoGame/MetroidFusion 20]][[VideoGame/MetroidPrime 02]], but WordOfGod states that was due to ''Super'' being a ToughActToFollow.[[/note]] When the series finally did get [[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeFederationForce a new entry]], it was a SpinOff title that also saw poor reception; it wouldn't be until [[VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns the following year]] that a new, well-received entry would be released.

** Several rooms in ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' have garnered nicknames used in the {{speedrun}} community, such as "Noob Bridge" in Green Brinstar, and "Mount Doom" in Black Maridia.

** Creator/YoshioSakamoto is often criticized by fans for supposedly considering [[CanonDiscontinuity the ''Prime'' games non-canon]], which wasn't helpful considering this was allegedly said in the midst of ''Other M''[='s=] divisive reception. He never said anything of the sort; he has always considered the ''Prime'' games to be canon, but regards them as separate adventures featuring Samus ([[GaidenGame which is true]]). The belief that he doesn't see them as canon came from him explaining that the events of the ''Prime'' games have no impact on the plot of ''Other M''. ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', a remake of the second game that came later in the decade, would incorporate elements from the ''Prime'' sub-series ([[spoiler:as well as showing Ridley transitioning from Meta Ridley to his organic self in ''Super Metroid'']]) to firmly establish their canonicity to the 2D games.

** [[http://archive.is/Fzbrw A Metroid comic]] helmed by Creator/ArchieComics was pitched in the early 2010s by ''[[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Archie Sonic]]'' artist Steven Butler, but was passed over in favor of Creator/IanFlynn's ''ComicBook/MegaMan''.

** A handful of rooms in ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'', such as "Noob Bridge" in Green Brinstar, and "Mount Doom" in Black Maridia.

** Doing a somersault while carrying a full charge of Samus's Charge Beam allows you to do an attack similar to a Screw Attack by running into an enemy. For this reason, this technique is usually called the "Pseudo-Screw".

*** The Super Metroid "the hatchling" grows into is known as "Big Metroid" and "The Giant Anomaly". After the release of the ''Samus Returns'' Baby Metroid amiibo, he's also been called "Squishy".

* FranchiseKiller: ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' was seen as this, as its poor reception put the franchise on a six-year hiatus from 2010 to 2016.[[note]]The franchise had previously had an even longer ''eight-year'' hiatus from [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid 1994]] to [[VideoGame/MetroidFusion 20]][[VideoGame/MetroidPrime 02]], but WordOfGod states that was due to being a ToughActToFollow.[[/note]] When the series finally did get [[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeFederationForce a new entry]], it was a SpinOff title that also saw poor reception; it wouldn't be until [[VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns the following year]] that a new, well-received entry would be released.

** Creator/YoshioSakamoto is often criticized by fans for supposedly considering [[CanonDiscontinuity the ''Prime'' games non-canon]], which wasn't helpful considering this was allegedly said in the midst of ''Other M''[='s=] divisive reception. He never said anything of the sort; he has always considered the ''Prime'' games to be canon, but regards them as separate adventures featuring Samus ([[GaidenGame which is true]]). The belief that he doesn't see them as canon came from him explaining that the events of the ''Prime'' games have no impact on the plot of ''Other M''. ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', a remake of the second game made years later, would incorporate elements from the ''Prime'' sub-series ([[spoiler:as well as showing Ridley transitioning from Meta Ridley to his organic self in ''Super Metroid'']]) to firmly establish their canonicity to the 2D games.

* StockSoundEffect: Present in both ''Super Metroid'' and ''[[VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission Zero Mission]]''. Both games make use of a roar originally used in Universal's 1957 film ''The Land Unknown'' for the Tyrannosaurus. Kraid uses this roar in both games, while Crocomire and Phantoon share it with him in ''Super Metroid''.

** Yoshio Sakamoto is often criticized by fans for supposedly considering [[CanonDiscontinuity the ''Prime'' games non-canon]], which wasn't helpful considering this was allegedly said in the midst of ''Other M''[='s=] divisive reception. He never said anything of the sort; he has always considered the ''Prime'' games to be canon, but regards them as separate adventures featuring Samus ([[GaidenGame which is true]]). The belief that he doesn't see them as canon came from him explaining that the events of the ''Prime'' games have no impact on the plot of ''Other M''. ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', a remake of the second game made years later, would incorporate elements from the ''Prime'' sub-series ([[spoiler:as well as showing Ridley transitioning from Meta Ridley to his organic self in ''Super Metroid'']]) to firmly establish their canonicity to the 2D games.

* FranchiseKiller: ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' was seen as this, as its poor reception putting the franchise on a six-year hiatus from 2010 to 2016.[[note]]The franchise had previously had an even longer ''eight-year'' hiatus from [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid 1994]] to [[VideoGame/MetroidFusion 20]][[VideoGame/MetroidPrime 02]], but WordOfGod states that was due to being a ToughActToFollow.[[/note]] When the series finally did get [[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeFederationForce a new entry]], it was a SpinOff title that also saw poor reception; it wouldn't be until [[VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns the following year]] that a new, well-received entry would be released.

* FranchiseKiller: ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' was seen as this, as its poor reception putting the franchise on a short six-year hiatus from 2010 to 2016.[[note]]The franchise had previously had a ''much'' longer eight-year hiatus from [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid 1994]] to [[VideoGame/MetroidFusion 20]][[VideoGame/MetroidPrime 02]], but WordOfGod states that was due to ToughActToFollow.[[/note]] When the series finally did get [[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeFederationForce a new entry]], it was a SpinOff title that also saw poor reception; it wouldn't be until [[VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns the following year]] that a new, well-received entry would be released.

** [[https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/07/nintendo_leak_reveals_scrapped_wii_games_including_a_metroid_title_from_intelligent_systems There was planned to be]] an Creator/IntelligentSystems developed ''Metroid'' for the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, though the only information currently known is that, had it completed production, it would have released sometime after ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption''.

* NamesTheSame: In ''Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt'', Samus can fight [[Franchise/{{Alien}} Xenomorphs]].

** "Shockness Monster" for Serris in Fusion.

*** Little Birdy: Choogle, [[spoiler: Furbley]]

* GodNeverSaidThat: Yoshio Sakamoto is often criticized by fans for supposedly considering [[CanonDiscontinuity the ''Prime'' games non-canon]], which wasn't helpful considering this was allegedly said in the midst of ''Other M''[='s=] divisive reception. He never said anything of the sort; he has always considered the ''Prime'' games to be canon, but regards them as separate adventures featuring Samus ([[GaidenGame which is true]]). The belief that he doesn't see them as canon came from him explaining that the events of the ''Prime'' games have no impact on the plot of ''Other M''. ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', a remake of the second game made years later, would incorporate elements from the ''Prime'' sub-series ([[spoiler:as well as showing Ridley transitioning from Meta Ridley to his organic self in ''Super Metroid'']]) to firmly establish their canonicity to the 2D games.
** In the same vein, some fans claimed his statement meant he considered ''Other M'' more important to the series than the ''Prime'' games. He never made a definitive statement about this either way, but when discussing the MythArc of the 2D games following the announcement of ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'', Sakamoto didn't even play ''Other M'' lip service, implying that it's just as much of a side story to the main series as the ''Prime'' games.

* AcclaimedFlop: ''Metroid'' is widely held up as a revolutionary game series, being one of Nintendo's premiere franchises on the NES, and with many well-received entries credited for helping to [[{{Metroidvania}} found an entire genre]]. At the same time, not only is the franchise unpopular in Japan, but only four games in the entire franchise[[note]]''Super Metroid'', ''Metroid Fusion'', ''Metroid Prime'', and ''Metroid Prime 3: Corruption''[[/note]] have ever broken one million copies sold. By comparison, ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' alone has sold more copies than ''every Metroid game combined''.

* AcclaimedFlop: Widely considered a revolutionary game series with many well received entries credited for helping to found an entire genre, and one of Nintendo's premier franchises, but they generally flop in their home market of Japan and only four games in the franchise[[note]]''Super Metroid'', ''Metroid Fusion'', ''Metroid Prime'', and ''Metroid Prime 3: Corruption''[[/note]] have broken one million copies sold. By comparison, ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' sold more copies than ''every Metroid game combined''.

* FranchiseKiller: ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' is seen as this, as its poor reception put the franchise on a short five-year hiatus from 2010 to 2015.[[note]]The franchise had previously had a ''much'' longer eight year hiatus from [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid 1994]] to [[VideoGame/MetroidFusion 20]][[VideoGame/MetroidPrime 02]], but WordOfGod states that was due to ToughActToFollow.[[/note]] When the series finally did get [[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeFederationForce a new entry]], it was a SpinOff title that also saw poor reception; it wouldn't be until [[VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns 2017]] that a new, well-received entry would be released.

** Also present in ''Super Metroid'' is [[{{Franchise/Godzilla}} Anguirus]]' roar used for both Draygon and Ridley. It may be due to this that the other roar was mis-attributed to this franchise as well, with the trivia web series ''Did You Know Gaming'' [[CriticalResearchFailure saying that its the monster Titanosaurus]].

** ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' was going to have the nunchuck be used in conjunction with the Wii Remote, but thanks to ExecutiveMeddling from the game's director (he wanted to go along with the "simpler is better" philosophy used for more casual Wii games while also giving a more NES-like control scheme), the developers were forced to go with the remote only.
** In the 2012 E3 Direct showing off the UsefulNotes/WiiU, [[https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11141145_1429194954075370_7341850581916212033_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_oc=AQlgacPvoaN4sJxD0ZpOp9NtamvWWtfX5EqYIKesPkS_GAoTaGC06M4tX0MMmC3IfrB5fUjBH28g0rihKcZe3UAg&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=cb361db186d31fa0c4647b432a057706&oe=5DA1479A an icon representing the franchise]] is shown. As the Metroid Prime Trilogy port for the system hadn't been announced (and wouldn't be available until 2015), it's possible that at one point, the idea of a Wii U ''Metroid'' game was thrown around.

*** The Super Metroid "the hatchling" grows into is known as "Big Metroid" and "The Giant Anomaly".

* FlipFlopOfGod: Is Samus transgender? Hirofumi Matsuoka, a graphic designer for ''Metroid'' and ''Super Metroid'', once claimed in an interview that Samus was a "newhalf," which was minorly-derogatory Japanese slang at the time for a trans woman. However, Yoshio Sakamoto would later say that a ''Metroid'' game coming to [=PS2=] was just as likely as Samus being transgender - meaning, very unlikely. It doesn't help that both of these claims are WordOfSaintPaul, since Creator/GunpeiYokoi passed away in 1997, and many believe Matsuoka was just making a block-headed joke (transgender matters were rarely if ever taken seriously pre-2010s). There has yet to be any statements on the matter since, but it remains a talking point in certain parts of the ''Metroid'' fandom to this day, and it's unlikely that Nintendo plans to touch the subject ever again.

* FlipFlopOfGod: Is Samus transgender? Hirofumi Matsuoka, a graphic designer for ''Metroid'' and ''Super Metroid'', once claimed in an interview that Samus was a "newhalf," which was Japanese slang at the time for a trans woman. However, Yoshio Sakamoto would later say that a ''Metroid'' game coming to [=PS2=] was just as likely as Samus being transgender - meaning, very unlikely. It doesn't help that both of these claims are WordOfSaintPaul, since Creator/GunpeiYokoi passed away in 1997. There has yet to be any statements on the matter since then, so it remains a talking point in the ''Metroid'' fandom to this day, and it's unlikely Nintendo ever plans to clarify.

* YouKeepUsingThatWord: On a meta level, "bounty hunter". In practice, Samus is more like a [[ComicBook/DeathsHead freelance peacekeeping agent]], in it for justice and righteousness rather than greed or even paying the bills. When Creator/RetroStudios tried to include a sidequest where Samus hunted bounties for money in one of the ''Prime'' games, Nintendo shot down the idea immediately, with the ensuing conversation revealing that she's basically a "paramilitary contractor", with the closest thing to a bounty being her negotiated paycheck. Using the term "bounty hunter" was RuleOfCool on the part of her Japanese creators.

* FlipFlopOfGod: Is Samus trans? Hirofumi Matsuoka, a graphic designer for ''Metroid'' and ''Super Metroid'', claimed in an interview that Samus was a "newhalf," which was Japanese slang at the time for a transgender woman. However, Yoshio Sakamoto would later say that a ''Metroid'' game coming to [=PS2=] was just as likely as Samus being transgender - meaning, very unlikely. It doesn't help that both of these claims are WordOfSaintPaul, since Creator/GunpeiYokoi passed away in 1997. There has yet to be any statements on the matter since then, so it remains a talking point in the ''Metroid'' fandom to this day.

* FlipFlopOfGod: Is Samus trans? Hirofumi Matsuoka, a graphic designer for ''Metroid'' and ''Super Metroid'', claimed in an interview that Samus was a "newhalf," which was Japanese slang at the time for a transgender woman. However, Yoshio Sakamoto would later say that a ''Metroid'' game coming to [=PS2=] was just as likely as Samus being transgender - meaning, very unlikely. There has yet to be an official statement on the matter since then, so it remains a talking point in the ''Metroid'' fandom to this day.

* FlipFlopOfGod: Is Samus trans? Hirofumi Matsuoka, a graphic designer for ''Metroid'' and ''Super Metroid'', claimed in an interview that Samus was a "newhalf," which was Japanese slang at the time for a transgender woman. However, Yoshio Sakamoto would later say that a ''Metroid'' game coming to [=PS2=] was just as likely as Samus was being transgender - meaning, very unlikely. There has yet to be an official statement on the matter since then, so it remains a talking point in the ''Metroid'' fandom to this day.

* FlipFlopOfGod: Is Samus trans? Hirofumi Matsuoka, a graphic designer for ''Metroid'' and ''Super Metroid'', claimed in an interview that Samus was a "newhalf," which was Japanese slang at the time for a transgender woman. However, Yoshio Sakamoto would later say that a ''Metroid'' game coming to [=PS2=] was just as likely as Samus was being transgender - meaning, very slim. There has yet to be an official statement on the matter since then, so it remains a talking point in the ''Metroid'' fandom to this day.

** [[http://archive.is/Fzbrw A Metroid comic]] helmed by Creator/ArchieComics was pitched in the early 2010s by ''[[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Archie Sonic]]'' artist Steven Butler, but was passed over in favor of Creator/IanFlynn's ''ComicBook/MegaMan''.