History Videogame / Metroid

* NoTranshumanismAllowed: One of the rare and surprising aversions: not only are cybernetics commonplace and carry no notable social stigma, Samus herself is a [[HalfHumanHybrid transgenic lifeform]], with her adoptive Chozo caretakers having grafted their species' DNA onto her own to increase her adaptability to the harsh environment of [[DeathWorld Planet Zebes]]. Further, by the end of ''Metroid Fusion'', Samus is also [[spoiler:part Metroid]] and [[spoiler:part X-Parasite]]. And that's not even getting INTO her brushes with [[MetroidPrime Phazon]]...

* {{MacGuffin}}: The Metroids themselves; the Federation wants them for their energy-producing abilities - and maybe something a little more sinister - and the Pirates want them for their destructive capabilities.

* InherentlyFunnyWord: Spazer.

* [=~Everything's Better With Spinning~=]: Screw Attack.

* [=~The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything~=]: Arguably the Space Pirates, who often are found in lairs breeding bioweapons but rarely found actually committing piracy.

* [=~You Don't Look Like You~=]: Samus herself suffered this problem until about ''Metroid Zero Mission.'' She was usually a blonde--except when her hair was brown, green, or [[DarkSkinnedRedhead Dark Skinned Purple]]--and her various facial features and overall style of rendering fluctuated somewhat. However, once ''Zero Mission/Prime 2'' hit, her appearance seemed to standardize.)

''For the page on the Metroid Prime sub-series, click [[MetroidPrime here]]. For Metroid: Other M, click [[{{ptitleqggcng93}} here]].''

* YourDefeatMeansIGetYourPowers:

* FridgeBrilliance: A lot of newcomers make the mistake of referring to Samus as 'Metroid'. Considering that 'Metroid' is Chozo for 'Ultimate Warrior', they aren't exactly wrong.

** ''Prime 3'' is the only game in the series to really cut you a break on this. At a certain point in the game, you can launch exploration probes to the various planets you visit. These probes will report back every collectible you have yet to pick up. There are still a handful items that reside on a derelict ship that you absolutely need to find yourself but otherwise, it is within reason for everyone who plays the game to get 100% without consulting a third party source.

* SomethingCompeltelyDifferent: ''Metroid Prime Pinball'' qualifies.

** ''Hunters'' gives us [[spoiler:the {{Oubliette}}, a ship constructed for one purpose: to house an EldritchAbomination.]]

* NotSoFastBucko: You've defeated [[BigBad Mother Brain]] and escaped Zebes in ''Zero Mission''... the game is over, right? Though, you never did find out what those mysterious power-ups were for... [[spoiler:Your ship gets shot down and you must [[UnexpectedGameplayChange sneak through the Space Pirate mothership to get your suit back.]]]]

->''Must restore peace!''
->''Must escape!''
->''Peace of the universe is once again restored.''

At the same time, Nintendo had made the controversial decision to move the series into 3D on the [=GameCube=], with an American studio at the helm. The gamble paid off, and ''Metroid Prime'' emerged as an unusual FPS-adventure, [[AnachronicOrder set between the first and second games]], which met with great critical acclaim.

* AnIcePerson: Samus, considering all the ice power-ups. She gets this affinity turned around on her in ''Metroid Fusion''; because she has Metroid DNA, cold becomes her greatest weakness. The organism in her old suit, the SA-X, uses her old ice beam to devastating effect whenever she bumps into Samus.

* [=~Chekhov's Skill~=]: Every power-up becomes useful to go to unreachable areas/items.