Line #53 Memes/Metroid


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/y_cant_metroid_crawl.jpg]]
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3	Given that ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' is one of Nintendo's most iconic franchises and has a very dedicated fan following behind it, there are no shortage of memes related to the bounty hunter.
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5	!!Please add entries in the following format:
6	* The meme.[[labelnote:Explanation]]The explanation behind the meme.[[/labelnote]]
7	** Further mutations and successor memes, if any.
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9	For memes related to ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'', go to [[Memes/MetroidDread this page]].
10	----
11	!!''VideoGame/{{Metroid\|1}}''
12	* There are several instances of valid[[note]]The password system is basically just an alphanumeric encryption of the game's memory stack at the time of death, which is quite a bit more data than necessary, so "valid" is used a bit loosely here.[[/note]] passwords gaining fame.
13	** Undoubtedly the most famous one is JUSTIN BAILEY, a random password that happened to A) be pronounceable, B) be a valid password, and most importantly C) have the suitless Samus flag (which normally activates if you replay the game after beating it in under 3 hours). [[EpilepticTrees Mass speculation as to the meaning of the phrase "Justin Bailey" ensued.]] (It's actually just a coincidence.) The password is famous enough that [[CommonKnowledge there's a tendendy to forget you can play suitless Samus without it]].
14	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3UyVylP7AI ENGAGE RIDLEY MOTHER FUCKER]] is also fairly well-known. It's not ''exactly'' a valid password, as it glitches the screen and makes Samus unable to leave the first screen. It also kills Ridley. [[GameBreakingBug It may also crash the game itself.]] But it's funny.
15	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3M_c_PzC2A MOTHER BRAIN? FUCKIN TOASST]] which, amazingly, creates a game where [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Mother Brain is already dead]].
16
17	!!''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus'' / ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns''
18	* Yet Another Metroid 2 Remake[[labelnote:Explanation]]Following the DMCA of ''VideoGame/AnotherMetroid2Remake'' and the announcement of ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', the game got this FanNickname.[[/labelnote]]
19	* Metroid Omoroid[[labelnote:Explanation]]The slogan/tagline used in the Japanese ''Metroid II'' TV advertisement. "Omoroid" is a portmanteau of "omoroi" (the Kansai variant of "omoshiroi", meaning "fun" or "interesting") and "''Metroid''". This phrase reappeared in other games such as the Japanese releases of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' and ''[[VideoGame/WarioWare WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!]]''. It was also used to advertise ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM''.[[/labelnote]] %%Meme?
20	* "It's so squishy!" [[labelnote: Explanation]]The first thing people say about the Metroid Amiibo is how soft and squishy it is, leading to naming it Squishy.[[/labelnote]]
21
22	!!''VideoGame/SuperMetroid''
23	* The very large (for the time) scale of the game and the incredibly high number of secret passages and hidden powerups, a lot of which were unnecessary for beating the game, prompted some ''Metroid'' fans to {{troll}} new players by [[UrbanLegendOfZelda spreading rumors of secret areas and upgrades]], such as talking about the hidden region of "Warfair" and the super-hidden items known as the "Wood Beam" and "Pipe Boots". With the proliferation of sites like Website/GameFAQs that make it rather more obvious that this is a hoax, this meme has mostly died about, but it still occasionally pops up on boards filled with ''Metroid'' veterans. This was also the subject of a ShoutOut in ''VideoGame/EnterTheGungeon'', where there is a literal wooden beam.
24	* The Maridia Power Bomb Pipe (a glass tunnel that you shatter from the inside with a Power Bomb in order to access Maridia) has become an established element in gaming culture, being featured in numerous shoutouts and parodies used in various games.
25	* The NoobBridge[[labelnote:Explanation]]A lot of players get stuck at what is known as the [[TropeNamer "Noob Bridge"]], a section of Brinstar where the player has to cross a collapsing bridge while spikes in the ceiling prevent the player from simply jumping across it. The proper solution is to run--it is the first area in the game where running is mandatory to overcome an obstacle--but many players, especially those coming from newer ''Metroid'' games where there is no run button, may not notice this at first glance unless they looked at the control menu. Nonetheless, the Noob Bridge [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w9FYWR_RYM can be crossed without running]] but it is very difficult.[[/labelnote]]
26	* "y cant [[IAmNotShazam metroid]] crawl?"[[labelnote:Explanation]][[https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/05/miiverse_super_metroid_too_taxing_for_todays_gamers Infamously]], many Website/{{Miiverse}} users got stuck in the game after its release on the Wii U due to its open-ended and unguided style, and one poster's confused, [[IAmNotShazam Samus-misnaming]] reaction to the Morph Ball tunnel in the second room of Old Brinstar would quickly become a by-word for ignorance of video game history. May have also inspired the tendency for viewers of ''Super Metroid'' streams to call Samus "Metroid".[[/labelnote]]
27	** This meme has [[MemeAcknowledgement been acknowledged]] by [[https://twitter.com/nintendouk/status/460841496959549440 a few of Nintendo's]] [[https://twitter.com/nintendoeurope/status/554352124587700224 social media]] accounts, even as late as [[https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/1429020452924571648 during promotion]] of ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'', and Samus's Varia Suit trophy in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DS'' notes that "it lets her morph into a ball instead of having to crawl!"
28	** "jellyfish is helping yes"[[labelnote:Explanation]]another post from the very same user, who [[AchievementsInIgnorance inexplicably]] managed to [[https://web.archive.org/web/0/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/05/weirdness_a_wii_u_gamers_miiverse_journey_through_super_metroid make it to]] the FinalBoss, yet remained oblivious to the fact that the "jellyfish" is an actual Metroid, not Samus.[[/labelnote]]
29	* Save/Kill the animals![[labelnote:Explanation]]During the final escape sequence, the player has the ability to take a detour and rescue the Dachora and Etecoons from the impending explosion. Speedruns don't require it since it doesn't effect the completion percentage - a rather unfortunate situation given that ''Fusion'' made it canon that Samus saves them. The choice to save or kill is always the subject of a bid war in WebVideo/GamesDoneQuick marathons and a running gag during races and speedrun attempts.[[/labelnote]]
30	* '''D e e R F o r C e''' (sometimes also seen as '''D E E R F O R C E''' or other variants)[[labelnote:Explanation]]The name of the team that developed the game. It is virtually mandatory to spam their name in chat when they are credited at the end of the game, or even to say it out loud in certain settings. The earlier capitalisation apparently originates from Website/{{Twitch}} user [[https://www.twitch.tv/msds3170 MSDS3170]]'s chat, and for whatever reason, it caught on within the community.[[/labelnote]]
31	* Kraid Stand-Up DLC/Taking Kraid to the prom[[labelnote:Explanation]]Thanks to various strategies allowing speedrunners to get Super Missiles early, then exploit hit-stun to keep Kraid's mouth open and vulnerable for long enough to stuff 3 or 4 Super Missiles in and kill him before he can stand up and break open the false ceiling in his room, many races and streams love to joke about how getting to see Kraid actually stand up and go to the second phase of his boss fight is actually a rare thing.[[/labelnote]]
32	* DLC boss/I've never seen this boss before[[labelnote:Explanation]]A similar reference for Spore Spawn, affectionally nicknamed "[=SpoSpo=]" for obvious reasons, who's outright skipped in basically every speedrun and most randomizer races. Since the player can mockball to get early Super Missiles, it's not necessary to fight Spore Spawn to get the first Super Missiles, and even in randomizers, it's possible to shoot the block at the exit of Spore Spawn's area with a Super Missile when Samus is standing on the correct pixel. As a result, seeing a Spore Spawn fight is quite rare, and many viewers like to pretend they've never seen a [=SpoSpo=] fight before (and a few very well may ''actually'' never have seen one). Keysanity in the [=SMZ3=] randomizer can sometimes require a Spore Spawn fight under certain circumstances, but otherwise, randomizers will usually provide a way to skip Spore Spawn as well.[[/labelnote]]
33	* Forgotten Highway DLC[[labelnote:Explanation]]Yet another part of the game rarely seen in streams, referring to the "Forgotten Highway" that links Maridia to the Wrecked Ship. It's rarely necessary to traverse this either in speedruns or randomizers (hence its name), although occasionally a randomizer may require it. Thus, viewers also like to pretend they've never seen the Forgotten Highway before, either.[[/labelnote]]
34	* Referring to Ridley as "Rodney"[[labelnote:Explanation]]Most likely caught on after an [[AutoIncorrect autocorrect gone wrong]], but there's no concrete origin. But fittingly enough, Samus' father was actually named Rodney Aran, and he sacrificed his own life in an attack that severely wounded Ridley, so being called "Rodney" would probably really annoy Ridley, which could be another reason people do it.[[/labelnote]]
35	* (Item that streamer is searching for) is at Shaktool/Spring Ball.[[note]]A randomizer-specific meme. The vanilla Spring Ball location is a remote, extremely time-consuming check (since it's behind a ''very slow'' digging robot called Shaktool) that requires either several items (Gravity Suit, Grappling Beam, and High-Jump Boots) or some often difficult tech/glitches (among them Gravity Jump, Ice Clip, or X-Ray Climb) to access; some randomizer logic settings may require some of these glitches. As a result, Website/{{Twitch}} chat is extremely fond of suggesting that a required item is at the Spring Ball location, and when that item actually ''is'' at Spring Ball... well, [[https://youtu.be/QPW9TMhTbTs?t=4440 this happens]]. (For part one of this randomizer, see [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuafZB2Xe_4 here]].) The required progression is rarely actually at Spring Ball, but chatters will undoubtedly suggest it every seed, regardless of whether the streamer even possesses the equipment required to check it yet.[[/note]]
36	* A few categories basically only exist for the sake of memes, such as North Korea%[[note]]Must defeat the major bosses in the order Draygon, Phantoon, Ridley, Kraid (the same letters as the initialism for the "official" name of North Korea, the [[DontExplainTheJoke Democratic People's Republic of Korea]]). For a category that basically exists only for the purpose of a meme, this is actually somewhat difficult, since it requires doing [[UnderTheSea Maridia]] suitless, and also requires doing a "hell run" through part of [[LethalLavaLand Norfair]] (though not the much more difficult Lower Norfair hell run). That said, zoast, the current world record holder of both [[https://youtu.be/DLlVESjGE4Y North Korea%]] and [[https://youtu.be/oyhRVrwfQT8 Reverse Boss Order]] (as of August 2021), regards North Korea% as a "de-stresser" run.[[/note]] and 69%[[note]]Collect exactly 69 items, no more, no less. (Nice.)[[/note]]. These are actual [[https://www.speedrun.com/super_metroid_category_extensions category extensions]] on Speedrun.com, mind you.
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38	!!''VideoGame/MetroidFusion''
39	* "[[BrokenRecord EMERGENCY IN SECTOR 3!]]"[[labelnote:Explanation]]On completing the first visit to Sector 5 (ARC), an X-Parasite sets off a meltdown in the Sector 3 Main Reactor, and the alarms start blaring, complete with voice in the background exclaiming "Emergency in Sector 3!" ad nauseum.[[/labelnote]]
40	** EMERGENCY IN [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/frankerz FrankerZ]][[labelnote:Explanation]]If someone streams the game on Website/{{Twitch}}, expect to see this spammed in the chat, due to the popular dog emote rhyming with "Sector 3".[[/labelnote]]
41	* Ridley's scream[=/=]'''''SCREEEEAAAAH'''''[[labelnote:Explanation]]Any mention of Ridley in the context of his appearance in this game is generally followed by hyperbolic terror of the ear-damaging power of his [[HellIsThatNoise screeching]], which is loud even by the standards of later games.[[/labelnote]]
42	* Fusion is Metroid 4[[labelnote:Explanation]]Following the reveal of ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'', fans of the series responded to many variations of "They skipped ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy Metroid 4]]''?" with helpful/snarky/frustrated explanations that the ''Prime'' games are a sub-series while ''Fusion'' is the actual ''Metroid 4''. Half the time only to discover the person making that statement was [[PoesLaw a fellow fan making a joke]].[[/labelnote]]
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44	!!''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy''
45	* "Metroid feeding is strictly prohibited."[[labelnote:Explanation]]A pirate scan wall detailing rules on the utilization of Metroids.[[/labelnote]]
46	* '''TUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUBES!!!!'''[[labelnote:Explanation]]Comes from how a number of Pirate bases seem to have an abnormally convenient amount of tubes just perfect for Samus to Morph Ball inside of but the Pirates are unable to make use of. Spawned from [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tuuuubes.jpeg a comic]] in which a Pirate Architect questions his cohort on why they would need to keep placing tubes in their bases. His buddy replies with the meme in question, red eyes aglow. Eventually the architect also ends up brainwashed.[[/labelnote]]
47	* Unless Admiral Dane approves of it.[[labelnote:Explanation]]''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'''s CO is more of a MemeticBadass than Adam.[[/labelnote]]
48	* Soon, everything will be written as a meme, including YOU![[labelnote:Explanation]]A Phazon-corrupted Ghor proclaims the same fate for everything else in ''Corruption''.[[/labelnote]]
49	* "IT'S A LIVIN'!"[[labelnote:Explanation]]The biggest success of LetsPlay/{{Slowbeef}}'s LetsPlay of the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' trilogy (and one frequently referenced in his Website/YouTube channel WebVideo/{{Retsupurae}}) was the AlternativeCharacterInterpretation of Ridley as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndPDDhtmByI&t=4m10s put-upon henchman with a screechy New Jersey accent]]. The above is his CatchPhrase. He is also known for [[IFellForHours falling for long periods of time]] and fits of claw-waving freakoutery.[[/labelnote]]
50	* Science Team has vapor for brains.[[labelnote:Explanation]]From a Pirate log in ''Prime 2'' in Bioenergy Production, a room in the Agon Wastes, griping about attempts to tame the Metroids. Remembered for its creative metaphor and humorous tone in the otherwise serious game.[[/labelnote]]
51	* [[https://www.frankerfacez.com/emoticon/144322-HearTheWordsOfOLir Hear the words of O-Lir]], last Sentinel of the Fortress Temple. May they serve you well.[[labelnote:Explanation]]There's a bug that lets you get to 255% item collection. It involves getting one of the Luminoth Sentinels to repeat their opening line over and over, and O-Lir is the easiest one to use for it.[[/labelnote]]
52	* [[VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption "That seems... inefficient."]][[labelnote:Explanation]]Ghor's line from ''Prime 3'' when it's explained that the AU network has been shut down to prevent a virus from spreading.[[/labelnote]]
53	* "Just in time."[[labelnote:Explanation]]Another Ghor line from ''Prime 3'', said when Samus shows up and they can begin [[spoiler:fighting to the death]], complete with a TwinkleInTheEye.[[/labelnote]]
54	* [[ThisIsGonnaSuck "Surely, we are cursed."]][[labelnote:Explanation]]This is the reaction of the Space Pirates realizing that the newly-revived Dark Samus had stowed away in their Phazon storage, though it's [[BeamMeUpScotty commonly misattributed]] to the Space Pirates realizing that there are two versions of Samus on Aether.[[/labelnote]]
55	* Metroids are not pets. Metroids are not for target practice.[[labelnote:Explanation]]A scan log in ''Metroid Prime'' reveals this gem.[[/labelnote]]
56	* POUNDS AND POUNDS OF BEEF, POUNDS AND POUNDS AND POUNDS OF BEEF[[labelnote:Explanation]]A popular {{mondegreen}} of the chanting in the background of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwZhUb9N38Y the main theme of Bryyo]] from ''Corruption''.[[/labelnote]]
57	* Zero Suit Dark Samus[[labelnote:Explanation]]When Dark Samus was announced for ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', she was finally exposed to a mainstream audience. Cue long-time ''Metroid'' fans constantly explaining that no, [[https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/400/130/21c.jpg there is no sexy "Zero Suit Dark Samus"]]. Of course, [[SelfFanservice that didn't stop some people]].[[/labelnote]]
58	%%* "Don't you feel the power? Soon everything will be corrupted. Including ''you''."
59	* "Logo and (old) music" for the ''Metroid Prime 4'' reveal trailer, which was exactly that.
60
61	!!''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM''
62	* Anthony Higgs asking [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_JFIS0ga5o "Remember me?"]] in the E3 2009 trailer. Thanks to the dopey expression on his face after lifting up his helmet and the fact that [[RememberTheNewGuy no one had ever seen him before]], it took about 0.372 seconds for the Mysterious Black Dude (or MBD for short) to become a meme. Incidentally, he became a ''legitimate'' EnsembleDarkHorse after the game released, generally considered the best supporting character in the game thanks to his friendship with Samus.
63	* "Any objections, lady?"[[labelnote:Explanation]]{{Catchphrase}} of Adam Malkovich... which later becomes a SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay moment.[[/labelnote]]
64	* Adam hasn't authorized me to edit this page yet.[[labelnote:Explanation]]''Other M'''s attempt to explain Samus's lack of use of her powerups without resorting to BagOfSpilling. It was not well received.[[/labelnote]]
65	* [[BrokenRecord the baby the baby the baby the baby the baby the baby the baby the baby]][[labelnote:Explanation]]There is motherhood symbolism in ''Other M'', and Samus's internal monologue won't let us miss any of it. Several fans were displeased with Samus referring to [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid the last Metroid]] ''only'' as "the baby". It is often joked that the plot of ''Other M'', or at least Samus's involvement, can be summarized by her repeating this ad nauseum.[[/labelnote]]
66	* Adam also has one useful word of advice: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE8RTKBFlBI&t=5m8s USE YOUR PLASMA BEAM!]]
67	* "The word he so obviously chose... outsider... pierced my heart."[[labelnote:Explanation]]One of the most frequently mocked {{Narm}} moments in the game. In the original scene, Samus gets rather upset by Adam referring to her as an "outsider", and [[ThatMakesMeFeelAngry proceeds to tell the player about how she feels in a rather melodramatic manner]]. It's especially hilarious when you learn that Samus wasn't anywhere near as dramatic in the Japanese version of this scene, only stating that being excluded from the group "stung a little."[[/labelnote]]
68	* The infamous [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpplIHaZuac "thumbs-down scene".]] [[https://tinycartridge.com/post/879604294/nintendo-will-preview-metroid-other-m-at This led to one hell of an advertising failure in Japan.]]
69	!!Other/General
70	* [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Ridley's too big.]][[labelnote:Explanation]]He's a lot bigger than Samus... and a lot of people want him to be playable in the ''Smash'' series. He only appeared as a boss until ''Super Smash Bros Ultimate'', where he finally joined the roster. Hilariously enough, he ''did'' turn out to be too big in the end: while he was shrunk quite a bit to be made playable, his massive size relative to his weight is often quoted as his biggest weak point.[[/labelnote]]
71	* Sad Samus[[labelnote:Explanation]]a meme about Nintendo's neglect of the Metroid franchise ever since the controversial Other M was released in 2010. Nintendo went all out to hold big 25th anniversary celebrations for franchises like the The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario, [[http://ronnieraccoon.deviantart.com/art/Inju25ice-274988431 but did nothing for Metroid's 25th anniversary.]] However things have changed a bit now that at E3 2017, Nintendo announced not 1, but 2 new Metroid games.[[/labelnote]]
72	* Samus Aran, [[EarthShatteringKaboom Destroyer of Worlds]].[[labelnote:Explanation]]Given how several games end with the planet Samus is on exploding or being destroyed in some way, it’s often joked that every planet Samus steps foot on is doomed to explode.[[/labelnote]]
73	* Any jokes about Samus [[https://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/instinct exhibiting]] [[https://www.reddit.com/r/tumblr/comments/kpez9c/samus_is_birb_str8aura/ bird-like]] [[https://fuckyeahsnakus.tumblr.com/post/181811328251/since-samus-was-raised-by-birds-does-this-ever behavior]] thanks to being raised by BirdPeople and/or [[LEGOGenetics being part-Chozo]].
74	* People [[ObfuscatingStupidity feigning stupidity]] and pretending to think that Varia Suit Samus is [[ProtagonistTitle a man named Metroid]], while Zero Suit Samus is his girlfriend Samus. [[spoiler:Things get interesting as of the end of ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'', as Samus slowly becomes a Metroid over the course of the game.]]
75	* "Samus is trans."[[labelnote:Explanation]]Not general {{Trans Audience Interpretation}}s of Samus, but a specific one. In 2015, an article on ''The Mary Sue'' was written proclaiming that Samus was a trans woman all along, citing a 1994 interview with Hirofumi Matsuoka, one of the designers of the original game, in which [[WordOfGay he says that he's the only one who knows that Samus is secretly a "newhalf"]]. However, various factors, including that over 21 years this was only brought up twice (with the second instance, a FAQ with series director Creator/YoshioSakamoto in 2004, saying that a ''Metroid'' game on a Platform/PlayStation is "as likely as Samus being a newhalf", i.e. expressing extreme unlikelihood akin to "when Hell freezes over" or "when pigs fly"), is not supported by any canonical material, and using a term viewed by many as [[ValuesDissonance derisive]], led people to conclude that this was just meant as a joke, and much mockery was made at the expense of others who took it seriously.[[/labelnote]]
76	* 桃屋のキムチは良いキムチ～♪[[labelnote:Explanation]]Translation: "Momoya (brand) kimchi is good kimchi～♪". The unofficial "lyrics" to the item acquisition fanfare in the Japanese fandom. The lyrics were taken from a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPI3lgfyIxc jingle for Momoya kimchi base]], which has a similar melody to the fanfare. The lyrics are also associated with the ''{{VideoGame/Ys}}'' item get jingle, which also has a similar melody to the fanfare.[[/labelnote]]

Context Memes / Metroid