Character Sheet: Torizo

TORIZO

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

Super Metroid introduced a fun new concept for a mini-boss. In the first game, you became accustomed to Chozo statues simply being places of relief, where you were granted a powerful new item to use. You'd never expect then to approach one and have it come to life, walking toward you and attacking you with full intent to kill.

These are called Torizo, and they come in two varieties, the first and then the second more powerful Golden Torizo. They can spit bombs from their mouth, drop rubble from above, jump up high and slam back down, release energy waves, and drop explosive eggs behind them. More than enough, I should think.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Bombs

The statue will open its mouth and shoot bombs from it as projectiles, exploding on impact with the ground or a player.

Side B: Crescent Slice

The statue will slash forward, causing a wave of energy to shoot forward from itself and strike opponents.

Up B: High Jump

The statue will crouch and leap high into the air, before coming back down in a strike.

Down B: Egg

An egg will drop out of the Torizo's chest, that will linger on the stage for a while before hatching into a small birdlike creature and attack the nearest opponent.

Final Smash: Zebes Destruction

The statue will slam hard on the ground. The stage will start to shake and tremble as rubble drops from above, dealing heavy damage, before the entire thing explodes in a flash.

Entrance: A regular chozo statue will be sitting on the stage.

Taunts: All three are some variation of turning back into a regular Chozo statue, except with a Screw Attack, Missile, and Bomb in its hands.

Kirby Hat: Their head as a hat.

Kart: Based on a Chozo Statue.

Special Move: They will leave behind a Chozo Statue with a bonus item sitting in their palm.

Spirit Battle: On Brinstar.

Victory Screen: The Torizo will nod, then revert back to its statue state.

Losing Screen: The Torizo will fall over broken.

Color Swaps: Regular Torizo color, Golden Torizo color, based on the Varia Suit, based on Ridley, based on Kraid, based on Phantoon, based on Crocomire, based on Draygon.

Thanks for reading! Next up, a boss I didn't expect to include.

Character Sheet: EMMI

EMMI

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

And now for the EMMIs. First up, for Best Leading Actress in a TV Series, we have Jenna Ortega for . . . what? What do you mean that's not . . . Um, never mind then. All jokes aside, EMMIs were a massive selling point behind Metroid Dread, powerful robotic monsters that patrolled each level, stalking and hunting down Samus whenever they found her. Originally, they were specially designed Federation robots sent to scope out the strange occurrences on ZDR, only for the Federation to lose contact with them and send in Samus, who found them reprogrammed to hunt her.

There were seven of these robots that wandered the seven worlds, each behaving slightly differently from one another, which actually makes it a bit difficult to parse a moveset out of, since the most fighting we see from them is charging at top speed after Samus when they spot her and stab her through with an energy spike when they catch her. Grabbing and holding Samus is also an option, as is climbing on walls and crawling while down low. They also have scanners too. The moveset might be a bit basic but it's there.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Energy Spike

The EMMI will stab forward with its spike, doing heavy damage to those it connects with, but having limited range.

Side B: Rampage

The EMMI will suddenly dash forward at top-speed, its eye glowing red as it barrels through everything in its path.

Up B: Wall Crawl

The EMMI will seem to jump upwards, latching to any ceiling or object directly above it, letting it crawl around for a short time. If there is nothing, then it's mostly just a short hop.

Down B: Chokehold

Think of this sort of like Ganondorf's Choke Out move. It will grab a player by the throat, do a burst of damage, then drop them.

Final Smash: Finisher

The EMMI will dash forward and strike an opponent. We will then get a cutscene mirroring the way it catches Samus and executes her with its energy spike.

Entrance: The EMMI will appear on the wall before dropping down.

Taunts: Up, it will scan upwards. Side, it will scan directly forward. Down, it will curl itself around and reverse its direction.

Kirby Hat: Their single-eyed face.

Kart: Based on an EMMI in its curled up crawling position.

Special Move: The EMMI will scan forward, spot an opponent and then charge toward them until it crashes into them and sends them spinning.

Spirit Battle: On Artaria, with the lights out.

Victory Screen: The EMMI will grab its opponent and execute them with its spike.

Losing Screen: The EMMI will be inundated with energy and be destroyed.

Color Swaps: The seven EMMI colors, then one based on Samus's base suit from the game.

Thanks for reading! Next up, a giant walking Chozo statue.

Character Sheet: Robot Chozo Soldier

ROBOT CHOZO SOLDIER

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

And now for the other half of this little bit of Dread storytelling. After Raven Beak's actual Mawkin soldiers were wiped out by the X-Parasites, he sealed himself in his safe zone and activated a team of robots to do his bidding for him. These are the Robot Chozo Soldiers who fight quite a bit differently from their formerly living counterparts, something I'm a little impressed by. That's not a direction I'd have thought to go.

Instead of the spears, the robots have large arm scythes, similar to many Space Pirate types and fight with those. They also shoot lasers at Samus (both bolts and beams), dash forward at high speed, and jump and spin with their blades. It's minimal, but enough.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Laser Bolt

The robot will fire lasers from its cannon as strong projectiles.

Side B: Laser Beam

The robot will fire one solid laser beam straight across the stage that can be moved around and will burn those it contacts.

Up B: Jump Spin

The robot will leap into the air and spin with its blade, not unlike Link's upward special.

Down B: Dash

The soldier will dash forward rapidly and slice with it scythe, using a sweet spot to send opponents flying.

Final Smash: Central Unit

One of the Central Units controlling the base on ZRD will appear, and start attacking the stage they way it would in its battles with Samus.

Entrance: The robot will drop and brandish its scythe.

Taunts: Up, it will seem to activate and stand up straighter. Side, it will swish its blade around warily. Down, it will seem to go to sleep.

Kirby Hat: Their head armor.

Kart: Based on a Central Unit.

Special Move: They will get a sudden speed boost and slash directly in front of them.

Spirit Battle: A three-on-one battle on Artaria.

Victory Screen: The soldier will deactivate and Raven Beak will stand proudly over it.

Losing Screen: The soldier will fall over, spark a little, then explode.

Color Swaps: The main design, and then colors based on the EMMIs.

Thanks for reading! Next up, the EMMIs themselves.

Character Sheet: Chozo Soldier

CHOZO SOLDIER

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

Today, we come to two specific types of enemies appearing in Metroid Dread. If I understood the plot correctly, basically these we're covering today were the Mawkin soldiers serving under Raven Beak until the X-Parasites broke loose and effectively wiped out the entire army, forcing Raven Beak to use the enemies we'll be covering tomorrow, leaving these here as X-Parasites pretending to be said soldiers.

So, our zombie formerly-Chozo soldiers-turned-X-Parasites primarily use spears, which they use to stab forward and down. They can also wall jump and dash, and carry a shield to protect themselves. They also spray goop from their mouths and launch forward a wave of sludge. All more than enough to make something out of.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Spear Strike

The Soldier will dash forward, stabbing with its spear for high damage.

Side B: Goop Spray

The soldier will open its mouth and spew goop forward across the ground, which will be slippery and do damage to those it touches.

Up B: Jump and Stab

The soldier will leap upward, seem to push off of a wall, and then come back down and stab with its spear into the ground.

Down B: Shield

The soldier will project its shield and protect itself from harm.

Final Smash: Parasitic Form

The soldier will start to transform and lose its shape, growing up into a large X-Parasite that then draws in and tries to absorb the other fighters around it.

Entrance: The soldier will drop down and hold out its spear.

Taunts: Up, it will stand and hold up its spear the way a loyal Mawkin would. Side, it will hold out its spear as if bidding its opponent forward. Down, it will start to lose its shape and become an X-Parasite for a second.

Kirby Hat: Their head armor.

Kart: Based on Mawkin architecture.

Special Move: They will hold out their spear and be able to strike from both sides.

Spirit Battle: A three-on-one battle on Artaria.

Victory Screen: The soldier will rise and hold up its spear proudly.

Losing Screen: The soldier will lose its form and return to being an X-Parasite.

Color Swaps: The main red design, the normal silver design, colors based on the various EMMIs.

Thanks for reading! Next up, their replacements used by Raven Beak.

Character Sheet: Autoad

AUTOAD

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

So, I noticed that there were quite a few "Aut-" enemies floating around, specifically in Metroid II and Dread, so I had to go digging a little bit to figure out their connects. Specifically what they are are robots created by the Chozo to patrol SR388 and are used by the warrior-like Mawkin tribe. These include the main Autoads, that walk around and shoot lasers; Autclasts, that slam down on the ground with heavy force and set off fiery explosions; Autectors, who spring up and self-destruct; Automs, who shoot a beam of fire downward; Autracks, that fire a cannon on an extendible arm; Autools, who alert EMMIs; Autsharps, who attack with spinning blades; and Autsnipers, who shoot you. I figure, between them all, we can make something. And since Autoads are the most basic, they get to be the face.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Autrack

The Autoad will extend a cannon on an adjustable arm, and fire from different heights that opponents will have to predict.

Side B: Autsharp

The Autoad will extend its spinning blades and dash forward, cutting anyone in its path.

Up B: Autector

The Autoad will shoot up into the air and let off a destructive explosion when it reaches its zenith.

Down B: Autclast

The Autoad will extend two large hammer arms and slam them down on either side of it, setting off small fiery explosions along the ground.

Final Smash: Autool

The Autoad will transform into an Autool, rise into the air and let out its beacon call. The lights will shut off, and the fighters will see flashes of EMMIs racing toward the stage and then striking all players they come across.

Entrance: The Autoad will activate and come to life.

Taunts: Up, it will extend a scope and look around. Side, it will set off the EMMI-summoning sound. Down, it will curl up and seem to go to sleep.

Kirby Hat: The single red eye covering one of Kirby's.

Kart: Based on the Autrack.

Special Move: A cannon will extend that will be able to target another player and fire a laser at it.

Spirit Battle: A horde on Artaria.

Victory Screen: The Autoad will let off a few satisfied beeps before curling up and going to sleep.

Losing Screen: It will break down, giving off a few sparks as its light goes out.

Color Swaps: Autoad, Autsniper, Autrack, Autom, Autsharp, Autclast, Autector, and Autool, or at least, a variant of Autoad based on each's design.

Thanks for reading! Next up, the Mawkin soldiers serving Raven Beak.

Character Sheet: X-Parasite

X-PARASITE

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

Please remind me to never EVER take a vacation to SR388. I have no intention of ever visiting a planet home to the most terrifyingly virulent parasite in existence, only kept in check by the second most terrifyingly virulent parasite in existence. I kinda don't blame the Federation for nuking the whole thing from orbit. Anyway, X-Parasites are parasites native to said planet, who ended up spreading like wildfire after their natural predators, the Metroids, were wiped out by Samus.

So, the main thing X-Parasites do is attach themselves to a host, rapidly replace the host's genetic structure with their own, and basically become them from the inside out, thus allowing them to shapeshift into the thing they took the form of. They also fire orbs of energy to attack, spawn more parasites, grow bigger, and freeze things with ice. The cross bomb from Fusion was also used by them at one point.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Spawn

The X-Parasite will spawn out up to three baby X-Parasites to follow it around.

Side B: Infest

The X-Parasite will send forward one of its offspring like a projectile. The X-Parasite will then latch itself to any opponent it strikes. The opponent will have a short window to break free before the parasite takes over. When this happens, the opponent will lose a life, but their body will remain on stage and go back to following its parent, slowly losing its form until it is thrown at another.

Up B: Shapeshift

The X-Parasite will shift into a Kihunter, Skree, or Dessgeega it absorbed and fly upwards for a short time.

Down B: Freeze

The X-Parasite will exude ice and freeze opponents in place for a second. Good to pair with Side B.

Final Smash: SR388 Destruction

X-Parasites will spread across the entire stage. We will then zoom out to the planet from a distance, see Samus's ship and then watch as the planet is destroyed entirely.

Entrance: A Hornoad will jump up, looking dead, and then shift into an X-Parasite.

Taunts: Up, it will weave up and down for a second. Side, it will spawn babies and then absorb them again. Down, it will change into a Hornoad and sniff around.

Kirby Hat: Basically, he'll be Kirby, but looking like he's been absorbed.

Kart: Based on a Hornoad.

Special Move: They will latch onto another player and slowly take over their controls.

Spirit Battle: A horde on SR388.

Victory Screen: They'll just keep spreading until you see a wide shot of various playable characters all looking like zombies.

Losing Screen: The shot of SR388 being destroyed will play.

Color Swaps: Yellow X, Green X, Red X, Blue X, Core-X, Orange X, Purple X, Mini-X

Thanks for reading! Probably the most generic enemy here.

Character Sheet: Metroid

METROID

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

And now for the namesakes and most important enemies of the Metroid series, the Metroids themselves. The Metroids were bio-engineered by the Chozo before being commandeered by Mother Brain and the Space Pirates as biological weapons of mass destruction. They are incredibly deadly and invasive parasites that Samus has had to exterminate on more than one occasion.

So, the typical version of the Metroid (specifically the Metroid Larva) doesn't look like much, just being a floaty jellyfish thing with teeth that latches on and drains energy, but later games (especially Metroid II) would expand upon their biology, with specific phases of Metroid from the larvae all the way up to the Queen. The Queen and other notable specific types won't be covered here, but the rest are shown flying, attacking with claws, shooting electricity, breathing fire, and throwing fireballs. All very much more than enough.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Drain

The most iconic Metroid move, so of course it has to be first. (I like to think Kirby's version of this would be really cute)

Side B: Fireballs

The Metroid will shoot bursts of energy from itself as projectiles.

Up B: Hatch

Its dome would crack open and its smaller Alpha self will rise out of it, rising quickly upward.

Down B: Electricity

It will let off bolts of electricity around itself, protecting it from harm and stunning those around it.

Final Smash: Super Metroid

The giant Super Metroid will appear on screen, attacking the stage and draining everyone on it of a lot of life before flying away.

Entrance: It will rise from a broken container.

Taunts: Up, it will swim upward really fast. Side, it will swish back and forth. Down, it will flop down on the ground and look drained.

Kirby Hat: The little jellyfish dome.

Kart: Based on the containers they're kept in.

Special Move: They will latch onto another player and let them carry them for a while.

Spirit Battle: A horde of ten on SR388.

Victory Screen: A horde of them will spread and infest everything in sight.

Losing Screen: A wide shot of SR388 will explode into nothing.

Color Swaps: Their normal larva form, an Alpha, a Gamma, a Zeta, a Tallon Metroid, a Phazon Metroid, the Super Metroid, and a Metroid with the colors of a frozen Metroid.

Thanks for reading! Next up, the unfortunate result of Samus's Metroid genocide.

Character Sheet: Kihunter

KIHUNTER

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

Not gonna lie, when I first saw them, I thought they were just the Paratroopa versions of the Space Pirates, but apparently they are very different, especially in later 3D games where they are distinctly more "bug" while the Pirates are more "lizard." Either way, Kihunters had been around since Super Metroid, and often pose your biggest common aerial threat.

Naturally, the Kihunters can fly on their big bug wings, are seen spitting acid at their opponents, grabbing them, shooting off energy orbs, and draining their opponents of energy. They also have a King appearing in Metroid: Other M.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Acid Spit

The Kihunter will spew acid forward, dealing heavy damage that will increase over time.

Side B: Energy Orb

The Kihunter will fire orbs of energy as projectiles from some of the games where they have guns of their own.

Up B: Fly Away

The Kihunter will launch into the sky on its wings, darting quickly and rapidly the way a bug would.

Down B: Energy Parasite

The Kihunter will lash forward with its claws, grabbing and holding anyone close enough and draining them of their energy and life force.

Final Smash: King Kihunter

The King Kihunter will hang from the ceiling, spewing acid and summoning swarms to defend it. Finally, it will break off and slam down on the stage, sending players flying.

Entrance: They will emerge from a hive.

Taunts: Up, the Kihunter will let out a loud screech. Side, the Kihunter will zip side to side on its wings. Down, the Kihunter will dig at the ground, lapping up whatever it finds.

Kirby Hat: Their heads and wings.

Kart: Based on the King Kihunter hive.

Special Move: They will spew a patch of acid that will cause players to slip and also do damage.

Spirit Battle: A horde battle on Crateria.

Victory Screen: The swarm will take their spoils and fly away.

Losing Screen: Their nest will fall and break apart, crumbling into nothing.

Color Swaps: Their green form, their red form, their yellow form, their teal form, a bee-based form, a black form, their appearance in Other M, and their appearance in Smash Run.

Thanks for reading! Next up, the single most important enemy types in the series.

Character Sheet: Space Pirate

SPACE PIRATE

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

Next up, we have the Space Pirates, or Zebesians (even though canonically the Chozo come from Zebes, so it doesn't make sense, but no matter). These are the main grunts of the space pirate army, tall reptilian beings generally with blades along their arms who can cling to walls and so on. They didn't appear until Super Metroid, but Zero Mission retroactively included them in the previous story arc.

As far as their abilities, Space Pirates come with claws and blades on their arms, can fire energy beams, throw their claws, cling and hop from wall to wall, kick, swim, and fire wave beams. It's also worth noting, for Up B purposes that the 3D games include jetpacks to fly around with, because otherwise I might have used Kihunter wings or something.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Blade Slash

The Space Pirate will slash forward with its blade. If it connects with another body, it will simply slash. If not, it will fly forward a short distance and come back.

Side B: Energy Beam

They will fire the energy beams that they are known for throughout the games.

Up B: Rocket Pack

The space pirate's jetpack from the Prime games will open up, lifting them off the ground and into the air. The player can perform other attacks while in the air.

Down B: Pirate Kick

The Space Pirate will perform a kick, slashing and clawing with its legs if it connects. I figure the clinging to walls can just be a natural thing they are good at.

Final Smash: Horde Attack

A Space Pirate Mothership will appear, opening up and dropping a horde of pirates down onto the stage to ravage and pillage to their heart's content.

Entrance: They will drop down from an airship.

Taunts: Up, they will raise their blade to the sky. Side, they will take up a fighting stance and let out a warning screech. Down, they will crouch and look around.

Kirby Hat: Their heads with their big buggy eyes.

Kart: Based on their weapons and ships.

Special Move: They will be able to attack to the side with their blades.

Spirit Battle: A horde battle on Space Pirate Mothership.

Victory Screen: A horde of them will raise their blades into the air in victory.

Losing Screen: They will try to run as the planet self-destructs beneath their feet.

Color Swaps: Their teal-ish original color, their green color, their red color, their pink color, their purple Fusion color, their Metroid Prime look, their Prime 3 look, a look based on Weavel.

Thanks for reading! Next up, their winged buglike allies, the Kihunters!

Character Sheet: SA-X

SA-X

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

And now, we come to SA-X, considered by many to be one of the most terrifying of Samus's foes. SA-X appears in Metroid Fusion, an X-Parasite that copied Samus's form and abilities and then proceeded to stalk her throughout the Biologic Space Laboratories, always being just a few rooms behind her. Now, the moves SA-X is specifically shown using are missiles, super bombs, ice beams, and the screw attack, before turning into a monster at the end. Honestly, though, simpler answer is just to make it Samus's echo, especially as Dark Samus has a lot of her own stuff going on.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Charge Beam

Will look more like an X-Parasite growing larger instead of energy building.

Side B: Missile

They should specifically match the look of the missiles in Fusion specifically.

Up B: Screw Attack

SA-X should lose its form and become all blobby for just a second.

Down B: Bombs

Specifically those bombs as seen in Fusion.

Final Smash: Monster Form

The biggest difference from Samus. SA-X will take on its gigantic monster form from the end of the game and stomp around.

Entrance: It will slowly walk on with its sound effects.

Taunts: Each should be an attempted recreation of Samus's taunts, but each one is just a little off in different ways.

Kirby Hat: Samus's helmet but with SA-X face

Kart: Based on Samus's ship from Fusion.

Special Move: It will mirror a nearby fighter, moving into position directly behind them and performing all the same maneuvers as them for a short time, also only ever targeting them with items.

Spirit Battle: One-on-one, on Biologic Space Laboratories.

Victory Screen: It will infect its opponent and become them, recreating their victory pose.

Losing Screen: It will freeze and then fall apart.

Color Swaps: All of Samus's color swaps, just with a very distinct SA-X face on the visor.

Thanks for reading! Next up, the primary henchmen of Ridley and bulk of his forces.

Character Sheet: Raven Beak

RAVEN BEAK

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

Next up, we come to the new villain of Metroid Dread, a Chozo warlord of the Mawkin tribe who wished to use the Metroids to bring order to the entire galaxy under his rule, but after X-Parasites wiped out most of his people and Samus had wiped out the Metroids, he concocted a new plan to use the Metroid DNA within Samus to create a new breed of them.

In his appearances and boss battles, Raven Beak showed himself capable of firing a laser blast, leaping really high, absorbing energy, dashing at high speeds, throwing an orb of darkness, firing an energy beam, flying with wings, stomping down with his foot, and setting off a supernova blast. I think that's more than enough.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Energy Blast

He will charge up and fire a straight beam of energy across the stage.

Side B: Dash Attack

He will dash forward at high speeds and swipe with his weapon.

Up B: Flying Stomp

He will extend his wings and leap up into the air before coming down with a stomp on the ground.

Down B: Energy Absorption

He will grab and hold an enemy, absorbing energy from them and healing himself.

Final Smash: Supernova

He will let off a powerful and fiery blast around himself, taking everyone with it.

Entrance: He will land in a "superhero" pose and spin his weapon.

Taunts: Up, he will raise his weapon to the sky in a chant. Side, he will hold out his hand and beckon you to come. Down, he will bring his claws together and look angrily at his opponents.

Kirby Hat: His headdress.

Kart: Based on Mawkin architecture.

Special Move: He can absorb energy from other racers, slowing them down for a while.

Spirit Battle: A one-on-one fight on Artaria.

Victory Screen: He will laugh evilly as a new breed of Metroid surround him.

Losing Screen: An X-Parasite will infect him and he will fall over dead before rising again.

Color Swaps: His normal color, and a color swap matching each of the seven EMMIs.

Thanks for reading! Next up, the final "main villain" for now (except Metroid Queen, I guess?)

Character Sheet: Kraid

KRAID

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

And now for . . . Ridley's right-hand man? Mother Brain and Ridley's pet? I'm not sure. We don't really go into him and his true intelligence level the same way we do his two co-conspirators. Either way, he was part of the scheme from the beginning, acting as the boss of Brinstar in both Metroid and Super Metroid before cropping up again as Raven Beak's hostage in Metroid Dread.

Kraid typically appears as a big green monster living in lava, with big claws and teeth that he attacks with, and three big spots of spikes protruding from his belly that he shoots as projectiles. His appearance in Dread offered him up plasma breath, bombs that he could drop, and a big neck harness keeping him restrained and chained to the ceiling. I think we can do enough with this.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Spikes

He will shoot a burst of spikes from his belly as piercing projectiles.

Side B: Claw Slam

He will stretch one of his big claws forward and slam it down, dragging it back toward him and bringing anything caught by the attack with it.

Up B: Harness

His harness from Dread will suddenly retract, yanking him up by the neck and off his feet for a few seconds.

Down B: Plasma Breath

He will throw his head back and then place it low to the ground, releasing a wave of damaging plasma across the ground in front of him.

Final Smash: Smash Rotation

He will grow up to gigantic size and appear in the background of the stage, roaring for a second before slashing the stage and making the entire thing turn ninety degrees, causing characters to fall to their doom.

Entrance: He will burst up out of lava.

Taunts: Up, he will roar and spew plasma into the air. Side, he will get down, shake his head and roar. Down, he will slash downward much as he would in the Brinstar Depths stage.

Kirby Hat: His head with the three eyes.

Kart: Based on himself.

Special Move: He will have three shots of spikes he can shoot straight forward.

Spirit Battle: A giant battle on Brinstar.

Victory Screen: He will burst up out of the lava in his giant size and roar.

Losing Screen: He will let out a dying screech and fall back into the lava.

Color Swaps: His normal green, a red skin, a purple skin like Ridley, a blue skin, a black skin, a white skin, a gold skin, his more detailed Dread version.

Thanks for reading! Next up, a brand-new villain for a brand-new era.

Character Sheet: Ridley

RIDLEY

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

Ridley is my favorite. Of all time. Not even just in Metroid. I wanted him so badly in Smash, and I was over the moon when I got him. He is, in many ways, the true villain of the Metroid series, the leader of the Space Pirates and a cruel, conniving sadist who formed an alliance with Mother Brain to wipe out the Chozo and massacred Samus's parents right in front of her purely out of spite. He's also a giant purple space dragon, which is awesome too.

Already, we have a lot to work with for him, including his flight, his fireballs, his ability to hop on his tail like a pogo stick, his tendency to grab his opponents with his claws and slam them into the wall or ground, and his ability to attack with his tail (both sweeping and stabbing). It should be noted as well that his clone from Metroid: Other M went through several life stages, including a small fuzzy baby form, then a large hairy lizard form, before finally reaching his adult stage. I have to assume that Ridley prime went through a similar metamorphosis in his life.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Fireballs

He will shoot out a string of fireballs that will bounce forward, just like his iconic attack.

Side B: Dragon Slam

Just like in Smash, he will grab the nearest opponent and then slam them into the ground, sliding forward with them in lieu of a wall to do it with.

Up B: Dragon Flight

He will launch upward at high speed on his draconic wings.

Down B: Tail Stab

Just like in Smash (because I love it as a move), he will stab his tail forward, with a heavily damaging sweet spot.

Final Smash: Ridley's Rage

Although his final smash from Ultimate is not directly pulled from anything, it mirrors his theming and his battles with Samus so well that I can't not use it.

Entrance: He will swoop in from the background and roar.

Taunts: Up, he will throw his head back and roar loudly. Side, he will grasp a jar with a Metroid inside it. Down, he will get down on all fours and splay his wings menacingly.

Kirby Hat: His little purple head with wings.

Kart: Based on Zebesian tech.

Special Move: He will grab another kart and then slam them along the track for a stretch.

Spirit Battle: A giant battle on Norfair.

Victory Screen: He will land and let out a victorious screech as the sky turns dark.

Losing Screen: He will burst into flames and screech in agony as he falls down into the depths.

Color Swaps: His standard purple, his red from various marketing, his old Metroid 1 look, his Metroid Other M look, Neo Ridley from Fusion, his hairy juvenile form from Other M, a gold look, a black look reminiscent of Meta Ridley.

Thanks for reading! Next up, his monster-in-crime, Kraid.

Character Sheet: MB

MB

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

And now, something completely different! MB, aka Melissa Bergman, is the main villain of Metroid: Other M, a clone of Mother Brain placed in a human body with the intent to allow the Federation to control Metroids. She ended up going rogue, massacring everyone in the facility, and taking over the various monsters inside it. She doesn't do too much herself, mostly just carrying a gun around, but there were five distinct monsters solely unique to this game that all had movesets of their own, so I thought, hey, let's use that mind control factor and do a Pokemon trainer thing with it.

The five creatures are the Ghalmanians, Griptians, Kyratians, Desbrachians, and Rhedogians. I like to think of them as the Scorpions, Sandslashes, Pikachus, Butterflies, and Big Spiky Things respectively. The Ghalmanians could headbutt, spit acid, claw with their tongue, grab with their tail, and turn invisible. The Griptians could roll around, slash, punch, burrow, fly, and shoot spikes. The Kyratians could fire off electrical blasts, shield themselves, set off an overblast, spin, and kick. The Desbrachians could fly, slash, slam, set off an energy wave, and seal themselves in a cocoon. The Rhedogians could fly, fire a big laser, set off remote lasers around themselves, lash with their tentacles, and slam.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B:

GHAL: Acid Spit, GRIP: Spikes, KYRA: Electric Blast, DESB: Energy Wave, RHED: Laser Blast

Side B: Rinka

GHAL: Claw Tongue, GRIP: Roll, KYRA: Electric Shield, DESB: Cocoon, RHED: Tentacle Slash

Up B: Slam

GHAL: Invisibility, GRIP: Flight, KYRA: Electric Spin, DESB: Flight, RHED: Remote Lasers

Down B: Monster Call

Obviously, the switch out mechanic. Melissa will let off a burst of psychic energy and summon a different monster to the field from where she's standing in the background. Standalone options for each monster include those moves not used above.

Final Smash: Mental Breakdown

Basically that part in the finale of the game where Melissa starts letting off bursts of psychic energy around her that summon a horde to devour her enemies.

Entrance: Melissa will focus and summon a monster to the field, which will appear through shattering glass.

Taunts: Various for all, different types of roars or behaviors specific to the creature. Some with Melissa saying some things from the game.

Kirby Hat: Ghalmanian head with a little stinger, Griptian head and spikes, Kyratian electric rods, Desbrachian wings, and little versions of the Rhedogian tentacles.

Kart: Based on the Bottle Ship

Special Move: Melissa will call in one of these creatures to run alongside her and attack.

Spirit Battle: A team battle of all five on Pyrosphere.

Victory Screen: She will stand at a console and look evilly down upon her monsters.

Losing Screen: She will be shot with several lasers and fall, her monsters scattering.

Color Swaps: Oh, so many. I believe just doing like a standard run of colors, plus their main colors would work fine. Something like base form, red schemes, blue schemes, yellow schemes, green schemes, purple schemes, black schemes, and white schemes, Melissa having a matching uniform for each, would work just fine.

Thanks for reading! And now, for my absolute favorite. Ever. In any series.

Character Sheet: Mother Brain

MOTHER BRAIN

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

Mother Brain is ostensibly the main villain of the Metroid franchise and the final boss of Metroid, Super Metroid, and technically Metroid: Other M. She is an AI created by the Chozo, specifically to find the best solutions to all problems and create a utopia, with the power to control Metroids telepathically. Like many notable AI of fiction, she went rogue, forged an alliance with Ridley and the Space Pirates, and wiped out her Chozo masters.

Although basically just a giant brain in a jar in the first game, Super Metroid gives her a big t-rex-looking body, which makes her available for a moveset. She shoots a laser from her big singular eye in both forms, is protected by energy barriers and has Rinkas floating around her in her orginal form, and drops exploding rocks from the ceiling and throws energy disks in her monstrous form. I would say we have more than enough here.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Eye Beam

She will fire a blast from her big eye, diagonally down in front of her.

Side B: Rinka

She will send Rinkas flying forward, knocking into players and doing slight damage while being a nuisance.

Up B: Slam

She will leap up just a little bit and come back down hard, causing rocks to fall around her as a result.

Down B: Energy Barrier

She will cause the electrical barriers that Samus has to get through to get to her to appear before her, protecting her from harm and doing damage.

Final Smash: Brain in a Jar

Basically her Assist Trophy appearance from Smash Ultimate.

Entrance: The glass jar will break and she will emerge with her monster body.

Taunts: Up, she will let out a terrifying roar. Side, Rinkas will spin around her. Down, she will revert to her "brain in a jar" form.

Kirby Hat: The big brain and eye.

Kart: Her glass jar on wheels.

Special Move: Rinkas will spin around her, flying off to attack anyone who gets too close.

Spirit Battle: A giant battle on Tourian.

Victory Screen: Metroids will scour the galaxy before her as she looks on.

Losing Screen: Her jar will explode and she will fall as her surroundings start to shake and alarms blare.

Color Swaps: Her normal look, a Ridley color scheme, a Kraid color scheme, a Chozo color scheme, a Samus color scheme, a Metroid color scheme, a Phantoon color scheme, and a Draygon color scheme.

Thanks for reading! Next up, we get to figure out how to do a Pokemon Trainer-style moveset!

Character Sheet: Adam Malkovitch

ADAM MALKOVITCH

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus Aran

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

Today, we'll be covering Samus's mentor Adam, or rather, we will be covering the typical Federation soldiers, most notably seen in Metroid: Other M, as well as Prime 3: Corruption and a few others. Adam will take the place of the first color swap, followed by Anthony Higgs, and the rest of their band, with their faces showing and their names listed at their icon. Their moveset will pull from all soldiers seen across the series, meaning they will be updated when Corruption rolls around.

So, the Federation soldiers aren't much more than pretty basic as far as fighters go, with lasers, bombs, freeze guns, and plasma cannons at their disposal, all plenty to make a moveset off of. Honestly, the most difficult thing here is an upward mobility move, as nothing I've seen suggests they have anything like a rocket pack or anything in their normal armor. I'll figure it out.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Plasma Cannon

The standard powerful firearm will do nicely here, with them acting at least similar to Samus's but more in a beam format.

Side B: Freeze Gun

They will fire a freezing blast, trapping an opponent in place for a short time.

Up B: Extraction

A Federation ship will appear above them, lending them a rope to cling onto as they are airlifted out of trouble.

Down B: Mine

The Marine will roll a mine along the floor, much as James Pierce did to try and take out his comrades. It will roll a short distance and then explode.

Final Smash: Federation Assault

Several federation ships will fly in, letting out at least a dozen Marines who will then rush the stage, taking on every fighter they see.

Entrance: They will be dropped off by a Federation ship.

Taunts: Up, they will salute and stand at attention. Side, they will check their gun and make a bored comment. Down, the Marine will hold out their hand and show a "thumbs down" sign.

Kirby Hat: Either their standard helmets, or Adam's hat-thing.

Kart: A kart based on a Federation ship.

Special Move: They will be able to call down a strike from an airship.

Spirit Battle: A horde battle on the Federation Force stage.

Victory Screen: Adam will stand and salute, and say "good work, team."

Losing Screen: James Pierce will stand alone, speaking into a comm and saying the mission has been completed.

Color Swaps: Adam Malkovitch, Anthony Higgs, Lyle Smithsonian, Maurice Favreau, James Pierce, K.G. Misawa, a generic soldier, and Castor Dane.

Thanks for reading! Next up, we get started on the villains already.

Character Sheet: Samus Aran

SAMUS ARAN

And now, let's take a quick break to go over our new characters from the six games that fall under the "Metroid" label (no Primes or remakes). As you can see, we have twenty (or twenty-five to be more accurate, but we'll get to those. They are:

1. Samus

2. Adam Malkovitch

3. Mother Brain

4. MB*

5. Ridley

6. Kraid

7. Raven Beak

8. SA-X

9. Space Pirate

10. Kihunter

11. Metroid

12. X-Parasite

13. Autoad

14. Chozo Soldier

15. Robot Chozo Soldier

16. EMMI

17. Torizo

18. Phantoon

19. Nightmare

20. Metroid Queen

Samus Aran is our protagonist, the first major female video game protagonist (after Ms. Pac-Man, of course), a bounty hunter raised by a race called the Chozo and trained from childhood to do superhuman feats of strength and agility, bolstered by a special power suit designed just for her. She is often called in to dangerous situation, to wipe out alien parasites created as a result of malevolent bio-engineering. She is awesome.

Samus comes equipped with several staples of her suit, including multiple forms of beams, bombs, and missiles, all of which can do various things and take out enemies in ways the others can't. She can also roll up into a ball (don't question what that would do to her spine), and perform several moves that allow her to get up high, like the screw attack, the hi-jump boots, and the space jump. Honestly, her moveset was well planned out by the Smash developers.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Charge Beam

Charge beam works well enough, though it would be reasonable to have a bunch of her beams, like the ice beam, the spazer beam, and the wide beam in there too.

Side B: Missile

Just like the charge beam, this is a perfectly reasonable option to stick here. I also like the Missile/Super Missile option they worked in with it.

Up B: Screw Attack

Any of them would work, but Screw Attack is very iconic, so let's keep it.

Down B: Bombs

Naturally, this has to be bombs. Bombs are so important in the Metroid series.

Final Smash: Multiple Options

The big wide beam that she uses is fine, although I can't think of a specific move it pulls from in the series itself. She could also call in her ship the way Zero-Suit does, and she could use things like the Omega Cannon and such from more modern games.

Entrance: She will step out of a lift

Taunts: Up, she will raise her arm and fix her cannon for a second. Side, she will hold out her arm and tap on it for a second to look over her mission. Down, she will crouch and look ready.

Kirby Hat: Her helmet

Kart: Based on her ship

Special Move: She can turn into a morph ball and cross non-track areas faster than she normally could.

Spirit Battle: Solo battle, on Planet Zebes, with specific Metroid series items dropping around the stage periodically.

Victory Screen: She will float in a beam of light as the power-up song plays.

Losing Screen: She will look stunned as her suit shatters off of her.

Color Swaps: Varia Suit, Power Suit, Gravity Suit, Fusion Suit, Omega Suit, Metroid Suit, Dark Samus-based suit, helmet-less suit.

Thanks for reading! Next up, Samus's mentor and other fellow Space Marines.

Metroid: Other M

METROID: OTHER M

Psst . . . do you get it? The initials say MOM. Also putting M in front of Other makes Mother. Honestly, if I had a nickel . . . 

Anyway, Metroid: Other M is a bit of a black sheep of the Metroid franchise, with most seeming to hate it. I honestly think the badness was oversold to me a little, as I had been led to believe that Samus had been portrayed as this sniveling weak coward in the Ridley scene and that Adam had been a massive abusive jerk, and then I ended up watching it and was like . . . that's it? She's a little stunned for a second? And he's a bit on the more "hard mentor" side, but not even egregiously? Did everyone overreact? I think everyone overreacted. Anyhoo, the story follows Samus as she responds to a distress call on a scientific vessel, only to find the crew dead and encountering a Federation unit led by Adam Malkovitch.

Samus returns, as always. She brings with her her power suit and her charge beam, also gaining a morph ball, bombs, missiles, power bombs, the ice beam, her speed booster, the wave beam, the grapple beam, super missiles, the space jump, the screw attack, the gravity suit, and the power bombs. She also appears as Zero Suit Samus, though only briefly and she quickly suits up.

We get to see Adam Malkovitch alive, with the game showing the events leading up to his death. He leads a team of Federation soldiers made up of Samus's friend Anthony Higgs, Lyle Smithsonian, Maurice Favreau, James Pierce, and K.G. Misawa. All six are shown using lasers, bombs, freeze guns, regular guns, and plasma cannons throughout. One of them is also a traitor (though that ends up being unresolved in-game, it was revealed to be Pierce by the game's directors). Another important ally is Madeline Bergman, the last remaining scientist on the Bottle Ship.

Our villain turns out to be MB, a recreation of Mother Brain intended to control the Metroids but put into a cloned human body dubbed Melissa Bergman, that Madeline had gotten attached to. MB went rogue, using her mental powers to control the monsters held in the facility and kill all the scientists. MB is shown to have superhuman strength and uses a gun, but her real notable ability comes in her ability to control monsters, something we will come back to in a moment.

The base is full of a number of other returning bosses, all cloned from those Samus had fought in the past. These included the Metroid Queen, Ridley, Phantoon, and Nightmare. The Metroid Queen could bite and breathe fire, and was surrounded by her eggs. Ridley started out in a small fuzzy form that proved surprisingly violent, grew into a middle stage, and finally took on his true form once again. He could fly, bite, breath fire, crawl on the wall, slam Samus into the wall, swipe with his tail, and drop a fire bomb. Nightmare had tentacles and lasers, crawled around on its belly, and made its arm glow. Phantoon had tentacles and could throw energy orbs.

There's also a set of mini-bosses (I guess) that Samus would have to face regularly while on special lifts. These include the reptilian Ghalmanians, who can headbutt, spit acid, strike with a clawlike tongue, grab with their tail, and turn invisible; the digging Griptians, who can roll, slash with claws, punch, burrow into the ground, shoot spikes, and fly with wings; the electrical Kyratians, who could fire electric blasts from rods on their back, spin, kick, create a shield around themselves, and let off an overblast; the butterfly-like Desbrachians, who can fly, slash, slam, give off an energy wave, and shield themselves in a cocoon; and the big Rhedogians, who could fly, fire a big laser, fire remote lasers, slash with its tentacles, and slam hard on the ground. I bring these all up because they all have solid movesets, and could possibly fall under MB's control.

Other bosses include the Brug Mass, a big mass of the Brug enemies; the King Kihunter, who just kind of hangs out in its next; the plant-like Groganch; the big-armored Asborean; the draconic Goyagma; the fish-like Vorash; and the RB176 Ferrocrusher, piloted by the traitor, that throws crates and shoots missiles.

Returning enemies include Geemers, Wavers, Reos, Skrees, Dessgeegas, Sidehoppers, Namihes, Funes, Zeroes, Skulteras, Bulls, Mellas, Magdollites, with Kihunters, and Zebesians. The Kihunters could fly, drain energy, grab, and shoot energy orbs. The Zebesians could crawl on walls and shoot lasers and wave beams. New enemies include Cyclaws, Dragotixes, Gigafraugs, FG-II Grahams, Whipvines, Himellas, Volfons, Fumbleyes, Sandfangs, and Baristutes.

Most of the game takes place in the Bottle Ship, a scientific vessel where a bunch of cloning was going on, recreating most of the monsters Samus had destroyed. The ship had a main sector and sector zero, then had three biome spheres containing specific types of life, including the jungle-like Biosphere, the cold Cryosphere, and the superhot Pyrosphere. There is also a Federation vessel that Samus starts out on.

And that should be just about it! Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Samus Aran: power suit, power beam, morph ball, missile, long beam, bomb, ice beam, high jump boots, Varia Suit, Screw Attack, wave beam, spider ball, spring ball, space jump, spazer beam, plasma beam, Speed Booster, Grappling Beam, X-Ray Scope, Gravity Suit, Hyper Beam, Fusion Suit, wide beam, power bombs, omega suit, Omega Cannon, spider magnet, phantom cloak, flash shift, pulse radar, cross bomb, storm missiles, drain, giant beam, glowing hand.

Zero-Suit Samus: All listed above (except suits of course)

Adam Malkovitch/Anthony Higgs/Lyle Smithsonian/Maurice Favreau/James Pierce/K.G. Misawa: lasers, bombs, freeze guns, guns, plasma cannons, traitor

Quiet Robe

EMMI: grab, wall climb, crawl, scan, rampage, energy spike

Mother Brain: laser, glass casing, Rinkas, energy barriers, T-Rex body, eye beam, explosive rocks, energy disks

MB: mental powers, superhuman strength, gun, control monsters

Ridley: hop, fireballs, flying, swinging tail, screen attack, tail bounce, fire breath, grab and lift, fuzzy form, middle stage, fly, bite, breath fire, crawl on wall, slam into wall, swipe with tail, fire bomb

Kraid: blades, spikes, bombs, claw, plasma breath, bite, neck harness

Raven Beak: laser blast, leap, absorb energy, dash, scan, orb of darkness, energy beam, wings, stomp, supernova

X-Parasite: attach, orbs, shapeshift, more parasites, ice, get big, cross bomb

SA-X: missiles, super bombs, ice beam, screw attack, monster, stomp

Neo-Ridley

Phantoon: ghost, drop fire, ring of fire, tentacles, energy orbs

Nightmare: tentacles, lasers, crawl on belly, arm glow

Crocomire: charge, slash, skeleton

Metroid: float, drain energy, rise from shell, fly, claws, electricity, fire, fireballs

Metroid Queen: stretch neck, spike balls, swallow, spit up Samus, breathe fire, bite

Baby Metroid

Space Pirate: claw, energy beam, cling to wall, hop from walls, kick, throw claws, lasers, swim, wave beams

Torizo: walk, spit bombs, rubble, energy waves, jump, drop eggs

Chozo Soldier: spear, wall jump, stab down, dash, sludge wave, goop spray, shield

Robot Chozo Soldier: laser, arm scythe, dash, laser beam, jump spin

Kihunters: fly, spit acid, drain energy, grab, energy orbs, King Kihunter

Ghalmanians: headbutt, spit acid, clawlike tongue, grab with tail, invisible

Griptians: roll, slash, punch, burrow, spikes, fly

Kyratians: electric blasts, spin, kick, shield, overblast

Desbrachians: fly, slash, slam, energy wave, cocoon

Rhedogians: fly, big laser, remote lasers, tentacles, slam

Hornoad

Autom: look into

Bosses:

Arachnus

Phantoon

Draygon

Crocomire

Botwoon

Spore Spawn

Zazabi

Serris

Yakuza

Nettori

Nightmare

Neo-Ridley

Corpius

Drogyga

Golzuna

Escue

Experiment No. Z-57

Stages:

Planet Zebes

Brinstar

Norfair

Tourian

SR388

Ceres Space Colony

Crateria

Maridia

Wrecked Ship

Biologic Space Laboratories

ZDR

Artaria

Cataris

Dairon

Burenia

Ghavoran

Ferenia

Elun

Hanubia

Itorash

Bottle Ship

Biosphere

Cryosphere

Pyrosphere

Thanks for reading! And now, let's take a break and do a batch of character sheets, starting with our leading lady herself.

Metroid Dread

METROID DREAD

The history of Metroid Dread is long and complicated. First planned in 2005 but cancelled due to technical limitations, it was unveiled fifteen years later and released in 2022 to worldwide acclaim. It acts as a sequel to Fusion, with Samus being sent to the planet ZDR after evidence that some X-Parasites had survived SR388's destruction had resulted in seven E.M.M.I. robots disppearing there.

Samus is our returning hero, starting out with a basic suit (still stuck in one as she is still part Metroid now). She comes with her Omega Cannon and Charge Beam, but also picks up the spider magnet, phantom cloak, wide beam, morph ball, bombs, flash shift, grapple beam, pulse radar, super missiles, plasma beam, ice missiles, cross bomb, storm missiles, space jump, power bombs, a drain ability, a giant beam, and a glowing hand that destroys the E.M.M.I.s.

Adam Malkovitch returns again as Samus's AI computer, and an old Chozo named Quiet Robe functions as an ally for Samus as well. EMMIs were robots designed to be allies to Samus, but they were corrupted by the game's villain and now stalk the game, hunting down Samus and killing her instantly if they ever catch her. They can grab, wall climb, crawl, scan, rampage at full speed, and stab Samus through with an energy spike. There are seven of them, who all behave slightly differently, but each has those same basic abilities.

Raven Beak is our main villain, a Chozo from a warrior clan using X-Parasites for his own purposes. His presence around Samus also excites the Metroid DNA within her, causing it to rapidly accelerate and take over her body. He can fire a laser blast, leap, absorb energy, dash really fast, scan with a laser, create an orb or darkness, fire an energy beam, fly with wings, stomp, and create a supernova. The X-Parasites also maintain a strong presence, shapeshifting, spawning offspring, and using the cross bomb.

Other bosses include the returning Kraid, who can spit up bombs, claw, fire spikes, spew plasma, and bite, all while being restrained by a neck harness that pulls him back. After him we have Corpius, a scorpion-thing with a stinger that can turn invisible; Drogyga, an aquatic thing with tentacles that can shoot fireballs; Golzuna, a big spider-like thing; Escue, a big flying thing; and Experiment No. Z-57, a bio-experiment with tentacles that can shoot lasers. After them, we also have the Central Units that supply the power to kill EMMIs, and two types of Chozo Soldiers. The regular ones carry spears, can wall jump, stab down, dash, throw out waves of sludge and spray goop, and carry shields. The Robot Chozo Soldiers shoot lasers, are equipped with arm scythes, can dash, shoot laser beams, and jump spin.

After them, it's a whole lot of enemies doing the same things as before. Generally one specific ability, filling a certain niche, and generally, they all come with different names. These include Armadiggers, Batalloons, Blindflies, Caterzillas, Chozo Zombies, Daivos, Depthorns, Dizzeans, Dredheds, Dropters, Fings, Fulmites, Gobblers, Muzbies, Gooplots, Gooshockers, Ground Shockers, Hecathons, Icefleas, Infesters, Klaidas, Kreeps, Lightened Krills, Lum Ells, Nailongs, Nailuggers, Obsydomithons, Omnithons, Planteaters, Plies, Quetzoas, Redenkis, Rock Divers, Rods, Rodotuks, Sabotorus, Sakais, Sclawks, Scourges, Sea Slugs, Shakernauts, Sharpaws, Shelmits, Siluros, Slaagas, Slidles, Spitclawks, Spittails, Sunnaps, Takumakus, Vulkrans, Yampas, Yojimbees, and five machines starting with Aut-, including Autclast, Autector, Autool, Autsharp, and Autsniper. And now that I'm putting the blogs together, I'm noticing a few of these, so I'm going to go back over them all on my own time and see what's there.

As for stages, the whole thing takes place on the Planet ZDR, a Chozo outpost inhabited by the warlike Mawkin tribe. Each region has slight variations, but its all mostly "alien world" so . . . there's Artaria, Cataris, Dairon, Burenia, Ghavoran, Ferenia, Elun, Hanubia, and Itorash, Itorash having a sort of capitol/temple kind of vibe to it.

And that should be it! Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Samus Aran: power suit, power beam, morph ball, missile, long beam, bomb, ice beam, high jump boots, Varia Suit, Screw Attack, wave beam, spider ball, spring ball, space jump, spazer beam, plasma beam, Speed Booster, Grappling Beam, X-Ray Scope, Gravity Suit, Hyper Beam, Fusion Suit, wide beam, power bombs, omega suit, Omega Cannon, spider magnet, phantom cloak, flash shift, pulse radar, cross bomb, storm missiles, drain, giant beam, glowing hand.

Zero-Suit Samus: All listed above (except suits of course)

Adam Malkovitch

Quiet Robe

EMMI: grab, wall climb, crawl, scan, rampage, energy spike

Mother Brain: laser, glass casing, Rinkas, energy barriers, T-Rex body, eye beam, explosive rocks, energy disks

Ridley: hop, fireballs, flying, swinging tail, screen attack, tail bounce, fire breath, grab and lift

Kraid: blades, spikes, bombs, claw, plasma breath, bite, neck harness

Raven Beak: laser blast, leap, absorb energy, dash, scan, orb of darkness, energy beam, wings, stomp, supernova

X-Parasite: attach, orbs, shapeshift, more parasites, ice, get big, cross bomb

SA-X: missiles, super bombs, ice beam, screw attack, monster, stomp

Neo-Ridley

Phantoon: ghost, drop fire, ring of fire

Crocomire: charge, slash, skeleton

Metroid: float, drain energy, rise from shell, fly, claws, electricity, fire, fireballs

Metroid Queen: stretch neck, spike balls, swallow, spit up Samus

Baby Metroid

Space Pirate: claw, energy beam, cling to wall, hop from walls, kick, throw claws, lasers, swim

Torizo: walk, spit bombs, rubble, energy waves, jump, drop eggs

Chozo Soldier: spear, wall jump, stab down, dash, sludge wave, goop spray, shield

Robot Chozo Soldier: laser, arm scythe, dash, laser beam, jump spin

Kihunters: fly, spit acid

Hornoad

Autom: look into

Bosses:

Arachnus

Phantoon

Draygon

Crocomire

Botwoon

Spore Spawn

Zazabi

Serris

Yakuza

Nettori

Nightmare

Neo-Ridley

Corpius

Drogyga

Golzuna

Escue

Experiment No. Z-57

Stages:

Planet Zebes

Brinstar

Norfair

Tourian

SR388

Ceres Space Colony

Crateria

Maridia

Wrecked Ship

Biologic Space Laboratories

ZDR

Artaria

Cataris

Dairon

Burenia

Ghavoran

Ferenia

Elun

Hanubia

Itorash

Thanks for reading! And now, the black sheep game that still falls under the title of Metroid as opposed to Metroid Prime.

Metroid Fusion

METROID FUSION

Today, let's cover Metroid Fusion, the chronological second to last game in the series, as of 2023, set quite a bit after every other game in the series. The game opens with Samus and a crew returning to SR388 on a scouting mission, only for Samus to be infected by a dangerous parasite that had previously been kept in check by its natural predators, the Metroids, until Samus wiped them out, allowing them to spread without limit. Samus is saved by being injected with Metroid DNA, fusing her into a special new suit. A little while later, the lab she had been at sends out a distress call, with her arriving to find that pretty much everything in the base has been wiped out after one of the parasites they'd collected to study escaped.

Samus starts the game in the Fusion Suit, with a Power Beam at her disposal. She then gains missiles, the morph ball, the charge beam, bombs, the high jump, the speed booster, the super missile, the varia suit, ice missiles, the wide beam, the power bombs, the space jump, the plasma beam, the gravity suit, diffusion missiles, the wave beam, the screw attack, the ice beam, and the omega suit.

There are very little in terms of support characters, with the Dachora and Etecoons returning in their supporting roles, and Adam Malkovitch being introduced as Samus's former mentor who had been killed in action, whose brain was uploaded into a computer that was now acting as Samus's main operating system. As he's just a disembodied computer voice, there's not much there.

The X-Parasites form the primary threat of the game, being little blobby things that infect living hosts, basically replacing their entire genetic structures with their own and functionally becoming them. The several we face throughout the game show the ability to attach to things, float around as giant orbs, shapeshift into several shapes they have absorbed, spawn more parasites, create ice, and get really, really big. One notable X-Parasite comes in the form of SA-X, the parasite that copied Samus and has now taken her form, stalking her throughout the base. SA-X can shoot missiles, drop super bombs, fire the ice beam, perform a screw attack, and become a giant monster that stomps around.

Other bosses that appear, mostly taken over by X-Parasites, include the returning Arachnus, a big polyp thing called Zazabi, a speedy serpent called Serris, a boxy Security Robot, a giant spider called Yakuza, a plant called Nettori, a giant X-Parasite called Barrier Core-X, a gravity-manipulating cyborg called Nightmare, and a clone of Ridley inhabited by a parasite called Neo-Ridley.

Metroids and Space Pirates both return, Metroids bringing their Alpha, Gamma, Zeta, and Omega variants with them. The Space Pirates attack with their claws, climb on walls, shoot lasers, and swim. Also returning are the legacy enemies Kihunters, Hornoads, Bulls, Choots, Dessgeegas, Evirs, Funes, Gadoras, Geemers, Gerutas, Halzyns, Kagos, Namihes, Owtches, Powamps, Puyos, Reos, Rippers, Samus Eaters, Scisers, Sidehoppers, Skulteras, Wavers, Yards, Zeelas, Zeroes, and Zozoros (I believe the logic being they were collected to be studied during her previous adventures). Newcomers include Gerons, Menus, Motos, Novas, Genesises, Gerubus, and researchers who've been turned into zombies.

The entire game takes place on the Biologic Space Laboratories station, with each section divided up by numbers (as in Sector 1, Sector 2, and so on). Samus also has a new ship as the original was destroyed thanks to the X-Parasites.

That should just about cover it. Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Samus Aran: power suit, power beam, morph ball, missile, long beam, bomb, ice beam, high jump boots, Varia Suit, Screw Attack, wave beam, spider ball, spring ball, space jump, spazer beam, plasma beam, Speed Booster, Grappling Beam, X-Ray Scope, Gravity Suit, Hyper Beam, Fusion Suit, wide beam, power bombs, omega suit

Zero-Suit Samus: All listed above (except suits of course)

Adam Malkovitch

Mother Brain: laser, glass casing, Rinkas, energy barriers, T-Rex body, eye beam, explosive rocks, energy disks

Ridley: hop, fireballs, flying, swinging tail, screen attack, tail bounce, fire breath, grab and lift

Kraid: blades, spikes

X-Parasite: attach, orbs, shapeshift, more parasites, ice, get big

SA-X: missiles, super bombs, ice beam, screw attack, monster, stomp

Neo-Ridley

Phantoon: ghost, drop fire, ring of fire

Crocomire: charge, slash, skeleton

Metroid: float, drain energy, rise from shell, fly, claws, electricity, fire, fireballs

Metroid Queen: stretch neck, spike balls, swallow, spit up Samus

Baby Metroid

Space Pirate: claw, energy beam, cling to wall, hop from walls, kick, throw claws, lasers, swim

Torizo: walk, spit bombs, rubble, energy waves, jump, drop eggs

Kihunters: fly, spit acid

Hornoad

Autom

Bosses:

Arachnus

Phantoon

Draygon

Crocomire

Botwoon

Spore Spawn

Zazabi

Serris

Yakuza

Nettori

Nightmare

Neo-Ridley

Stages:

Planet Zebes

Brinstar

Norfair

Tourian

SR388

Ceres Space Colony

Crateria

Maridia

Wrecked Ship

Biologic Space Laboratories

Thanks for reading! Next up, you might feel a sense of Dread for what we cover tomorrow!

Super Metroid

SUPER METROID

And now, we come to the third game in the series, widely considered to be one of the best, and generally the one thought of when people think of Metroid as a series. The story picks up where the last left off, with Samus having given the last surviving baby Metroid to a research facility, only to get a distress call from the same facility, learning that Ridley has broken in to steal the baby. Samus must first try to stop him, and then, failing that, following him to Zebes to take down the pirates once and for all.

Once again, Samus starts with the Power Suit and Power Beam, before gaining the morph ball, missiles, bombs, Charge Beam, Hi-Jump Boots, Spazer Beam, Varia Suit, Speed Booster, Ice Beam, Grappling Beam, Wave Beam, X-Ray Scope, Gravity Suit, Space Jump, Spring Ball, Plasma Beam, Screw Attack, and Hyper Beam.

As usual, there are very little support characters, although I will give a shout to the Baby Metroid (later the titular Super Metroid), who attacks and drains Mother Brain to protect Samus, and the Dachora and Etecoons, little alien ostriches and monkeys, who basically act as little background tutorial features demonstrating actions Samus should take at certain points.

As for our villains, Mother Brain returns as the leader, taking on a new T-Rex looking body to fight you with. She starts out the same, with the Rinkas, the laser beam, and the barrier at her disposal, but after her transformation, she can fire a beam from her eye, drop explosive rocks on you, throw energy disks, and fire a fiery beam at you. Her two lieutenants, Ridley and Kraid, also return, with Ridley flying, swinging around his tail, flying straight at the screen, bouncing on his tail like a pogo stick, breathing fire, and grabbing and lifting Samus. Kraid likewise shoots his belly spikes at you.

On top of these three regulars, we have a few other bosses floating around. We have Phantoon, a ghostly being difficult to hit, that drops fire and creates a ring of fire. Then we have Draygon, who mostly just swims around with heavy armor and cannons around him. Then we have Spore Spawn, a plant constantly raining spores down on you; Crocomire, a giant red reptilian thing that charges at you, slashes, and then jumps at you as a skeleton in a final last-ditch attack; and Botwoon, a burrowing serpentine creature that shoots lasers. Finally, we have the Torizos, Bomb and Golden, who look like ordinary Chozo Statues, until they get up and start walking around, spitting out bombs, dropping rubble from above, creating energy waves, jumping, and dropping eggs behind them.

After that we have the enemies. The Metroids are here, with their floating and draining as seen in the first game, and we get a first look at Space Pirates (and/or Zebesians), who attack with claws, shoot energy beams, cling to walls, hop from wall to wall, kick, and throw their own claws. After that, it's all a lot of the same story, with basic creatures filling one specific role, most lacking the same names as previous games. Some who returned inlcude Sidehoppers, Dessgeegas, Dragons, Geegas, Multiviolas, Rippers, Skrees, Gamets, Gerutas, Holtzes, Squeepts, Wavers, Zebs, Zebboes, Zeelas, and Violas. New ones include the Kihunters (who can fly and spit acid), Alcoons, Atomics, Beetoms, Boyons, Bulls, Cacatacs, Choots, Coverns, Evirs, Fire Fleas, Funes, Gadoras, Geemers, Kagos, Magdollites, Mellas, Mellows, Memus, Metarees, Mochtroids, Namihes, Oums, Owtches, Powamps, Puromis, Puyos, Reos, Samus Eaters, Sbugs, Scisers, Shaktools, Skulteras, Sovas, Trippers, Work Robots, Yapping Maws, Yards, and Zeroes.

As for our stages, we start with the Ceres Space Colony, where the opening chapter takes place, then we return to Planet Zebes. Samus's ship floats on the surface (called Crateria), giving you a save point, and we see Brinstar, Norfair, and Tourian all return, with the watery Maridia and a Wrecked Ship as new locations.

Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Samus Aran: power suit, power beam, morph ball, missile, long beam, bomb, ice beam, high jump boots, Varia Suit, Screw Attack, wave beam, spider ball, spring ball, space jump, spazer beam, plasma beam, Speed Booster, Grappling Beam, X-Ray Scope, Gravity Suit, Hyper Beam

Zero-Suit Samus: All listed above (except suits of course)

Mother Brain: laser, glass casing, Rinkas, energy barriers, T-Rex body, eye beam, explosive rocks, energy disks

Ridley: hop, fireballs, flying, swinging tail, screen attack, tail bounce, fire breath, grab and lift

Kraid: blades, spikes

Phantoon: ghost, drop fire, ring of fire

Crocomire: charge, slash, skeleton

Metroid: float, drain energy, rise from shell, fly, claws, electricity, fire, fireballs

Metroid Queen: stretch neck, spike balls, swallow, spit up Samus

Baby Metroid

Space Pirate: claw, energy beam, cling to wall, hop from walls, kick, throw claws

Torizo: walk, spit bombs, rubble, energy waves, jump, drop eggs

Kihunters: fly, spit acid

Hornoad

Autom

Bosses:

Arachnus

Phantoon

Draygon

Crocomire

Botwoon

Spore Spawn

Stages:

Planet Zebes

Brinstar

Norfair

Tourian

SR388

Ceres Space Colony

Crateria

Maridia

Wrecked Ship

Thanks for reading! And now, we come to Metroid Fusion!