Pyrosphere

PYROSPHERE

Probably the most memorable scene in all of Metroid: Other M comes when the strange little creature Samus has been spotting here and there around the bottle ship reaches the final stage of its evolution and turns out to be a clone of Ridley, who then attacks Samus and her friend Anthony in the middle of Pyrosphere.

This is likely the reason why Pyrosphere was chosen as the stage for SSB4, a big large platform for battling that the Ridley clone would show up on from time to time and attack the players. I would include a bit more dynamic action than the stage did, with more of the lava and the stage being knocked around, or even the lift function that similar platforms use when mini-boss fights take place in the game.

Possible theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q3j0J9P1m0

MB

MB

Teaming up together, Samus, Adam, and the rest of his team explore the research vessel, the Bottle Ship, its crew nowhere to be found and the alien specimens kept within broken from containment. Samus eventually learns that the vessel had been cloning Metroids and other dangerous creatures, and had created a clone of Mother Brain placed in a human body.

This is MB, or Melissa Bergman, though she initially introduces herself as Madeline Bergman, a scientist who had been a surrogate mother to her. MB had gone rogue, using her mental powers to control the monsters contained about the ship, killing everyone on board.

As a fighter, MB will be a Pokemon Trainer situation, with Melissa controlling the Ghalmanian, Griptian, Kyratian, Desbrachian, and Rhedogian, five monsters unique to other M who act as frequent minibosses throughout the game.

Likelihood rating: Probably not.

*I had wanted to do a Pokemon Trainer style image with the five creatures around her, but that proved exceptionally difficult, so I opted for just her.*

Adam Malkovich

ADAM MALKOVICH

After the Prime trilogy was completed, the Metroid series took a new direction for 3D games, this one much more story-driven, aiming to fill in certain holes and flesh out the backstories of a few elements. The most notable of these was the death of Samus’s mentor, Adam Malkovich.

Adam Malkovich was first introduced in Metroid Fusion as Samus’s mentor who had been killed in action, only for his sharp strategic mind to be preserved and used as Samus’s onboard computer throughout Fusion and Dread. Other M introduces the character and a number of other Space Marines as a team responding to the same distress call Samus had responded to, the two groups agreeing to work together.

As a fighter, Adam, his team members, and all generic space marines shown throughout the series will be represented here. They will use all the basic weapons used by all marines alike and will have basic middling stats across the board.

Likelihood rating: Could happen.

Nightmare

NIGHTMARE

With the laboratory staff killed or copied and the laboratory itself fully infected, Samus had to work her way through the facility and wipe out every X-Parasite she could find, immune thanks to her new Metroid DNA. Along the way, she encounters a number of other escaped experiments, including a tortured creature capable of manipulating gravity.

This is the Nightmare, a biomechanical life form engineered by the Federation and taken over by X-Parasites. It would appear again aboard the Bottle Ship in Metroid: Other M alongside other classic bosses.

As a fighter, the Nightmare will be light and floaty, using its gravity powers to full effect on its own stats. Its moveset would pull from most of its battles in both Fusion and Other M.

Likelihood rating: Never gonna happen.

Phantoon

PHANTOON

Super Metroid follows much the same formula as the first game, with the recurring locations of Brinstar, Norfair, and Tourian, each bearing Kraid, Ridley, and Mother Brain as their bosses respectively. However, the game expands on this, with two new regions, being Wrecked Ship and Maridia respectively. On Wrecked Ship, Samus will find herself up against a ghostly octopus-alien of some kind.

This octopus-alien is Phantoon, an energy parasite drawn to destroyed spacecraft that exists on two planes of existence, meaning that Samus cannot hit him until he shifts over to her own plane. He appears as a boss twice throughout the series.

As a fighter, Phantoon will be floaty but powerful, with high defense owing to his ghostly properties and energy-stealing abilities. His moveset will pull from his two major boss battles throughout the series.

Likelihood rating: Never gonna happen.

Kihunter

KIHUNTER

When the SNES was released, Metroid naturally got its own entry, having established itself as one of Nintendo’s iconic franchises. This one picked up immediately where the Game Boy game left off, with the infant Metroid Samus had rescued being studied in a lab out in space, only for said lab to be attacked by Ridley and the baby taken. Ever dutiful, Samus follows Ridley back to planet Zebes, where she quickly encounters large insect creatures with wings.

These are the Kihunters, a race of insectoids that frequently ally themselves with the Space Pirates, acting as aerial attack forces whenever the need arises and moving about in swarms.

 As fighters, the Kihunters will be strong aerial fighters, with good speed and agility to back it up. Their moveset will pull from all of their major appearances throughout the franchise.

Likelihood rating: Probably not.

Metroid Queen

METROID QUEEN

Samus makes her way through SR388, wiping out every single Metroid she encounters. Finally, she finds her way to the Metroid nest, where she encounters the largest and most powerful Metroid she’s ever seen.

This is the Metroid Queen, the mother of all Metroids seen so far, and the ultimate stage of a Metroid’s life cycle if allowed to grow to that point. Finishing her off allows Samus to ensure that the Metroid threat is over for good, even though later individuals would clone the race and queen again and again.

As a fighter, the Queen will be big and heavy, slow and difficult to move around very quickly. To make up for this, she will be very powerful and have a lot of range. Her moveset will pull from all of her notable appearances and boss battles.

Likelihood rating: Piranha Plant clause.

Zero Suit Samus

ZERO SUIT SAMUS

You finally beat the game and defeat Mother Brain. You also got a decently high score, meaning a special scene plays with Samus standing next to her ship, and she starts to take off her Power Suit, revealing that she had been a girl all along.

Samus appearing without her suit would soon become a staple of the series, often as a bonus hard mode unlocked at the end of the game, or simply in certain cutscenes, but the most famous instance came at the end of Metroid: Zero Mission, where the remake added on an entire final level after Mother Brain’s defeat.

As a fighter, Zero Suit Samus will rely on speed and agility over power to compensate for the lack of her suit. Her moveset will pull from the limited abilities she had in Zero Mission as well as the extras added on by Super Smash Bros.

Likelihood rating: Already in.

Ridley

RIDLEY

After defeating Kraid, and moving from the Brinstar region even deeper into the Norfair region, Samus will then go up against a large purple dragon that acts as the second boss of the game.

This is Ridley, the captain of the space pirates and one of the most iconic villains of the franchise. Though he appears as a monstrous beast, he is a cruel, conniving monster driven by greed, a lust for power, and a sick, sadistic penchant for torture. He and Samus have a long history, going all the way back to the murder of her parents.

As a fighter, Ridley will be big and powerful, with good aerial moves owing to his impressive wingspan. His moveset will pull from across the entire series, and each and every battle he and Samus have fought with one another.

Likelihood rating: Already in.

Metroid Roster

SUPER SMASH BROS. UNIVERSE

METROID ROSTER

And here's our roster for now, drawn from all the main games under the Metroid banner, before we get to those under Metroid Prime:

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

Thanks for reading! Tomorrow, we begin again with Metroid Prime!

Character Sheet: Metroid Queen

METROID QUEEN

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 the end of our characters, for now, with the final boss of Metroid II and the originator of all Metroids seen at least through the first game, the second game, and most of the Prime series. A new queen will be cloned from the DNA of the baby Samus saved and will attack Samus toward the end of Other M, serving as the last true "boss" as the fight with MB isn't that much of a fight, really.

Across the two boss battles we see it fight, it will bite, swallow and spit up Samus, shoot out spike balls, and breathe fire. It can also stretch out its neck and swipe it around. Really, the biggest struggle is upward mobility, as the queen seems to be generally low to the ground and heavy. But we can work.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Swallow

The Queen will open its mouth wide and chomp down on an opponent, swallowing them if it catches them and keeping them in its gullet for a while.

Side B: Fire Breath

It will breathe fire from its mouth directly in front of it.

Up B: Neck Sweep

The Queen will stretch its neck out and upward, allowing it to grab and edge like a tether and carry itself up.

Down B: Spike Ball

It will cough up a spiky ball and spit it forward as a projectile that will hit hard and heavy on impact.

Final Smash: The Queen's Brood

The Queen's sac of eggs will hatch and an entire swarm of Metroids will flood the stage, draining all players of their life force and carrying them away.

Entrance: The Queen will start out protecting its eggs.

Taunts: Up, one of its babies will fly around its head. Side, it will roar loudly to the side. Down, it will curl its head around its eggs and sleep for a second.

Kirby Hat: Like the Piranha Plant onesie with the Queen's head.

Kart: Based on the Queen itself.

Special Move: It will suck in and swallow a nearby racer before spitting them out.

Spirit Battle: A giant battle on SR388, with Metroids protecting it.

Victory Screen: The Queen's eggs will start hatching and flying off around her.

Losing Screen: The Queen will let out a dying roar and collapse.

Color Swaps: Its basic Metroid II appearance, its revamped Samus Returns appearance, a color scheme based on Metroid Larvae, Alphas, Gammas, Zetas, Omegas, and its Other M appearance.

Thanks for reading! Now, let's take a look at our current roster!

Character Sheet: Nightmare

NIGHTMARE

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 another memorable boss from the 2D games that reappeared in Other M, although this time, Fusion canonically comes after Other M, so Other M was actually Samus's first time seeing it. Anyway, Nightmare is a genetic experiment that can control gravity, and when its face is exposed, it will gradually deteriorate and melt off.

First off, Nightmare's gravity-bending abilities include the ability to increase gravity and slow its opponents, the ability to decrease gravity and leave them floating in midair, and creating gravity wells to deflect projectile attacks. It can also shoot lasers from its mouth and from its arms, and it can crawl around on its belly when it loses its gravity abilities temporarily.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Laser

The Nightmare will fire a laser from its mouth such as it does in its Fusion battle.

Side B: Arm Blasts

It will extend its arms and fire multiple straight laser beams while spinning in a circle, just as it does in Other M.

Up B: Gravity Float

The Nightmare will decrease gravity, making itself and those standing a little to close float up into the air.

Down B: Gravity Well

The Nightmare will create a small singularity in front of itself that will suck in projectiles and swallow them. It can also pull fighters in too.

Final Smash: Singularity

The Nightmare will increase gravity to such a point that everything starts getting sucked in, characters and stage alike, KOing them all.

Entrance: The stage will start to shake as it moves in the background.

Taunts: Up, it will rise up on its connectors. Side, it will extend its arms and roar. Down, it will slump down and its face will start to melt.

Kirby Hat: Basically Kirby inside his own version of the box thing it lives in.

Kart: Based on its mechanical cocoon.

Special Move: It will increase gravity and forcibly slow down everyone on the track.

Spirit Battle: A giant battle on Biologic Space Laboratories

Victory Screen: The Nightmare will break free of its bonds and rampage.

Losing Screen: The Nightmare's face will fully melt off and it will collapse.

Color Swaps: Its basic Fusion appearance, a red version, a silvery version, a green version, a yellow version, a white version, a black version, and its Other M appearance.

Thanks for reading! Next up, the queen of all Metroids.

Character Sheet: Phantoon

PHANTOON

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 a memorable boss who first appeared in Super Metroid as the boss of the Wrecked Ship area, and then reappeared among multiple other returning bosses in Metroid: Other M. Phantoon is a large cosmic predator that can shift back and forth between the regular world and the spectral plane, and seems to feed on the energy of disabled spacecraft (as seen in both games).

Phantoon's most common ability is his power to switch between planes, making him ghostlike when Samus tries to hit him. He also has tentacles that he lashes out and attacks with, and has projectile attacks in the form of energy orbs or fire. In the second game, he can also let loose a ring of fire to attack with as well.

Here's the movesets I came up with:

Standard B: Fire Orb

Phantoon will fire off an orb of energy forward as a projectile from its one big eye.

Side B: Tentacle Lash

He will lash forward with one of his tentacles, whipping his opponents and pulling them closer.

Up B: Phase Shift

Phantoon will switch to the spectral plane, making him intangible and impervious to harm for a short time.

Down B: Ring of Fire

Phantoon will spin, creating a ring of fire out from itself and burning anyone too close.

Final Smash: Bottle Ship Attack

The gigantic Phantoon from Other M will appear behind the stage, wrapping his tentacles around it and draining the life force from the fighters on stage.

Entrance: It will appear from the spectral plane and become solid.

Taunts: Up, it will rise and spin. Side, it will wiggle its tentacles outward. Down, it will become a ghost for half a second.

Kirby Hat: Its one big eye inside a mouth.

Kart: Based on the Wrecked Ship.

Special Move: Basically the Boo item's effect.

Spirit Battle: A giant battle on Pyrosphere, with temporary invisibility on occasion.

Victory Screen: Phantoon will wrap itself around the stage and enjoy its meal.

Losing Screen: Phantoon will flail around, become spectral, and disappear.

Color Swaps: Its Super Metroid appearance, a red form, a blue form, a green form, a yellow form, a black form, a pale form, and its Other M appearance.

Thanks for reading! Next up, yet another memorable two-off boss from Fusion.

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: 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: 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.

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.