Armstrong Houston

ARMSTRONG HOUSTON

When Super Metroid came out, Nintendo Power magazine ran a series of issues of Samus working through the game’s story, accompanied in her journey by an admirer and fellow bounty hunter who wants to become her partner.

This is Armstrong Houston, who patterned his suit after her and everything. He mostly acts as an exposition sponge, learning Samus’s backstory and witnessing her abilities for the audience’s sake. As the story goes on, he grows to be a better ally and focuses on helping Samus rather than trying to convince her to take him on.

As a fighter, Armstrong will be a semi-clone based heavily on both Samus and the Federation Marines. His moveset will pull from both pulls, but he’ll be a little less strong stat-wise than both.

Likelihood rating: Non-game.

Metroid Classic Mode

CLASSIC MODE

As always, the classic mode will be based around specific games and "recreating" them through a series of battles. Here's one for Super Metroid:

1. Vs. Ridley on Ceres Space Colony, with a time limit

2. Vs. Samus on Crateria

3. Vs. Kraid on Brinstar Depths

4. Vs. Ridley on Norfair

5. Vs. Space Pirate & Kihunter army on a water stage that matches well enough

6. Vs. Phantoon on Pyrosphere

7. Vs. Metroids on Tourian

8. Final Boss: Mother Brain on Tourian, with a giant Metroid supporting.

Tourian

TOURIAN

And of course, we cannot forget the final boss area from both Metroid and Super Metroid, the center of the Planet Zebes where Mother Brain’s jar lives.

The stage takes place in the final room, with the giant brain version of Mother Brain in the center and a lot of the same platforms and barriers around. Mother Brain will watch the fight and occasionally shoot lasers at it, while Rinkas will bounce around here and there.

Possible theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2CRLDMqeSI

Norfair

NORFAIR

After Brinstar, another standard area appearing in both the first game and Super Metroid is Norfair, a much more lava-based area and the first of the “fire” worlds present in most games. It also acts as the home of Ridley in both games.

Smash mostly already represents this well, with a number of lava-based hazards pulling from not only Norfair but most of the fire worlds across the series, as well as a “safe box” to protect you from the most devastating of them. If I would change anything, it would be the layout, as the V of small platforms is just stupid to me.

Possible theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olT8zrRJdYI

Crateria

CRATERIA

In most Metroid games, Samus’s ship tends to act as a check point and save space, hovering off the ground in a safe open area where Samus can go to save her progress. On Planet Zebes especially, this area was called Crateria, and was largely free of threats, except for acid rain that coated the planet’s surface from time to time.

This stage will recreate exactly that. The bottom of the stage will be a long, flat plane leading off the sides, with Samus’s ship hovering in the middle that you can stand on top of or below. At random intervals, acid rain will start to pour, forcing the players to fight under the ship if they don’t want to take damage.

Possible theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EJDusFDbR4

Ceres Space Colony

CERES SPACE COLONY

One of the most notable features of Metroid games is the big self-destruct sequence frequently following the defeat of a major boss, requiring players to backtrack all the way to the beginning of the game or level and escape before the whole thing explodes.

The most notable of these is the Ceres Space Colony at the beginning of Super Metroid. The stage will begin at the bottom of the final shaft, scrolling upwards as alarms blare, requiring players to climb as they fight. Once they get to the top, the players will have to take shelter in the safe area as the entire stage explodes. After it’s over, the players will start at the bottom again.

Possible theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj47pXTCKmU

Brinstar

BRINSTAR

Throughout the Metroid series, only a few areas have ever reappeared. One of the most common of these is Brinstar, the first area of Planet Zebes in both Metroid and Super Metroid, which also typically acts as the area where Kraid lives.

Super Smash Bros. represents the area well through their Brinstar stage, giving you a good visual grasp of what you can expect from any given Metroid game, with the Chozo statue in the background, the acid/lava rising and lowering, and the alien, almost-living platforms that provide just enough of an alien feel reminiscent of Alien movies and the art of H.R. Geiger.

Possible theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UppBxHraF-o

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.

Torizo

TORIZO

As Samus works her way down, like any other game, her progress will be marked by statues of the Chozo people who raised her, most often yielding up a new ability to help her move on to the next section. This trained expectation will work against Samus and the player as she approaches what looks like an ordinary statue, only for it to get up and start attacking her.

This is called a Torizo, a mini-boss that appears two times across Super Metroid, one a regular statue and one made of gold. They appear to be regular Chozo statues, but are programmed to come to life and attack if anyone approaches them.

As a fighter, they will be big and moderately slow, though with powerful strikes as though each attack was performed using solid stone. Their moveset will pull from their two battles across the game.

Likelihood rating: Probably not.

Space Pirate

SPACE PIRATE

Not too far in, Samus will have her first canonical encounter with the main grunts of her enemy forces, the Space Pirates, also called Zebesians.

Though they will vary in appearance from time to time, Space Pirates tend to be large reptilian creatures with large claws and often wielding large blades on their arms. These creatures serve under Ridley and will do anything to seize control of the galaxy.

As fighters, Space Pirates will be fast and agile, with cutting moves that strike with pinpoint accuracy. Their moveset will pull from all of their major appearances in nearly every game of the series.

Likelihood rating: Could 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.

Mother Brain

MOTHER BRAIN

After wiping out every Metroid she finds and getting through Tourian to the core of the planet, Samus comes face to face with her archnemesis, the very AI meant to keep the Metroids in check, who betrayed the Chozo and allied herself with Ridley and the Space Pirates.

This is Mother Brain, a giant brain in a jar who had been designed by the Chozo not only to control Metroids, but to work together with them to create a utopia and bring peace to the whole galaxy. Mother Brain ended up going the way of many fictional AI and decided the only universe that could see peace was a dead universe.

As a fighter, Mother Brain will pull primarily from her appearance in Super Metroid, with a large, monstrous body designed specifically to fight Samus, though her moveset will pull from across all of her major appearances and boss battles.

Likelihood rating: Could happen.

Metroid

METROID

As you beat Norfair and come to the final region of Tourian, you come across Samus’s true target in all of this, a breed of deadly parasites genetically engineered by the Chozo and appropriated by the Space Pirates, whose existence could spell doom for the entire galaxy.

These are the Metroids, ravenous parasites driven by an insatiable hunger for energy that attack and drain anything they come across. The Chozo discovered them on an alien planet and constructed an AI to be able to control them, only for the AI to turn on them and use the Metroids for its own purposes.

As fighters, the Metroids will be light and floaty, generally in their iconic larval state. Their moveset will pull from all abilities shown by the Metroids in all but their most advanced forms, especially their penchant for draining energy.

Likelihood rating: Strong.

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.

Kraid

KRAID

Samus’s first adventure takes her to Planet Zebes, the former home of her mentors, the Chozo, which now acts as a base of operations for a band of Space Pirates bent on universal domination. As she works her way through the planet, she comes face to face with a giant green lizard shooting spikes from its chest.

This is Kraid, normally depicted as an enormous kaiju that lives in lava and shoots spikes from his chest. He does not seem to be very intelligent and is likely just a large and deadly pet of the space pirates. He appears three times throughout the series, mostly as a first boss in each game.

As a fighter, Kraid will be big and heavy, but sized down for Smash, probably being similar in proportions to his original appearance. His moveset will pull from his attacks shown throughout his various boss battles.

Likelihood rating: Could happen.

Samus Aran

 SAMUS ARAN

In 1986, three years into the NES’s lifespan, Nintendo produced a new platformer based heavily on the sci fi horror genre, most specifically the Alien franchise and the works of H.R. Geiger, with a lone bounty hunter traversing an alien planet alone while facing a number of horrifying alien monsters.

This lone bounty hunter is named Samus Aran. Although, she appears in full armor hiding her true appearance, if you complete the game with a high enough percentage, she will reveal herself as a young human woman at the end of the game. Further games would flesh out her backstory as an orphan raised by a race called the Chozo and augmented to be capable of incredible feats of strength and agility.

As a fighter, Samus Aran is quick and powerful, with solid defense owing to her power suit. Her moveset will pull from the various abilities she picks up throughout her games, such as missiles, bombs, and various types of laser beams.

Likelihood rating: Already in.

Character Sheet: Armstrong Houston

ARMSTRONG HOUSTON

And now we have a long list of character who appear exclusively within the Metroid comics, manga, and other non-game media. These will all act as a roster on their own, separate from the standard game roster. They are:

1. Joey Apronika

2. Kreatz

3. Mauk

4. Diesel

5. GFS Tyr Crew

6. Armstrong Houston

7. Zegan Doh

8. Bomad

9. U-Ton

10. Papa Lightning

11. Chozo Elders

12. Greed

13. Bishop

14. Knight

15. Dangelo

16. Pirate Boss

17. Amokmaw

18. Integra

19. Megaroid

Now, to the next end of our conundrum surrounding the fates of Armstrong Houston and Dangelo. Samus still has an echo fighter in SA-X, and I'd rather not break the one-echo-rule just yet. So, I have a different idea. How about we "Roy and Chrom" this MF, make them echoes of each other that are only semi-clones of Samus instead.

Armstrong appeared in the Nintendo Power adaptation of Super Metroid, which is part of the same continuity as Magazine Z (featuring three characters who appear in both). Armstrong appears as a fellow bounty hunter who really wants to become Samus's partner, despite her constant refusal. He mostly acts as a receiver for Samus's backstory when it is told in this comic. He wears a suit similar to hers, but with colors that have since become the basis for the Federation Marines. His moveset will combine aspects of Samus and the Marines with that in mind.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Plasma Cannon

This one will pull from the Federation's playbook, rather than Samus's.

Side B: Missile

This one will pull from Samus's, just a little less powerful.

Up B: Space Jump

Pulling from Samus but just a little different.

Down B: Mine

Sort of combining both Samus's bombs and the mines used by the Marines.

Final Smash: Power Beam

Based on Samus's powerful laser attack.

Entrance: He will drop in from his ship.

Taunts: Up, he will raise his cannon and adjust it. Side, he will take up a stance as if trying to stand back to back with a partner. Down, he will take off his helmet and adjust it.

Kirby Hat: His helmet.

Kart: A kart based on his ship.

Special Move: He will be able to backup and defend a fellow racer.

Spirit Battle: He and Samus on Tourian.

Victory Screen: He will stand tall, saying something about "See, Samus, I told you we'd make a great team."

Losing Screen: He will slump down, with his helmet off, saying something about how Samus is better off without him.

Color Swaps: His standard blue and orange, Samus colors, green colors, full red colors, black colors, white colors, purple colors, and gold colors.

Thanks for reading! Next up, a couple of supporting bounty hunters from Samus & Joey.

Super Metroid (Nintendo Power)

SUPER METROID (NINTENDO POWER)

Now, let's cover a five-issue comic series released by Nintendo Power comics that somewhat followed the plot of Super Metroid and seems to be set in the same universe as the Magazine Z comics that we will cover tomorrow. Samus heads to Zebes, but she is accompanied by a fellow bounty hunter named Armstrong Houston who really, really, really wants to become her partner. He doesn't do much to help fight, except to cut a spike once in her defense, and mostly exists to receive exposition about Samus's backstory. However, there are aspects that might give us something to work with, in that he wears a blue suit similar to Samus's power suit with the same colors as the Federation marines seen in Other M. Many have even theorized that those designs were directly inspired by him. We will see how it goes.

Other supporting characters include Chairman Keaton, the leader of the Federation, and Captain Hardy, Samus's somewhat incompetent dispatcher, who will reappear in Magazine Z. There is also Old Bird, the Chozo who rescued Samus as a child and will play a massively pivotal role in Magazine Z, who Armstrong takes Samus to to be healed after she is severely wounded in battle.

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

Characters:

Samus

Armstrong Houston: possible Samus/Federation Marine echo basis

Commander Nemo

Chairman Keaton

Captain Hardy

Old Bird: float, healing bubble

Big Time Brannigan: arm cannon

Stages:

Federation headquarters

Next up, one of the best Nintendo comics out there, and possibly the most canon comic as well!

Smash Universe: Metroid Roster

SUPER SMASH BROS. UNIVERSE

METROID ROSTER

And here's our final updated roster for the games!

1. Samus Aran

2. Zero Suit Samus

3. Adam Malkovitch

4. Federation Mech

5. Rundas

6. Ghor

7. Gandrayda

8. Noxus

9. Sylux

10. Spire

11. Trace

12. Kanden

13. Weavel

14. U-Mos

15. Aurora Unit

16. Mother Brain

17. MB

18. Dark Samus

19. Ridley

20. Meta Ridley

21. Kraid

22. Raven Beak

23. Metroid Prime

24. SA-X

25. Emperor Ing

26. Gorea

27. Space Pirate

28. Kihunter

29. Metroid

30. X-Parasite

31. Ing

32. Steambot

33. Autoad

34. Quad

35. Liquid Phazon

36. Chozo Ghost

37. Chozo Soldier

38. Robot Chozo Soldier

39. Omega Metroid

40. Phazon Elite

41. Berserker Lord

42. EMMI

43. Torizo

44. Labor Golem

45. Phantoon

46. Nightmare

47. Metroid Queen

And that's pretty much it. No real pre-existing character updates, so now we are on to the other forms of media, which almost exclusively consists of comics and manga.

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!