![Metroid Suits 1](https://images.nintendolife.com/51232293f1aa4/metroid-suits-1.900x.jpg)
Over the vacation season, we’re republishing choose articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as a part of our Better of 2023 collection. Take pleasure in!
Metroid‘s protagonist, Samus Aran, has a relatively distinctive privilege on the planet of Nintendo. In contrast to characters like Mario, Hyperlink, and Kirby, all of whom retain the identical normal look throughout their respective franchises (okay, Hyperlink is a bit more assorted than the opposite two, however nonetheless), Samus’ primary design will be altered fairly drastically from recreation to recreation.
Granted, the character wants to stay comparatively recognisable for followers, so you possibly can’t go nuts with this type of factor, however while you look at Samus’s general swimsuit design in every of the mainline Metroid video games, it is surprisingly completely different in loads of methods.
So, to loosely coincide with the twentieth anniversary of Metroid Fusion in Japan, we thought it might be neat to rank our picks for one of the best default fits within the Metroid franchise. To be clear, we’re not together with each single swimsuit from each single recreation; we’re simply wanting on the primary, default design she sports activities on the entrance of every field. So, no Gravity Fits, Mild Fits, or Phazon Fits. Perhaps sooner or later although — tell us in the event you’re and we’ll see!
For now, although, let’s dive into our rating for one of the best default or ‘starter’ swimsuit designs within the Metroid franchise, beginning with the ‘worst’…
![Metroid Suits 2](https://images.nintendolife.com/cc62143e4f20e/metroid-suits-2.900x.jpg)
Let’s be clear proper from the beginning: there aren’t any dangerous swimsuit designs in Metroid. Metroid II simply occurs to be our least favorite of the bunch. It is very a lot the “basic” design, with enormous shoulder pads and an virtually skeletal look to the swimsuit’s torso space. Now clearly, as with the primary recreation within the collection, the smaller particulars do not translate into the precise gameplay itself, with Samus lowered to little greater than a large number of pixels, however the intention is actually there.
We’re not notably eager on how indented Samus’ helmet is right here, nonetheless. It simply appears to be like bizarre, proper? Nearly just like the helmet has been made up of separate items glued collectively. Not good. The proportions are additionally barely off, however that is extra a results of the artwork type utilised right here. Good effort.
[Good work not mentioning that the helmet looks like a bum, Ollie. Hang on, this isn’t Slack… – Ed.]
#7 – The Beginning of an Icon: Metroid
![Metroid Suits 3](https://images.nintendolife.com/ac88b5e907a32/metroid-suits-3.900x.jpg)
It can’t be overstated simply how a lot Nintendo nailed the design for Samus with its first effort in Metroid for the Famicom/NES. The general look is predicated on the Chozo Go well with (or ‘Energy’ Go well with) design, which options as Samus’ base swimsuit in a number of franchise entries, so it is missing these iconic shoulder pads that make the opposite fits stand out a lot.
Nonetheless, the design right here is superior, and in some methods fairly alien in comparison on to the others. It is also so much lighter in color, although this might merely be a creative selection for the idea artwork. Once more, little of this interprets effectively into the sport itself, however the general look is depicted with extra success within the 2004 remake, Metroid: Zero Mission.
#6 – Lovely and Highly effective: Tremendous Metroid
![Metroid Suits 8](https://images.nintendolife.com/7ae076c6eaabe/metroid-suits-8.900x.jpg)
Samus’ swimsuit design in Tremendous Metroid is kind of equivalent to that of Metroid II: Return of Samus. So why does it rank larger? Effectively, we predict it simply appears to be like higher, okay? The distracting indent within the helmet [Ahem. What? Sorry, must have missed that bit. Moving on… – Ed.] is now gone, leaving a very easy floor on our bounty hunter’s noggin, which is an effective begin.
Moreover, the swimsuit simply appears to be like much more imposing, virtually like Samus has been hitting these deadlifts within the gymnasium. We’re additionally a fan of the extra muted color palette used right here. Total, an ideal search for a nice recreation.
![Metroid Suits 4](https://images.nintendolife.com/7cb8be25e6727/metroid-suits-4.900x.jpg)
Whereas Different M is actually a divisive recreation amongst followers, there isn’t any denying that Samus appears to be like like an absolute badass. Her swimsuit here’s a lot sleeker in its design in comparison with different video games, and that is most likely due largely to the shortage of any fancy bumps and ridges on these iconic shoulder pads.
Samus’ helmet visor additionally provides a great burst of inexperienced color to the general look, too, one thing that lots of the different designs are lacking, and one thing which makes the field artwork — particularly the attractive Japanese model — actually pop.
Certainly, this swimsuit will need to have been fairly well-liked in Nintendo, because it was subsequently used for Samus’ look within the Tremendous Smash Bros. franchise, so there you go!
![Metroid Suits 5](https://images.nintendolife.com/1ce68309b6c08/metroid-suits-5.900x.jpg)
Retro Studio’s extra real looking tackle the Metroid franchise required a extra real looking swimsuit (effectively, sorta) for Samus, although virtually no inventive sacrifices have been made within the means of filling out the swimsuit.
Given the immense reputation of the Prime sub-series, this design might be the one most followers are acquainted with, and for good cause, too. The shoulder pads with the pointed ridges, the helmet, the color; the whole lot screams Metroid, and it is merely an iconic search for Samus.
You can too nearly see Samus’ face and eyes within the recreation too, which naturally brings out a pleasant human aspect.
![Metroid Suits 6](https://images.nintendolife.com/2272f245b39d9/metroid-suits-6.900x.jpg)
Sure, we hear you: why embrace the remake of Metroid II as its personal entry and never the remake of the primary recreation? Effectively, as a result of the swimsuit in Zero Mission was just about equivalent to the unique. The swimsuit in Samus Returns, nonetheless, is a drastic departure from the Recreation Boy model, taking over a extra daring, summary, pointier method. The shoulder pads listed below are ruddy enormous and so they do an ideal job of constructing Samus look much more imposing than traditional. Should be a nightmare while you’re making an attempt to again out of the driveway or verify your blindspot whereas spending some idiot on the drive into work. However they certain look the absolute enterprise.
Not solely that, however the best way that the helmet’s visor has been slimmed all the way down to near-Mandalorian proportions makes Samus look much more menacing than we’re maybe used to. It is such a cool look, and the general method can be replicated in Dread. However extra on that later.
#2 – Mmm, Scrumptious Parasite: Metroid Fusion
![Metroid Suits 7](https://images.nintendolife.com/5fccfb6f4fd7a/metroid-suits-7.900x.jpg)
Metroid Fusion has the honour of depicting probably the most distinctive swimsuit within the franchise’s historical past, and that is after all a results of the X parasite infecting our favorite bounty hunter whereas on the planet SR388.
Though most of her swimsuit had been eliminated post-infection, elements of the X parasite had successfully fused with Samus’ physique, thus creating this modern, insectoid, and organically stunning design for the sport.
It is such a vibrant swimsuit and actually stands out from the group consequently. One minor adverse is that we have that bizarre indent within the helmet once more, however this is not anyplace close to as egregious because the swimsuit seen in Metroid II. It appears to be like extra like a beetle’s carapace right here relatively than… anything.
#1 – The Better of the Greatest: Metroid Dread
![Metroid Suits 9](https://images.nintendolife.com/2feb9733b7f08/metroid-suits-9.900x.jpg)
Samus’ swimsuit in Metroid Dread is gorgeous. Completely stunning.
It is a great mix of the extra mechanised fits we’re used to from the collection with the extra natural method taken in Metroid Fusion. It retains a few of the extra distinctive colors from Fusion whereas including some aptitude of its personal, with photographs of white and inexperienced to combine issues up spectacularly.
One other factor to notice is that Samus’ helmet visor is as soon as once more slimmed down, much like Metroid: Samus Returns, with an added indent on the prime giving a barely avian really feel to the helmet. It is such a cool inventive contact and it is one we hope to see continued within the franchise going forwards. Total, an exquisite effort from developer MercurySteam.
So there you go, these are our private rankings of Samus’ default fits within the Metroid franchise. Do you agree with our picks? In all probability not, let’s be truthful. Excellent news, then, you possibly can vote on your favorite swimsuit within the beneath ballot. In the event you’re so inclined, make sure to embrace your personal rating within the feedback part, too. When you’re at it, tell us what you assume Samus ought to seem like in Metroid Prime 4.