Super Metroid | |
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North American box art, depicting Samus Aran in battle with Ridley
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Developer(s) | |
Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
Director(s) | Yoshio Sakamoto |
Producer(s) | Makoto Kano |
Artist(s) |
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Writer(s) | Yoshio Sakamoto |
Composer(s) |
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Series | Metroid |
Platform(s) | Super NES |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Aggregate score | |
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Aggregator | Score |
GameRankings | 96% |
Review scores | |
Publication | Score |
EGM | 36/40 |
GameSpot | 8.5/10 |
IGN | 9.5/10 |
Nintendo Power | 4.425/5 |
Game Players | 97% |
Super Play | 92% |
Super Metroid is an action-adventure video game published by Nintendo, developed by its Research & Development 1 (R&D1) division, and programmed by Intelligent Systems for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The third installment in the Metroid series, it was released in 1994. The game was directed and written by Yoshio Sakamoto, and produced by Makoto Kano, with Gunpei Yokoi serving as general manager.
Super Metroid is a direct sequel to Metroid II: Return of Samus (1991). The player controls bounty hunter Samus Aran as she attempts to retrieve a Metroid larva stolen by the Space Pirate leader Ridley. The gameplay focuses on exploration, with the player searching for power-ups that are used to reach previously inaccessible areas. It introduces new concepts to the series, such as the inventory screen, an automapping facility, and the ability to fire in all directions.
Super Metroid received acclaim from critics, who praised its atmosphere, gameplay, music, graphics and cinematic elements. It is often described as one of the greatest video games of all time. While the game did not sell well in Japan, it fared better in North America. Super Metroid became popular among players for speedrunning, and its gameplay and design influenced other games, including Shadow Complex and Axiom Verge. The game was followed by the 2002 release of Metroid Fusion and Metroid Prime, ending the series' eight-year hiatus. Since 2007, Super Metroid has been released for the Virtual Console service on the Wii, the Wii U, and the New Nintendo 3DS.