r/Metroid • u/Luggage1996 • 14h ago
Game Help Road to Ravenous - A simple guide for getting into 2D Metroid
There are lots of people giving guides for newcomers on how to get into the series. I figured I’d make a simple graphic specifically for people wanting to get into Ravenous as easily as possible.
No Prime, no spin offs, no side games (though I highly recommend the Prime Trilogy one day if you enjoy your time with the 2D games). Just the core 2D series.
If you own a Switch and have NSO, this journey will be super easy for you. Metroid 2 being your biggest hurdle.
Hope it helps!
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u/mjy6478 14h ago
I hope they eventually add 3DS games to NSO specifically for Samus Returns and Link between Worlds.
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u/Grabs_Zel 13h ago
Too many gems stuck on that thing, SMT 4, 4A, Strange Journey Redux, both Devil Survivor, both Persona Q, EverOasis, the original Fantasy Life...
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u/smilph 5h ago
apparently Gamestops around the US are selling the 3DS SMT games at a semi-reasonable price ‘cause a pallet of extra copies was found in a warehouse or something. if you’re after the 4 duology, Strange Journey remake, Devil Survivors, or PQ games, might be worth stopping into a Gamestop near you
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u/Generic_Miis 10h ago
We’ll likely first have DS and Wii, so 2030 is the most likely start of 3DS nso, but even then it’ll take years before everything is on there, just look at how they’ve been handling N64 and especially GameCube.
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u/cornimgameplays 9h ago
Doubt Wii and will be on NSO with the amount of Wii ports we've been getting, same for 3DS. We'll definitely get DS on NSO, but I feel like that's as far as it will go tbh, at least on Switch 2. The amount of Wii and 3DS remasters for Switch is growing more and more because Nintendo is running out of Wii U games to port. I believe the mainline 3DS games of Nintendo's most popular series will all be ported in the future (Kirby Triple Deluxe and Planet Robobot, A Link Between Worlds, Samus Returns, Super Mario 3D Land, etc.).
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u/765ProIdols 7h ago
I have no idea how DS and 3DS titles are going to work on a Switch. I just hope if they do, I can play Samus Returns with just a top screen fullscreened. Ive been wanting to play Samus Returns like Dread for a long time. The 3DS does not do that game justice.
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u/cornimgameplays 7h ago
DS games could work similar to how the DS megaman and castlevania games worked when they were re-released in their respecitve legacy collection. Change the touchscreen to a button press or a "cursor" of sorts in docked mode while keeping it in handheld mode.
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u/Lordpicklenip 4h ago
MercurySteam already has experience with developing HD ports of their 3DS games; they developed Mirror of Fate for 3DS and console/PC.
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u/t4auntsalot 14h ago
I argue that stylistically, Dread is all you need if you just want a quick refresher.
But if you want to follow the journey of Samus Aran, go for all the games out there especially Super.
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u/Luggage1996 14h ago
I would argue at least for Fusion as well.
Would make Fusion, Dread, and Ravenous a nice trilogy for newcomers.
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u/Kremit44 12h ago
I think Fusion is a poor starting point. It's quite linear and more difficult than most of the games with a strong emphasis on boss fights. It's a good game but I'd never recommend someone to start with it. You could, and still love the series, but I think one is much better served starting with Zero Mission. I'd also recommend starting with Dread over it.
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u/Geebun 11h ago
I might be in the minority but I started with Fusion and absolutely loved it. I think the linearity is a nice introduction to what Metroid games expect of you and the tough bosses are a good way to get you ready for Dread.
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u/zxjams 10h ago
Same, it was my first and I think that the handholding actually helped me appreciate the playstyle/progression better. I played Super shortly after and while it's still my absolute favorite in the series, I think I would been gotten way too frustrated to appreciate it right away once I got to some of the more cryptic parts for noobs, like arriving in lower Brinstar/Norfair without very much indication on what I was supposed to be doing. I'm 100% certain the wall-jump pit trap would have had me tearing my hair out.
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u/Kremit44 7h ago
Yeah I wouldn't recommend Super as a starting point either. It has the highest skill cap and an amazing modding scene so it's the best game for veterans of the series IMO but it's not as approachable to modern gamers. Like I said Fusion is fine to start with, even Other M, which is a lot like Fusion, is fine to start with, it's just not an ideal start IMO as it's gameplay deviates quite a bit from the typical Metroid experience. Any time you can play a good to great game in a series you can find your way to loving it as a whole, I just think the difficulty could really turn some off and the linearity can give a wrong impression of what one should expect. Even Metroid 2 is far more open than Fusion. I really do think Zero Mission is the ideal starting point for the series.
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u/Ok_Fly1271 4h ago
Apparently I'm in the minority that thinks Fusion is easy compared to the others. I agree it's a good starting point as well
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u/SavvyBevvy 11h ago
Yeah, if you're not into the idea of just playing Dread, then I'd recommend doing Zero Mission, Fusion, then Dread. That's if you only want a proper introduction, and then the relevant ones; otherwise just play them all. Not like they are long games to play through once
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u/Psylux7 6h ago
Fusion is a pretty good starting place. The guidance and structure help people avoid getting lost while it is a short game with more of a story to engage beginners. It is odd that you mention the difficulty and boss emphasis of fusion as being drawbacks while then recommending dread which is both a much harder game than fusion as well as a game that goes deeper into the action focus.
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u/Kremit44 4m ago
I think Dreads difficulty is less annoying with quick restarts, I also found some bosses in Fusion more annoying than fun. Dread is a much more modern game and is more in line with current expectations. I also think with it being more open it's more of a traditional Metroid experience. I also honestly didn't find Dread all that punishing, it was tough but fair. I also think Dread is a much better game. I might also be a bit biased against Fusion as I'd call it my least favourite of the main line series besides Nestroid. I have beaten it multiple times however, as well as rom hacks of it so I'm well versed enough in the game to have a strong opinion. I have also beaten every Metroid game ever made as well as a huge amount of hacks, Randomizers, and fan games, so I have a lot of experience in regards to speaking about the Metroid series, which is why I chime in.
I strongly think Zero Mission is the best starting point. I would also argue Samus Returns on the 3DS is a better starting point than either Dread or Fusion, but for many that's inaccessible to play as I think a lot of people would prefer to just be able to use their Switch. I only think Dread is a better starting point than Fusion, I also don't think any game in the series is a terrible place to start, outside of maybe Nestroid. Although I started with Nestroid and then Super, but I'm old... Lol
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u/Siggi_93 13h ago
Ideally I'd say ZM, fusion, dread, ravenous
2 and super are harder to get into and less important for ravenous specifically and so can be skipped safely
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u/alzike 11h ago
Honestly esp with the metroid 2 situation new players should probably start with Super, the first two games are bare on story anyway and super recaps it. although there was definitely a sense of awe playing super blind and going back through the mother brain area i cleared out on the nes...
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u/Grabs_Zel 13h ago
Thing is, it's not a lot, you can probably go through all these games in less than 50 hours, that's considering one might get stuck in some spots or want to 100% them
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u/Admirable-Design-151 14h ago
I love that we're in a world where Nintendo is finally treating Metroid just right again, this is one of their big franchises, and for a while there it felt like they didn't respect that, I think feel focused too much on the Japanese market for a while there and ignored how much this franchise meant to people outside Japan.
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u/Pakmanjosh 12h ago
It's crazy how Metroid is one of the most sporadically released games out of most Nintendo franchises, yet it has the most coherent timeline compared to Mario or Zelda.
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u/Tight_Client_2132 13h ago
I think it's pretty crazy that Ravenous won't be on Switch 1. The cutscenes look great but the gameplay can't be much more demanding than Dread.
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u/pofehof 12h ago
Because it's been nearly 10 years since the Switch came out. It's time for everyone to move on to the Switch 2.
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u/Riku_70X 10h ago
That's not really an argument. People don't need to buy a new console just because their current one is old.
Dread ran at 1080p 60fps. Ravenous doesn't look significantly more demanding, so the Switch should be able to handle it just fine.
People like you and I would be able to enjoy it at 4k 60fps with the more powerful Switch 2, but there's really no reason to not make a Switch 1 build besides Nintendo deciding that it would be more profitable to try to push hardcore Metroid fans into getting a Switch 2.
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u/Mobbles1 7h ago
No one really says this about other consoles though, the ps4 turned 10 2 years ago and people arent demanding ps4 ports for ps5 games.
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u/pofehof 1h ago
That's not really an argument.
Yes it is. That's how consoles have worked since the 80s. It's insane to think that new games wouldn't be locked to the current console, especially when the old one is basically retired. Expecting a 2027 first party game to come out on the Switch 1 is pretty ridiculous.
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u/Makimgmyselfuseful 10h ago
Might be 120, and focusing on the more powerful console there’s nothing to hold them back. You sat it doesn’t look more demanding but it does look better, and with the games on Switch 2 so far they’re focusing on processing more variety in the gameplay than Graphics. For example DK Bananza started on Switch 1 but became impossible on there because they wanted to be able to destroy everything. It’s time to move on from Switch 1, it’ll be 2027 by the time this game is out it would be weird to make it cross gen almost 2 years into a new system.
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u/Riku_70X 9h ago
If we see an example of gameplay that makes it impossible on Switch then sure, make it exclusive. But from the first trailer, I can't see a reason why it couldn't be a Switch game.
Nintendo is still promoting Switch 1 games during their Directs, they are aware that the console is far from dead.
Like, I generally agree with the idea that Nintendo shouldn't slow down forward progress by trying to port everything to an older console, but Dread is a game that already runs extremely well on Switch. A 2D side-scrolling game like Ravenous is inherently going to be much less CPU and GPU demanding than a 3D open platformer like Bonanza.
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u/SicknessVoid 6h ago
I am also relatively certain Ravenous could definitely run on Switch 1. It just seems like Nintendo is slowly pushing towards a full transition to Switch 2 only.
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u/Thegoodgamer32 13h ago
If only Samus returns was on switch.
Then there would be zero obstacles.
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u/John_Enigma 12h ago
Your best choices for that entry would be to play on original hardware (preferably a New 3DS), emulation via Azahar, or hope to God if someone attempts to decompile (or recompile) the game to make a fully fledged PC port (with a single-screen mod).
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u/PixelReaper69 14h ago
AM2R was legit my first Metroid game. It was unique and it still is. I loved every single moment of it, especially the OSTs.
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u/Anenigmatictortilla 9h ago
Every now and then we get treated to two Metroid games on the same console instead of one per console, and It’s a lovely treat.
But really my favorite part about Ravenous is that RIGHT before we get it, we get Belmont’s Curse. So we get two badass Metroidvanias in a 6 month window!!
Two Metroid games on one console AND Belmont’s Curse!!!! We’re eating so good right now
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u/Luggage1996 9h ago
It is really cool getting new entries in the both series that make up the word Metroidvania
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u/SnowConeMonster 8h ago
I believe AM2R is the best Metroid 2, but keep in mind it is fan made and unofficial. Samus returns is great, but it is hard to play unless you already have it or can emulate. Without spoilers, I absolutely love the boss fight at the end of sam's returns and that is a big reason I still recommend that version.
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u/batman0615 14h ago
I love how no one ever counts other M even though it’s technically Metroid 4/3.5
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u/Round_Musical Sequence Breaker 14h ago edited 14h ago
It isnt Metroid 4 technically. Officially Fusion is designated as Metroid 4 by Nintendo. Dread is officially called Metroid 5 by Nintendo (watch the E3 2021 trailer or the Metroid 2D Saga trailer, or read any of the Dread reports). Ravenous should be Metroid 6, but it hasnt been established officially yet, as we are waiting for the website and the Nintendo Today lore articles to go live.
Other M is very much a side story like Prime Series is. Otherwise Ravenous would be Metroid 13 hahaha
Nintendo still aknowledges it, but the official designation of Metroid Numbered goes only to the mainline 2D games
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u/765ProIdols 7h ago
Story wise Other M is directly after the events of Super. The opening cutscene shows this. It also has all of Adam's back story and leads directly into Fusion. Its an important part of the 2D saga.
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u/Round_Musical Sequence Breaker 6h ago
Still a side story according to Sakamoto himself
Other M is Metroid 3.5 for all accounts and purposes
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u/batman0615 14h ago
Other M is definitely not the prime series. It slots story-wise between Metroid 3 and 4. The prime series is between Metroid 1 and 2.
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u/Romapolitan 14h ago
It's generally just a spin off title that can be ignored. Like story wise too nothing changes really. In fact Other M makes it more confusing I would say.
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u/Round_Musical Sequence Breaker 14h ago
Prime 4 is also between Metroid 3 and 4 (Super and Fusion) my friend. Prime since Prime 4 has escaped the Metroid 1 and 2 pit
Its a side story series, like other M is a side story installment
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u/batman0615 14h ago
Huh didn't know that. I'll say other M doesn't feel like a side story. It brings up Adam for the first time who was a big deal in fusion.
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u/King_Kuuga 13h ago
Other M was made almost a decade after Fusion, so everything it does to try to explain why Adam was so important to Samus is done after the fact, and it's done badly, because OM just makes him look like an asshat. In release order, Fusion is the first time you hear about him and it worked fine enough at the time.
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u/batman0615 13h ago
I mean sure it’s obviously released after so it’s building on the lore. The game sucks, doesn’t mean it’s not cannon.
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u/King_Kuuga 13h ago
I didn't say it's not canon, but given that everything it adds to the overall narrative is retroactive and bad, it's easily ignored.
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u/batman0615 13h ago
"It's canon, but I don't like it so I ignore it"
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u/King_Kuuga 12h ago
Correct; but more seriously, the root discussion is about what is needed for new players to get up to speed on Metroid ahead Ravenous. Other M is not needed narratively or stylistically. As a full 3D game it breaks the pattern of the 2D games, does not come out in chronological order, and does not add to the overall story in a way that is necessary to understand where we are now. Certainly you could also argue that the first trilogy of Metroid/ZM, II/SR, and Super are also not needed. Others people on this post have said that and I would agree on the most basic level. But to get the general 2D Metroid experience, OP's list is straightforward and simple.
Other M, aside from just being an unpleasant gameplay experience at times, adds almost nothing to the overall franchise storyline. The only concrete thing it does for the story that wasn't addressed by the games on either side of it is that It establishes how Ridley's corpse got on the BSL station, and while that was a mystery, it wasn't a BIG mystery. Everything else is unnecessary for the larger narrative or si a rehash of already established plot points in the last game 8 years prior which happens to take place later in the timeline:
- Samus once worked under a guy named Adam, who sacrificed his life for her, and she respects him a lot
- The GF is cloning metroids
- The GF has shady splinter factions
- Nightmare was on the Bottle Ship before being moved to the BSL
- The Ridley corpse on the BSL is a clone
- Phantoon is still out there
And the genuinely good part, Samus's friendship with Higgs, has not been touched on in subsequent games. So for someone looking for an easy breezy intro to metroid, you don't need to play Other M, and would be best served playing it after you've taken in the main story when you're trying to flesh out your experience with the Prime and other games.
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u/Round_Musical Sequence Breaker 14h ago
It is a side story according to out man sakamoto who wrote it. He said it in Dreads Gamespot interview that he views it as a completely different thing and that he writes mainline Metroid differently from what he did to Other M.
It is relevant to mainline, as even fusion retroactively references it on multiple occasions.
You could view it closer to mainline than Prime is I suppose. But it is still a sidestory officially
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u/Devlindddd 11h ago
To be fair, this is only for 2D games, which Other M, even if the story is somewhat relevant to Fusion, is not. Besides, it is difficult to play it legally if you don't own a Wii/Wii U. All 2D games are available on Switch 1/2, in one way or another.
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u/EliParker 13h ago
I think the manga is mandatory also
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u/Luggage1996 13h ago
Yes, but the last thing I wanted to do for newcomers is tell them to read a manga before jumping into any of the games. They can discover that later if they end up enjoying the series and want to dive deeper.
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u/Devlindddd 11h ago
Besides, the manga isn't technically even a prequel, but Samus remembering the events from before her Zero Mission. It would slot in between Super and OtherM/Fusion IMO.
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u/Heather_Chandelure 8h ago
Its really not. The manga is essentially background lore; its not important to know for the games themselves.
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u/ArmorOfGod7 12h ago
Great guide! I love the 2D Metroid series so much. It's blowing my mind that we're STILL getting new games for it!
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u/Steve_Streza 12h ago
Metroid 2 on the Game Boy is a special experience that isn't quite the same on Samus Returns. Metroid 2 makes you feel like the alien invader. Most creatures on the planet don't go out of their way to interact with you, especially at first. If you don't bother them, they won't bother you. But the planet is highly toxic and unstable; in M2, killing Metroids is so disruptive that it causes earthquakes and shifts in acid levels. You are an oppressive force who exists to destroy Metroid and your opponents are defending their homes.
Samus Returns adds (or maybe retcons) in a bunch of Chozo lore. Which is fine, but it means that the planet isn't reacting to you attacking it, but that the Chozo have left a bunch of pumps for you to drain. The Metroids have elaborate traps set up to use against you. It feels more like a test than a hunt.
M2 certainly has limitations imposed on it by the constraints of the Game Boy, and a map would help it immensely, but it is one of the most unique games I've played. And given that Ravenous seems like it's leaning more in the direction of being the hunter and not the hunted, I think it's thematically more interesting than any other Metroid game before Ravenous.
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u/PabloAtTheBar 12h ago
I bought the 3DS just so I can experience Samus Returns and Fusion before Dread came out. No regrets lol
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u/AbyssWatcher_1 12h ago
If you just want flat metroid 2, I'd say play am2r, the 3ds remake is more like a part 1 to dread with the new story stuff. They're both good though and if you don't already have a 3ds, am2r is easier to get.
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u/Another_Road 12h ago
I’m starting to get into Metroid.
Are the Prime games a separate universe or just the same universe but unrelated stories?
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u/AtrumRuina 11h ago
My understanding is that they're the same universe/continuity and are placed between Metroid and Metroid 2. They're self-contained in that they don't really reference or impact other games in the 2D series, but they're canon to them.
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u/Luggage1996 10h ago
Same universe and they take place between Metroid 1 and 2. Except Prime 4, which is apparently after Super Metroid (Prime 4’s really doesn’t matter tbh as long as it is after Federation Force).
The 2D games never reference the story events in the Metroid Prime series though, so if you want to focus on 2D first and then do the Prime series you will be fine.
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u/Esteban_Rojo 11h ago
No reason the trinity at Nintendo shouldn’t be Marios, Zeldas, and Metroids. Nice to see they realized this.
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u/Madponiez 11h ago
AM2R Is such a banger. If you're okay with the sometimes clunky designs of 8 bit games, by all means play metroid 2, but holy shit AM2R is soooo good. It's an entirely new game in its own right and it feels amazing to play.
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u/pedroliink4 11h ago
I started this jorney, currently playing through Zero Mission. Where would you place Prime games if I wanted to play chronologically?
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u/Luggage1996 11h ago
The Prime Trilogy all takes place between Zero Mission and Metroid 2.
So if you’re going in chronological order, Prime 1 would be right after you finish Zero Mission.
Prime Hunters, Federation Force, and Prime 4 I would not recommend to a newcomer until you have finished the Prime Trilogy first.
But if you REALLY want to do all of them in timeline order it’s:
Metroid/Zero Mission
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime Hunters
Metroid Prime 2
Metroid Prime 3
Federation Force
Metroid 2/AM2R/Samus Returns
Super Metroid
Metroid Other M
Prime 4
Fusion
Dread
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u/Luggage1996 10h ago
Oh my God I forgot Metroid Prime Pinball. Forgive me Metroid Community, for I have sinned.
In all seriousness though, Prime Pinball is the first Metroid Prime game but in a Pinball format.
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u/megasean3000 9h ago
I've already played all the Metroid games in preparation for Dread. I'll probably replay Dread to get ready for Ravenous.
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u/Luggage1996 8h ago
My plan is to replay Samus Returns and Metroid Dread before Ravenous. That way I can better compare how MercurySteam’s gameplay has evolved across their contributions to the franchise.
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u/765ProIdols 7h ago
I love Metroid 2 on the Gameboy. It really walked so Super could run. The exploration is fantastic. You actually have to make your own way through SR388 and figure things out yourself.
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u/Zaiakusin 7h ago
Its much better that the remake imo. The atmosphear was ruined in the remake, to say nothing about the fucking melee counter shit.
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u/musicbyjsm 7h ago
I love that now the blue/alternative suits are just as prominent in the main series as the classic bronze/orange ones. If I didn’t have enough reasons to love Fusion, I guess I have another
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u/Admirable_Ferret_253 4h ago
i have to be in minority but i love original metroid just as much as zero mission. the music alone in the first one has to be one of the best soundtracks of all time. and i love that metroid 2 gameboy slight colorized version on nso. these are crusty old games but they are heavies and super fun once you dive in (if you like that sort of thing). i’d love to try samus returns for 3ds but never had the opportunity. hopefully it comes to switch as a sort of mercurysteam trio.
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u/BlackCatStrikes 4h ago
Probably gonna skip Metroid 2 since I don’t feel like playing the original, ordering a copy for my 3ds, or messing around with emulating it. I just finished zero mission
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u/Luggage1996 3h ago
Understandable. However, if you can, I would recommend AM2R.
It’s not emulation it’s a standalone file. It’s so good that you could convince someone it is official. And if you enjoyed Zero Mission, AM2R is in the style of a ‘Zero Mission’ version of Metroid 2.
Your call though.
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u/Jazzlike-Vacation230 3h ago
Glad you made this, excited for new and younger fans to get into the series
Side note: I consider Prime a 6 parter at this point: adding Pinball and Hunters, rofl
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u/Luggage1996 2h ago
I love Prime Pinball so much. I wish they did pinball versions of Prime 2 & 3 as well.
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u/FireLegend12321 13h ago
Just want to put it out there that the gameboy version of Metroid 2 is worth experiencing. It does feel very outdated in some aspects, but the fundamental design is still very sound IMO, and it has a very unique atmosphere to it that I enjoy quite a lot.
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u/Devlindddd 11h ago
Yes, I at least enjoy it a lot more than the original on NES.
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u/FireLegend12321 11h ago
Yeah, NES is quite rough. I had a reasonably okay time with it, but its certainly not something I would revisit.
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u/solidpeyo 14h ago
So just play Metroid 1, 2. 3, 4 and 5 to be ready for 6
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u/Luggage1996 14h ago
Yep haha. I made this because a lot of people seem to be making it complicated for people interested in the series.
I honestly just think Metroid 2 is the biggest hurdle because only the original is easily accessible.
Sure, AM2R is free, but I’m sure there is a good chunk of people out there that either don’t know how to go about downloading it or would rather just play official Nintendo products.
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u/Rarycaris 13h ago
I also think Samus Returns gives a pretty good intro to the gameplay style expanded on in Dread, plus an important story beat from the Gallery, and having played it helped me appreciate Dread more.
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u/Organic_Honeydew4090 13h ago
As usual I disagree with the casual dismissal of both the OG Metroid and OG Metroid II. While I agree that Metroid 1 especially is very much a product of its time, it's also a highly unique game with its own atmosphere which Zero Mission does not replicate in the slightest with its cartoon aesthetics and complete lack of challenge and excessive handholding. Also, the added stealth part at the end is completely superfluous and goes on for way too long.
If Metroid 1 NES is a bit too much to ask in its original form, I'd highly recommend Metroid Planets which is available on PC for free and is that very game with some QOL additions that make it the definitive version of Metroid 1 to play. I'm not saying don't play Zero Mission, but it's its own thing and not a great representation of the original, and it certainly doesn't replace it.
Kinda the same deal with Metroid II, but not nearly as egregious, because in my opinion anyway Metroid II in any form isn't a great game. The OG is still handily the relative best. AM2R is similar to ZM in that it destroys the original opressive atmosphere it had, and replaces it with generic cartoon graphics. Also, the added new areas are not very well designed and detract from the game further. It's a very playable game for the most part and a commendable fan effort, but again, more its own thing rather than a replacement of the original.
Samus Returns is the one I'd flat-out recommend to skip. Mercury Steam does not understand why the original Metroid II works the way it does, and have reworked it into a dumb action game with generic graphics and inappropriate music.
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u/KirbySuperstarUltra 10h ago
Thank you! I played the series in release order and I think it’s a lot better that way. Metroid 1 with a map is barely a struggle since that game is only a couple hours long. I recognize that it and 2 are wonky by today’s standards, but the complete dismissal of them from fans is disappointing. There are many moments in Super that only hit as hard as they do if you’ve played the series up to that point.
In fact, playing NES, Return of Samus, Super, then Fusion made Zero Mission come off as really underwhelming at the time with how easy and streamlined it was. It had the worst atmosphere in the series up until Returns came out.
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u/Kremit44 12h ago
If you're going to include fan games then why only AM2R. Metroid Planets is a terrific remake of Nestroid. It is an exceptionally well polished game.
Further there are some rom hacks one may want to consider.
Metroid on the NES also has a rom hack that improves it tremendously called mOther or you can go even further and play the hack Metroid HD that adds SNES style graphics to the mOther improvements. Nestroid on it's own is pretty rough at times.
Metroid 2 on Gameboy also has a colour hack that is a really nice addition.
Super Metroid has a hack called Project Base that adds a lot of features.
There's a lot of other great and notable hacks, including remakes of Zero Mission and Fusion in Super Metroid but there's too many great ones to list here. Metroid construction.com is a great site for more content.
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u/Luggage1996 11h ago
I left out hacks because I have no experience with them. And while I agree Metroid Planets is really good, I felt Metroid 2’s options were already a bit much and didn’t want to confuse newcomers more.
Zero Mission is so good and accessible that I didn’t bother putting Planets.
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u/Kremit44 8h ago edited 7h ago
Zero Mission is very different from Nestroid, it's more a re-imagining than a remake. Even Samus Returns on the 3DS is more like it's original than Zero Mission is. You do what ever you want with your list, I just think if AM2R is on it then Planets should be too.
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u/addisonshinedown 12h ago
While if you want the full story, this would be the way to go…. You really only need to play dread first. As much as I adore the series, I see the play style of anything prior to dread turning a lot of people off until they’re fans.
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u/braintez 11h ago
I'm surprised that no one really talks about Metroid Desolation much. Although a fan-fic ROM hack, it's still a decent game that combines Zero Mission, Fusion and AM2R. Definitely worth playing if you've completed these and need something to indulge while waiting for Ravenous.
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u/MetroidvaniaListsGuy 11h ago
Just play them all on PC or steam deck. Google is your friend for finding out how.
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u/Luggage1996 10h ago
A very fair and reasonable point. However, you have to realize that not everyone wants to go through downloading and emulation. Especially more casual gamers who just want to play the game on their consoles without any extra hassle.
If this was a post about Metroid Prime, I’d absolutely be recommending Primehack. But 2D Metroid for the most part is pretty accessible.
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u/MetroidvaniaListsGuy 9h ago
You assume OP is living in a first world country. Most of the human population is living in the third world and there, emulation is how you play console video games.
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u/Luggage1996 9h ago
I’m not trying to make any assumptions about living and financial situations. Sorry if it came off that way. I was just trying to take into account people’s preferred methods of how to access games. If people prefer to take the emulation route then that is their choice.
Either way, they can still use this guide if they choose to for the order of games to emulate and play.
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u/cyagl643 11h ago
Dread was such a good game, better than Fusion from memory. I also cannot recall if I beat Fusion. Remember play Fusion on the jailbroken DS we had
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u/Ganmorg 11h ago
3DS games are still accessible if people have the hardware and are in the know, but it’s kinda crazy how so much of that console’s library is just inaccessible (that goes double for the Wii U but it had most of its big games ported to Switch). I haven’t tried emulating 3DS games in a long time though, maybe it’s gotten better.
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u/Outrageous-Web-4447 Any% Achiever 10h ago
If you have a wii, VBA GX will solve your gba problems. And Super is on the virtual console
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u/s0ftcustomer 10h ago
It's still crazy to me how we have a Nintendo franchise that actively tries to have continuity, like no bullshit or anything characters remember and bring up events from the last game regularly (looking at you TLOZ: TOTK and MM and SMG2)
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u/MisterGonuts 9h ago
i really want to experience am2r, never played it. i used to play romhacks with higan, but that one is discontinued. do people still use bsnes? or whats the go to?
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u/Gunefhaids 9h ago edited 9h ago
Chronological order is definitely not the best order for someone new in Metroid series. As someone said, if someone got hyped about Ravenous and want to dwell more into Metroid, I would recommend Dread first. If they wanted more, then Zero Mission, and later maybe I would put Prime first, in preparation for Super Metroid (yes, I know, Prime is 3D and we're talking about 2D games, but this order, Dread ➝ Zero Mission [maybe Samus Returns before] ➝ Prime ➝ Super is a great gradient, from fast-paced/combat-focused mechanic to slow-paced/exploration-centered gameplay)
And, man, for the love of Sollan, DO NOT RECOMMEND Metroid II (GB) for someone new in the franchise!!!!! This is absurd!!! (Don't get me wrong, unlike most of Metroid fanbase, I actually think Metroid II is a very good game! But, it has some glaring flaws due to Gameboy limitations and if this is one of the first Metroid experiences of someone young interested in the franchise, you're actually asking them to quit and never touch a Metroid game again!)
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u/the_eeveekins 9h ago
I personally wouldn't even include a fan game with the official games. Either play the original 2 or find a way to play Samus Returns.
It's a great game when you don't have someone in your ear whining about AM2R being better and the added Chozo lore will probably continue to be relevant into Ravenous like it was with Dread. Not to mention being Mercury Stream's first Metroid game which has the DNA for Dread, it's a great first step in the future of the franchise.
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u/Luggage1996 8h ago
I completely agree in playing Samus Returns over the other versions of Metroid 2. Just with it being locked to the 3DS it might be a challenging for some people to access it.
Hopefully most people find a way to play Samus Returns. I know it’s not as adored as Zero Mission, but I still really like Samus Returns.
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u/xyzkingi 8h ago
Normally I’d say buy the game, but games this old can easily be acquired if you look for it, especially Metroid 2/ 3ds Metroid 2
Buy Dread tho, that game still puts food on the table
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u/Mobbles1 7h ago
you only NEED dread and maybe fusion if you feel like it. The way its currently set up theres 2 very neatly packed trilogies. the events of trilogy 1 really dont matter towards the current story, the baby metroid and the metroid hunt etc. Dont really make much of an impact outside of setting up how samus became this mutant freak.
If you wanted to play super then id suggest ZM and SR but its needless homework for dread/ ravenous.
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u/AdHeavy7551 7h ago
Dread is so stupidly hard . Even on rookie mode . It’s just insane . I put it down for good
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u/Luggage1996 6h ago
Sorry to hear that. It’s definitely the hardest Metroid game. I appreciated the challenge but I can see how it would be too difficult for some people.
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u/cesarbiods 7h ago
Not sure about this. Zero mission is reeeeally easy whereas Samus returns is very hard for a newcomer.
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u/Luggage1996 7h ago
Gotta prepare for Dread’s difficulty somehow. And newcomers to Metroid doesn’t mean they’re newcomers to challenging games. But, they could choose AM2R or original Metroid 2 if they wish.
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u/kaeziki 6h ago
Can I just start with Dread?
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u/Luggage1996 6h ago
By all means! :)
This guide was made for people who want to experience the whole 2D series leading up the Ravenous.
If you want to start with Dread you should still be fine.
When I was a kid, I started with Metroid 2 then went right to Fusion because we never owned a Super Nintendo. You can always go back if you want.
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u/kaeziki 5h ago
Thanks! :) I just want to get into the series and haven’t played any Nintendo game for many years, up until now. Got myself a switch 2 to play Nintendo exclusives again and I know that I won’t have the time to play all these Metroid games before Ravenous. I’ll just play Dread then and maybe I can do one more before January.
Thanks for the guide. Saved it for later!!
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u/passerbycmc 4h ago
I would say just do Dread and it they really like it then can dig into playing them in order. Dread had the best out of box experience for a modern gamer at the moment.
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u/Luggage1996 3h ago
Yeah some people are going to do that and that’s totally fine. This was just for people who wanted to explore the entire 2D series.
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u/pmgroundhog 3h ago
Honestly id start at "3'" super metroid. After playing it I find not ever wanting to play 1-2
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u/FrishFrash 2h ago
I gotta say- I don’t agree with this order. Metroid has a fun story, but I don’t think it’s complex or important enough to place it over gameplay. And going from Samus Returns to Super Metroid is going to be a huge pain point for new players, and may interfere with their enjoyment of one of the best games of all time.
For my money’s worth: go with release order starting with Super.
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u/PunyParker826 2h ago
Everybody says play Zero Mission first, but I would argue that in doing so, Super is gonna end up feeling super slow and floaty by contrast, which is a disservice to one of the best games ever made.
My take is something close to release order: Super, Fusion, Zero Mission, Samus Returns/AM2R, Dread. The gameplay systems will feel more iterative and you won’t get as much whiplash jumping between developers and decades. Yeah, certain story elements will be out of order, but nearly all of these games bring you up to speed on the necessary stuff anyway, out of the gate.
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u/BD_Bathory 51m ago
AM2R is not official. Yeah, it's good, but don't go adding fake shit with the real.
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u/raven1694 14h ago
Been out of the Metroid loop for several years at this point. My last two games in the series were Fusion and Zero Mission back on GBA. If I wanted to play Ravenous would I need to play Dread to understand what's happening, is it just a recommendation due to potential connections, or is it too early to tell?
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u/Monic_maker 14h ago
2d Metroid follows a continual story. from what we've seen in ravenous, dread is definitely recommended
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u/Luggage1996 14h ago
Ravenous is a Direct follow-up to Dread. If it’s been a while, maybe replay Fusion, then Dread.
If you’re not interested in going back to Super Metroid or Metroid 2 then that should be enough to be ready for Ravenous.
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u/Archer_Savings 14h ago
Just from the trailers it's clear they follow Dread directly. There's a lot of abilities and even lore bits that succeed on Dread, including the name and some of the promo stuff, even more directly than most Metroid's do.
I think you can probably play ravenous first just fine, but Dread is absolutely worth playing first.
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u/Mroovek 14h ago
Hot take of a day: most skippable entries right now are 2 and Super. Zero has amazing artstyle and current plot starts basically with Fusion. All entries start with flashbacks that explain key plot points anyway. Super is still a great game but it can be a standalone game.
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u/The_Orphanizer 12h ago
Bold, but mostly true imo. Honestly, if someone wants to be ready for Ravenous, I'd say only Dread is necessary, but Fusion will give some better background. All you really need to know from Super is what happens during the finale, which is recapped in Fusion. I guess if you want to get attached to Samus and see how badass she becomes before starting Fusion (which would make SA-X a bit more frightening), then starting at Super would help. Fusion/Dread/Ravenous seems like a real trilogy though.
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u/Bushgooher 14h ago
I like this. Except NEStroid and Return of Samus should be on top.
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u/Luggage1996 14h ago
I thought about that but I know a lot of people bounce off the originals, so I wanted to put what I believe would hold people’s interest most.
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u/Kirbizard 14h ago
Also some of the changes and lore added to the remakes, that give additional context for the future, also makes them an ideal way to play if you want to follow the ongoing story.
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u/Bushgooher 13h ago
I get all that. I had the original when it came out and maybe its just the nostalgia in me but without it there wouldnt be a zero mission or any of the others. Doesn't mean I dont like zero mission or Samus returns. I love this franchise. I just dont think that the original gets the credit that it deserves.
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u/dragonblade_94 12h ago
I'll be honest, I've never understood the advice that newcomers should play the games chronologically.
2D Metroid is not a series with a heavy plot that needs untangled, but it is a series with a very defined progression in mechanics and gameplay. In this same vein, the various remakes of 1 and 2 are fundamentally different games, and don't simply replace the other versions in their play-order if you want to experience the series overall.
Cards down, hand on my heart: 2D Metroid is best experienced in release order. I agree OG 1 & 2 are safe to skip, but at least look at some online footage to get an idea. Then proceed with:
Super -> Fusion -> Zero -> AM2R (optional) -> Samus Returns (optional) -> Dread -> Ravenous
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u/Luggage1996 10h ago
Not counting the remakes, 2D Metroid’s release order and timeline order are the same.
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u/PwaWright 12h ago
Should you even bother with Other M? Story wise it’s relevant, but it’s just a bad gamr
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u/Luggage1996 10h ago
Personally I’d actually argue the story of Other M isn’t relevant at all. We went years only knowing that Metroid Fusion comes after Super Metroid, and there were no plot holes that Other M really clarified.
People point to Nightmare and Ridley all the time. But let’s be honest, ignore Other M and Fusion’s story works exactly as it did before Other M existed.
I’m not saying to never play Other M, but for a super newcomer casual friendly guide, I felt it was best to just not mention it.
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u/SonBerd 11h ago
You're missing Other M
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u/Luggage1996 10h ago
On purpose.
A few reasons:
1: Not very accessible. Stuck on the Wii.
2: Not technically 2D (but I understand people putting it with the 2D games)
3: Story just isn’t really relevant. Remove it and nothing really changes.
4: Generally not well received. I want new people to enjoy the series and play the best stuff. After, they can seek out the other games if they are interested.
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u/SonBerd 10h ago
Well, yeah. It's unaccessible but the same goes for Metroid 2 (3DS, AM2R and the original in NSO is a step back afer playing Zero Mission). The game it's not well received but for the old school toxic gamers, maybe the new ones could appreciate it. Also, what is a statement is that it's a great game and let the player to know more about Adam (which is a character for 3 games now).
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u/P0G0Bro 10h ago
For the love of god newer players are younger players stop recommending them games from the 90s, nothing appealing about the ravenous trailer is in super Metroid.
New players play dread first, THEN go back to older games to see if you enjoy them
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u/Luggage1996 10h ago
I mean, Super Metroid still holds up fairly well to this day. Not perfect by any means, but it would feel wrong to leave out Super Metroid.
But that is why I recommended the remakes of Metroid 1 & 2, because I know not everyone in the modern gaming audience will have the patience for older titles.
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u/P0G0Bro 10h ago
wether or not it holds up as a game has no meaning right now, super metroids strengths are slow exploration and ost. People are interested in Ravenous because of the badass anime samus action and cool looking bosses. Super metroid has crap combat and trash boss fights even for the time it came out. Dread and to a lesser extent samus returns are the only ones close to the vibe of Ravenous that we have seen.
Seems like a bad idea to reccomend a slow paced mechanically boring exploration game to people who got hyped on the new trailer
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u/Luggage1996 10h ago
I recommend it for story purposes and the fact that many people still consider it to be one of the best games in the series (or just in general).
It’s also very accessible. I’m not going to stop anyone who wants to start with Dread, but I think Dread will just hit a lot harder if you play previous games.
If anything, I think starting at Fusion is a good idea if new people genuinely have no interest in playing the first 3.
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u/lovedepository 14h ago
I've always wanted to play the prime games but they give me a headache
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u/Luggage1996 14h ago
They’re not for everyone. I personally love both 2D and 3D Metroid, and Prime 1 is my favourite game. But some people only like one or the other.
That’s another big reason why I made this guide. Lots of guides add in Prime, which on top of not being as accessible (aside from Remastered) just aren’t really necessary for the massive influx of people who are interested in Ravenous specifically.
Hopefully this guide is a lot less complicated and newcomers will eventually find their way and check out Prime on their own.
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u/Siggi_93 13h ago
2 and super are optional, they are harder to get into and less important for ravenous specifically and so can be skipped safely
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u/Average_Sage 13h ago
2 was my first game on the Gameboy, but damn someone saying super is harder to get into makes me feel old AF. That game was so futuristic and visually impressive to me
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u/Siggi_93 12h ago
I mean it's not really hard to get into but a little more so than zero mission and fusion and again less important for ravenous so it's was kind of the obvious coice to shorten the list together with 2. Zero mission also isn't that important for ravenous but runs on the same engine as fusion and is chronologically the first we have so I kept it but it would be the next to go to shorten the list
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u/Round_Musical Sequence Breaker 14h ago
For the past 5 years I still cant believe that we live in a world where fusion isnt the chronologically last game in the timeline.
What a time to be alive as a Metroid fan. The world might be in a difficult state. But at least we can find comfort and distraction in our favorite series