Metroid: Zero Mission Walkthrough

By Doug Radcliffe
Design by Collin Oguro

"Planet Zebes... I called this place home once, in peaceful times, long before evil haunted the caverns below. Now, I shall finally tell the tale of my first battle here... My so-called Zero Mission." - Samus Aran

Metroid: Zero Mission is a remake of the Nintendo Entertainment System classic game Metroid, but with significant enhancements, including new areas, power-ups, and enemies as well as a few surprises.

This GameSpot game guide for Metroid: Zero Mission includes:

General Strategies: This section provides general strategies for Metroid: Zero Mission, including how to perform wall and bomb jumps.
Walk-through: This section offers a complete walk-through for Metroid: Zero Mission. It provides tips for retrieving power-ups and hidden items.
Weapons and Equipment: Look here for a rundown of Samus' weaponry and equipment.
Maps: This section provides complete maps for all Metroid: Zero Mission's areas and reveals the location of all hidden items.
Secrets: Check here for Metroid: Zero Mission unlockables, a code for the original Metroid game included with Metroid: Zero Mission, and a sampling of the Metroid: Zero Mission gallery.

Chapter 1 - General Strategies

This section provides general strategies for Metroid: Zero Mission, including performing special maneuvers like wall jumping and bomb jumping, and tips on completing the game as quickly as possible.

The Metroid enemies are certainly there to get in your way and be a hassle but many of them are little more than keepers of health and ammunition. Most dead enemies will reappear after you've returned to the location. There's no need to defeat every enemy every time you move through the same room (unless of course you need some health or ammo). In fact, if you're looking to beat the game quickly, ignoring most enemies is one of the important keys.
Whenever you see a pipe coming from the ground (think Mario type pipe), expect some Metroid enemies to emerge. These enemies are excellent sources of health and ammo. The enemies that emerge from pipes reappear even if you don't exit the room completely. If you're low on health or ammunition and need some easily, move around the pipe and eliminate the enemies that emerge.
One of the most impressive ways to complete the game is by collecting as few power-ups and items as possible. Some power-ups are mandatory, such as the morph ball and bomb. Others, however, are optional and can be skipped such as the charge beam.
If you're looking to finish the game quickly or collect items as soon as possible, then you should master the art of the wall jump. In Metroid: Zero Mission, you can scale a wall by jumping alongside the wall. Perform a jump into the wall then tap the opposite direction and hit the jump button again. It will look like you're literally spinning up the wall.
The bomb jump is another maneuver you can use to collect items as early as possible and even get the varia suit well before you are "supposed" to acquire the power-up. Collect the morph ball and bomb power-ups then you can perform the bomb jump. Enter morph ball mode and continually drop bombs. You will be propelled upward by the bomb explosions. If you time your bomb drops correctly, you can continue to ascend as high as you need to go with the aid of the explosions. You can even aim diagonally or cross small gaps with the aid of the bomb explosion. For instance, to get the varia suit after you have acquired the bombs, maneuver under its location in Brinstar. Bust the blocks above you and use bomb jump to reach the chamber. Next you'll have to bomb jump diagonally to the ledge on the left side then use the bomb jump to reach the door above. Once inside the overhead chamber, use bomb jump to reach and cross the pillars to the far left side. Release the parasites to destroy the organism then scamper to the statue and recover the power-up.
If you can't find a hidden item even though it appears on your map, try bombing the various surfaces around the room. The bomb may destroy blocks or at least reveal what you'll need to destroy the blocks that lead you toward the hidden item.

Chapter 2 - Walk-through

This section offers a complete walk-through for Metroid: Zero Mission. This walk-through includes a proven solution through the game. It primarily follows the linear structure of the game (unless otherwise noted) and snags all beam, suit, and miscellaneous power-ups and also reveals the location of many hidden items (check the map section as well). Since it explores most of the game, you won't complete the game with a low time completion by following this walk-through but you will complete the game.

Brinstar

Head left from your start position and leap over the obstruction. You can't go underneath just yet! Approach the spherical object on the pole. Jump and grab the object--it's your first power-up, the morph ball.

Return back to the right and use the morph ball to roll underneath the obstruction. Approach the door at the far end and proceed through. In the next room, roll under the blocks or simply shoot them.

Continue to the right and into the next chamber. Avoid the enemies that fall from the ceiling. Roll underneath the obstruction and approach the statue. Jump into the statue's hand.

The morph ball is your first power-up and is vital to navigating Brinstar's tunnels.

The Chozo statue provides a vital clue on where Samus should proceed next.

Shoot these three block obstructions then use the morph ball to roll through the tunnel.

This "Chozo" statue, and its counterparts throughout the game, reveals the location of the next important item. If you're ever unsure on what to do next, just use the guidance provided by the last Chozo statue to proceed toward the next important item. You can also use these statues to replenish health and, later in the game, weaponry.

Continue to the right into the vertical shaft. Spot the save game room just to your right. Enter and save your game if you wish then ascend the vertical shaft. Avoid or shoot the enemies as you ascend.

Move upward until you reach the first door on the left side of the screen. Enter the tunnel. Duck and shoot the three blocks that clog the narrow tunnel. With the route clear, use your morph ball form to roll left. Beware of the falling enemies and approach another statue. This one holds a new item and adjustment to your primary weapon.

Leap into the statue's hand and grab the long beam enhancement to your weapon, which causes your projectiles to fly further. Enter the statue's hand again to replenish your health if necessary.

Return to the right. You can't take the lower tunnel because the block obstructions have returned and you have no means of destroying them while in morph ball form. Instead, take the upper tunnel. Duck and shoot the blocks then use the morph ball to traverse the narrow tunnel.

Make your way up this hidden passageway. Shoot the path's obstructions and continue to the main route up toward the top of the map. When you reach the top, you can search to the left but the area is blocked by two large reptilian heads. You won't open this route for awhile so ignore it for now. Turn around and proceed toward the right.

You'll reach the door--but this one is white. This indicates that the door is currently locked and won't open until you clear the room of enemies. Defeat the enemy that falls from the ceiling to unlock the door.

Acquire the long beam weapon enhancement from this statue.

Your exit has been locked. Defeat the room's enemy to unlock the door.

You have no means of opening the red doors just yet.

The next room to the right contains another Chozo statue. Enter its hand to see the location of Brinstar's next important item. Use the statue to replenish health as needed then proceed to the right.

Fall down the shaft. When you reach the blocks, shoot them to open a path. Continue downward until you reach the first door on your right. Use the morph ball to traverse the tunnel then continue right into the next vertical shaft. You'll spot your first red door to your right. You can't open red doors yet so you'll have to find another path.

You can search up the shaft but the available route is also blocked. You must find a new weapon to continue along this pathway. Start your descent and use the save game room to the right as needed. Continue to the bottom of the shaft and enter the door on the right side.

Brinstar - cont.

Your first missile tank is certainly easy to find--most of the others won't be so easy!

Traverse the tunnel to the right (taking note of the tunnel crumbling ominously) and find your first missile tank on top of the center post. Avoid falling into the harmful liquid below if possible. If you continue to the right you'll find the route blocked. You still need another weapon to get through this tunnel!

You're about to put your new missiles to good use. Return to the left toward the tunnel's exit. A gigantic worm appears from the tunnel's ceiling--that's what caused the crumbling walls--and attacks. You can't continue on until you either defeat this beast or force it to run away. The worm does carry an optional weapon power-up so it's worth destroying. You'll likely destroy it eventually but you might as well eliminate it the first time!

To destroy the worm, you must hit the worm successfully three times before it escapes. You must use the missiles to hit the worm in its open eye; regular weapon fire won't harm the beast.

This gigantic worm was causing the tunnel to crumble and now it's after you!

The worm holds the charge beam weapon power-up.

Shoot the blocks near the ground to uncover a hidden missile tank.

When the worm first attacks, hit it in its open eye either initially or after it makes its first dive attack (watch for its pinchers to move indicating the worm is about to dive). Don't waste missiles on the worm's closed eye or its sides. It will shoot some spikes from its hide. Shoot these with your regular weapon to regain missiles or health. After the worm dives, move underneath and shoot its open eye with another missile. You must be quick as the eye doesn't stay open for long. The worm now attacks to the left or right so maneuver out of the way and shoot the eye a third and final time to defeat the creature. If you only score two shots in this amount of time, the worm will escape. You'll encounter it later in this tunnel and can kill it then.

After the worm's death, grab the charge beam weapon power-up. This allows you to charge a more powerful shot with your primary weapon (hold down "B"). Return up the shaft until you reach the red door on the right side. You couldn't open it before but now you have the key: missiles! Shoot a missile at the door to open the route.

Continue to the right, leap over the harmful liquid below, and shoot the flying pests overhead. In the far tunnel you must leap onto the rocks and traverse an upper path. But it's blocked by the substance creating those flying things. Shoot the obstruction with your primary weapon or missiles. Clear a route to the far right side where you'll find another door.

Move through another short tunnel and reach a set of vertical blocks that obstruct this route. Use your primary weapon to destroy the blocks and open a path through. Aim your weapon toward the ground and clear the lowest blocks to reveal a hidden missile tank.

Grab the energy tank, which increases your maximum health capacity, from the top of this post.

Find the map room to download Brinstar's map layout. Note that it doesn't reveal every single tunnel in Brinstar--some you'll have to find yourself!

Spot the narrow tunnel on the upper left corner of the room.

Head to the right and locate your first energy tank resting on a post. Use your primary weapon to destroy more blocks obstructing the path to the right. Proceed through the far door and into another shaft.

Before ascending, drop down and use a missile to open the red door on the left. This is the map room. Approach the machine on the far left to download Brinstar's map data. Exit the room and ascend the shaft.

Enter the first door on the left. Move through the first chamber to find a save game room. Exit and ascend one more level to another door on the left.

There's nothing you can do in the bottom of this room just yet so use your morph ball to traverse the narrow tunnel on the upper portion of the room. Drop down the other side and use a missile to open the door.

Brinstar - cont.

Snag Samus' next important item from the clutches of this Chozo statue: the bomb!

Here you'll encounter another Chozo statue holding another vital item. Grab the item to add bombs to Samus' repertoire. To set bombs, duck into a morph ball and press the "B" button to set. Bombs also permit the bomb jump maneuver as described in the "General Strategies" section of this guide. You can duck into morph ball form and continuously set bombs to propel Samus into the air to reach otherwise unattainable (at least until later in the game) areas and items.

Bombs destroy the block type underneath the statue. Put your bombs to use immediately and destroy those blocks. Roll left to a secret room. Use bombs to destroy the blocks overhead and practice your bomb jumping to reach the missile tank) on the upper ledge.

Exit and return to the door at the far right side of this tunnel. It's white and currently locked. Use your bomb to destroy the blocks along the ground. This releases purple parasites from the cage overhead. Roll around and drop some bombs to shake off the parasites. Exit through the unlocked door.

You can put your bombs to good use quickly and find this hidden missile tank.

Make your way to the area shown on this map (indicated by Samus' bright orange icon) and use your new bombs to destroy the flooring here.

Find this secret tunnel and grab a hidden missile tank at its far end.

Make your way down the shaft and enter the door on the left side (above the map room). Retrace your steps to the area shown in the screenshot. There's a block that can be bombed here. Set a bomb and destroy the floor to open a new passageway down. Unlock the red door with a missile and find a Chozo statue inside. It points the way to the next important item and guides you into the next area, Norfair.

Exit and return up the passage. Return to the room with the flying pests and their hives. Before exiting via the door on the left, leap through a secret passage near the top left corner of the room. Destroy another hive and find a missile tank in the back corner.

These two blocks must be destroyed by Samus' bomb.

Leap up to this spot and place some bombs to open a path.

Continue to the left and exit into this vertical chasm. Ascend the ledges to the very top and enter the door on the right side. Roll underneath the missile-like objects (shoot the red spot on the second missile to force it to rise). Spot the two unique blocks along the ground. Use Samus' bomb to destroy them and open the passage.

Leap up to the top tube (shoot any enemies inside) and roll through to the far right side. Move through the next door and save your game if desired. Continue through the yellow bricked tunnel and snag another missile tank on a post. Retrace your steps to the left and descend the chasm until you reach the bottom.

This is the tunnel where you encountered the worm (and may encounter again if it wasn't destroyed). Blocks impeded your progress before but now you're equipped with the bomb. Go right and leap onto the blocks near the ceiling. Set bombs to open a new route. Roll through the tunnel and drop on the far side. Continue to the right and locate the elevator into Norfair.

Norfair

It's possible to use the bomb jump to reach this missile tank.

Leap off the elevator to the right side and set a bomb to open a hole. Fall to the floor and go through the door on the right. Save your game if desired. Return to the left, underneath the elevator, and traverse the new tunnel.

You'll reach a platform underneath a missile tank above. You can snag this missile tank now by using bombs to propel Samus in morph ball form to the ceiling and the missile tank. For more information on "bomb-jumping" see the general strategies section of this guide.

Resume course to the right. You'll soon reach a dead-end. Duck and shoot the blockage to reveal a passage. Traverse it with Samus' morph ball then use a bomb to expose an exit. Continue left and move through the door.

Grab this missile tank now, with the help of bomb-jumping, or later.

This vertical chasm leads up and down from this door. The path down can be explored with the use of Samus' bomb-jumping maneuver. Use bombs to jump over the tall pillar on the left side. Drop down and go through the door on the right. Maneuver to the end of this passage to find another missile tank.

Go up the vertical shaft and find the elevator to Crateria. Hop on and ascend into the next area.

Crateria - For the Power Grip

Proceed right into the water-filled chamber. Before you leap onto the platforms, jump into the water and drop down near the lone block at the base of one of the platforms (beware of the aquatic enemies swimming around!).

Shoot the block and the bigger block behind it. This clears a path into an underwater cavern. Bomb the bottom left corner twice to open the route into a secret chamber containing an aquatic enemy (kill or avoid it) and a hidden missile tank.

You can bomb your way down to this underwater chamber containing a missile tank.

The first unknown item can be found at this statue in Crateria.

Your initial goal in Crateria is to reach this door on the upper left side of the Chozo Ruins.

Exit the water on the left side of the chamber and use the platforms to reach the top left corner. Bomb the set of blocks that obstruct the route. Exit through the top of the screen and into the Chozo Ruins. You can't destroy the bigger block that exits the cavern so instead continue to the right. Bomb any obstructions and traverse the tunnels in morph ball form.

Continue right into the next chamber. You'll spot a missile tank under a block. You can't get it just yet so keep going right. Jump over the blocks ahead and grab the item from the Chozo statue. It's marked as an "Unknown Item" and is currently incompatible with your suit. It's actually the Plasma Beam weapon but you won't be able to use it until late in the game.

You can now destroy the blocks on the left side of the room. Destroy the one covering the missile tank and grab the power-up.

Search the Chozo Ruins to find the power grip power-up!

Proceed to the left and traverse the tunnel in morph ball form. You can destroy the block obstructing the exit now. Hop out of the tunnel and use the pillars to reach a door on the upper left side of the ruins. Enter the door then run left until you drop down inside the large chamber.

There doesn't appear to be a way out but if you examine the left wall you'll find a breakable section. Shoot the wall and navigate the hidden passageway with morph ball and bombs. Drop into the next chamber and grab the power-up from the structure. It's the power grip, which allows you to grab and hang onto ledges and corners.

Exit the chamber to the right. The central structure now rises and provides a set of platforms that can get you out of this predicament. And not coincidentally, you get to use your new power grip as well! Ascend out of the chamber using the platforms.

Samus' ship is on Crateria and doubles as means of replenishing your health and weapons and as a save game point.

Exit the area at the top left. Shoot the blocks that rest on the top of the pedestals to clear a path to the door on the far left. Utilize your power grip to pull yourself up into the tight space provided by the last pillar. Enter the door and drop down to the planet floor below. Continue left and find Samus' ship here on Crateria. Use it to replenish your health and weaponry as well as save your progress.

Return to the right and destroy the block in the upper right corner to open a passage. Find the elevator back to Nofair. Now equipped with power grip you can explore a new area.

Back to Norfair - For the Ice Beam

Drop down from the lift and take the first door on the right. Make your way to the area marked in the screenshot (by Samus' logo). Save your game on the way if you wish.

Traverse the ledges above you with help from power grip. Proceed to the door on the far right side of the room. Climb the ledges in the next section and enter the first door above you on the left. The next room contains a series of small platforms. Leap across the platforms with help from power grip (avoid the harmful pool below if possible).

Enter the next room and find a Chozo statue holding your next power-up. It's the ice beam, an enhancement to your primary weapon. You can use it to freeze enemies in place; the enemies can then be used as platforms to reach otherwise unattainable areas.

Power grip allows you to explore the new area marked on this map.

This Chozo statue holds an enhancement for your primary weapon: the ice beam.

The ice beam freezes enemies in place, essentially turning them into platforms for Samus' feet!

Instead of using the door to the right, go underneath the statue and set a bomb to open a route left. Use power grip to grab hold of the pillar or freeze the enemy with the ice beam. Enter the left door into the next section. Before ascending this vertical area, enter the door on the left to find a save game room.

You'll soon notice that there aren't many platforms above you--but there are enemies! Use your ice beam to freeze the enemies in place and use them as new platforms to continue your ascent up this vertical shaft.

At the top, enter the door on the right. Traverse this area using power grip and ice beam (you can freeze the enemies that appear from the pool below). Leap from a frozen enemy into the hands of the Chozo statue, which provides guidance to the next power-up location. It reveals the route to Kraid.

Continue to the right using your ice beam to turn your enemies into frozen platforms. Enter the door at the end. The next room is more of the same. Leap to the small platform and use the ice beam to freeze the moving enemies. Freeze one close to your platform, stand on it, then freeze the other enemy so you can jump to the next ledge.

The Chozo statue reveals something worthwhile hidden in Kraid.

Find a missile tank hidden behind this block.

Your new ice beam comes in handy as it provides access to this ledge and its hidden missile tank.

In the right side of the room, freeze the upper enemy. Bomb the second block down from the ceiling to expose a hidden missile tank. Drop down and continue through the door on the right side.

Walk to the right side of the next chamber to fall through a hole. Drop down to the very bottom of this shaft and enter the door on your left. You're back in the initial room that required the power grip to navigate.

As you move to the left, spot the enemy underneath the row of blocks. He looks like he's trying to get out! Bomb the floor to allow the enemy to soar higher. When the creature is at its peak, shoot it with the ice beam. Jump onto the creature and find a ledge above. Jump to the ledge, walk to the right, and snag the missile tank.

Exit this chamber to the left and use the save game room if you wish. Exit to the left. You're underneath the Brinstar lift here. Use your ice beam to freeze the enemies. Use them as platforms to reach the lift. Return to Brinstar.

Back to Brinstar

Power grip will help you immensely in procuring this missile tank.

Backtrack your way to the left. Reach the vertical chasm and ascend (use the save game room on the right if you wish). Enter the first door on your right. Go right until you reach a room with a rocky bridge underneath your feet and two doors on either side of the screen.

Bomb a hole in the bridge and drop down into the room below. Spot the missile tank in the small niche. There are also a number of flying pests around the room. You must use a bomb to destroy the block and then can use your power grip and the ledges on the left side to reach the exposed tank. But you have to work quickly because the block reappears and the flying enemies also regenerate. Use the bomb-jumping technique to destroy the block then jump to the niche and grab the tank. Exit this recessed chamber.

Return to the left and down the long chasm. At the bottom, go left. This tunnel was also your starting location but it's also near the route into Kraid.

You can use the bomb-jump technique to reach the exposed energy tank.

Return to the area shown on this map. This is where to begin your descent into Kraid.

While in morph ball form, drop into a hole located here to find a propulsion device. It will help you reach a hidden missile tank.

After using the morph ball to traverse the narrow tunnel along the floor, use your primary weapon to shoot the ceiling and expose an energy tank. Use the bomb-jumping technique to snag the tank. Just position yourself below the tank and continue to drop bombs to propel your morph ball form up to the tank.

Continue to the left. You'll recognize the area from earlier in the game. Now that you're equipped with bombs, you can open a hole in the floor and descend into the next world, Kraid.

Before going right to the Kraid lift, drop down into a hole. You must do so in morph ball form. You'll fall into some sort of device; it's on the left side of the room's bottom floor. This device will propel you upward at a very fast rate; all it requires is a little explosive charge. While in the device, drop a bomb and you'll be propelled into an upper chamber containing a missile tank.

There are more tanks to be found in Brinstar before moving into Kraid if you wish to take the time to explore. Leap back out of the chamber and go right to the vertical shaft (the save game room is on your right). Move up to the first door on your right and move through to the next vertical shaft. Go up here until you run out of platforms with just enemies above you.

Utilize your ice beam weapon to freeze enemies and reach this upper ledge. This path leads to a hidden missile tank.

There's a breakable block on the upper portion of this platform.

This hidden chamber contains another Brinstar missile tank. Freeze the floating enemies to keep them away!

Now that you have the ice beam you can freeze these enemies and use them as platforms to reach a ledge above. While standing on the upper enemy, jump to the ledge on the upper left corner of the screen. Roll through and find a missile tank in the hidden room.

Return to the vertical shaft and drop down until you reach the area shown in the screenshot. Leap to the platform shown and notice the breakable block on its upper side. Set a bomb and drop inside. Eliminate the enemies in the hidden chamber and drop down into the room below. It contains a missile tank.

Drop down again and exit to the right. You'll notice a new power-up on the left but it can't be obtained just yet. Return to the vertical shaft. From the exit point of the hidden room you were just in, jump up and to the right onto the large piece of room. Hug the right wall and use your bomb-jumping technique to open a route. On the map it's essentially directly to the right of the hidden room you were just exploring.

Bomb the floor to open a path to the right side of the room. Freeze the floating enemies to keep them away. Jump up to the upper ledge and grab the missile tank.

Return to the bottom tunnel (your start location) and descend to the Kraid elevator. Use the lift to proceed into the next world.

Kraid

Hop down and enter the room on the left to save your game. Before exiting the save game room, walk along the wall on the left side. There's a hidden tunnel. You can enter it now with the help of bomb-jumping (otherwise you'd need the hi-jump boots to hop in morph ball form). Go to the corner and bomb-jump while pressing the directional pad against the left wall. Traverse the narrow tunnel and use bombs to destroy any obstructions. Grab the missile tank in the hidden room.

Use the bomb-jumping technique to reach this hidden room containing a missile tank.

Here's an easy-to-grab missile tank in one of Kraid's earliest rooms.

Propel Samus through the tube on the right side of the screen.

Exit the save game room to the right. Open the red door with a missile and hop over to the right. Leap across the pillars and snag the missile tank. Destroy enemies and blockages with your primary weapon and cross this corridor to the right. Move through the door at the end.

The next room contains a tube on the right side. You can go up the platforms on the left but the ceiling is blocked. Instead, bomb the ground adjacent to the tube's bottom. Roll into the hole and down into a recessed pit. It's another propulsion device. Roll inside and set a bomb. The device propels you upward (destroying those enemies in the process).

At the top, roll to the left and to the first narrow passageway so you can grab the missile tank. If you miss it (or once you've grabbed it), you can use the device again to propel yourself back up the tube.

Use your power grip and jump up the wall using the small corners to grab hold. Keep going to the upper door on the left. In the next tunnel, destroy the blocks on top of the pillar to open a hole through. If you need health or missiles, stay close to the tube in the ground and shoot the enemies that emerge. Exit the tunnel to the far left.

That tube in the floor produces a constant enemy stream. It's a good source of health and ammunition!

Use the propulsion device to reach this tunnel.

This device activates the zip line transport system that's scattered throughout Kraid.

Destroy the blocks in the next tunnel and drop down. There's another propulsion device here. Before you enter through the door on the bottom right, use the device to launch yourself up the left side of the screen. As you descend after the blast, push the directional pad to the right and you'll enter a new passage.

Open the red door on the right side with a missile. Inside you'll find an unusual structure. This device controls the "zip lines" that are scattered throughout Kraid. These zip lines aid in your movement around Kraid. To activate the zip lines, jump into the device and enter morph ball form.

Use the zip line to move from platform to platform while you combat the beast from the pool below.

To use the zip lines, shoot the red button on the ceiling to call the line toward Samus. Then jump up and grab hold to transport along the ceiling to the opposite side of the screen. When you do so here, you'll automatically hit an energy tank. Enter the door to the right and save your game.

Exit the save game room to the right. Walk to the edge of this small alcove to drop down in front of a door below. Enter the door on the left. Leap to the room's center and prepare for another boss battle. The creature emerges from the pool below and will attack the left and right platforms--whichever you are currently standing on. You must use the zip line overhead to avoid the attack. When you drop to the other side, use your missiles to hit the creature around its neck. The creature also causes the hazardous pool to rise. Get on the highest platform to avoid taking damage. Repeat the process back and forth until the beast has been destroyed.

Enter the recess below the creature to find this hidden missile tank.

Before you exit the room to the left, drop down into the recess (where the creature came from). Hop over the pillars toward the left side. Destroy the block in the upper left corner of the recessed area (using bomb-jump if necessary). Maneuver through the tunnel into a secret room on the other side. Blast the block with your primary weapon and leap to the missile tank.

It's time to exit the area. Return to the previous room and go left. Use the propulsion device to launch to the very top corridor. Proceed to the right and use the zip line to cross. Destroy the blocks behind the pillar and exit to the top right corner of the map. Drop down to the top of the tube then down to the bottom. Enter the door on the left. Retrace your steps through this corridor and enter and use the save room on the left side.

Kraid - cont.

Exit the save room to the right and drop down one level to find two more doors. Enter the door on the left. Once inside the room, shoot the blocks on the platform and use the morph ball and bombs to traverse the winding corridor. Reach the zip line.

To reach the far side you can be in morph ball form while in the zip line. Normally you would wait until you have hi-jump boots so you can jump in ball form but you can use the bomb-jumping technique to enter the zip line. Cross the zip line moving to the left while in morph ball form. You can also just shoot the blocks that obstruct the path. If you return to the corridor and search the room on the right you'll find another zip line leading to an energy tank. You can't get it yet, though.

You can search this tunnel with your current equipment.

Ride the zip line in morph ball form to reach the far side--or just shoot the blocks in your way.

Enter morph ball form and maneuver through this tube.

Exit the tunnel to the left side. Use the platforms to ascend to the next door on the right. Enter the door and notice it turn white behind you. Defeat the creature in this room! If you're loaded up with missiles, use them. You'll sustain heavy damage just getting nicked by this creature. After defeating the beast, climb to the top right corner of the room and use the tube--while in morph ball form--to proceed back to the left. The exit is white so you must defeat this second creature before exiting.

You're now at the top of a tube and can see a missile tank below. Use a small bomb-jump to hop into the tube and grab the tank and then drop down to the floor. This floor is breakable. Set a bomb and drop down the long shaft to the very bottom. Enter the door on the right.

Break the block on the left side of the floor to expose a tunnel.

Use the tunnel overhead to reach this unknown item.

There's a hidden path to this upper floor.

Enter the next door on the right. In this short tunnel, spot the unusual flooring on the left side of the room. Break the block with a bomb and drop down several stories to the very bottom. Enter the door on the left to find a save game room.

Exit the save game room to the right. Go to the right side of this chamber and leap onto the platform just before the door on the far right. Shoot the block above you to expose the tunnel. Before going to the left, destroy a block on the upper right side to open that tunnel. Move through into the adjacent room to find another unknown item (eventually becomes the space jump).

Exit the room to the left (you can destroy the block along the floor now). Use the tunnel overhead to maneuver to the left now. Reach a door on the right side and enter. Eliminate the enemies infesting the next corridor. If you check your map you should be right over the large alien icon. Cross the corridor to the far right and find a save room.

Move two rooms to the right. Leap onto the platform above the pipe. There's a secret tunnel above you. Clear a path with your weaponry and jump through. Go left until you reach the room divided by a block wall. Use the small ledges to ascend the room with power grip. Shoot the blocks above you and then to the left. Drop down the room's center and enter the door on the left at the bottom.

You must destroy the platforms blocking the zip line's path.

This next tunnel is filled with floating enemies, a zip line, and a row of platforms blocking the zip lines path. You must destroy those blocks before you can successfully use the zip line and grab the missile tank at the far end. Break the platforms by busting the floor underneath each one. There's a propulsion device hidden under each floor section. Use it to destroy the upper blocks. Hop into the zip line in morph ball form by using the device on the far right. Ride the zip line to the missile tank.

Exit the room to the left. This room will look familiar. Bomb the block in the floor and ride the tunnel down. Go right and use the platform to traverse the overhead tunnel. Go through the upper room to the right. Cross the room and save your game.

In the room to the right of the save game room, bomb the crumbling block on the floor and drop down. Run up the ramp to the right and jump onto the platforms in the room's center. Go to the left; shoot the blocks to clear a path. Enter the door on the left. In the next room, use a missile on the left door when the eye is open. Shoot the red door with a missile. Go to the left and prepare to battle Kraid!

Boss Battle: Kraid

Kraid's eyes and mouth are its weak points. Shoot the eyes to open the mouth!

The bulbous beast Kraid rises from below. He'll remain on the left while you battle him from the right. At first things seem rather easy. You have ample room to walk around and defend yourself against his tossed claws (just shoot them with your primary weapon). He'll also take swipes at you with his hand.

As the battle rages on, the flooring crumbles beneath your feet. You'll have to work extra hard to inflict successful damaging shots on the angrier Kraid--eventually using Kraid's own "body" parts to reach his eyes.

You must damage Kraid by first shooting him with a missile in his red eyes above his horn. Kraid will open his mouth. Here's your chance! Shoot Kraid with missiles in his open mouth. As you inflict damage to Kraid, the floor crumbles beneath your feet. Find footing and repeat the attack on Kraid: one missile against his eye to open the mouth then additional missiles into the open mouth.

Kraid launches appendages from his belly, which you'll eventually have to use as steps to get higher and inflict damage to Kraid's mouth. Avoid getting struck by the appendages if possible. Wait until they latch into the wall then jump to the next highest one. After about six missiles into his mouth, Kraid perishes in a fury. A cut scene reveals a lock opening in Brinstar.

Move to the left side of the room and use a bomb to destroy the blocks in the lower left corner. Enter the next room (this is the location revealed by the previous Chozo statue) and grab the new power-up from the statue's hands. It's the speed booster.

The speed booster power-up is your reward for defeating Kraid.

The blocks on either side can be destroyed as used as platforms as you make an ascent up the shaft.

Snag this missile tank in the back corner of this room.

To get out of Kraid's lair, you must utilize your new speed booster. Start from the far left (below the statue) and run straight to the right and into the next room. Don't hesitate or you'll interrupt the speed boost. You'll automatically enter speed boost and destroy the blocks; this provides an exit from Kraid's lair. Keep moving uninterrupted until you return to the room before Kraid.

You must use your speed booster again. Clear the enemies from around the floor and start from the far left side of the room. Run uninterrupted to the right and into the next room. You'll fall through the floor and break the blocks separating the room.

To ascend this shaft, use your ice beam on the floating enemies. Use the frozen foes like platforms. You can shoot the blocks along the right side of the shaft and use the remaining blocks as additional platforms as you ascend to the first door on your left.

Cross this room to the far left. Move quickly through the hazardous liquid. Use the pillars as steps and grab the missile tank in the back corner.

Return to the vertical shaft and continue upward. Enter the door on the right and save your game. Exit to the left and enter the left door. Ride the zip line across. Flying enemies fill the room so shoot missiles behind you to destroy them. Drop down on the other side and blast the block obstructing the tunnel. Bomb the block obstructing the exit.

Drop down the shaft by blasting a hole in the floor. At the bottom, enter the door on the left. Move through this corridor blasting enemies as you move. Continue moving through the red door on the right (unlock with a missile) and find the Kraid map room.

Return to the previous room and notice the propulsion device in the floor. Drop down inside it and use a bomb to propel upward. Go through the door on the right. You'll spot a missile tank here.

The Samus icon marks the spot for Kraid's map data room.

You can snag this missile tank with the help of a timely bomb-jump.

You'll need speed booster to procure this Kraid energy tank.

This tank is a tough one to get but possible at this time. Move toward the room's center and stand on the platform that contains the red button that moves the zip line. Move the zip line to the right side of the screen. Go into morph ball form above the red switch and start planting bombs. This will cause the zip line to move and catch you while in ball form. Drop down into the recess containing the missile tank.

Exit to the right and return to a vertical shaft you've already explored. Proceed upward. Move into the first door on the right. This room contains a zip line, enemies, and an energy tank at the far right end. Lure the enemies away from the energy tank and destroy the enemies so they won't block your progress. Don't exit the room or the enemies will reappear.

Start from the far left side of the room and run to the right. Run interrupted and you will enter speed booster. You'll automatically destroy the blocks surrounding the energy tank. Ride the zip line back across to the left. Return to the shaft and ascend. Hop onto the lift back to Brinstar.

Back to Brinstar

The Chozo statue directs you toward Norfair.

The wall to the right crumbles to the ground as the lift reaches its peak. Go into the new passageway and unlock the red door with a missile. Go to the right and hop into the Chozo statue's hands to see the location of the next important item.

Note that there's also a super missile tank in Brinstar that needs your new speed booster. Start in the tunnel where you encountered the Brinstar worm for the first time. Move as far to the right as you can go without jumping onto a new ledge. Run to the left and shoot open the door. You'll enter speed boost just on the other side. Duck to charge the boost. Return back through the door to the right. Duck again to charge. Enter morph ball, jump, and press the directional pad left.

You'll shoot through the cavern to the left and drop just to the right of a small platform in one of Brinstar's vertical areas. Duck again to charge. Jump onto the first platform to the left. Duck, enter morph ball, and jump one space and hit left to bust through the left wall and land into a room containing a super missile power-up.

Use the Brinstar map and maneuver to the lift back into Norfair. You've already explored these areas before so you shouldn't have trouble navigating the platforms and enemies. Descend back into Norfair.

Back to Norfair - For the Hi-Jump

This missile tank lies in a hazardous room but

Drop down into Norfair and proceed right into the save game room. Cross the next chamber to the vertical shaft on the far right side of the map. Ascend the shaft to the second door on the left.

This tunnel is currently hazardous to Samus. But if you have gathered all of the energy tanks so far and have full health, you won't have trouble traversing the hall to the far left and grab the missile tank at its end.

Exit the hall and drop down the floor level (bottom right corner of this area of the map). If you bomb the blocks on the floor you'll notice that they can only be destroyed by the speed booster. Enter the door on the left and "get a running start" so you enter speed boost and destroy those floor blocks.

These blocks along the floor must be destroyed with the speed boost.

The hi-jump power-up makes it very easy to snag this missile tank.

Drop down and enter the door on the left. You can cross the corridor but the door at the far end can't be opened just yet. Instead, notice that the stone platforms can be destroyed. Use your primary weapon to eliminate the platforms (and nearby enemies). Take a running start and move from left to right. As you run, shoot the door open to keep your speed uninterrupted. Your booster destroys the blocks along the floor. Drop down once again and enter the door on the left.

Cross the chamber moving right to left. Take out the enemies along the ceiling as you move. Open the red door with a missile. You've reached the location of the next power-up! Hop into the statue's hand to pick up the hi-jump power-up.

Exit the statue room to the right. Return to the vertical shaft on the right side of the map. Put your new hi-jump to good use and leap up to the ledge above your position. Roll down and run into the missile tank. Drop down to the bottom.

The Chozo statue reveals the location of a new power-up: back in Brinstar!

You can check the path to the left but it's blocked by some sort of slug creature. Instead, jump up to the upper door on the left. Enter the room and use the Chozo statue to reveal the location of the next important power-up.

Leap over the statue to the room's top platform. Exit to the right. Use the propulsion device in the next area to return up the shaft. Use the map and follow the hallways back to the Brinstar elevator. Return to Brinstar!

Back to Brinstar - For the Varia Suit

Once at the top of the Brinstar lift, follow the map to the left. At the vertical shaft, take it to the third door on the right (the first leads to a save game room). Open the third door and take the tunnel right. You've been through this first section before. You'll reach an area blocked by an organism. Look at the ceiling to spot a tube. Destroy the block with a bomb and roll through the tube. Drop next to the door and go through.

The next room is the key area. Shoot the ceiling to blast a passage through. Beware of the flying enemies and parasites scattered around the room. Now with hi-jump, it's a breeze leaping up into the upper room. Next, leap from the stable floor to the ledge on the upper left. Shoot up to break the blocks above and continue the ascent to the door on the left.

Blast a hole in the ceiling of this room to clear a path to the next power-up.

The parasites destroy the organisms blocking the passage.

The varia suit isn't necessary to complete the game but that doesn't decrease its value.

Organisms block the upper hallway. But take note of what happens: parasites drop from the ceiling and obliterate the organisms. A combination of hi-jump and power grip will aid you in crossing the platforms throughout this corridor. Watch your footing as some of the platforms will crumble beneath your feet. An organism blocks the far end.

Shoot the blocks above to release the parasites onto the organism. Slide through the tunnel in morph ball form and enter the next door on the left side. Find another Chozo statue with the next power-up; it's the varia suit, which decreases your damage taken from enemies and protects you against acid and heat.

Exit the power-up room to the right. Before you maneuver across the platforms, drop into the pool below (which no longer causes damage) and spot the energy tank below. Move to the rocky floor to the right. Set bombs to destroy a section of the floor and open the route toward the tank. Use bombs to clear the route to the left and snag the energy tank.

The varia suit helps protect Samus while she

According to the Chozo statue, you're headed back to Norfair!

Drop down out of this upper area. At the intersection, go right and into the save room. With the varia suit equipped, you can now safely explore this upper right corner of Brinstar. Move through the corridor using power grip to hold onto the ledge below the narrow tunnel.

You'll spot a missile-like object with a bunch of parasites hopping around on the other side. You must use those parasites to destroy an organism in the pool below. Shoot the red mark on the missile and lure the parasites back to the left (through the tube). Drop down into the pool and destroy the blocks with a bomb. Avoid setting the bomb near the parasites so they remain alive.

While in the pool, find the organism to the bottom right. You can wait until the parasites hop there or even allow the parasites to attach to you then stand next to the organism.

Once the organism is destroyed, roll through the tube. Exit the pool and use the Chozo statue. You're shown a new location in Norfair. Use your Brinstar map to proceed to the Norfair elevator.

Back to Norfair

Exit the Norfair lift and proceed to the right (through the save game room). Move to the far right edge of the current map and descend the shaft to the second door on the left. Traverse the next hall and open the door at the left end. This leads to a Chozo statue you should have visited previously. Roll under the statue and to the left.

You're now in an area marked orange on the map. It would be hazardous to Samus without her varia suit. Use bombs to clear a path to the left. Take the higher route to avoid the pool--you don't want to slip into the pool of liquid below because it's hazardous with Samus even with the suit!

Enter the next room on the left. Destroy all of the blocks along the ground with bombs. One should remain that can be shoot. Run back to the door and use your speed boost as you move to the left (shoot the block with your primary weapon). As you enter boost, duck to charge then jump and move to the left to break through the speed blocks. Drop down to the door on the far left side.

The Norfair map room will help you get a better idea on where you're headed.

Though the pool looks hazardous, it actually disappears and reveals this route.

Traverse these pillars carefully to avoid the toxic fluid below.

Eliminate the beast patrolling the next room then save your game in the next area. In the next tunnel (between two doors), bomb the ground on the right side to open a hole downward. Drop down. The door on the right is green, which can only be unlocked with super missiles. Instead, go through the left door. Traverse the tunnel to its left exit. Go through the next red door on the left and find Norfair's map room.

Exit the map room back to the hall on the right. The pool below looks dangerous--and limited--but it's actually a new route. Drop into the pool and watch it disappear. Clear a path downward by bombing the blocks below and then to the right of Samus. Drop down to the bottom of this shaft. This next pool below is hazardous so enter the door on the right instead.

Traverse the next chamber carefully. The narrow pillars are tricky and the pool of liquid along the room's bottom is harmful. Leap across each pillar with ease or you may have to retrace your steps back to the beginning and start over--all the while being burned by the hazardous liquid! Cross the room to the far right.

Fire missiles to break apart the thicker tentacles.

The wave beam enhances your primary weapon: projectiles can now pass through objects!

Your ice beam will turn these enemies into frozen platforms.

Enter the next door on the right. Inside you'll encounter various enemies and tentacles. Destroy the tougher tentacles with your missiles to break through. Open the door at the far right end. Instead of continuing to the right, break the floor on the left side with some bombs. Drop into the pool and watch it disappear!

Drop down and go to the left. Bust apart the pillars with your bombs then eliminate the beast patrolling the room. Cross to the far left side and enter a chamber containing a statue and a new power-up: the wave beam. Now your primary weapon passes through solid objects!

Retrace your steps back to the right and ascend up the short shaft. You can save your game in the room on the right. Before continuing to the right, return back to the left (through the hall filled with tentacles). In the next room to the left, you can break the floor near the right door. Bust it with your bombs and drop down. Enter the door on the right.

Cross the room with the help of your ice beam. Shoot the creatures that leap from the pool below and turn them into frozen platforms. Work carefully to the right until you reach the end of the hall. Here you'll find a missile tank.

Back to Norfair - cont.

There's a hidden missile tank near the ceiling. Shoot the area to expose the item.

Turn around and return to the left. You may notice on the map that there's a hidden item in this same hallway. Shoot the upper left side of the ceiling section that drops low. You'll expose a second missile tank from this hallway.

Exit this area and return to the save game room (back through the tentacle room again!). The next hall on the right is orange; be careful navigating over the pool of hazardous liquid below. Proceed to the right and start bombing the blocks that form the narrow tunnel. You'll have to make room for a speed boost charge. The blocks rematerialize but can be shot with your primary weapon. Return to the left (while on the same level ground) and start running. You'll break the last two blocks while in speed boost mode.

Your wave beam can get this slug out of the way.

The next room seems like a short dead-end. The cavern ends abruptly to the right while a slug seems to block the passage overhead. But your newly acquired wave beam can handle this situation! Move underneath the slug and fire your primary weapon up and into the slug's belly. The wave beam will strike successfully and destroy the creature.

Move on to the right and spot a second slug. This one won't be affected by your wave beam! You must destroy it in another fashion. Anger the slug with your primary weapon. It will move aggressively toward you. While it moves toward you, the slug exposes its belly to attack--but only by Samus' bombs.

There's a hidden energy tank above the slugs' carcass.

So after shooting it with your primary cannon, enter morph ball form and move adjacent to the slug. As it moves to the left, stay ahead of the slug and drop bombs. Repeat until the slug is destroyed. Shoot the blocks above the dead slug to expose an energy tank. Shoot the block with a missile and snag the tank.

Continue to the right and note that the blocks on the far right side are broken by speed booster. Return to the area with the slugs and use your speed booster to run into the room to the right and destroy the blocks. Hop up the wall and snag the missile tank before continuing into the save game room to the left. Move left and blast your way through the tentacles. Enter the door to the far left. It turns white behind you--you're locked in! You must defeat the creature in this room before moving on.

Freeze the floating enemies and use them as platforms to reach the central creature's weak spot.

Drop down the far left side and bomb the block at the bottom to enter the room with the creature. This enemy hangs from the ceiling. You must destroy those tentacles that connect the creature to the ceiling. To get a shot at the tentacles, you must use the floating enemies that appear from the creature's belly. Freeze those floating enemies as they near the sides of the screen. Use the frozen enemies as platforms to reach the tentacles near the ceiling. Fire your missiles at the tentacles. If the missiles bounce off then you must move to the other side and shoot there.

As you're standing on the frozen enemies, don't forget that you can re-freeze them before they become unfrozen. Just shoot down at the frozen enemy to freeze it again. This way you can continue to use it as a platform while you continue to fire on the creature's weak spot.

Once it's detached, the creature drops and creates a tunnel underneath the room. Drop down inside and proceed to the right. Descend the lift into Ridley.

Ridley

Your clue on how to proceed begins with this discovery.

Hop off of the lift and go into the room on the left--it's a save game room. Exit the save game room to the left and ascend the ledges in the next room. Continue up two rooms until you find some sort of larvae. It's the creature from before. It crashed into the floor and has now appeared here. This means that the passageway may be clear back in Norfair. Return to the lift and move back into Norfair.

Through Norfair...

From the Ridley lift, move to the left and return to the room where you battled the creature hanging on the ceiling. You'll notice a new hole in the floor. Drop down into the hole until you return to Ridley.

...And Back to Ridley

You'll notice that the larva is gone. Move to the left and drop down through the hole (the block disappears below your feet). The door to the right is white. You're locked in and must defeat a new creature--whatever was formed from what larva!

Enter Ridley again through this passageway.

The stinger is this creature's weak point. Nail it with missiles!

Your reward for defeating the bee creature: a super missile tank!

Move to the left until you spot the super missile tank (it's green) blocked at the far left side. A gigantic bee-like enemy descends from above you. The bee moves back and forth (left to right and back again) repeatedly through the chamber. Avoid being struck by the creature and avoid being struck by the bee's stinger projectiles. As the bee moves overhead, fire your missiles at its stinger to inflict damage.

It's easy to locate the way to the left side of this energy tank.

Continue to follow and fire at the creature until it's destroyed. Return to the far left of the chamber and grab the now-uncovered super missile tank.

Return to the right. You're now in the cavern that you explored to find the larva. Shoot a missile at the far right block on the floor to open a passage. Continue right into the save game room.

You can now open the green door left from the save game room. Shoot a super missile at the door to unlock. Cross the hall, defeating the varied enemies as you move. Open the red door at the far end. Spot the easy-to-see energy tank. Instead of getting it, drop down through the hole in the floor.

A few jumps is all it takes to grab this missile tank.

At the bottom, maneuver left through the orange tunnel. Open the door at the far end and find the save game room in the left room. Exit and use the short pillars in the room to ascend upward to a door on the upper right. Enter the room and bomb the block in the corner (beware of the enemies this action releases!). Cross the room to the far side and emerge on the other side of the energy tank. Grab it!

Drop back down the hole and return through the orange tunnel to the left. Save your game again if you wish. Instead of going up now go down. After dropping down the first ledge you'll spot a missile tank. Drop down and leap around the pillar to snag the new item.

...And Back to Ridley - cont.

Drop down to the bottom of the shaft and open the red door on the right side. This leads into Ridley's map room. Download the Ridley map data then continue through to the right.

Exit the map room to the right and traverse the long hallway. Eliminate some enemies and navigate some jumps until you locate the missile tank out in the open near the hallway's middle section.

Stay on the main route and you'll run through Ridley's map data room.

This long hallway holds one of the easier to find missile tanks.

Search the lower section of the room to find this missile tank.

Continue down the long hallway and you'll eventually reach a save game room to the far right. Exit the save game room to the right and use the platforms in the next shaft to ascend to the second door on the left. Move through the top area of the room. Try not to fall into the lower section until you reach the left side. Drop down and grab hold of the ledge leading into the narrow tunnel. Roll through in morph ball form. Bust the blocks on top of the recess on the right side. Shoot the bottom block to reveal a missile tank.

Return up to the top of the hallway (you can use a bomb-jumping technique to ascend through the pipes). Exit through the door on the left. Maneuver through the next room via morph ball form. Once you are underneath the missile tank, set a bomb to destroy the barrier. Eliminate the enemies then snag the missile tank.

Before leaving, jump up the left side of the room. You can hop up near a tunnel along the top edge of the room. Use a super missile to destroy the block then navigate the tunnel in morph ball form to a small alcove. Expose a super missile at the end.

Break the lower section of this room with a bomb to gain access to the missile tank.

Get this missile tank by freezing the enemies that surround the item. You can use them as platforms.

Break through the floor with a bomb to navigate to this hidden energy tank.

Exit to the left and find a missile tank resting on a central pillar. To get the tank, freeze the nearby enemies. Use the enemy as a frozen platform to grab hold of the pillar and snag the missile tank.

You can drop down from the pillar and enter a save room on the left. Maneuver through the room on the right. Destroy the block along the upper path (plenty of enemies below if you need health--they're easy kills). This next hallway contains three pipes. Before continuing to the right side, remain at the hall entrance and use your bombs to open a route through the bottom of the room. Roll through and find the hidden energy tank underneath.

Retrace your steps to the right and back around to the upper left corridor until you reach the pillar from which you grabbed the missile tank and leap to the other side. Traverse this hallway to find a super missile tank at its end.

There's a super missile tank nearby. Definitely a good find before you engage Ridley!

Find this unknown item location before the encounter with Ridley.

Locate this hidden energy tank before you face off against Ridley.

Return to the right and drop down to the bottom save game room. Move through the room to the left (toward the boss encounter on the map). Blast the "eye" protecting the door on the left. Use a missile when the eye is open.

Move through Ridley's room (he's not around just yet) and enter the door on the far left. There's a Chozo statue inside and it holds another unknown item (this becomes the Gravity Suit later in the game).

Before returning right into Ridley's room, shoot the block behind the Chozo statue to reveal a hidden tunnel. Just keep walking left and you'll move through the wall. Find an energy tank in the hidden room.

Boss Battle: Ridley

Use your arsenal of super missiles and missiles to blast away at the mobile Ridley.

Move right. Use the statue to replenish your health and ammunition if necessary. Enter Ridley's lair. Find safe footing on the right side of the screen--at least initially--and blast Ridley with your super missiles and missiles. Move along the bottom of the screen as necessary to avoid the fireballs and Ridley's deadly grasp (if he does grab you, fire away at him!). Move underneath the boss and shoot at Ridley's underside. Score enough damaging shots and the menacing flyer crumbles to the ground. Watch as the second statue in Brinstar opens.

Upon defeating Ridley, exit to the right. Watch as the enemies emerge from the pipe. Freeze one of the enemies at the height of its movement so you can use the creature as a platform. Jump on top and then up to the room's ceiling to hop over to the far right side.

Work your way up the far right side of the map. You can now break a block at the top permitting access to a door on the upper left. Freeze an enemy that emerges from a pipe near the room's center. Shoot it near the left side of the overhead beam. Jump onto the frozen enemy then onto the beam to find a hidden missile tank.

Freeze one of the enemies that emerges from the pipe to reach the room's top--and a hidden item.

This hallway will allow you to generate enough speed boost to break the necessary blocks.

The speed boost breaks these blocks and allows you to fall into the area below.

The following is a challenging missile tank item. You can skip this section unless you're hoping to grab every single item. Return to the long hall leading into the map room. You can get inside the top fenced-in area. From the far left door, find the upper fenced-in area and shoot the blocks that obstruct the entrance. Jump inside and move to the far right. Run uninterrupted to the left so you generate a speed boost.

Before you fall down out of the fenced-in area, press down on your directional pad to duck and charge your booster. Drop out of the fenced-in area, leap over to the left (small jump so you won't activate speed boost). Before the ramp leading to the left, jump up and press left to perform a speed boost shoulder block. Keep moving to the left and Samus will be running in speed boost mode. Keep firing to open the doors and you'll reach the far left room and break the speed boost blocks along the ground.

Upon dropping down to the bottom, go to the far right then run uninterrupted to the left. You'll generate a speed boost. At the far left end of the next room, duck to charge the boost. Press jump and up to destroy the blocks above you. Work through the tunnel in morph ball form. Don't stand on blocks too long or they will disintegrate. Grab hold of the ledges and shoot the necessary blocks to reach the missile tanks on the far end.

Navigate the tunnels in morph ball form. Grab hold of the ledges as you drop and work your way to the missile tank.

There's a hidden tunnel in this room that contained a super missile tank.

Use the propulsion device to return up above the tank so you can drop down on its other side.

There are more optional missile tanks to be found. Return to the room where you grabbed the super missile tank (above Ridley's lair). There's a hidden ledge above the platform on the upper right side of the ceiling. Hop in via morph ball form. In the room above, shoot the lone block to reveal a missile tank.

Go left and enter a vertical chamber with two missile tanks. To get the bottom tank, shoot the block on the left side of the tank. Drop down into the propulsion device and launch up the right side. Drop back down the left side quickly before the block reappears. You can drop down and roll into the tank. To get the upper tank, use a bomb jump to propel yourself up to the left. Use the power grip to hold on then roll into the tank.

Return to the long tunnel along the bottom of Ridley (where the fenced-in area runs along the top). Move to the far right side of the hall then go up into the fenced-in area. Start at the left of the fenced-in section and run to the right. When you enter boost, duck to charge. Drop down out of the top area, jump over to the door, and shoot it open. To get over the save game platform, you must do a short jump up (just above the platform) and hit right. Shoot open the exit door. Now you're in a vertical shaft. Hit duck to charge the boost again. Leap up two platforms to your right. Jump straight up and perform a shoulder block move to the right. You'll break through to a door on the far right and gain access to a missile tank.

The last Ridley missile tank is located on the far right side of the map (just above the one described above) and also requires speed boost. Start from the far left side of the location and shoot the door open as you run. Blast away the blocks as you build to your speed booster. When you reach the blocks, perform a jump to maneuver across the pillar. Crush the blocks to the far side to find the missile tank.

Return to the far right of the map and go up the shaft. Traverse the upper room going left. When you can't continue left, go up and around. Bust the far left floor block with a missile then a bomb to drop down inside. You're now near the lift. Return up the lift and back into Norfair.

Back to Norfair - For the Screw Attack

Defeating Ridley leads you on a path toward a new power-up: the screw attack.

A new passage reveals itself to the right. Move through and open the red door with a missile. You'll discover a crumbling Chozo statue. Hop over it to the right side of the chamber. Drop down and spot the propulsion device to the right. Continue to drop down until you reach a long tunnel moving to the left (and by the elevator). Run fast to generate a speed boost and destroy all of the pillars so you can safely reach the booster blocks at the far left side. Your boost destroys them and reveals a propulsion device.

Ride the device as far as it goes. Your destination contains a door to the left. Enter it and find a group of hovering enemies protecting a missile tank. Ignore it for now and continue toward the left side of the screen. Enter the red door and find a Chozo statue inside with a new power-up: screw attack!

Screw attack will destroy those blocks around that missile tank.

Return to the right and into the room with the missile tank. Now you can use the hovering enemies to reach that tank. Freeze them and use the enemies as platforms to reach the area around the tank. Use screw attack to destroy the blocks around the tank.

Retrace your steps back to the right. Bomb the floor on the right side and drop down. Use the save room on the right. Back in the previous room and break the right side of the floor with bombs. Drop down and spot the green door on your right. Open it with a super missile.

Traverse the small blocks across the next hallway. Bust through the narrow middle section with your bombs and exit out the far right side. The end room appears to be a dead-end. However, bomb the left side to expose a route. Drop down toward the orange liquid--it disappears. Enter the door on the left at the bottom.

Move through the room until you spot the super missile tank on the high pillar. It's possible to get this tank now but it's very hard. You must freeze an enemy that emerges from the pipe to the tank's right side. Lure the enemy out around the middle of the pillar so you can jump to the enemy and then grab the top of the pillar.

This screenshot shows a good location for the frozen enemy.

Go through this tunnel to find a missile tank.

Shoot the blocks to expose a missile tank near the ceiling.

After grabbing the missile tank, use another frozen foe to reach a tunnel on the upper left side of the room. Navigate through in morph ball form and into a hidden room that contains a missile tank.

Here's the location of another optional missile tank. Go to the far right side of the map and the fifth door above the save game room at the very bottom. This door leads to a short room containing a green locked door on the left side. You now have super missiles and can unlock that door. Return there and unlock the door with a super missile. Traverse the orange corridor (don't fall into the pool below!) and shoot the pillar of blocks near the room's center to find a missile tank.

Set a bomb on this platform then run quickly to the left to reach the super missile.

There's another item through the left door. It's a super missile tank and a tricky one to get. Hop up onto the platform on the right side of the room. The blocks are destructible and will crumble beneath your feet. In order to get the super missile tank at this point, you must bomb the blocks while on the platform. Then quickly move off to the left, run as far as you can on the exploding blocks below you, and jump to the ledge with the super missile tank.

You should be ready to return to Brinstar now. Both Kraid and Ridley have been defeated, which has opened the way into the next area. Those stone heads in Brinstar will now open and you can move on toward your encounter with Mother Brain.

Back to Brinstar

With Kraid and Ridley no more, these stone heads open and allow Samus to proceed

Use the map to retrace your steps to the top left corner of Brinstar. There are two stone heads here that have been closed throughout the game. Defeating Kraid opened one head while defeating Ridley opened the second head. Move through to the lift and descend into Tourian.

Tourian

Drop off the lift and enter the room on the right to save your game. Continue through to the right and drop down the next hall. Proceed back to the left as you avoid or shoot the enemies hovering about the room.

This room before the boss encounter is a great place to stock up on health and ammunition.

The next room is your first encounter with the metroids and the door turns white behind you, keeping you inside. Defeat the metroid by freezing it with your ice beam then finishing it off with your missiles. Metroids are aggressive! If you get close, they'll latch on to your torso and cause damage. Get it off by setting off a bomb. Once it's free, the metroid attempts to attack again so you must freeze it quickly.

Exit to the left and work your way down the next shaft. More metroids appear here. Attempt to battle them one at a time to make the combat much easier. Work your way through the subsequent halls and battle additional metroids. Save your game at the next opportunity. More metroids away through the next sections. Move carefully to avoid taking on more than you can handle. Defeat them with ice and missiles before moving on. Save your game again as you near the final battle in Tourian.

Exit the save game room to the left and take the next opportunity to stock up on health and ammunition. The rings that appear from the ceiling are an excellent recuperating source. Completely fill your health and ammunition then use the save game room again to save your progress and current statistics.

Use your missiles to break apart the shields that block the route to mother brain.

Enter the door on the left to proceed toward mother brain. Avoid the projectiles, if possible, and traverse the platforms moving to the left. Blast apart the spinning shields with your missiles so you can clear a route. Note that the shields stay destroyed even if you leave the room. So you can return to the right and restock up on health and ammunition before proceeding further to mother brain. You could even save your game and keep the shields destroyed.

Boss Battle: Mother Brain

Continue to the left until you find mother brain encased in glass. Utilize the platforms and break apart the glass with your missiles or super missiles. Though you must dodge the smaller projectiles, remember that you can freeze the larger circular enemies with your ice beam. This can buy you a few extra seconds to score successful hits on the boss.

Once the glass has been broken, your primary target becomes mother brain's eye. Mother brain will launch a projectile from her eye. Just before she does, she turns purple. This is your cue to get out of the way. Dodge the projectile by leaping up to the ledge on the upper right portion of the screen. If you successfully dodge her projectile (by not falling into the lava or being struck by any other projectile on screen), then mother brain's eye remains open for a short amount of time. While open, it's vulnerable to attack. Inflict damage by striking mother brain's open eye with missiles and super missiles.

You must quickly work your way up this challenging shaft before time expires.

Defeating mother brain activates a self destruct sequence. You now have just two minutes to get out of Tourian and back to Samus' ship. If you fail, you must reload your last save and defeat mother brain again. Exit her chamber to the left. The shaft looks intimidating with smoke and steam bellowing from the sides. Don't be distracted. The platforms are your priority. Many crumble beneath your feet so you must work quickly before the platform disappears beneath you. Use the larger ledges along the side of the shaft as more stable ground. Continue the ascent into Crateria.

Back to Crateria

Keep moving toward Samus' ship--you're not safe yet! Continue up the ledges then blast through the rocks as you move to the right side of the screen. Reach Samus ship and hop inside to complete the task and begin the next part of your adventure.

Chozodia - The Space Pirate Mother Ship

Though Samus lacks the morph ball ability, she can still crawl through narrow tunnels.

"The timing of my escape couldn't have been worse. I was attacked by Space Pirates and left nearly defenseless, stripped of my Power Suit. All I had for protection was my rather useless emergency pistol. Infiltrating the Space Pirate Mother Ship so armed may have been foolish, but I had no choice...Could I survive long enough to escape?" -- Samus Aran.

You're equipped with only a pistol. It auto-charges and at its full charge, the pistol can temporarily freeze the space pirates. Otherwise they must be simply avoided until you can regain your power suit.

Cross the rainy landscape to the left. Samus does still have her power grip so you can reach those higher ledges and pull her up. Work your way to the left and crawl through the narrow tunnel along the bottom of the screen. You don't have the morph ball without the suit but Samus can still fit in these narrow passageways by simply crawling through.

This block marks the route into the mother ship.

Continue to the left and underneath the ramp (going up just leads to a green locked door, which you can't open without your super missiles). At the very bottom left side of the screen, shoot the blocks along the floor to open a route into the ship.

Crawl through the tunnel ahead. Don't worry about the pirates walking around above you. Continue through the left side of the screen. You'll emerge at the bottom of Chozodia's map room. Shoot the blocks above you then connect with the device to download the mother ship's map data. Exit through the blue door on the left and find a save game room.

It's a very short trip to Chozodia's map room.

You can't exit through the red door on the left without missiles--but there is an exit to the left. Jump to the ledge above the door to find a tunnel and crawl through. Drop down behind the space pirate, who likely spots you. You can stun him with a full pistol charge. Scurry over the security doors to the left. Move up, past another space pirate, and through a blue door on the right.

Run quickly to the right and crawl through the narrow tunnel (there's likely a space pirate still after you). Jump up at the security door and hide in the alcove until the door opens. Drop down and continue to the right. Work your way into a room with green security lasers. If you touch one of the lasers, the space pirate force enters the area.

Jump over the first beam on the right by using the platform above it. Crawl to the end of the next tunnel. Shoot the block and grab hold of the ledge below. Pull up and enter the blue door to the right. You likely set off the alarm, so keep running to the right to keep pace on the pirates. Use the platforms to ascend the next shaft. Destroy the block obstructing the door. Go through the blue door.

Chozodia - The Space Pirate Mother Ship - cont.

You'll find convenient walls to hide behind. Keep out of site of the space pirates so the alarm goes off and the security doors open.

Walk to the right and drop down through the hole (a security door blocks the path if the alarm remains active). Use the platforms to ascend the shaft. Watch for pursuing pirates along the side. Keep moving up to the top left door. Hop over the wall and drop to the other side. If the alarm is on, wait for the pirate to leave and the door will open.

Crawl through the hole on the left side. Work your way up and through the tunnel underneath the alien ship overhead (remember that ship as you'll be returning to it much later in the level). Exit out the left side. Drop down and enter the save game room on the right.

Exit the save game room to the left and go up. You'll spot a red door on your right--which can't be opened yet. Keep going up and around along the catwalk. Drop down on the far left side. Enter the blue door on the left. Note the crumbling floor. Shoot it and drop through. A space pirate sees you immediately!

Crawl through the tunnel underneath the alien ship.

Hide from the spotlights or the space pirates will be on the way!

Avoid hitting the green lasers. You can still cross the room if detected but it's much more difficult.

Hurry through the tunnel to the right. Zigzag down the shaft and shoot the crumbling floor against each wall. This opens a hole toward the ground level. When you drop down off the far right side, you'll encounter a couple pirates below. Jump up and to the left. Keep going left and you'll drop down a crumbling floor and up against a security door. Wait patiently and it will open.

Enter the blue door on the left. Check out the bright yellow spotlights moving around the room. Stay out of the lights to remain undetected. Work your way up the platforms to the upper blue door on the right. Shoot the crumbling blocks overhead and enter the blue door on the left. Break the middle blocks in the adjacent room and go left into save room.

Exit to the left and drop down. You've entered another area filled with security lasers. Drop to the very bottom. Pull up on the first set of lasers to the left. Perform a small jump over them. Go overhead and back to the right. You must work fast because the ground underneath your feet is unstable. Go back to the right underneath the pillar and to the area's top. Now head back left. You can pull yourself up on the laser emitters without being detected. Exit the door in the top left corner of the room.

If you have any pirates in pursuit, use the alcove in the upper right corner of the next room to hide. Go through the blue door on the left. Drop down the left ledge. A pirate sees you on the way down. Crawl through a tunnel at the bottom of the room. Drop down off the ledge. Shoot the floor and plummet down the long shaft. Move right and left to avoid the pirates.

When you reach the bottom, scurry through the blue door on the left. Run through the long glass tunnel. Enter the next blue door and into the Chozo Ruins. Space pirates are still in hot pursuit!

Chozodia - Chozo Ruins

Steer clear of these spotlights to avoid detection.

Drop off the left ledge. When you reach the bottom, crawl through the tunnel on the bottom left. Shoot the block above and jump over the pillar. A pirate is likely close behind so move fast. Shoot the wall to break it then the block along the floor to provide a tight crawlspace. Go quickly into the next room on the left. Use the alcove along the ceiling as a hiding spot. Once the pirate leaves, enter the room on the left and save your progress.

Exit the save game room to the left. Cross the room into another chamber containing spotlights. Crawl through the two spaces along the bottom of the room. Leap up to the ledge on the right and work your way up the room. Avoid the pirate on the left as you reach the room's top and find the door on the upper right side.

Drop down the next room to find the door on the bottom right. Proceed to the right and shoot the blocks to clear a path. At the far right end, go up and through the next door. Continue through the sole route through these ruins. As you ascend, you'll reach a room with beams from eyes.

These beams move up and down through the room. To remain undetected, grab hold of the blocks in the shaft's middle. As the beam moves down, pull yourself up to the top of the block and continue up. If you stay hanging from the block, the beam will see your feet (notice how Samus' feet hang lower than the block). Time your advance up the shaft to avoid the beams.

Exit through the left door at the top. Drop down and spot the narrow crawlspace to the left. Those blocks are weak and will crumble. Start to crawl and keep moving as fast as possible to the left to avoid falling through. Shoot the blocks that obstruct the exit.

Drop down the far left side and to the very bottom. Shoot the left wall to open a passage. In the next room, shoot the blocks ahead to open a passage leading upward. Grab hold of the block and pull Samus higher. Exit through the passage on the top right side of the room.

You can use the blocks to remain undetected--but watch Samus' feet!

Here's your first chance to see the power bomb upgrade. Unfortunately it doesn't stay there for long.

Drop down behind the blocks to avoid the beams.

In the next room, hide from any pursuers in the alcove near the ceiling. Once in the pursuer moves to the left, drop down and shoot it with a charged pistol stun shot. Turn right and shoot the blocks. Crawl through the tunnel. Use the ledges to ascend the next chamber. Crawl underneath the statue above (it's holding a power bomb) and go left. Drop down the right side then go up the left side. Enter a save game room at the top left.

Exit the save game room and go right. You're now at the statue but the power bomb is missing. Ascend the ledge at the far right and crawl through the tunnel. Watch the space pirate above leave with the bomb. Exit to the far right. Drop down in the recess to avoid the eye beams. Drop down the shaft and into each recess to avoid detection.

Crawl through the tunnel at the bottom leading right. You'll encounter more beams on the other side. Work your way up the blocks and duck behind each to avoid detection. Go right at the top and scurry past the pirate. Crawl quickly through the tunnel on the right then finally through the door.

Hop up these small ledges while the space pirates crawl along the side walls.

With pirates in pursuit, ascend the right side ledges in the next room. Take the first tunnel on the left and crawl through. Run through the left door. Use the ledges to ascend up to the top left corner of the room. Cross the area going left and drop down. Stay ahead of the pirates until you reach the far left shaft. There are small ledges here. Work your way up as pirates pursue along the wall.

Scamper quickly to the right and shoot the blocks that obstruct the path. When you reach the far right side (and security door) turn around and shoot the platform. This destroys it and sends pirates plummeting. It will also turn off the alarm and open the security door! Continue right and into the save room. Go right and up the ledges to the top of the room. Cross to the left and enter the open passage to meet the first Chozodia "boss" encounter.

Chozodia - Chozo Ruins - cont.

Defeating this puzzle means not shooting yourself!

After the cinematic, you'll emerge in a room with four dark circles at the four corners of the room. A center circle appears and includes Samus in its center. Your goal is to shoot the center circle when the symbol appears. Don't shoot the circle when it's just Samus inside or you will suffer damage!

After you hit the circle for the first time, one of the dark circles will fill in. You must hit the center circle (as it moves across the room) when the symbol appears. Doing so four times fills in all four outer circles and completes the puzzle. Avoid the center circle by moving along left and right along the bottom of the room. You must also dodge lightning bolts. When the screen flashes, move to the left or right quickly. If you stay in the same spot, you'll be struck.

Completing the puzzle awards Samus with her new and improved power suit. You also gain the abilities from the three unknown items found during the game: the plasma beam, gravity suit, and space jump.

Navigate the water to find this super missile tank.

Use the space jump (press the jump button repeatedly to somersault multiple times) to ascend to the top right corner of the chamber. Roll to the right and drop down automatically. When you reach the bottom, get some revenge on those space pirates with your new weaponry.

Drop down into the room just above the water. Go to the left side and destroy the flooring with a missile. Sink into the water (you'll have free movement with the gravity suit). At the bottom, run from the far left to the far right to activate speed boost and break through the blocks and grab the super missile tank.

Shoot the block above your head. Go left then exit the water with the aid of space jump. Move up the ledges on the right side using space jump. Once you're at the top, exit through the passage on the right. Use a missile to destroy the block on the floor. Move through the tight tunnel in morph ball form. Sit up on the left side and use a missile to destroy the exit block to the right. Drop down the shaft.

Drop into an alcove along the left side of the shaft. Use a missile to destroy a block in the upper left corner of the alcove. Hop into the tunnel in morph ball form to reach the hidden missile tank at the left side of the tunnel.

Bust some blocks that can only be destroyed by missiles to reach this hidden tank.

The gravity suit will help you reach this super missile tank.

Shoot the block with a missile to expose the super missile tank.

Roll back to the right and drop down the long shaft. Obliterate the space pirates near the bottom. Drop down all the way and go to the left. Bust the farthest left floor block to open a hole into the lava below. The gravity suit protects you against the lava's harm. Navigate through to the right side and find a super missile tank.

Retrace your way back out of the lava with space jump). Drop down over the left side. Continue through a tunnel on the left side and drop down past the eye beams (which can be destroyed now). Eliminate the pirates and wait for the security door to open. Go around to the right and bomb the floor. Kill the space pirate at the bottom. Shoot the left wall above the tunnel using missiles to expose a super missile tank.

Roll through the tunnel along the bottom of the screen going left. Continue left and shoot the blocks and pirates in your path. At the far left side, ascend the ledges. Use space jump to get to the top of the room. Go left and drop down to the bottom. Exit to the right and into a save game room you've been before. The save game room also replenishes your health and weapons.

Exit to the right and destroy blocks to continue moving right through these tunnels. When you reach the large open chamber, use space jump to reach the first ledge on the left. Navigate your way up these platforms and into the door at the top right. Go through the glass tunnel and back into the mother ship.

Expose a super missile tank at the top of this deep chamber.

Ascend this long shaft with a speed boost or space jump. Clear the blocks at the top with a bomb. You'll drop down again. Make your way back up past the destroyed blocks. Continue through the tunnel and around the top now to the right.

Navigate the former security laser room and punish ever pirate in your path. Work your way up the far right side and into a save game room. In the next room, destroy the middle wall with a bomb. Clear the crumbling blocks in the next few rooms using your missiles. You'll reach an intersection with a red door to the left and a blue door to the right. Enter the red door.

Move to the top left green door and open it with a super missile. Bomb the wall dividing the room and drop down into the chamber below. Kill those pirates! Use space jump to return up the chamber and to the top side. Shoot the middle wall to expose a super missile tank.

Chozodia - Chozo Ruins - cont.

Encourage a robot to get out of your way to reach this super missile tank.

Retrace your steps back to the right. When you return to the two-door intersection, spot the gold robot up above. Shoot its right side until it maneuvers over to the right. Bust the weak blocks overhead with your missiles. Enter the upper chamber and find the super missile tank on the top level.

Drop back down and go through the door on the right. Ascend the catwalks in the room and drop down the right side and use the red door by opening it with a missile. Use space jump to reach the top of this hangar. Enter the tunnel moving to the left. Cross the catwalk to the blue door (defeating the tougher pirates along the way).

Drop down into the next chamber and cross to the left side. Climb the platforms along the top edge of the room. Shoot the golden robot to move it left. Leap over the robot and drop down until you reach the pirates below. Annihilate them then use space jump to reach the upper door on the left. Descend through the ramps and into a room containing a tunnel along the floor.

Shoot this robot to move it out of your path.

Space jump will help you ascend through the ship's vertical shafts.

That power bomb you've been chasing for so long ends up here.

Use your morph ball and bombs to traverse the tunnel to the far left side. Defeat the pirates in the next hall and climb up to the upper blue door on the right. Traverse the lower tunnel while in morph ball form. Use space jump to ascend the next shaft. Beware of the space pirates lurking around. Work your way through the shafts until you reach a door on the upper left.

Continue left and through the tunnel along the bottom. Shoot the pirate before moving through to clear him out of the way. Continue left and drop off the ledge. You'll be in morph ball form through the tunnel. When you drop to the bottom, you'll spot the pirate carrying that power bomb power-up. Use your bombs to clear the tunnel and drop out the far side.

Exit through the right door and spot the power bomb power-up guarded by lasers. Traverse the lasers with space jump and drop onto the power bomb. If you hit the security lasers then pirates will enter the room. Use a power bomb to open the yellow door on the left.

In the adjacent room, set off another power bomb that will destroy the ceiling. Some pirates drop so destroy them. Use space jump to reach the top of the chamber and collect a second power bomb tank.

Use a combination of power bomb then space jump to reach this power bomb tank.

Navigating these security lasers with space jump is a challenging task.

There's a power bomb tank hidden near the very beginning of Chozodia.

Retrace your steps back through the first power tank room and up through the tunnel that runs along the top of the screen. Move upward through the tunnel and back near the mother ship's front screen. Proceed upward and to the right. If you continue to the right, you'll encounter a save game room.

Continue upward and along the upper edge of the map. Move all the way down the long hall and turn back around. After the door to the upper right of the save game room, there's hidden speed booster blocks. Run from the far right. As you enter speed boost and near the step, perform a short jump and land on the blocks to destroy them. Drop down into the room below. Security lasers protect this passage. You must use space jump to carefully navigate the passage and grab the energy tank at the far end.

The final boss encounter lies to the upper right corner of the map. You can skip ahead to it or keep searching around for more hidden items. For instance, return to the very beginning of the level before you entered the ship. Jump up to the ledge above and find a power bomb tank behind a block that's only destroyable by the power bomb.

You can destroy the tunnel glass with the aid of a power bomb.

Blast your way back into the structure with a power bomb at these blocks.

Enter this hidden passageway simply by jumping!

Return to the tunnel connecting the mother ship to the Chozo Ruins. It's possible to destroy the glass tunnel with the help of your newly found power bombs. Detonate a power bomb near the middle of the glass tunnel to open new paths to the left and right. Go to the right first.

On the bottom right, detonate a power bomb to open a path. Go right to the vertical shaft and use space jump to reach the top where you'll find another power bomb tank.

Exit and return to the broken glass walkway. Drop down to the left side now and enter the hidden chamber on the bottom left. Drop down the vertical shaft and enter a save game room on the right side. Head up the ramp and continue left until you reach a short hallway with two blue doors on either side.

Detonate a power bomb to clear out the blocks in this section.

Move to the middle of the hallway and jump straight up to enter a hidden passage. Navigate your way through the tunnel in morph ball form to the super missile tank at the very top of the secret area. Drop back down and continue to the left.

The next room on the left contains a lot of tubing. Open the blocks in the area by setting off a power bomb. Enter the tube from the bottom section and work your way through to the super missile tank near the top. Bomb the blocks just below the tank then use a morph ball jump to snag the power-up.

Crateria Secret Route

This entrance marks the route from Crateria back into Chozodia.

Drop back down and continue left and you'll enter a secret route connecting to Crateria. You can now explore the other areas for any power-ups you happen to miss. To get back to Chozodia, use the space jump to reach the upper right side of Crateria. There's a yellow door there that must be unlocked with a power bomb. Detonate a power bomb and move back into Chozodia.

Some Remaining Optional Hidden Items

The route back into Chozodia contains more power-ups. Move to the right until you drop down into a small recess. Shoot the left wall with missiles to expose a power bomb tank. You can now head back to Crateria to return to previously visited areas or bomb the floor and return into Chozodia.

Return to the lower left section of Norfair near the map room. Drop down into the lava there (the gravity suit protects you). Shoot a missile at the floor on the left side of the bottom of the screen to open a route. Bust your way through to the door on the bottom left.

Grab this power bomb tank after returning to Chozodia through Crateria.

The gravity suit protects you against this lava in Norfair.

You must be quick to snag this missile tank!

Move up the next room and find a well-protected missile tank on the right side of the cavern. You must move underneath the missile tank, bomb the floor then quickly shoot a missile at the block under the tank. You'll drop down. Quickly return and grab the missile tank before the block reappears.

Move to the left and drop down onto the first ledge on your left. Shoot the wall on the left side with missiles to open a route. Destroy the blocks and squeeze through the tunnel. Work your way up through the lava and find a power bomb tank at the top.

Return to Tourian and mother brain's former domain. Use a super missile to destroy the block inside and find a power bomb tank as your reward for thorough exploration.

There's also a missile tank in Tourian to the left of mother brain's location. There are speed blocks in the room. Detonate a power bomb to see their location. Return to the long hallway previous to mother brain (where those circles hung out) and gain your speed booster. Charge it by ducking upon then move into mother brain's lair. Aim at the speed blocks and then jump and hit left to speed through to a hidden room at the far left. Drop another power bomb to clear the blocks hiding a missile tank.

Chozodia Boss Battle - Mechanized Ridley

Blast the metal Ridley at its weak spot with your super missiles.

When you have finished exploring all areas, return to Chozodia and move to the upper right portion of the map to find the final boss battle against the mechanized Ridley. The creature's weak spot is at its heart. Fire a collection of super missiles at the area to defeat the beast quickly. Avoid Ridley's swipe as you score successive hit against the weak area.

Defeating the beast activates a self-destruct mechanism. You now have five minutes to get off of the space pirate mother ship. Exit Ridley's room to the left. In the next room, blast the block near the ceiling and roll through to the other side.

Continue to the left and find the closed security door. Drop a power bomb to open a hole in the ceiling. You can also bust it open with missiles and use bombs to clear the way. Continue left through another tunnel.

You're now near the mother ship's front screen. Bomb the floor and drop down. Proceed to the left then maneuver back underneath the pillar to the right. Battle the space pirates as you follow the path up and down the ledges (use space jump to navigate).

Use your morph ball to traverse the tunnel going left. Hop up and go through the door. Drop down and enter the door at the bottom. Bomb your way through the tunnel and continue to move to the right. Ascend the next shaft to the top door on the right. Drop down into the next large chamber and use space jump to navigate up and around the maze-like corridor.

Drop down on the right side and find the door. Cross the catwalk and move through the tunnel in morph ball form. Drop to the hangar entrance. Defeat the space pirates and the hangar door opens. Hop into the alien ship to make your escape!

Chapter 3 - Weapons and Equipment

This section describes the weapons and equipment found in Metroid: Zero Mission, reveals their location, and offers tips for implementing each.

Long Beam: Enhances your primary weapon with increased range. The long beam power-up is found in Brinstar.

Charge Beam: Enhances your primary weapon with charged shot ability. Hold down the "B" button to charge and release to fire the more damaging shot. Also provides the charge attack. Charge your primary weapon and jump to damage enemies with the charge attack. The charge beam power-up is found in Brinstar.

Ice Beam: Enhances your primary weapon with the ability to freeze enemies. The ice beam's projectile freezes most enemies. Frozen enemies can be used as makeshift platforms to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. The ice beam power-up is found in Norfair.

Wave Beam: This power-up enhances your primary weapon with the ability to fire through solid objects, such as cavern or stone walls. With the wave beam you can damage and kill enemies before getting close to them. The wave beam power-up is found in Norfair.

Plasma Beam: The plasma beam is the most powerful enhancement for your primary weapon and increases its damage considerably (can damage multiple enemies). The plasma beam is found in SOMEWHERE but can't be used until Samus completes certain tasks in Chozodia.

Missiles: The missiles offer increased damage over your primary weapon but have limited ammunition (but can be replenished by killing enemies or by using a Chozo statue). The maximum number of missiles you can carry depends on how many missile tanks have been found—if all tanks are found, you can hold 250 missiles. The normal missiles unlock the red doors and destroy the missile blocks (red missile symbol).

Super Missiles: Super missiles offer increased damage over regular missiles and are your best option against Metroid: Zero Mission's tough bosses. The maximum number of super missiles you can carry depends on how many super missile tanks have been found—if all tanks are found, you can hold 30 super missiles. The super missiles unlock the green doors and destroy the super missile blocks (green missile symbol).

Bombs: The bombs can inflict damage on enemies and destroy specific blocks (generally the grey blocks with a red circle in its center). To set a bomb, press the "B" button while in morph ball form. The bombs can also be used to "bomb-jump," which means setting numerous bombs to cause Samus to be propelled in morph ball form. The bomb-jump can be used to reach areas that are only accessible later in the game. You have an infinite amount of bombs and can set them very quickly.

Power Bombs: Power bombs inflict increased damage over regular bombs; the power bombs damage all enemies on the screen. The power bombs also destroy particular blocks (the grey power bomb symbol). Another unique feature of the power bomb is to reveal all "unique" blocks on the screen. For instance, if you're looking for a hidden entrance, detonate a power bomb and you will be able to see the unique blocks on the screen, which could indicate the location of the hidden area. The maximum number of power bombs you can carry depends on how many power bomb tanks have been found—if all tanks are found, you can hold 18 power bombs.

Varia Suit: This power-up decreases damage taken from enemies and also shields Samus from acid and heat damage. This will allow you to navigate most orange-colored tunnels on the map. It won't protect you from lava, the darker orange liquid. The Varia Suit is found in Brinstar.

Gravity Suit: The Gravity Suit further decreases damage taken from enemies. It also allows free movement through water and shields Samus from lava damage.

Morph Ball: Transforms Samus into a tight ball to navigate narrow tunnels. Enter morph ball form by double-tapping down on the directional pad. Morph ball form is used to set bombs and power bombs. The morph ball power-up is located in Brinstar.

Power Grip: Allows Samus to grab and hang from ledges and corners. Power grip helps Samus reach higher ledges and corners and even grab hold of ledges while falling nearby. You can shoot enemies or blocks while holding on with power grip. The power grip power-up is found in Crateria.

Speed Booster: The speed booster can temporarily increase Samus' speed. This will allow her to break particular blocks. To activate the boost, you must run uninterrupted in a certain direction until the boost is activated. You can also "charge" the boost by ducking while in boost mode. This provides an extra few seconds. This can be done repeatedly to extend the boost. After the charge you can perform additional boost moves including jump up, left, or right (including in morph ball form) to break certain blocks. You'll use the charged boost maneuver to reach certain hidden items.

Hi-Jump: This power-up enhances Samus' ability to jump with increased height. Combined with power grip, Samus can reach and hang from high ledges. This power-up also allows Samus to jump in morph ball form. The Hi-Jump power-up is located in Norfair.

Screw Attack: This power-up is similar to the "charge attack" provided by the charge beam, though the Screw Attack power-up is required to break certain blocks (those with the throwing star-like symbol). Screw Attack gives Samus the ability to damage enemies while somersaulting. The Screw Attack power-up is located in Norfair.

Space Jump: The Space Jump power-up is found in SOMEWHERE but can only be used once Samus completes a certain task in Chozodia. The power-up provides Samus with the ability to jump repeatedly in the air. While somersaulting in the air, hit the jump button again to continue to somersault. This can be used to reach otherwise inaccessible areas.

Chapter 4 - Maps

This section includes complete maps for all areas in Metroid: Zero Mission. The maps reveal the location of save game and map rooms and the location of all missile, energy, super missile, and power bomb tank items.

Map Legend:

S - Save game room
M - Map data room
Red Dot - Location of missile tank item
Orange Dot - Location of energy tank item
Green Dot - Location of super missile tank item
Yellow Dot - Location of power bomb tank item

Brinstar

Energy Tanks: 3
Missile Tanks: 10
Super Missile Tanks: 1
Power Bomb Tanks: 0

Norfair

Energy Tanks: 1
Missile Tanks: 13
Super Missile Tanks: 2
Power Bomb Tanks: 1

Crateria

Energy Tanks: 0
Missile Tanks: 3
Super Missile Tanks: 1
Power Bomb Tanks: 1

Kraid

Energy Tanks: 2
Missile Tanks: 9
Super Missile Tanks: 1
Power Bomb Tanks: 0

Ridley

Energy Tanks: 3
Missile Tanks: 13
Super Missile Tanks: 3
Power Bomb Tanks: 0

Tourian

Energy Tanks: 0
Missile Tanks: 1
Super Missile Tanks: 0
Power Bomb Tanks: 1

Chozodia

Energy Tanks: 3
Missile Tanks: 1
Super Missile Tanks: 8
Power Bomb Tanks: 6

Chapter 5 - Secrets

Completing Metroid: Zero Mission on either normal or easy difficulty level unlocks the following items:

Gallery - The gallery features the Metroid artwork that you were awarded for completing the game. The awarded artwork varies depending on difficulty level, completion time, and item percentage.

Hard Difficulty - Adds a third difficulty level. Certain gallery artwork is unlocked by completing the game on hard.

Original Metroid - Play the original Metroid game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Metroid: Zero Mission is essentially a remake of the original Metroid but with enough changes and enhancements to create a new experience.

Original Metroid Code

After you've unlocked the original Metroid game, start it and select continue to enter a password. The following password starts the original Metroid with Samus outside of her suit!

Top: 000000 000020
Bottom: 000000 000020

Completion Gallery Samples

The following images are those awarded for completing Metroid: Zero Mission under certain circumstances. Two additional images not shown are awarded for beating the game in normal and hard mode and 15% or under item collection.

Complete the game in easy difficulty mode or in over four hours and above 15% in normal or hard difficulty.	Complete the game in normal or hard difficulty mode, above 15%, and between two and four hours.	Complete the game in normal or hard difficulty mode, above 15%, and under two hours.
Complete the game in normal or hard difficulty, 100%, and over two hours.	Complete the game in normal difficulty mode, 100%, and under two hours.	Complete the game in hard difficulty mode, 100%, and under two hours.

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Metroid: Zero Mission

Metroid: Zero Mission Walkthrough

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - General Strategies

Chapter 2 - Walk-through

Brinstar

Brinstar - cont.

Brinstar - cont.

Norfair

Crateria - For the Power Grip

Back to Norfair - For the Ice Beam

Back to Brinstar

Kraid

Kraid - cont.

Boss Battle: Kraid

Back to Brinstar

Back to Norfair - For the Hi-Jump

Back to Brinstar - For the Varia Suit

Back to Norfair

Back to Norfair - cont.

Ridley

Through Norfair...

...And Back to Ridley

...And Back to Ridley - cont.

Boss Battle: Ridley

Back to Norfair - For the Screw Attack

Back to Brinstar

Tourian

Boss Battle: Mother Brain

Back to Crateria

Chozodia - The Space Pirate Mother Ship

Chozodia - The Space Pirate Mother Ship - cont.

Chozodia - Chozo Ruins

Chozodia - Chozo Ruins - cont.

Chozodia - Chozo Ruins - cont.

Crateria Secret Route

Some Remaining Optional Hidden Items

Chozodia Boss Battle - Mechanized Ridley

Chapter 3 - Weapons and Equipment

Chapter 4 - Maps

Brinstar

Norfair

Crateria

Kraid

Ridley

Tourian

Chozodia

Chapter 5 - Secrets

Original Metroid Code

Completion Gallery Samples

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