Enter Metroid. The futuristic space shooter introduced us to the hideous title creatures and the slick, cybernetic bounty hunter Samus Aran. The original Metroid had all the high-tech weaponry, creepy tunnels, and crawly alien creatures that anyone could ask for. With its deep and complex gameplay, excellent music, and a rare sense of setting, it established a frightening ambience that captured its audience and set the tone for the two Metroid sequels that would follow. To this day, Metroid is hailed as one of the true classics of early video gaming.

Amazingly, Nintendo let the Metroid series languish after its third installment, much to the chagrin of the worldwide Metroid fan base. Though Samus made a brief appearance in Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo 64, no fully realized Metroid game was ever announced for that system, and it seemed as though the series was on indefinite hiatus. Fortunately, we Metroid fans are legion, and Nintendo finally heeded our constant pleas--the company recently graced us with two new Metroid games and tidings of more to come.

Join us in our retrospective of Samus Aran's notable career as we consider the past and the future of the Metroid series. Special thanks to Frank Provo, John Ricciardi, and Kevin Gifford for their help with this feature.