No one handed you a map. You drew one by going where you hadn't been.
Most Famicom games pushed you to the right. Metroid didn't. It dropped you onto the planet Zebes alone, with almost nothing and no map on the screen — players kept notebooks, sketching the caverns by hand as they went. Each new ability, the Morph Ball or the Ice Beam, opened a door that had been shut a moment before, so the world only made sense in hindsight, after you had walked it. The team at Nintendo R&D1, under producer Gunpei Yokoi, built it that way on purpose. Even who you were playing was withheld until the end. Played now, the lostness is not a flaw to fix — it is the whole experience. The map was never going to be given to you. It was always going to be the thing you made.
— inspired by Gunpei Yokoi
About this game
Metroid (1986) introduced Samus Aran — an armoured bounty hunter later revealed to be female — to the Famicom Disk System. Set on the planet Zebes, players explore non-linear caverns to destroy the Space Pirates and the parasitic Metroids. Its isolation, atmosphere, and the progressive unlocking of abilities to access new areas defined the "Metroidvania" exploration subgenre. The reveal that Samus was a woman — shown by undressing the armour at the ending depending on completion time — was one of gaming's earliest subversive character moments.
Key Features
Non-linear world design — unlike most Famicom games, the player is not guided left-to-right but must discover the path. Samus begins with minimal equipment and gains abilities (Morph Ball, Bombs, Ice Beam, Space Jump) that open previously inaccessible areas. No in-game map — players must memorise or sketch the interconnected cavern system. Multiple endings based on completion time, famously revealing Samus's identity. Password save system — the FDS version could save directly; the NES version used long alphanumeric passwords.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Metroid released on the Famicom Disk System on August 6, 1986. The game was co-created by Yoshio Sakamoto and Gunpei Yokoi — Yokoi was also the creator of the Game & Watch and the Game Boy. The Metroid universe drew influence from the Alien film franchise, aiming for a darker, more atmospheric tone than Nintendo's typical output. The NES cartridge version launched in North America in August 1987 and became one of the system's most distinctive titles. The decision to make Samus female was reportedly made late in development, making the reveal even more powerful given player assumptions.
Tricks & Tales
The password "JUSTIN BAILEY" — a reference to unknown origin — bypasses the beginning and starts Samus in a pink leotard with all major items. The Kraid and Ridley mini-boss forms appear in separate areas, and defeating both is required to access Tourian (the final area). The game has no save slots in the FDS version; it saves to the floppy disk. The NES cartridge version's password save uses a 24-character password system, notorious for its length. Hirokazu Tanaka's score uses unusual harmony and atonal elements that reinforce the sense of alienation — technically pioneering for 1986 hardware.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The original Japanese version is a Famicom Disk System release (August 1986). A later Famicom cartridge version exists. The North American NES cartridge version launched August 1987. All versions are functionally gameplay-equivalent. FDS versions require a working Famicom Disk System unit.
Maintenance Tips
FDS Metroid requires the Famicom Disk System — belt drive maintenance applies (see The Legend of Zelda entry). The NES cartridge version is more straightforward to maintain. Note that the NES version has no battery save — it uses passwords only. Verify that a listed NES Metroid cartridge is indeed complete with the original instruction manual, as the password system makes the manual highly useful. A complete FDS set with Disk Card and protective sleeve is a meaningful collector's item.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Metroid copies regularly.
What hardware do I need to play a Famicom Disk System game?
An FDS game requires three components: a Famicom console, the RAM Adapter (which plugs into the cartridge slot), and the Disk Drive unit (connected to the RAM Adapter). The drive requires its own power supply (six C-cell batteries or an AC adapter). Without both the RAM Adapter and disk drive, FDS disks cannot be played. The Famicom Disk System was sold exclusively in Japan and was never released elsewhere.
Are Famicom Disk System disks and drives still reliable after 35+ years?
Disk reliability varies — the magnetic media can degrade over time. More commonly, the rubber drive belt inside the FDS disk unit degrades with age, causing read errors even on undamaged disks. Belt replacement is the most common and important FDS maintenance repair. If you plan to use FDS games, have the drive belt inspected before use. A working drive with a fresh belt can read original disks reliably.
How does saving work on Famicom Disk System games?
FDS games save directly back to the floppy disk itself — there is no internal battery backup. Data is written to the disk after the save command is given, so the disk can be overwritten. To protect original game data, cover the write-enable notch with tape to make the disk read-only. Many collectors keep one play copy and one archival copy for important titles. Never power off the Famicom during a disk write operation.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Metroid
A short checklist for buying a used Famicom Disk System disk wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Inspect the disk and its shell
Disk System media is fragile — the magnetic disk can wear, and saves are written back onto the disk itself.
Ask whether it was tested and reads reliably; look for cracks or a warped shell in photos.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is Japanese Famicom Disk System media and requires a Famicom with a working Disk System drive.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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Mind the drive belt on the console side
Disk System drives commonly need a replacement belt to read reliably — this is a console matter, not the disk.
If reading is unreliable, the console's belt is the usual culprit, not the game.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
See what it's selling for on eBay →Unexpected Discoveries
Games you weren't looking for — but might be glad you found.
Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Metroid sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
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