metroid


This article is written from the Real Life point of view Globe


North American box art for the original Metroid. The top left corner shows the words "Password Pak", referring to the password system.

North American box art for the original Metroid. The top left corner shows the words "Password Pak", referring to the password system.

The original Metroid released in the US and Europe is the only game in the series to use passcodes. The original version released in Japan has save slots. However, the western versions do not have these slots, instead utilizing a passcode system for restarting. When the player dies in the game, they will be given a code to use. After they enter the code, they will be brought back to the starting elevator of the area they were currently in with all of the upgrades acquired in the preceding play. This is the only way to "save" the game. There are obviously multitudes of codes available in the game; those below are some that start the player in special areas, with more upgrades, or with other interesting results.

It should be noted the system used is a passcode system rather than a password system: rather than specific words being used to achieve specific programmed results, the game parses the text entered on the Password Screen as actual program code and generates a game state from it if it is valid. As a result, all apparently significant phrases (with the exception of the debug code) are coincidences.

There is an unofficial password generator by Alex Rasmussen named truepeacein.space.

Codes

NOTE: Excluding the "NARPAS SWORD" invincibility code, Samus Aran will always start with only 30 units of energy.

Samus will spawn suited in Brinstar with the Ice Beam with the Wave Beam sprite, all upgrades, infinite Missiles (255), and unlimited energy. However, this invincibility will only last for three playthroughs; after the third playthrough, she will start receiving damage normally again. It is believed that the code stands for "North American Release Password", that developers put in as a debug code. Despite this, the code is not exclusive to the NA version and works on the PAL version as well.

Samus will spawn suitless in Norfair with five (empty) Energy Tanks, 255 Missiles, the Wave Beam, Long Beam, Bombs, High Jump, and Screw Attack.

Samus will spawn suited in Tourian with 239 Missiles, all available Energy Tanks, and all upgrades.

Samus will spawn in Tourian with 250 Missiles, all available Energy Tanks, and all upgrades excluding the Wave Beam. This code is for those who want to view the best ending of the game, as this code leads to it easily.

As soon as the code is inputted, the game will direct back to the Title Screen. This is primarily useful for people that accidentally chose the Continue option when they wished to start a new game.

Samus will spawn suitless in Brinstar with about 200 Missiles, three available Energy Tanks, and all upgrades excluding the Long Beam, Bombs, Screw Attack, and Varia Suit. With this code, it is not necessary that Samus defeat Kraid or Ridley; the gateway to Tourian is open.

Samus will spawn suitless (pink leotard and brown hair) in Kraid's Lair with 36 Missiles, one Energy Tank, the Wave Beam with no Long Beam, the Screw Attack with no High Jump, and Bombs with no Morph Ball. This will also increase the difficulty level and alter the ending.

Samus will spawn suitless in Brinstar with no upgrades, Energy Tanks, or Missiles.

Main Page: ENGAGE RIDLEY MOTHER FUCKER

Because it references an invalid starting location and generates a ridiculous game time value of 2,861,643,271, equivalent to 314.5 years, this password has different (albeit undesirable) effects depending on whether a console or emulator is used.

A playable version of the Engage Ridley password. The player will be in Tourian, suitless, with the Varia Suit, 82 Missiles, three Energy tanks, no Morph Ball. Just like with the Mother Brain password, the player only has the Ice Beam, so they have to play this carefully. It is their only choice to battle Mother Brain, since they need the Morph Ball to backtrack in a normal playthrough. If they want the Morph Ball, the player can use the second controller glitch to warp Samus back to Brinstar.

Samus will spawn suitless in Ridley's Lair with 255 Missiles, six Energy Tanks, and all items. All doors, except for the boss door to Ridley's room, are opened. Kraid's Stone Statue is shot, and Kraid and Mother Brain are defeated.

Samus will spawn suitless in Norfair with 172 Missiles, five Energy Tanks with only 30 units of energy, the Screw Attack, the High Jump, the Morph Ball and Bombs, and the Ice Beam along with the Long Beam. It is not necessary that Samus defeat Kraid or Ridley; the gateway to Tourian is open. The background music will be gone after Samus leaves Norfair, unless she obtains a power-up. Also, the Varia Suit will not be on its respective Chozo Statue, nor Samus will have it in her arsenal.

Samus spawns suitless in Tourian with 156 Missiles, five Energy Tanks, the Ice Beam, and all other power-ups except for the Long Beam and Morph Ball. Mother Brain is already defeated. In spite of this, due to programming quirks, the worst possible ending will play with Samus crying. This happens because the game assumes the player has played for over 300 years.

Samus will spawn in Brinstar, with two Energy Tanks and Missiles. She will have no power-ups, however.

Samus spawns in Norfair. However, she does not have the Varia Suit.

This code crashes the game to a black screen, or resets to the Title Screen in the version of Metroid unlockable in Zero Mission.

Samus spawns in Tourian suitless, with all power-ups, four Energy Tanks, and 111 Missiles. This password was shared in the first issue of S.W.A.T. Pro magazine.[1]

References

  1. ^ S. W. A. T. Pro - Issue 1 - Sep 1990 - SWAT Pro - S.W.A.T. Pro