The
Metroid is the titular jellyfish-like alien predator that is featured in the
Metroid series. They are native to the planet
SR388 and have served as a constant menace to
Samus Aran, initially due to the
Space Pirates' attempt to capture and clone them.
The second game actually featured Samus wiping out the entire Metroid population, with the exception being a newborn hatchling that ultimately gave its life to save Samus from
Mother Brain at the climax of
Super Metroid. Despite the extinction of the Metroids, games set later have established secret conspiracies within the
Galactic Federation which clone Metroids, and Samus also genetically became part Metroid in
Metroid Fusion.
Although Metroids have been primarily shown as jellyfish-like creatures, this is only their beginning form.
Metroid II introduced a scarcely-appearing line of advanced forms which the Metroid evolves into, with the most powerful being the single
Queen Metroid that controls them. There are different forms in the
Metroid Prime games connected to
Phazon, such as the mysterious
Metroid Prime itself. Despite their roles as antagonists, the Metroids have been revealed to be creations of the
Chozo made to combat the
X Parasite of SR388.
