Metroid Timeline

The Metroid series has one of the more concrete timeline of the Nintendo franchises. The games have been released in chronological order, with the exception of games bearing the name Metroid Prime which are side stories taking place between the original Metroid and Metroid II: Return of Samus.

Timeline

Legacy of the Chozo

The Creation of the Metroids

At an unspecified time, the Chozo became space-faring creatures. As perhaps the very first travelers, they have left profound effects on many planets around the galaxy. One of their most important legacies was on SR388. The planet's ecosystem was horribly unbalanced thanks to the parasitic virus known now as the X Parasite. To counter the effects of the X Parasite, the Chozo bioengineered the Metroid. It obviously worked as the X were unknown to all visitors of SR388 while the Metroid population still existed. It is unknown whether the Chozo were destroyed by their own creations or simply left SR388, as is the case with other Chozo inhabited planets such as Tallon IV.

The Exodus of the Chozo

The Chozo culture was one full of prophecy, and as they began to see the decline of their civilization linked to the ever-growing hate and violence throughout the galaxy, the Chozo sought a simpler life away from technology. As such, many sanctuaries were built on secluded planets, and were intertwined with their natural environment. The Chozo grew closer to nature there, and began to be less and less dependent on the physical world; to the point they left it and their homes behind in favor of an existence in a dimension beyond our comprehension.

The Poisoning of Tallon IV

From this other plane of reality the Chozo were aware of a meteor impact on Tallon IV, but in the vastness of space and time the event was seemingly unimportant. However, when a cancerous element now identified as Phazon began to spread across the planet, the Chozo were pulled into our reality and brought back to Tallon IV as mere shadows of their former selves. Here on the surface of their old home they watched in horror as the Phazon consumed their lands, twisting and corrupting what it didn't destroy. Not wishing to stand by and let this evil spread forth, the Chozo built what uncovered texts have identified as a cipher, a giant gateway powered by 12 Chozo artifacts, designed to seal off the impact crater of the Phazon infused meteor. And so the Chozo waited, hoping that an old prophecy foreseeing the salvation of Tallon IV by the hands of a great warrior would soon come true, before they to were consumed by the evil.

Age of The Federation

The Formation of the Federation

In the 2000th year of the cosmic calendar, the many planets in the galaxy formed the Galactic Federation. From this alliance ensued an age of prosperity as a successful exchange of cultures and trade goods began. But as thousands of interstellar ships transported goods across the galaxy, the Space Pirates came. Using brutal tactics and new technologies, they wreaked havoc on Federation trade lines, damaging ships and plundering them of any valuable goods. In an attempt to stop the pirates the Federation formed the Galactic Federation Police. However, this police force was unsuccessful in completely eliminating the pirate threat, and as such elite bounty hunters were hired by the Federation to seek out and capture the pirates.

Samus Aran

The planet of K-2L, a colony of Earth, is attacked by the Space Pirates and the population wiped out. Only one survivor, a young girl Samus Aran, survives. She is discovered by the Chozo and she is taken to their home on Zebes. Later on after she becomes an adult, she joins the Galactic Federation, working under her CO Adam in the Federation Police. During this time, Zebes is taken over the Space Pirates and corrupt Mother Brain into serving their purpose.

Metroid/Zero Mission

The original Metroid featured Samus Aran infiltration of Zebes and the destruction of the Metroids and Mother Brain. The remake, Zero Mission, greatly expanded on these events and the events in the remake are the ones used on the Wiki.

A team of Federation scientists discover and capture live Metroid specimens that they intend to take back to research. Before any such progress can be made, the Space Pirates steal the Metroids back and head towards Zebes for study of this unique species. The Federation's attempts to foil their cloning efforts are foiled and the Federation instead hires Samus Aran, now a bounty hunter, to infiltrate the pirate base and kill the Metroids. She succeeds in her mission and destroys Mother Brain, setting off a timed explosion of the Pirate Base.

The Space Pirates respond quickly. Their frigates, carrying their own Metroid populations, depart to find a new base. While Samus Aran tries to leave the planet, she is shot down and crash lands on the surface, destroying her Power Suit in the process. She is forced to infiltrate a grounded Pirate frigate and makes it to an old Chozo ruin that restores her Power Suit, allowing her to defeat the pirates and commandeer a pirate vessel to escape. During her battle to escape, Weavel is seriously injured by Samus Aran. He is later rebuilt as a cyborg.

Metroid Prime

The game Metroid Prime Pinball features scenarios from Metroid Prime and is not considered canonical within the timeline.

While half of the Space Pirate forces return to rebuild their Zebes base in secret, the other half settle on Tallon IV. On this planet they make the extraordinary discovery of Phazon, a substance that can cause mutations in lifeforms - including Metroids. They also discover the Great Worm, Metroid Prime and make what attempts they can to contain it. However the effects of Phazon proves unpredictable. One of the orbiting Space Frigates, Orpheus, suffers extreme damage when the experimented creatures begin causing havoc on the ship.

Samus Aran arrives on Orpheus after most of the major damage has already been done. After disposing of the surviving pirates and the Parasite Queen, Samus Aran followed Ridley to Tallon IV to investigate. She soon discovered that the Chozo had settled on the planet, but were suffering a spiritual battle against the Phazon corruption. By gathering the 12 Chozo Artifacts, she was able to unlock the way to Metroid Prime and defeat the creature. After leaving the planet, unknown to Samus, a Dark Samus emerged from Prime's remains and went off on its own path through the galaxy.

Metroid Prime Hunters

An unusual telepathic signal is sent throughout the galaxy from the Alimbic Cluster speaking of a great power. The Federation, along with several others, receive the message and recognize that the Alimbic society once held great technological prowess. Samus Aran is sent to investigate, lest the power fall into corrupt hands. Six other bounty hunters also go to investigate, each for their own ends.

All that remained of the Alimbic Society were two of their planets and two abandoned space stations. From their remaining logs Samus is able to peace together what fate befell their society and what the 'ultimate power' truly was. As it turns out, the distress signal was sent by Gorea, a creature that destroyed the Alimbic and was imprisoned in the Oubliette as a last ditch effort by the Alimbics.

After Samus collected the eight octoliths, after countless fights with the other bounty hunters, she unlocked the seal on the Oubliette. The other bounty hunters were able to beat her there, but upon arriving ran afoul of Gorea and were quickly defeated. Samus Aran was able to defeat Gorea and fulfill the prophecy. She and the other bounty hunters were able to escape before the Oubliette escaped.

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

A ship full of Galactic Federation Troopers crash lands during a battle with a Space Pirate ship. Both forces end up on the planet Aether, prompting the arrival of Samus Aran to investigate. She soon discovers the crash site of the GF Troopers, who have all been slain by the wildlife on the planet. However some of these troopers have been possessed by the unusual force known as Ing. Samus soon meets up with U-Mos, the only Luminoth not yet in stasis, who explains what has happened.

An unspecified amount of time before Echoes, a meteor impacted Aether carrying with it Phazon. The corruption created a 'Dark Aether' and with it the Ing. Because the Ing cannot tolerate light, they can only enter normal Aether by means of possession. It had been their goal to make Dark Aether be the only dimension by transferring the energy from Light Aether to Dark Aether. Samus Aran resolved to bring that energy back so that Dark Aether will be destroyed.

Her objective was made difficult by the Space Pirates, who had a larger crew personnel than the Troopers and had set up base on the planet. Furthermore, Dark Samus had arrived on the planet, seeking to use the large amounts of Phazon to feed on. Although the Pirates fell to Ing possession, Dark Samus proved to be the greatest threat of all. After the defeat of Emperor Ing, Samus Aran was forced to fight and destroy Dark Samus before escaping into Light Aether. After Samus left Aether, Dark Samus began to reform from a cloud of Phazon.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

This game is not yet released. The following is based on preliminary information on the game.

Dark Samus has started corrupting different planets with Phazon, going so far as to ally with the Space Pirates and corrupt other bounty hunters. When Samus Aran tries to stop her, she too is corrupted by the Phazon as well.

Metroid II: Return of Samus

With the last remnants of the Space Pirates' supply of Metroids eliminated, the Galactic Federation determines that the population on SR388 is too dangerous to be left alone. Several teams of GF Troopers are sent in to eliminate the Metroids, but none prove successful. Samus Aran is finally sent into the heart of the planet to wipe out the Metroid population.

On SR388 she discovered that Metroids, due to Gamma Radiation, had further evolved into Alpha, Gamma, Zeta, Omega, and the Queen Metroid. Eventually she was able to wipe them all out, but upon her exit through the planet she encountered a newly hatched infant Metroid. Rather than destroy it, she took the infant with her and handed it over to the scientists of the Ceres Space Station to study.

Super Metroid

No sooner had Samus left the sector when Ridley attacked Ceres Space Station. By the time Samus Aran arrived, she was just in time to see Ridley capture the infant Metroid and escape the station. Samus Aran tracked him back to Zebes where she discovered the Zebes pirate base had been rebuilt and expanded. After wiping out many of the Pirate Sentinels, including Ridley, Kraid, and others; she finally reached the lair of Mother Brain.

Here she discovered the infant Metroid had grown to an enormous size and was preying on the Space Pirates themselves. Other Metroids had been cloned, but most of them were failed copies known as Mochtroids. During Samus Aran's final battle with Mother Brain, she was nearly killed. The infant Metroid intervened however and sucked a large amount of energy from Mother Brain and transferred it to the weakened Samus. The Mother Brain disposed of the Metroid, but soon fell to the fully powered Samus Aran. Another self destruct was initiated by this, but this time the entire planet of Zebes was destroyed. With that final act, the Metroids were finally extinct.

Metroid Fusion

Years following this, the BioLogic Space Labs began to do research on the planet SR388 now that the Metroids were no longer a major threat. Samus Aran was hired to guide and protect their researchers. After killing a hostile creature, she was infected by the X Parasite, which had taken over the planet again in the absence of the Metroids. Samus was rushed off the planet and her Power Suit was surgically removed so that they could treat her.

In order to eliminate the X from her system, Metroid DNA was injected into her bloodstream. Within minutes the X was completely eliminated, making Samus herself into the only being capable of resisting and destroying the X Parasite. Her Power Suit however had been sent to BioLogic Space Labs and the X escaped containment and infected the scientists and other creatures on the space station. Samus Aran was sent to investigate under the orders of her new CO, the computer in her new ship.

Trying to outmaneuver the X proved impossible, especially with the presence of the SA-X, a Samus Aran clone formed from the pieces of her Power Suit and genetic code. She also discovered a secret Federation Metroid breeding program, as did the X who instantly went to war with their age-old predators. Eventually Samus Aran discovered the Federation had aims to use the X as a weapon. She decided to destroy the entire BSL Space Station to prevent the X from spreading and directed it into collision with SR388, destroying the entire X population on the planet as well. Samus Aran escaped the explosion, but with the knowledge she would face a harsh punishment by the Federation for her actions.

Notes

• The Metroid timeline has no specific year, but Metroid begins in the ambiguous year of 20X5. The Galactic Federation was created in the year 2000, meaning it at most only 95 years in age at the beginning of the series. Throughout the series, no other date is ever given for the events of any particular game.
• The games Metroid II and Super Metroid happen in succession of one another, with little lapse of times falling between them. The rest of the series has no specific amount of time falling between each game.