Ranking Every Metroid Suit From Worst to Best

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The Metroid series has seen a significant revival in recent times, primarily attributed to its increased visibility on the Nintendo Switch. With numerous classic 2D Metroid games becoming available through Nintendo Switch Online, the announcement of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the release of Metroid Prime Remastered, and the debut of Metroid Dread, the exploration-action series is more vibrant than it has been in over a decade. Despite fans having eagerly anticipated Metroid Prime 4 for much of the Switch’s lifespan, enthusiasm for it and the future of Metroid remains strong.

The game “Metroid” has kept its fanbase devoted due to numerous factors such as its intricate interconnected level layouts, swift gameplay mechanics, and captivating art, music, and storytelling elements. Throughout the series, Samus Aran, our space-faring bounty hunter, has been instrumental in maintaining this appeal. She’s been the silent pillar supporting much of the franchise, her power-armored shoulders bearing the weight of its success. Over the course of the “Metroid” series, Samus has donned various battle suits, each with a unique characteristic that stands out.

S Tier

Varia Suit

When a fan of the game Metroid considers Samus Aran’s most recognizable costume, it’s likely not her initial Power Suit they imagine. Instead, the deeper orange and broader shoulders of the Varia Suit are often associated with Nintendo’s prominent female character, even featured on the covers of several games and the armor she sometimes begins with at the start. This suit offers heat protection, a crucial upgrade, and is present in almost every canonical Metroid game. However, it’s the unique outline of the Varia Suit that has kept it popular.

Metroid Suit

In the finale of Metroid Dread, the Metroid Suit stands as a surprising addition to Samus’ arsenal, proving its weight in impact despite limited screen time. This suit symbolizes the complete fusion of Metroid DNA with Samus’ body following the emergency injection in Metroid Fusion. It appears that this form represents the peak of her power, allowing for an unstoppable rampage across the crumbling planet ZDR, armed with a built-in Hyper Beam. Only the weak Raven Beak X can withstand its touch, but its indiscriminate energy absorption is what keeps Samus from keeping it – for now.

A Tier

Power Suit

Regarding sheer power, the basic Power Suit in the game Metroid holds immense significance beyond its strength. It forms the foundation for Samus Aran’s default appearance and color scheme, and it is this Chozo-crafted power armor that Samus took with her when she left her destroyed adoptive home. The Power Suit serves as a foundation for numerous items and upgrades in the Metroid universe, without which other suits would not be what they are today. This historic piece of equipment deserves our utmost respect.

Fusion Suit

In a similar vein to the Power Suit, the Fusion Suit symbolizes fresh starts, not just within the evolving timeline of the Metroid series, but also for the franchise itself. The Fusion and Dread versions of this suit exhibit striking differences from Samus Aran’s traditional Power Suit in design and color, yet these alterations prove advantageous. Initially created for survival purposes in Metroid Fusion, it prioritized saving Samus over replicating the Power Suit’s toughness, but it gradually became more durable over time. Both suits embody Samus Aran’s fusion with her typical Metroid adversaries, and they have left lasting impressions on fans as memorable redesigns, even though they may not surpass the classics.

Zero Suit

Regarding timeless pieces, the Zero Suit is another renowned symbol from the series. Standing out among the various casual attire that can be unlocked at the end of Metroid games, the Zero Suit has gained prominence due to its inclusion in the Super Smash Bros. series since Brawl, numerous cinematics, and a new section of Metroid: Zero Mission which partially contributed to the remake’s title. Although it may not boast the attack and defense capabilities that even some secret Justin Bailey outfits do, the Zero Suit has its own unique abilities and sports a straightforward yet recognizable design. It seems likely that we’ll see more prominent moments for Zero Suit Samus in the future.

B Tier

Gravity Suit

Another famous Metroid suit needs mentioning, yet it doesn’t quite match up with the others in terms of size. Known as the Gravity Suit, this armor upgrade typically comes last for Samus, excluding any suits relevant to the game’s plot. Its distinctive purple color is recognizable, particularly in various endings, but the Gravity Suit doesn’t receive the same level of recognition as other iconic Metroid outfits. This is somewhat disappointing given that this upgrade allows Samus to traverse water, acid, and lava more easily. However, there’s a reason why Samus often loses her upgrades, visual ones included.

Light Suit

In essence, the Light Suit in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes only appears once due to its strong association with the game’s singular storyline. Among the suits available during regular gameplay, it stands out as one of the least conventional, diverging from the Dark Suit’s Varia resemblances and forging its unique path. However, it significantly aids players in navigating the otherworldly Dark Aether by canceling its poisonous effect, making Metroid Prime 2 notably easier for some. Despite not being intended as a permanent addition, the Light Suit proves to be a valuable asset.

Fully Powered Suit

Following is the Fully Powered (or Legendary) Suit, another one of Samus’ peculiar acquisitions. This suit resembles the Varia Suit and was actually the first one Samus discovered in the game “Metroid: Zero Mission.” However, it was an ancient Chozo artifact that was granted to Samus after she lost her original suit. As a result, every instance of the Power Suit in the Metroid series after “Zero Mission” is technically this suit, including cases where a Varia Suit transforms into a Power Suit, the Fusion Suit reconstructed in “Metroid Fusion,” and the SA-X doppelgangers from the same game. It’s quite remarkable for such an unassuming part of Metroid history.

C Tier

As a gamer, I’ve got to admit that the remaining suits in Metroid aren’t terrible by any means; they’ve certainly held their own when it comes to maintaining the series’ impressive art design. However, there’s something essential missing from each of them that could help them truly shine and stand out. It’s a shame because each game in the Metroid Prime trilogy seems to carry this one crucial flaw with its power-up suit.

  • Phazon Suit
  • Dark Suit
  • PED Suit (and Hazard Shield)

The updated Varia suits for Prime 1 and Prime 2 serve as precursors to more impressive abilities. Dark Samus looks more fitting in the Phazon Suit compared to Samus, and she wears it longer. The Dark Suit is eventually surpassed by the Light Suit. In Prime 3, the PED Suit (Phazon Enhancement Device) functions better as a game-wide power-up, but it and its Gravity-adjacent Hazard Shield are ultimately discarded. Despite slightly confusing Samus’ traditional Power Suit design with the PED Suit, that’s still preferable to another option.

The redesigned Varia suits in Prime 1 and Prime 2 act as stepping stones for greater powers. Dark Samus appears more suited to the Phazon Suit than Samus does, and she wears it longer. The Dark Suit is eventually outperformed by the Light Suit. In Prime 3, the PED Suit (Phazon Enhancement Device) functions better as a game-wide power-up, but both it and its Gravity-related Hazard Shield are discarded in the end. Although the PED Suit may have confused Samus’ regular Power Suit design, it’s still superior to another choice.

Omega Suit

The “Omega Suit” is just a nickname for the fully enhanced Fusion Suit, possibly named after the Omega Metroid she battles in it. At the end of the game, Metroid Fusion, Samus Aran acquires an SA-X and its Ice Beam, but her joy at returning to her pre-Fusion gear and signature orange-yellow outfit is brief. By the time we reach Metroid Dread, the Omega Suit has transformed into a mostly mechanical Varia Suit, suggesting that even the Metroid series may have forgotten about this intermediate stage.

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2025-01-18 03:04