Whether starring in her own series of video games, Metroid, or appearing in every installment of Nintendo's universally acclaimed Super Smash Bros. franchise, Samus Aran is one interstellar warrior that is not to be messed with. While Super Smash Bros. and Metroid: Zero Mission proved that Samus is a force to be reckoned with even without her signature Power Suit, the extraterrestrial armor makes her among the deadliest protagonists in Nintendo's extensive catalogue. With this year marking the 35th anniversary since the launch of Metroid franchise, here's the story behind the Power Suit and its equally impressive variations.
The original Power Suit was constructed by the Chozo alien race that raised Samus. The Chozo gifted the suit to her in her teenage years, initially equipped with the standard Power Beam and an oxygen supply tank that allowed her to survive in most harsh conditions. Following a battle against Space Pirates, Samus gained another Power Suit from ancient Chozo ruins that featured even more incredible abilities while incorporating other upgrades she encountered in first conflict with the Metroids and Meta Ridley on the planet Zebes. As Samus traversed the cosmos, she discovered other Chozo ruins that interfaced with and upgraded her armor.
Metroid: Zero Mission had Samus upgrade her standard Power Suit with the familiar, orange Varia Suit equipped with resistance against harsh environments and faster movement. Further exploration resulted in Samus acquiring the Gravity Suit, which allowed her to perform the soaring High Jump and Space Jump, while navigating conditions where zero-gravity was present. After Samus completed a Chozo test in the ruins, she was provided with the Fully Powered Suit. This suit featured more pronounced shoulder pads while allowing Samus to wield the devastating Plasma Beam.
In 2002's Metroid Prime, after killing the Omega Pirate, the creature's raw energies covered Samus and compromised her suit. This resulted in the creation of the Phazon Suit, which gave her the ability to wield the powerful Phazon Beam as well as offering protection against Blue Phazon. 2004's Metroid Prime 2: Echoes had Samus acquire both the Light and Dark Suits, with each protecting Samus from a corresponding form of Aether while the Light Suit allowed Samus to ride Light Shafts.
Metroid Fusion released alongside Metroid Prime and had its own Power Suit. After being infected by X Parasites in the game's opening, Samus received the Fusion Suit to save her life after large portions of her original armor was surgically removed as they were discovered to have physically bonded to her. After being administered Vaccine Metroid, Samus' DNA was altered, with the brightly colored Fusion Suit allowing her to move more quickly and convert X Parasites into energy and weaponry but leaving her more vulnerable to cold temperatures.
All the variations of the Power Suit come with a wide range of weaponry and abilities, including a feature that allows Samus to transform into the Morph Ball to navigate tight areas quickly. There are many variations on the Power Beam and missiles that the suits are equipped with too, including beams that allow Samus to grapple to distant points and others that freeze targets solid. The armor similarly is armed with a payload of bombs and tanks to expand its capacity for ordinance, while the powerful Screw Attack allows Samus to jump and strike targets repeatedly with energy waves emitting from her armor.
Samus Aran is one the deadliest bounty hunters in the business. No matter what version of the Power Suit she's wearing, she is still heavily-armed and able to face the most monstrous horrors in the undiscovered fringes of the galaxy alone. The fate of the Metroid franchise is currently up in the air. Development on a fourth Metroid Prime game was confirmed in 2017, but development was restarted in 2019. While there is little else to report, hopefully fans can pilot a new variation of the Chozo's ancient technology soon.
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