Metroid (Japan) (Rev 1)
Metroid (Japan) (Rev 1) - Action Classic
So you're looking at Metroid (Japan) (Rev 1) for the Famicom Disk System. This is the very first game in the series, originally released by Nintendo in 1986 in Japan. It's an action-adventure game that practically invented the 'metroidvania' subgenre - a tag that still gets thrown around today. This particular version is the Rev 1 release, meaning it's a later print with some minor tweaks from the initial disk version, though I couldn't tell you exactly what changed without digging into a diff. What matters is you're getting the core experience that defined a generation.
The story, such as it is, puts you in the space suit of Samus Aran. The Space Pirates have stolen the Metroids - these floating jellyfish-like creatures that can latch onto you and drain your energy - and they're breeding them on planet Zebes to use as bioweapons. Your job is to land on Zebes, fight through its interconnected caverns, collect power-ups like the Morph Ball and missiles, and eventually wipe out the pirate base and the Metroids. The map is completely non-linear, so you'll be backtracking a lot once you find new abilities that open previously unreachable areas.
What keeps me coming back to this game is how pure and unforgiving it feels. No handholding, no map, limited continues - you've got to learn the layout or draw your own map on graph paper. The Japanese Rev 1 version is a neat piece of history if you're into seeing how the series started on its home turf, but honestly, the US NES release plays almost identically. If you're a fan of exploration-heavy platformers that respect your intelligence, this is where it all began. Just be patient with the password system and the slowdown when the screen gets busy.
How to Play Metroid (Japan) (Rev 1) Online
Getting Started
When you boot Metroid (Japan) (Rev 1), you'll see the title screen and then a password input screen. The game doesn't save progress - instead, you get a password after defeating certain bosses. For a fresh start, just press Start to begin. You'll appear in Brinstar, the first area. The screen scrolls horizontally, and you control Samus with the D-Pad. Use the A button to jump and B button to fire your arm cannon. Right away, you'll see doors - some are open, others are locked and require you to defeat all enemies in a room first.
The core loop is all about exploration. Move right or left, blast enemies for health/ammo drops, and find hidden passages. If you see a block with a different pattern, try bombing it with the Morph Ball (found later) or shooting it. Your goal is to reach Kraid and Ridley, the two main bosses, by collecting the right power-ups. The map is huge and there's no in-game guide, so be prepared to backtrack repeatedly. Pay attention to the color of doors - red doors open with missiles, blue doors open with regular shots. The game is in Japanese, but since it's an action game with no text-heavy dialogue, you won't have trouble navigating. Just remember: if you run out of energy, you respawn at the beginning of the area with full health. It's tough but fair.
Metroid (Japan) (Rev 1) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button (jump / confirm)
- S: B button (run / attack / cancel)
- Enter: Start / Pause
- V: Select
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