Play Metroid (Japan) (Rev 3) (3DS Virtual Console) Online in your browser

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Metroid (Japan) (Rev 3) (3DS Virtual Console)

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Metroid Overview

Metroid (Japan) (Rev 3) (3DS Virtual Console) is the 1986 action-adventure game that launched a legendary series, developed and published by Nintendo. Originally released for the Family Computer Disk System in Japan in August 1986, this version is a later revision (Rev 3) distributed through the 3DS Virtual Console service. It's the same core game that later hit the NES in North America and Europe, but this particular release preserves the original disk system audio and minor tweaks from the revision process. You control Samus Aran as she explores the sprawling caverns of planet Zebes. The goal is to recover the stolen Metroid organisms from the Space Pirates, who plan to weaponize them. Gameplay involves jumping between platforms, shooting creatures, and uncovering hidden items like missiles and energy tanks. The nonlinear world encourages backtracking once you acquire new abilities, such as the Morph Ball and Ice Beam. The single health bar and limited continues make every encounter tense, and the password system allows you to resume from certain points. For retro gamers, this is a foundational title that defined the Metroidvania genre. The atmospheric music, tight controls, and sense of isolation still hold up today. While it lacks the map system of later entries, the hand-drawn style and deliberate pacing give it a unique charm. If you enjoy exploring a dangerous alien world with minimal handholding, this is well worth revisiting. The 3DS Virtual Console version adds save states, making it easier to pick up and play without the original's password friction.

GAME INFO

Platform: Famicom Disk System
Genre: Action
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo Research & Development 1
Released: 1986
Players: 1
Region: Japan
Version: Rev 3

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How to play Metroid online

Getting Started

When you start Metroid, you'll see a title screen in Japanese. Press the Start key (Enter) to begin. The game immediately drops you into Brinstar, the first area. You control Samus using the D-Pad to move left or right and pressing X to jump. Hold the S key to run (hold B while moving) and press S to shoot your standard beam. Remember that your weapon fires straight ahead - you cannot aim diagonally, so position yourself carefully.

The core loop is exploration and combat. Your goal is to find the elevator to each new area, collect power-ups like the Morph Ball (lets you roll into small passages) and the Ice Beam (freezes enemies), and eventually reach the final boss, Ridley, and then Mother Brain. Key items are hidden in plain sight - shoot walls and floor blocks to reveal secret passages. Keep an eye on your health; it depletes quickly. You can restore health by collecting energy refills from defeated enemies or hidden items.

Metroid originally used a password system (displayed when you continue after dying). Write down the password to resume from that point. The 3DS Virtual Console version also includes save states, accessible from the emulator menu - use them freely. Since all menus are in Japanese, rely on the visual layout: the first option on the title screen is usually New Game, and the second is Password. Take your time exploring - Zebes has no map, so mentally mapping the corridors is part of the challenge.

CONTROLS

Controls

Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
X: A button (jump / confirm)
S: B button (run / attack / cancel)
Enter: Start / Pause
V: Select

Metroid FAQ

Who developed Metroid?

Nintendo developed and published the original Metroid. The game was created by a team that included Makoto Kano and Gunpei Yokoi, among others. It was one of the first titles to combine action with nonlinear exploration.

What type of game is Metroid?

Metroid is an action-adventure game with a heavy emphasis on exploration and power-up progression. It is widely considered the first entry in the Metroidvania subgenre, known for its interconnected world and ability-gated secrets.

Can players save progress in Metroid?

The original Famicom Disk System version allowed saving to the disk, but the password system was used on the NES cartridge version. On the 3DS Virtual Console release, players can use save states and the built-in restore point feature to save progress at any time.

All Famicom Disk System games