For more than 30 years, theMetroidSeries has raised the bar for science fiction action-adventure games. The series' combination of excellent level design, immersive atmosphere, and intense action has resulted in many unforgettable experiences.
Related:Great 3D MetroidvaniasThe series has also had some excellent and highly memorable boss fights. While a challenging or unique boss fight is great in its own right, what can make a boss especially memorable is if it ties in with the series lore. TheMetroidseries features plenty of such fights, and this list will recount some of the best. These are the bosses withthe best lorein theMetroidseries.
6Ridley
A staple of the series ever since its first entry in 1986, Ridley is perhaps the most personal antagonist that series heroine Samus Aran has ever faced. As the original leader of the space pirates, Ridely is responsible for causing death and destruction on a galactic scale. Most notably he is responsible for the massacre of the colonists living on planet K-2L.
The sole survivor of the massacre was a young girl who would end up being adopted by the Chozo and eventually became the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy. As in many classic tales, Ridley is ultimately responsible for creating his own nemesis. Samus would end up fighting and defeating the space dragon numerous times and even canonically killing him inSuper Metroid.
5Mother Brain
Mother Brain was originally created as an organic supercomputer by theChozo. However, after coming into contact with thespace piratesshe would ultimately turn against her creators. She then took control of the space pirates and attempted to conquer the galaxy.
Related:The Most Underrated Metroidvania GamesMother Brain is yet another villain connected to Samus' past as the two knew each other before Mother Brain went rogue. All of this makes it especially satisfying when Samus finally put an end to her once and for all at the end ofSuper Metroid.
4Raven Beak
The primary antagonist ofMetroid Dread, Raven Beak is the leader of the Mawkin Tribe, a clan of Chozo warriors with plans for galactic domination. It is revealed throughout the course of the game it was his Chozo DNA that was infused into Samus as a child, making her something akin to his daughter. He is also responsible for massacring the Thoha tribe who had originally created the eponymous parasites and had planned to utilize the power of the Metroids to take over thegalaxy.
Needless to say Samus' extermination of the Metroids inMetroid II: Return of Samusthrough a wrench into that plan, but Raven Beak would strike back by luring Samus to the planet ZDR and sending the EMMI robots to try and kill her.
3Metroid Prime
Refered to as the “Worm” in Chozo writings, the eponymous Metroid Prime was a Metroid of unknown origin that would end up being heavily mutated by the Phazon infecting the planet of Tallon IV. Later it would be detected by the scans of the space pirates who would give him that name. After being defeated in the firstMetroid Primegame the titular creature would return in the form of Dark Samus, serving as the primary antagonist for the rest of the trilogy.
One interesting way that Metroid Prime is tied into the lore is how throughout the series players continually see the effects of Phazon mutation on Metroids and how it affects their physiology. Through this players are able to get a sense of how the original Metroid Prime came to be.
2Gorea
From the beginningMetroid Prime: Hunterspresented players with an intriguing core mystery. The game is set in the Alimbic cluster which had once been home to ahighly advanced alien racewho one day suddenly vanished. Throughout the course of the game, it is gradually revealed that the Alimbic had been wiped out by a creature that was able to absorb and appropriate any weapon used against it. In a last-ditch attempt to contain this unstoppable beast the Alimbic sealed it away on a ship in another dimension.
Of course Samus and the otherbounty huntersend up unwittingly setting it free where it is revealed to be an alien called Gorea. However in an interesting twist, the game’s lore turns out to be the key to defeating Gorea once and for all. By fulfilling the Alimbic prophecy Samus is able to gain access to the Omega cannon, the only weapon capable of killing the beast.
1Weavel
Throughout the course of theMetroidseries, Samus has gunned down countless space pirates, to the point where it is almost routine for her. However one stands out above the rest, and that is the bounty hunter Weavel. Originally part of an elite force of space pirates, Weavel was mortally wounded after an encounter with Samus and outfitted with a cybernetic suit.
From that moment on Weavel dedicated himself to two things, getting revenge on Samus, and gaining more power. One interesting aspect of Weavel’s character is that his loyalty to the Space Pirates is somewhat questionable, it has been hinted that given a chance he would betray his former comrades in a bid for more power for himself.
