Power Beam

The default eight-directional fire that anchors Samus's combat on Zebes.

The Power Beam serves as Samus Aran's primary offensive tool in Super Metroid, integrated directly into her Arm Cannon. The game introduces an inventory screen allowing players to enable or disable these weapons, though specific combinations like the Spazer and Plasma beams cannot be used simultaneously. This baseline firing capability is essential for navigating Zebes, where exploration relies on using power-ups to reach inaccessible areas.

Quick Facts

Primary user: Samus Aran
First appearance: Metroid

Lore & Background

In Super Metroid, the narrative centers on Samus tracking a stolen infant Metroid to the planet Zebes. Upon arrival, she finds her Arm Cannon capable of firing in eight directions, a new element introduced by the development team led by Yoshio Sakamoto and Makoto Kano. While beams can be combined, some specific pairings are restricted; for instance, the Spazer and Plasma beams cannot function at the same time. This system allows Samus to adapt her loadout as she acquires upgrades like the Wave Beam or Ice Beam. The story culminates in a confrontation with Mother Brain, where Samus obtains the Hyper Beam after the Metroid larva sacrifices itself, granting her energy sufficient to defeat the biomechanical ruler of Zebes.

Reader's Guide

Players control Samus Aran in a 2D side-scrolling environment where the primary goal is exploration. The Arm Cannon fires in eight directions by default. To progress, players must find power-ups like the Morph Ball, Speed Booster, or Grapple Beam to access new areas. The inventory screen allows switching between weapons, but remember that the Spazer and Plasma beams cannot be equipped simultaneously. Save stations are scattered across Zebes for saving progress, though Samus can also save and recharge health/ammo at her gunship. The game features three endings determined by completion time: under three hours yields the best ending where Samus poses without her suit. Map computers in each area reveal unexplored sections, and Reserve Tanks automatically restore health when depleted.

Did You Know?

Super Metroid was developed over the course of two years by a staff of 15 managed by Gunpei Yokoi.
The game sold 1.42 million copies worldwide by late 2003.
Kenji Yamamoto composed the main theme while humming on his motorcycle ride home from work.