Metroid
Metroid

Area Maps

Navigate Zebes areas in Metroid with detailed maps and walkthroughs. Find every important item location as you traverse the original NES game.

Area Maps

Welcome to the Area Maps section, your comprehensive guide to navigating the labyrinthine depths of Zebes! While the original Metroid on NES didn't feature an in-game map, this guide provides detailed walkthroughs and item locations for each major area, ensuring you never get lost or miss a crucial upgrade. Remember, exploration is key, but a little guidance can save you hours of frustration.

Each area map section is designed to be followed sequentially, guiding you from your entry point to the next major objective or item. We'll highlight hidden passages, enemy encounters, and optimal routes to maximize your efficiency.

Brinstar

Your journey begins in the fiery caverns of Brinstar. This area serves as your introduction to Zebes and contains essential early-game upgrades.

  • Starting Point: Landing Site (your ship).
  • Objective: Acquire the Morph Ball and Bombs.

Walkthrough:

  1. From your ship, head right. You'll encounter your first enemies, the Zoomers and Skrees. Practice your beam shots.
  2. Continue right through several screens until you reach a long vertical shaft. Descend carefully, avoiding the Mellows that cling to the walls.
  3. At the bottom of the shaft, head left. You'll find a small room with a statue. Shoot the statue to reveal the Morph Ball.
  4. With the Morph Ball acquired, return to the vertical shaft. Now, use your Morph Ball to roll into the small passage on the right, about halfway up the shaft.
  5. Follow this passage to the right. You'll enter a room with several Rippers. Navigate past them (or destroy them with your beam) and continue right.
  6. In the next room, you'll find another statue. Shoot it to obtain the Bombs.
  7. Optional: After getting Bombs, return to the long vertical shaft. There's a hidden passage on the left wall, near the bottom. Use a Bomb to reveal it and find your first Missile Tank (Brinstar 1).
  8. From the Bombs location, head right. You'll encounter a new enemy, the Sidehoppers. Use your Bombs to destroy blocks in the floor to proceed downwards.
  9. Continue downwards and to the right, using Bombs to open new paths. You'll eventually reach a large, open area with a save point. This is a good place to rest and save your progress.

Key Items in Brinstar:

  • Morph Ball: Essential for navigating tight spaces. Located in a statue room to the left of the main vertical shaft.
  • Bombs: Allows you to destroy certain blocks and reveal hidden passages. Found in a statue room to the right of the Morph Ball location.
  • Missile Tank (Brinstar 1): Increases your missile capacity by 5. Hidden behind a bombable block in the main vertical shaft.
  • Energy Tank (Brinstar 1): Increases your maximum health. (Detailed location provided in a later section once necessary upgrades are acquired.)

Norfair

Norfair is a scorching hot region filled with tougher enemies and more dangerous environmental hazards. You'll need the Varia Suit to comfortably explore its deeper sections, but some early items are accessible.

  • Entry Point: From the lower-right section of Brinstar, after acquiring Bombs.
  • Objective: Acquire the Long Beam and explore for Missile Tanks.

Walkthrough:

  1. From the save point in Brinstar, head right and descend into Norfair. The temperature will increase, but you won't take damage yet.
  2. Proceed right through the initial Norfair corridors, dealing with Novas and Magdollites.
  3. You'll come to a room with a long horizontal passage. At the far right end, you'll find a statue containing the Long Beam. This significantly extends the range of your beam weapon.
  4. With the Long Beam, return left. Look for a series of platforms leading upwards in one of the earlier Norfair rooms. Climb these platforms.
  5. At the top, head left. You'll find a hidden passage that leads to a small room with a Missile Tank (Norfair 1). Use your newly acquired Bombs to reveal the path if necessary.
  6. Continue exploring the upper sections of Norfair. There's another Missile Tank (Norfair 2) located in a room accessible by bombing a floor block near a series of lava pits. Be careful of the Lavas that emerge from the lava.

Key Items in Norfair:

  • Long Beam: Extends the range of your Power Beam, making combat easier. Found in a statue room early in Norfair.
  • Missile Tank (Norfair 1): Increases your missile capacity by 5. Hidden in an upper passage.
  • Missile Tank (Norfair 2): Increases your missile capacity by 5. Located in a room accessible via a bombable floor.
  • Varia Suit: Reduces damage taken from enemies and environmental hazards. (Requires further exploration and upgrades, detailed in a later section.)

Kraid's Lair

This area is home to one of the game's mini-bosses, Kraid. Accessing Kraid's Lair requires specific upgrades and careful navigation.

  • Entry Point: From a specific elevator in Brinstar, typically after acquiring the Varia Suit.
  • Objective: Defeat Kraid and obtain the Screw Attack.

Walkthrough:

  1. From the central Brinstar elevator that leads down to Kraid's Lair, descend into the new area.
  2. You'll immediately notice the distinct green and brown palette, indicating a new region. Navigate through the initial rooms, dealing with Rippers and Skrees.
  3. The path to Kraid is relatively linear but involves several vertical shafts and horizontal corridors. Keep an eye out for destructible blocks.
  4. You'll eventually reach a large chamber with a giant creature. This is Kraid.
  5. Kraid Strategy:
    • Kraid will emerge from the lava, spitting projectiles and occasionally jumping.
    • Shoot Kraid's mouth with your Power Beam and Missiles. Missiles deal significant damage.
    • Dodge his projectiles by jumping or using the Morph Ball.
    • After taking enough damage, Kraid will retreat into the lava. He will then re-emerge, often closer to you.
    • Repeat the process until Kraid is defeated.
  6. Once Kraid is defeated, a path will open. Proceed through it to find a statue containing the Screw Attack. This powerful upgrade makes you invincible while spinning in a jump and destroys most enemies on contact.
  7. Optional: Before or after defeating Kraid, explore the surrounding rooms for Missile Tanks (Kraid's Lair 1 & 2). One is usually found in a hidden passage above the main path, and another requires bombing a specific block in a dead-end room.

Key Items in Kraid's Lair:

  • Screw Attack: Grants invincibility during spin jumps and destroys most enemies on contact. Acquired after defeating Kraid.
  • Missile Tank (Kraid's Lair 1): Increases missile capacity by 5.
  • Missile Tank (Kraid's Lair 2): Increases missile capacity by 5.

Remember to consult your in-game map (if playing a remake) or this guide frequently. The world of Zebes is vast and unforgiving, but with careful planning and a keen eye, you'll uncover all its secrets!