Metroid
Metroid

Item Checklist

Acquire every power-up with this Metroid Item Checklist. Find locations and strategies for upgrades like the Brinstar Long Beam and Energy Tanks.

Item Checklist

Welcome to the definitive Item Checklist for Metroid! This section is designed to guide you through every crucial upgrade and collectible, ensuring you don't miss a single power-up on your journey through Zebes. We'll cover locations, strategies for acquisition, and the benefits of each item. Prepare to become the ultimate bounty hunter!

Brinstar

  • Long Beam:
    • Location: From your starting point, head right through the first few rooms until you reach a large, open area with a long vertical shaft. Descend this shaft. At the bottom, head left through a narrow passage. You'll find the Long Beam in a small alcove.
    • Strategy: This is one of the first and most essential upgrades. It significantly increases the range of your Power Beam, making combat much easier. No special abilities are required to obtain it.
  • Bomb:
    • Location: After acquiring the Long Beam, continue left from its location. You'll enter a room with a series of blocks that can be destroyed. The Bomb is located behind these blocks.
    • Strategy: Essential for destroying certain blocks and revealing hidden passages. To use, transform into Morph Ball mode (Down + A) and press B. You'll need the Morph Ball first, which you start with.
  • Morph Ball:
    • Location: You begin the game with the Morph Ball.
    • Strategy: Allows Samus to curl into a small ball, enabling access to narrow passages and the use of Bombs. Press Down + A to transform.
  • Missile Tank (Brinstar 1):
    • Location: In the large vertical shaft near the starting area (where you descended for the Long Beam), there's a hidden passage on the right wall, about halfway down. Use a Bomb to reveal it.
    • Strategy: Blast the wall, enter, and claim your first Missile Tank, increasing your missile capacity by 5.
  • Energy Tank (Brinstar 1):
    • Location: From the Bomb location, head further left. You'll eventually find a room with a series of platforms and enemies. The Energy Tank is on a high platform to the left.
    • Strategy: Use careful jumps to navigate the platforms. This tank adds 100 points to your maximum energy, a vital upgrade for survival.

Norfair

  • Varia Suit:
    • Location: Deep within Norfair, past several lava pits and fire-breathing enemies. You'll need to navigate a complex series of rooms, often requiring precise jumps and bomb usage to open paths. The Varia Suit is typically found in a large chamber protected by a mini-boss or a series of challenging enemies.
    • Strategy: The Varia Suit is crucial for surviving the intense heat of Norfair and Tourian. Without it, Samus takes constant damage in these areas. Prioritize getting this as soon as you can safely navigate Norfair's initial challenges.
  • Screw Attack:
    • Location: In a hidden area of Norfair, often requiring the destruction of specific blocks with Bombs or Missiles to reveal the path. It's usually located in a vertical shaft or a room with multiple destructible blocks.
    • Strategy: This powerful upgrade makes Samus invincible while spinning in a jump, and destroys most enemies on contact. It also breaks certain blocks that are otherwise indestructible. Practice your jump timing to maximize its effectiveness.
  • High Jump Boots:
    • Location: In a relatively straightforward room in Norfair, often found after a series of horizontal passages. It might be on a slightly elevated platform.
    • Strategy: These boots significantly increase Samus's jump height, allowing access to previously unreachable areas and making platforming much easier. No special tricks are usually needed to acquire them once you reach the room.

Kraid's Lair

  • Ice Beam:
    • Location: Found in a room within Kraid's Lair, often guarded by several enemies or requiring a specific path to be cleared.
    • Strategy: The Ice Beam allows Samus to freeze enemies, turning them into temporary platforms. This is essential for reaching certain areas and defeating specific bosses. To switch beams, press Select.

Tourian

  • Energy Tank (Tourian 1):
    • Location: In one of the initial rooms of Tourian, often hidden behind a destructible block or in a small alcove.
    • Strategy: Tourian is the final area, and every bit of health helps. Keep an eye out for hidden passages as you navigate the Metroid-infested corridors.

Remember, exploration is key in Metroid! Many Missile Tanks and additional Energy Tanks are hidden throughout Brinstar, Norfair, and Kraid's Lair. Always use your Bombs on suspicious blocks and fire Missiles at walls that look out of place. Happy hunting, Samus!