Conference rusure::nintendo

    At about 8:30 Sunday morning Mother Brain fell to yours truly and
    boy is she ugly.
    
    A few comments about the game without giving any spoilers:
    
      You can get away with killing two mini-bosses but if you happen
      to take the shortcut like I did you have to deal with 2 Kraids.
    
      I did very little mapping and lucked out in many ways. I suggest
      you map when possible.
    
      The Metroids are a real pain but after you rid yourself of them,
      and I'm talkin' about 24 or 30 of them, you are in for a battle.
    
      The rinkas are a royal pain in the neck and once you get deep
      Tourian and have to start wiping out the Zeebites (yes there is
      more than one), the rinkas make it difficult.
    
      The screen gets real busy at this point and the ol' Nintendo unit
      really struggles with all the activity.
    
      I was impressed with the Mother Brain, looks like something out
      of a nightmare. If you thought you were frustrated with getting
      rid of Gannon in Zelda wait 'til you try to waste the Mother Brain.
    
      Once you get rid of the Mother Brain you will get a message on
      the screen and then you find yourself under a lot of pressure
      because all of a sudden it hits you, "Oh oh...what if..." Sorry
      that's all I'm giving away right now.
    
     uts>help
      Wha' happened? Anyway, the game ends like Zelda with credits...to
      the tune of about 2 dozen engineers....recognized one name. 
    
      Looking forward to the rest of my "Samus brothers'" reactions
      as they complete this game.
    
      Send mail or call if you want some hints or spoilers. 
    
      Samus Mike 

    
    
        Hey Mike;   this game was worth it, but I only wished  there
    was another mission that followed. Guess we'll have to wait for
    the next game to come out,at this point there isn't any new games
    like this.
    
       Your right about saying there is alot of PRESSURE during the
    last part of the game. I think this is the best game one the market
    for adventure games.(that is SO_FAR)
    
                                            Charlie
    

    Charlie,
    
    Did you "fulfill the requirement" the first time you defeated the
    Mother Brain? I did and afterwards wondered what would happen if
    I didn't. I played it again to see what happens if you "fail to
    fufill the final requirement" and what happens is that you're placed
    back at the top of Tourian.
    
    Did you notice anything familiar about the sounds you heard while
    going after the Metroids? Fans of Science Fiction flicks will recognize
    the sound and will immediately think of a certain Sci-Fi film.
    
    The second time around I noticed something interesting. When you
    go down the second vertical corridor and wipe out the Metroids go
    through the door on the left and then do an about face back into
    the vertical corridor...you can generate more Metroids that way.
    
    I don't know what game to go to next. I want to play a game in which
    a number of us are playing so that we can help each other. Should
    I go for Castlevania or stick to Gradius?
    
    Mike

    Well I finally finished. I did not fulfill the  final requirement
    the first time , but did the second time. Also I did not get the
    wave beam untile after I finished the game. I started over and found
    it, but I did not make any maps so it would take me a while to find
    it again.
    
    Ray

    
    
    Boy it is ugly !
    
    I was happy when I reached the tourian and found out that it wasn't
    a maze. (I can only imagine if it was) Despite the dificulty of
    the game it only took my 2 weeks to win. I bought it the saturday
    before last and I won last night. I was in a state of panic when
    I reached the "final requirement" and lost my balance a few times.
    But I won anyway.
    
    About the wave beam, I had found the wave beam two nights before
    I reached the tourian, and all I can say is I wish I hadn't. Yes,
    it is more powerful,much more powerful than the Ice beam, but you
    can't freeze a metriod with a Wave Beam.
    
    As for energy tanks, I got 5 out of the six. And I will put a spoiler
    in on where I found my fith in a later note, just one thing... It
    isn't in plane sight.  When I was on my second run, (this morning)
    I found five again, but I found one that I rember not finding before,
    and I can't find one that I know I found before. Well, life goes
    on.
    
    Missles, 230. I guess that is enough.
    
    Found everything else though.
    
    And on the credits, I noticed a lot of the names were the same as
    the ones on Kid Icarus.
    
    				Let her squeal!!!
    				    Pat..
    
    Btw, there are two Ice Beams. One in Brinstar and another in Noirfair
    
    Btw, there are two Mini-Boss #1s, the second one only gives you
         a enegry circle thing (I forget the name), and it is not in
         a room by itself.
    
    				
    
    

    Okay, I need a hint. I've got the Get Small Ball, 35 missiles, 3
    energy tanks (I know where a fourth one is), the long beam, and
    the ice beam. I've decided that what I really need to complete my
    wardrobe is a pair of High Jump Boots. I have searched the Rocky
    Zone from beginning to end, including a lot of hidden passages and
    tubes. I've visited the Fiery Zone and retrieved some missiles from
    there, and I've seen the Mini-Boss I (and gotten fried by it). Could
    someone give me an idea of where to look for this item? Thanks.
    
    -Rich

    
    re:-1 High Jump Boots=BRANSAR (rocky zone)
    

    Thanks. May I assume by "rocky zone" you are excluding the Mini-Boss
    I hideout (I hope)?
    
    -Rich

    
      .8  Purple honeycomb area on the way to Mini-Boss II. If you want
    more give me a call I'm on ELF.
                                                                 RONM
    [possible spoiler]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
       By the way Metroiders I've found out something that is at least
    news to me. The game booklet hints to the fact that the ending is
    different depending on how you play. What I think is going on here
    is that the ending , what your Samu character does , after the escape
    from Tourian is modified and he may even play another round looking
    different. This hasn't been verified  except that on the 2nd
    pass you must get all missiles and energy tanks again. They all
    seem to be in the same places and you haven't lost any weapons acu
    mulated. Hopefully I'll be able to verify some off this soon.
    
       One thing that maybe of interest. I have used no missles on the
    Mini_Bosses many times. The Wave Beam is just terrific,though, I must admit
    of little use in Tourain. The difficulty level appears to be no
    harder the second time through. Obviously easier to navigate around
    the mazes since one knows were everything is.
    

    
      End Game [Possible Spoiler]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
         Well after the second pass are little Samu character did take
    off his/her helmet just before the credits went scrolling by. I
    was crushed when the third pass had the helmet back on. If I get
    in the mood I make carry this out further.
    
                                                       RONM
     

        Sandy and  I  finished  the game over the weekend and fulfilled
        the final requirement  first  time to get 'The End' message up.
        We had all the  weapons  except Screw Beam, all 6 Energy tanks,
        235 out of a possible  255  missiles  (we saw another tank deep
        down but couldn't get to it!).
        
        The  end game is good -  after  we  had  found  the  method  of
        'recharging' and eventually finished off Big Mama  and  escaped
        in time, we tried again a few times using the last password for
        Tourian and managed to nuke her consistently in one  pass after
        knocking out the 'power cells'.
        
        Good game - next is Top Gun, I think....
        
        Andy (& Sandy)
        

    
    IF YOU NEED HELP ON GAMES FOR NITENDO JOIN THE NITENDO FUN CLUB
    TO JOIN CALL NITENDO IF YOU GET THROUGH PUSH 1 THEN ASCK IF YOU
    CAN JOIN THE NITENDO FUN CLUB.

    HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    
    
     I have a few questions for you guys (and girls).
     
    
    
    
    1. It seems I can get the small ball right from the start of the
    game is this correct to assume, or am I doing something I don't
    know?
    
    
    2. I take it the white sphere is the bombs, I find this sphere to
    the right at the start of the game but it's not there all the time
    is there a secret to making it appear? Also is this the only place
    I can get bombs?
    
    3. The rest will come later as Im sure they'll be many more.
    
    Thank's in advance.                       Mike McNulty
                                           

    
    Mike,
    	That white ball right to the left of the start is the 'thing'
    that lets you turn into a ball, not the bombs.
    	The bombs are in one of the "weapons" rooms. 
    
    			Hope that clears things up,
    				Pat..
    

    The bomb is at the top of the gold corridor I think.

    
    Tiny spoiler follows:
    
    
    
    Has anyone else discovered that there are SEVEN energy tanks? This
    means that you can carry the maximum of six and then keep one in
    reserve. I use this to get up the maximum energy inn a hurry at
    the start of the game (I'm busily trying to find the Mother Brain
    at present). It's a lot easier than bashing monsters to get energy
    pills; you just jump on the extra tank and you're at full strength.
    Of course, you must always remember a password that starts a game
    having the extra tank. Since I have most of the power items already,
    this isn't a problem.
    
    -Rich

    JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW I'VE MADE A DETAILED MAP OF METROID TO THE
    POINT OF CROSSING THE BRIDGE.... IF ANY ONE HAS QUESTIONS ON ITEMS
    SEND MAIL TO USRCV1::HOOD AND I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THEM. I WILL NOT
    POST THEM HERE AS IT WOULD TAKE ALL THE FUN OUT OF THE GAME.
    
    DAVE HOOD
    FIELD SERVICE
    SYRACUSE N.Y
    USRCV1::HOOD
    

    
    
    	TWO mini-boss # 1s !!
    
    I have found another Mini-Boss #1.
    
    Has anybody else found it.
    
    The place(s) you need to get by look like this:
    
                          ======== /
    			  !	  (   door
                          !  !    (
                             !    \
                        ==========
                                   
    
    The ! represent walls, you have to roll under, then keep
    bombing over the second. This can be found at the bottom of the
    corrodor when you first enter #1's hideout. I kept going over
    until I reached another, and another,.... there were a lot.
    The, all of a sudden I came to this room with Kriad (is that ist
    name?). I thought great, I can kill him off and get a ton of misles.
    No such luck. He took one shot (misle) and he was gone.
    
    				Mabey 2 kangaroo-things...
    					Pat..

    
       .18    Your right.. that one is a phoney. I and a number of other
    SAMU's believe he is there to waste time and material. Notice that
    if you leave the immediate area and return he's back. 

                                                         RONM
        
    

             ******MINI-SPOILER FOLLOWING********
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    If you haven't got the long-jump boots yet, there is still a way
    to get the varia(The Armor reducing damage by 1/2):Upon entering
    the blue vertical corridor, go up until you reach the first door
    on the right, enter it, go right out into the blue vertical corridor
    go up to the top and go right. follow this corridor until you come
    to a mini-hallway. turn around and blast the door on the left.
    Enter the doorway enough so it will close on you, but DON'T go through
    it. After it closes on you, press down and up, and continue doing
    this rapidly until you come to a door. Shoot it and enter, follow
    this corridor, and enter the red door at the end. The Varia will
    be there. I strongly suggest you kill yourself and record your password
    before trying this, because sometimes you roll into a ball on the
    way up, trapping you and forcing you to turn off the game and start
    again.
    
                        Ganon\Mother Brain\Medusa\etc.-slayer Dave
    

    re.-1
    
    	huh???? Everytime I try this I end up locked in the walls. I
    never get to a door (red or blue). Would you care to expand on this
    some more?
    
    	Where the devil are the high jumpin' boots...try to be specific.
    
    	Thanks in advance...
    
    -jcf

    
    re.-2 
    		You don't have to power down to end the game,
    	you can use the "Dinner Time" method. Push Up + A on controller II.
    
    				Supper's ready.....
    				    Pat..
    
    					

    re. .21
    
    Well, I finally found the jumpin' shoes....it's open a whole new
    world. I think I can now finish this ^%*?#@ game.
    
    BTW Now I know why no one "spoiled" the location on the shoes. I
    don't think I could remember where they were now if I had to.(time
    to take out a piece if paper and pencil.):^)
    
    - jcf

re.20

I can't get anything to happen by pushing up and A on controller II.  
What should happen and what could I be doing wrong?

John

    	First you have to Pause,
    	then UP + A on controller II.
    
    			 I forgot about that... :^)
    				Pat..

    Okay, I'll admit it.  Metroid has me down for the count.  After
    MANY hours of play (for me, Metroid is *much* tougher than ZELDA)
    I need some help.  I've looked through all the hints here (note
    9) but still haven't found the high jump boots, nor the armor.
    
    A big, blatant spoiler would feel real good.
    
    Any offers?
    
    Greg

    
    	How's this for an explanation:
    
    	Do I have to say," Spoiler follows:"?
    
    
    	First, Go down the elevator (the one that doesn't lead to a
    mini-boss). Next, take the right. Continue throught that room until you
    reach a blue/purple 'bubble' corridor. Go to the bottom of that hall.
    Lay bombs all over the place. Eventually, you'll notice a brick
    disapear (it is over on the right) fall down, bomb, fall down. You find
    yourself in another corridor. One of those doors are the boots.
    
    	Spoiler #2
    
    
    	Roll under that pipe and bomb...
    
    	              Rumor has it you can play in "girl" form...
    					Pat..
    

         Another question.....If your up to full power (for the weapons
    you currently have) and you use the "Pause, Up + A on controller
    II" to get a password and quit.....when you start again using that
    password will you start out at full power?  It's a real pain building
    up your power every time.....takes too much time.
         Anyone know?
    
    
    Bob

    
    RE: -.1
    
    *Spoiler*
    
    
    
    There's no easy way around that problem. The way I finally solved
    it was to leave an extra tank that I could grab as soon as I started
    a new game. As I noted in an earlier entry, there are in fact 7
    tanks in spite of the fact that you can only caryy six. Grabbing
    the seventh tank puts you at maximum energy immediately. Unfortunately,
    there's an obvious drawback to this method: as with the other tanks,
    the seventh tank vanishes once you grab it. So, you can only really
    use this technique after you've acquired all the special goodies
    you want and you just want to go smash the Mother Brain. At that
    point you just keep using the same password over and over (the one
    with the seventh tank available) until you win.
    
    -Rich

    Well, my kids and I have pretty adept at knocking Metroid off in
    about two ghours now.... We  have one character that we've run through
    the mother brain about four times.  I've found that going in and
    killing Metroids off to stock up energy and missiles until you're
    ready to attack the pother brain is a pretty good method.   Once
    you get to the mother brain there are two tactics that work to kill
    it (her?).  Fire missiles until you have about 2 energy squares
    left, go back out and kill some metroids to recharge and then go
    back in and fire at the mother brain again. *or* you can use the
    freeze beam to stop those little 'floating cheerios' (as my kids
    call 'em) and then shot the mother brain at your leisure.  
    
    Quite a display.  I don't think there'a anything different after
    killing the mother brain other than your energy cells and missiles
    are gone. (you can go around and pick them up again) I did have
    long jump feet, long beam, and freeze ray however.  The wavy beam
    stuff is nice, but not really necessary (it might help out in killing
    Kraid a bit).  
    
    One more thing.. I found that even after I ran out of missiles,
    I was still able to kill the mini bosses. Just jump right into them
    and start laying bombs.  They bite it eventually....
    
    
    Love it....on to Kid Icarus!
    
    Gil
    

    
    
    	Who is samus, really?
    
    	Would you like to play with the real samus?
    
    	If so read spoiler to find out.
    
     	Samus is really a girl. If you win once without a visit from death,
    and you can do it under an hour you will finaly see Miss Samus. I was
    playing from an old password that started me off (space suit + all) in
    the tourian. I then killed Mother brain. Starting after that with all
    my weapons, I decided to win again. So, I quickly ran, got all the
    energy tanks and missles. I had another battle with mother brain, and
    low and behold Miss Samus. 
    	
    	   If you can't do this, mail me if you want a Miss Samus P.Word,
    					Pat..

    Re: .31 the real Samus
    
    
    On the other hand, if you would like to start Metroid with Miss
    Samus, and nothing else, send me mail (i.e. I know which bit makes
    her appear).
    
    P.S. There are 8 Energy Tanks, not 7 as was stated in an earlier
    reply.
    
    Stapes

I'm sure someone must own both Metroid and Kid Icarus.  I have only Metroid.
Have you tried using the password from one cartridge on the other?  Did it
work?  I am curious as to whether Nintendo used the same formula for encoding
the password on both cartridges.

	Stapes

    
    Re:-1 and others:
    
    So, what's this secret password you people have been talking about??!
    
    How about putting it behind a <FF>?  That is, if it hasn't all ready
    been put in here someplace (I don't remember seeing it).
    
    
    Galv

    Re .34:
    
    Which password are you interested in?  A particular one for a certain
    point in the game?  Or do you just want to know what the Metroid/Kid
    Icarus passwords are all about?
    
    
    				-- edp 

    Re:-1
    
    To EDP:
    
    Well, I guess I'd like a little more info on the passwords themselves.
    
    I haven't seen anything about using different passwords in the doc
    sets, or even in the NINTENDO PLAYERS GUIDE.  How did/do you find
    out about them?
    
    
    Galv

    Re .36:
    
    When a Metroid or Kid Icarus game ends, there are 24 letters, digits,
    and/or symbols on the screen.  They are your "password" to restart the
    game at a recent point instead of from the beginning.
    
    To use the password when starting up another day, select "Continue"
    instead of starting a new game.  You will then have to enter the
    password by moving a cursor around a table of letters, digits, and
    symbols and pressing the A button.
    
    
    				-- edp 

    
    Re:-1
    
    EDP:
    
    Oh, yeah...I know all about the use of passwords to restart and
    save games.  I have quite a few password-pack cartridges.
    
    What I was wondering about were these *secret* passwords (ie: the
    password to start Metroid with an unhelmeted player, etc...).
    
    
    Galv

    	      -<SAVE GAME AND GET PASSWORD WITHOUT DIEING>-
    
    
    Is there a way to save your game with Metriod and recieve the 
    password without dieing first if so could someone poswt that
    information in this file. I have killed the Mother Brain on 
    several occasions but have not been able to put two kills back
    to back because of time factor. Thanks Paul A. Mcgrail
    

    Re: .39 by CIM28::MCGRAIL
    
    How to end a game without dieing in order to get a password:
    
    	Pause the game by pressing start on your controller
    
    	Take other controller (player 2), and press up and button A
    	together                                                   
    
    Note: this will give you a password, but if you are hoping to start
    again at the same energy level, forget it.  That information is
    not stored in the password.  The password does store the number
    of missiles you have though, power items you have taken, which red
    doors you've blasted, and a couple of other things.  In fact, I
    believe that I can make up a password for a guaranteed unwinnable
    character.
    
    	Stapes

    
    	Does anyone out there have a map already made up. My parents
    have the game and my mom is getting frustrated. She has found 2
    energy tanks and has 150 or so missles. She seems to be stuck. I
    figured I could maybe find a map for her so if anyone out there
    has a map to offer, I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
    
    
    
    							Dana A. Lane
    

    Yeah, I gotta map.  But it'll cost ya!  :^)
    
    I'll see if I can't make you a good copy.
    Send me your Email address.
    
    Glenn_who's_at Nexus::G_geiger

    
    	Here is one of many "Ms. Samus" Password.
    
    
    	Type it in exactly as stated, capitals, question marks,ect.
    
    	3R?--z   --i309
    	1--oK8   002mI?
    
    			All energy + missles + Wave Beam(lng.)
    					Pat..

Re: .43 by RSTS32::FLAHERTY

That is indeed a powerful character, but I noticed that you have long
beam, and it must be from some place different from where I get my long
beam.  Details hidden behind formfeed, but before getting to that, here
is a totally harmless password.  It starts you at the beginning with no
power items, no missiles, no helmet, and no time on the clock.


	000000  000000
	W00000  0000Y8


I got my long beam by going through the second from the top door on the
left side of the main blue shaft, and blasting the red door at the other
end.  I noticed that your password shows that this red door is still
closed, which means you got your long beam elsewhere.  Just curious:
Where did you get your long beam?

	Stapes

        
        Following the  <FF>  is  a password which will start you off as
        Ms.  Samus,  complete  with  Boots,  Ice Beam, Long Beam, Screw
        Attack, Varia, Maru Mari  (Ball), Bombs, 6 Energy Tanks and 255
        Missiles - both guardian monsters  dead,  and the bridge across
        to the Metroids/Mother Brain 'built'.   It  lets  you  play the
        end-game and finish, if you can, after building  up your energy
        in your favourite 'recharge' room.
        
        Have fun,
        
        Andy
        

        
        
                       5 X - - - -     ? - - s 1 W
        
                       4 X V - u A     8 0 0 0 i L
                                         ^ ^ ^
        Note: these are ZEROs!-----------|-|-|       

    re:.44
    
    	I had already won once with that character, therefore there
    was no reason to empty an open door. Opps, reverse that. After you
    win all your power items are kept.
    
    				I like long beam.
    			            Pat..

    
  
    
    	I have a question for all those who have defeated the Mutha
    Brain. My mum has finally got there with... I doubt this stuff is
    a spoiler but will hide it anyway.
    
    
    	Samus has 6 energy tanks, about 220 missles, and all weapons
    except for the wave beam. She has tried to kill it for about 2 weeks
    now. She says she makes a hole in it's armour and pumps as many
    missles as she can into it before she dies. Is this the right way
    to go about it? Any help would be greatly apreciated. Thanks in
    advance for any help.
    
    
    							Dana
    

    
    	The best tip for beating "Mutha Brain" is:
    
    	To stand were the last zebbetite was and blast away with missles.
    	I think it takes like 30 of them to really do the job, I'm not
    	sure as to the exact #.
    
    			Hope it helps...
    			     Pat..

        Hint follows...
        
        

        .48 pretty much says it all, but what might help is to stand in
        the place where the last zeb.   was - but watch for the 'little
        doughnut rings' (whatever their name is) coming up  and down at
        you - jump back and down whenever they get  close and then jump
        back up and keep missiling into Big Momma until she  blows  up!
        If  you get pushed into the lava, then freeze a ring,  jump  up
        and continue shooting  missiles!    Don't forget that after the
        Mother Brain is gone, the game isn't yet over!!!
        
        Good luck!
        
        Andy
        

    The one thing to always keep in mind to remain calm. Take your
    time in trying to blow up Mother Brain. Avoid getting hit by the
    rinkas but don't panic. I've noticed that I'm much more successful
    with these games if I remain nice and calm during significant
    confrontations like this....besides you will need to remain calm
    and cool AFTER you blow her up.
    
    Mike

    I am going nuts playing metroid, and I need a little(actually alot)
    help.  I am not too good on the names of areas, but here goes. 
    In the very first section after you jump on the ball so you can
    roll, if you go out the door, start climbing up to the top section
    there are two door that lead to red doors.  One of them I have gotten
    through(there is missiles).  The other door is making me crazy.
    I enter it, and there is no way to get across to the other door.There
    is lava or something on the bottom and when I try to jump up to
    the other door I can't reach it.  There is another ledge above I
    can reach, but that is it. Does anyone know what I am talking about?
    I don't.
    
    
                
                                                
                                                 |
                                        -|

    Re .51:
    
    I haven't played too much, but I believe that section is for near the
    end of the game.  You need to get the capability to put a bridge across
    the gap.  Go play the other areas first.
    
    
    				-- edp

    Thanks for the help.  BUT, I hate to be a poor sport, but I am really
    sick of looking for the bombs and the boots.  You know what?  I
    must be really a bad player, because I can't find and of the secret
    passages either.  It is time to set my cartridge on fire.  Unless
    someone can give me a few SMALL? clues that are easy to read?
    
    UGH UGH
                 *   *
    BREN           ^
                     

    
    
    re 9.53
    
    The first thing you're going to need are the bombs because most
    of the secret passages are found using those. Now I can't be totally
    positive on this because its been awhile but go to the area where
    there are 4 long tubes that have to be rolled thru. Once you're
    on the other side of those go to where it dead ends and shoot up
    some bricks will vanish and then jump up and over and you should
    be on your way. Explore a little bit with the bombs and if you still
    need help finding the boots, you can ask later.

    Re .53:
    
    Use the directions in .54 to find the bomb.  (If you can't, enter
    another note, and I'll give you directions by looking at the maps in
    the Official Player's Guide.)  After you have the bomb and have found a
    few hidden passages, they will come more easily.  They are harder to
    find than in Legend of Zelda.  Look for your shots going through blocks
    or blocks that disappear when you bomb or shoot them.
    
    
    				-- edp 

    Possible spoiler:
    
    In Norstar, shortly after getting the high jump, and on the way
    to go pick up the crew attack and wave beam, there is a large
    wall which appears only to be able to be jumped by freezing
    a monster, then jumping up onto it, then over the wall.  But
    if you pick up the wave beam, leave that area, then come back,
    there seems to be no way to get back over that wall (yes, there
    is another ice beam, but you may also have already used that.
    
    So how can this dilemma be solved?  How can I get back into
    that area?
    
    thanks
    
    ..........steve
    

    Re: .56 by IND::FERRES
    
    Have you tried getting the Ice Beam again?  There is only one bit
    in the password for the Ice Beam.  I have not tried getting the
    Ice Beam after getting the Wave Beam to see if Metroid resets Samus
    to the Ice Beam.  On the other hand, there are two bits for Maru
    Mari and the Bombs.  I think there might be two bits for Ridley
    and what's his name.
    
    	Stapes  

Re .56 - IceBeam:

	I found both Ice Beams and the Wave Beam.  The last one you get is the
one you use.

    re: .56-.58
    Thanks - from the sound of it, looks like I'll have to live with
    the limitation.
    
    Next question:
    Although I have finished Hideout 2,  I've had great difficulty in
    getting one (i.e. 5) missile - it is the one that you can see, but
    not get to from one of the passageways.  To get it, I go back around
    the other way, fall down the shaft near the energy tank, then have
    to cross another shaft.  My question is this:  What technique(s)
    do you use to get across that final shaft with any sort of consistency?
    Is there an alternate path?
    
    ..........steve
    

    Several replies have now mentioned the "bits" necessary to
    turn on/off various features of the game.  Now that I've
    finished, I'd like to go back and game-test various ideas
    under certain situations.  Has anyone out there discovered
    the entire password algorithm?  If so, please mail it to
    me, either in whole, or in part.  Thanks a lot.
    
    ..........steve
    

	I have been attacking the password and found a number of interesting
    things.  Since this information can be used to set any initial condition
    for the game, it is the worst kind of spoiler.

	For example, if you want Ms Shamus bare, try the password -

		000000 000020 000000 000020

	(Yes, I am going to break this up into lots of parts so as not to
    spoil everything all at once.)

	If you have tried playing with the password, you know that any old
    arbitrary password will not work.  There is a validation that you have to
    get correct.  Worse, there is more than one password for a given situation.
    Try putting in a valid password and immediately quitting the game.  You will
    get back a different password.

	By quitting immediately at the start, I found 15 different passwords.  
    They were - 41 82 C3 G4 K5 O6 S7 W8 a9 eA iB mC qD uE yF in the last two
    places.  All other positions were 0.  There was no relation with elapsed
    time for short intervals and the numbers did NOT appear in the order given.
    Add 00 to the list and you get 16 different values for the same condition.
    That can be represented in 4 bits.

	How to get bits out of alphanumerics? There are 64 characters plus a
    blank in the table.  However the blank never seems to appear in generated
    passwords.  64 different values can be represented in 6 bits, but what is
    the order? 

	Well try the simplest way first - the order on the table presented.
    That is - 

	0000000000000000111111111111111122222222222222223333333333333333
	0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef

	0123456789ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz?-

    That turns each letter into 6 bits.  Stringing the bits together gives a
    total of 6*6*4 or 144 bits.  It is a little easier to think of bits in hex
    notation so converting the initial states to hex gives -

	000 101 202 303 404 505 606 707 808 909 a0a b0b c0c d0d e0e f0f

    with all other bits 0.  It looks like the 4 bit randomizer and the 
    validation are both at the end, but which is which?  Does the randomizer
    come first or does the validation come first and is there something else?

	Assuming the validator is in its traditional place at the end it should
    be possible to generate valid (but not necessarily 'legal') strings by 
    trying different last letters or last two letters.

	Well it takes more than the last letter or 6 bits; It takes 8 bits to
    validate any arbitrary string.  Now, how is the validator calculated?  Is it
    some 8 bit logical or arithmetic function of the other 136 bits (17 bytes)?

	There is still not enough information to calculate the validator for any
    value of the randomizer, so lets try for the cases where the randomizer is 
    zero.  Further, this is also a good time to try to identify which bits are
    which.

				    TOP
.....,.....,.....,.....,.....,.....,   .....,.....,.....,.....,.....,.....,
???E??M??MME??EM?MMMMMMMMMMME?MM???E   ?MM??ME?ME?M????????ME??????B???<LC>
                                                                   a    oo
                                                                   r    cd
                                                                   e     e
                                   BOTTOM
.....,.....,.....,.....,.....,.....,   .....,.....,.....,.....,.....,.....,
CWVB?LJB<???????????????????????????   ???????????????????????><??><Checks>
oaea ouo
lvrl nmm
deal gpb

	That is 23 Missiles (M) (I may have missed some) and 8 Energy tanks (E).
    Locations of each to be determined.  The gun types and other attributes seem
    to be right next to each other.  There is the 'Bare' bit from the example at
    the beginning. The location code is where you will start and seems to be
    coded - there are more than 4 of them and some values simply start the game
    over.  While playing, the check function for randomizer value 0 can be
    evaluated - it turns out to be simply the binary sum of the other bytes, not
    even an end around carry.  Now try for the randomizer.  How does it work? 

	Setting the bare bit and quitting immediately shows that the randomizer
    shifts the bits right by the value of the randomizer to generate the key.
    Further, the checksum is calculated before the shift.  Now what happens with
    real passwords?

	There is only one more thing that I have discovered so far.  The next
    16 bits after the attributes seem to be the elapsed time.  This should let
    you take any password apart and put it back together again.  There are
    likely to be bits for doors and deaths and other things left to be 
    discovered as well as determining which missile and tank is which. I'd 
    guess you will have to play the whole game over again a couple more times to
    get all of this correct.  Good hunting!

    Re: .61 by VMSNET::WOODBURY
    
    Shame on you!  Giving away password secrets like that.  Yes, some
    bits are used for doors!  No, deaths are not recorded.  Also, finding
    out which bits are for which prize, door, etc is very tedious. 
    After finding a treasure, you have to quit, compare the decoded
    password with you previous decoded password to find the bit which
    is different.  For example, after blasting the red door which leads
    to the long beam, you have to quit, record the bit, start the game
    over at the beginning (with the password from blasting the red door)
    go back up to get the missile, quit again, etc, etc, etc.  Imagine
    what it's like, and some of those monsters make it hard to get to
    some of the prizes.  One other thing, the task is much is much easier
    if you have a program running on your personal computer which readily
    translates between encoded password and bit fields.
    
    	Stapes
              

Re .62:

	At least I put in a few <FF>s to hide things from people who didn't
    want to look. ;-)


	You can speed things up a little by changing more than one thing at a
    time.  For example, it is easy to identify tank bits, missile bits and other
    bits.  If you get one of each, you can find each of them.  There is another
    way though.

	Instead of getting one item at a time, generate a password with half the
    bits in the class set.  Then go and find which ones are present.  Next 
    generate a different password with a different pattern of bits on.  Half the
    bits that were on should be turned off and half the bits that were off
    should be on.  Find all the objects again.  Generate a new password with
    half the bits on and half the bits different from the previous patterns and
    find everything again.  This splits each class of objects you know in half
    each time through.  It would take less total time this way than doing it one
    object at a time.

	You can also combine both approaches.  Go get 2 objects in each class 
    and take the password.  Get an object you got the first time and another
    one.  You end up identifying 3 objects in two rounds.  Extending the 
    procedure to 4 objects the first time is fairly simple and gets you 7 
    objects in three rounds.  You could identify all missiles in 6 rounds (or is
    it 5?).

	I was certain that killing the mini-bosses was recorded someplace, but
    if you say so...  (All right, I am quibbling.)

    re: .61, .62, .63 -
    Thanks - that's the kind of interesting input I'm looking for -
    more interesting even than the game, now that it's finished. 
    And although I COULD work some of it out, I don't have your
    patience to do so ...
    
    ..........steve
    

    
   One statement and two questions:
    
    Statement:  A question a while back (October?) asked about ways
    to climb up corridors in a 'consistent' fashion.  Last night I
    discovered one interesting method which I haven't seen mentioned
    here.  If the corridor has blocks lining the side of it which can
    be blasted away, it's relatively easy to blast a few on top of you,
    wait about 5 seconds, jump up, then blast a few more on top of you,
    wait again, etc.  I managed to "jump up" an entire, previously
    unapproachable, corridor by using those blocks as stepping stones.
    The gray ET-looking things will still catch you every now and then,
    but you can try to freeze them from within the wall.  You'll also
    lose a little energy.  But it *does* get you up the corridor!  And
    it works easier than trying to make stepping stones of those ET
    things.
    
    Two questions, and I think both are caused by a defect in our Metroid
    tape:  (1) has anyone else experienced a 'slow motion' effect? 
    Ours will all of a sudden slow down considerably, then speed up
    to normal again.  Doesn't seem to have any reason behind it, it
    just slows down when it feels like it.  Real annoying.  And, (2)
    we've also had trouble with passwords not 'taking' all the time.
    We might get five passwords recorded with no trouble, but then the
    sixth time, it gives us an error message.  We've proofread the
    passwords carefully, and we *know* we wrote them down accurately,
    but it's not always working.  We've circumvented the problem by
    writing down the password at the session's end, then starting again,
    dying quickly, and writing down that password.  Sort of a security
    blanket.
    
    We figure the tape just has a defect, but we don't have the receipt
    to bring it back (we didn't discover the problem for about a week).
    Is anyone else encountering these problems?
    
    --Ruth
     

	Hi Ruth,

>    Ours will all of a sudden slow down considerably, then speed up
>    to normal again.  Doesn't seem to have any reason behind it, it

	The reason why the game slows down every once in a while is
	because there's a lot of objects on the screen at the same time,
	and the system gets a bit bogged down when it has to update them
	all.

>    we've also had trouble with passwords not 'taking' all the time.

	Yeah, I've had this problem too.  You just have to be REALLY
	careful when you're writing down the passwords; a lot of the
	lower-case letters don't look a thing like they should.

	To sum it up, I doubt there's anything wrong with your
	cartridge.

	Have fun,
	Jim

    Thanks, Jim (9.66).
    
    Now I have another question.  I'm *so frustrated*!!  I played for
    about 12 hours straight last Friday (day after Thanksgiving) and
    ran into a problem that's been haunting me ever since.
    
    For those of you who have not killed the blue mini-boss [forget
    his name], this will be a spoiler, and I'm in an editor I'm not
    used to, so I don't know how to put a form feed in here.  I'll just
    space down a lot...
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    OK.  In the lair of the blue mini-boss, there is an energy tank,
    but I can't get to the @#%*%&% thing!  It's positioned somewhere
    as follows:
    
    |                                    []
    |<--wall                             [] <--entrance
    |                                 ---[]
    |    ---                   ---    |
    |   |   |-----------------|   |   |--
    |   |                         |   |
    |   |---|                 |---|   |--
    |       |                 |       |ENERGY TANK
    |       |                 |       |--
    |~~~~~~~|                 |~~~~~~~|
      pink                      pink
      lava                      lava
    
    
    You can't see it unless you jump into the lava, then hop up and
    shoot at the wall.  If you don't shoot it, it just looks like a
    normal block in the wall.  [I was curious, so I shot around the
    whole room trying to find things -- lo and behold, I found one!].
    Unfortunately, after shooting it and having it 'light up' that it's
    an energy tank, I can't seem to find a way to "jump on it" as I
    do with the other energy tanks.  I tried getting on top of the ledge and
    bombing my way down, but that didn't work.  I even tried getting
    into the next room on the right [and bravely facing MANY nasty looking
    creatures] to bomb through the floor there, but couldn't find any
    entrances.  I finally committed suicide in the pink lava and tried
    the routine of shooting the block so the energy tank would light
    up, then curling up into a ball and bombing the floor of the lava
    room so I'd bounce up to the energy tank.  No luck there, either.
    
    I'm ready to scream.  Anyone have any ideas?
    
    

Ruth,
       Potential spoiler information resides behind the form-feed


    I was in the mini-boss(Ridley) room last night and could not
  uncover the energy tank.  Your diagram has a wall on the left
  hand side?? The mini-boss room I was in has a door leading to 
  another room where there is an energy tank that is a WHOLE lot
  easier to get to than the one you were complaining about.

    Metroid has a couple of strange twists.  In hideout II
  there exists a fake mini-boss (Kraid). Possibly, you encountered 
  another 'fake' mini-boss for Ridley. If you did, it hasn't been
  mentioned before and I'd love to hear how you got to this mysterious
  room. I've never been in this room.

    The impossible to get at energy tank, may be just that (impossible to
  get at).  It was put there, so the game player wastes some time, gets
  frustrated and gets diverted from the task at hand. My advice is to
  not bother with it.  There are more than 6 energy tanks to be found
  elsewhere, and since you can only carry 6 tanks, why bother with this
  one?

-rick

      New info on the mysterious energy tank after obligatory formfeed



      I was in Kraid's lair last night.  This is where Ruth found the
    energy tank stuck in the right wall and NOT the room with Ridley.
    Colors mentioned threw me off the right track. After about 10 minutes using
    all the techniques I know in Metroid, I couldn't get the tank. My
    advice is to ignore it and go on to other regions.

-rick
    

    Whew, this game is involved. I was wondering how in heck I was going
    to get any further than brinstar, that is, until I found the freeze
    ray last night. I also discovered the Varia, which is above the
    top corridor. Spoiler:
    
    After the tubes, there is a short passage with doors on either end.
    You have to shoot the roof out. You'll need the high jump and a
    running start to reach it. It turns Samus a mysterious white color.
    
    						John.

Re .70:

	There is a way to get the Varia without getting high jump first.  It
    requires patience, the ability to duck, the cold beam and not shooting
    everything in sight.

    re .71:
    
    I think I got it. I am amazed that anyone would try this. That's
    why I am going to try it. This game just keeps getting better.
    
    						John.

    Well, I've made it to mom, have yet to blow the panties off her.
    I have found only five tanks, and I haven't found the screw attack
    yet. I think this game is wicked pissa. Possible spoiler:
    
    Has anyone figured out the tall obstacle in Ridley's domain? It's
    a real pisser. It looks something like this:
    
    +------------- . . .
    |      |
    \      |
     |     |
    /      |
    +------+------ . . .
    
    You can only fit through the top as a ball, but damn if I can blow
    myself up there. I've tried freezing monsters, but I guess it requires
    more finess. Is there anything valuable behind this door? Maybe
    it's accessable from a different direction? Blows the doors off
    me.
    							John.

    Mom is hereby officially burst. Yup, popped her full of missiles.
    I won't reveal what happened next, but I will say it was worth it.
    I wasn't sure at first whether I had popped her or not, but she
    hit the ground with a beautiful thud.
    							John.

    Re: 9.73:  John, if you can't get over it, have you tried going
    under?  If I remember correctly, you should try blasting away at
    the floor for a while.
    
    re: .67 & .68:  Rick, you're right, the mysterious energy tank was
    in Kraid's lair, not Ridley's.  My memory had a momentary spazz
    [nothing unusual].  I did as you suggested; i.e., ignored the 'teaser'
    and went on to defeat The Mother Brain.
    
    And, I'm happy to say, she has been defeated!!!  It took me quite
    a while, but I used a lot of patience, and a lot of exiting &
    re-entering (to let the Metroids fill me up!), and I finally felt
    the earth move under my feet.  What a deal.
    
    Now, unfortunately, my husband's upset 'cause I beat him to the
    Mother, but his ego will simply have to live with it.
    
    On to Zelda....
    
    

Re .75:

	It is possible to get the tank in Kraid's lair.  I also found it easier
    to do Hideout II before I did Hideout I.

Spoiler on Kraid's tank -


	Since the tank is in the side wall and only one block high, you have to
    be rolled up in the ball to get to it.


	Since it would take too long to bomb yourself out of the lava from below,
    try coming at it from the top.


    Specifically -

    1.	Jump down into the lava on the right of Kraid's lair.
    2.	Face right, jump up and spray the wall.  This reveals the tank.
    3.	Jump back onto the platform quickly.  (Can be combined with 2.)
    4.	Go into ball form.
    5.  Move to the right as far as you can.  You will be stopped by the lip
	of the platform.
    6.  Keeping tying to move to the right and set off a couple bombs.

	This will blow you over the lip of the platform and pin you against the
    wall in ball form.  As you slide down, you will enter the niche with the 
    tank in it.  You do NOT have a lot of time to do this but it it is not all
    that hard to do.

Questions in Ridley's Hideout (II) -

	Shortly after going over the high wall in H2, there is an E tank sitting
    in the middle of a hallway.  Anyone gotten it?  There is also a missile you
    can see when you come at it from the right but no apparent way to get to it
    from that direction.  Obviously, the approach is from the left.  Anyone 
    gotten that one?

Question details (spoiler) -


            +                               +===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+
            |
            +===+===+===+===


     Enter->         Missile->               E tank              <-Enter
     ===+===+       +===+===                +===+???+???+---+===+===+===+===+
            |       |
            +       +

	I am not sure how big the hole in the floor in front of the E tank is.
    Is it 1, 2 or 3 blocks wide?  I tried jumping over it, but may have 
    deflected off the ceiling into the hole.  It takes 15 minutes or so to set
    up a run at the E tank and I have only tried it twice so far.

	The entrance to the missile is only two blocks high and there is an
    overhang in front of it, so a simple jump is not possible.  I was thinking
    of going into ball form, setting a bomb or two at or near the lip, backing
    off and taking a run at the hole, timing the run to match the bombs going 
    off might do the trick, but have not tried it yet because of the time 
    required as mentioned above.  Does this work and/or is there an easier way?
    Would this work with the hole near the E tank?

    Yes, it IS possible to get over that gap, to get to the Energy tank.
    Repeated testing, and falling will tell you how wide the gap is.
    Getting past the other spot to that missile is much harder, though.
    I have only gotten across by luck, and riding the bomb explosions.
    As one of my previous notes asked, I'd still like to discover a
    more reliable method of getting past that overhang, and to the
    missile.
    
    ..........steve
    

    Hi,
    
    I am a new player to Metroid and need some major spoiler to get
    me going. I have read the entire notes on Metroid and have gotton
    glimpses of what it can be like. But ......
    
    I can get to the room that have the goodies because I don't have
    missiles! I have the thing that make me into a ball and the regular
    beam and nothing else. I have travelled up the blue and red corridor
    and have seen a couple red doors that should lead to the goodies.
    Where can I find the missiles?? Also from the notes, I found where
    the notes says the bombs are but I can get near it, can some kind
    soul help, please?
    
    Thanks!
    
    Tin

    Re: .79 by ANT::YING
    
    Directions to a missile pack, hidden behind formfeed:
    
    Starting from the beginning:
    Go right to the blue shaft, head up to the door on the right (about
    half way up), go through the door to the gold shaft, go to the bottom
    of the shaft, go through the door on the right.  Continue going
    to the right, and you will come to three posts hanging in mid air.
    The missile pack in on top of the middle post.
    
    	Stapes

    
    	What do you need help on, I've solved the game many
    times???????????????
  
    Hope I can help
    
    P.s. it has a surprise at the end

    Re: .80
    
    Thanks for the direction. Tried it last nite and found it. The reason
    I have never seen it was because I had never got that far. I kept
    getting killed by those birds that come out of those brown chinmeys.
    
    On with the adventure. 
    
    Thanks!
    
    Tin

          <<< MOMAX1::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]NINTENDO.NOTE;1 >>>
                       -< Nintendo Entertainment System >-
================================================================================
Note 234.0                    Mother Brain Password                      1 reply
NETEYE::DUNNE                                         3 lines  16-MAR-1989 19:58
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    does anybody know the password to Mother Brain?  Please help.
    
    Brian
================================================================================
Note 234.1                    Mother Brain Password                       1 of 1
SALEM::DAUTEUIL "A cow don't make ham."               9 lines  17-MAR-1989 08:35
                             -< The home stretch >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
     Brian,
        what are you trying to do,cheat?Try note 9.45,it gives the
     password for all weapons and puts you at the Metroids which are
     just before the Mother.I think it leaves Ms Samus without a
     helmet also.Good luck,
    
                            Mike
    

         Hey,  wait a minute the game's not yet over!  In the April/May 88
issue-volume 2-of Nintendo Fun Club News,  book 6,  page 14,  the pros say
there is another world.  After I found the spot I followed the instructions in
the book,  but I failed many times to see this world.  I kept practicing and
at last I made it.  I went into the first door I saw,  later to find out it was
a trap.  Then I got angry when there was no password for this area.  I went
back and climbed high enough (skipping three doors) and finally entered a room
that wasn't a trap.  In this new world I killed Ridley.  When I died I hoped
that Ridley would be in the regular world (thinking it would be an easy way to
get extra missiles),  but I was robbed - Ridley wasn't there!  Has anyone else
made it to the new world?   





       rob....

    re.  9.79


	O.K. The missiles are at the bottom of the gold corridor in corridor
#5.  Now you should be able to get the goodies.  At the end of corridor #4,  go
up  the golden,  vertical corridor,  there will be a blue door when climb up to
the left - enter it and hello bombs!  Of coarse get your missiles first!  

        YOU'RE WELCOME!!

        rob....


        P.S. If you get confused I can go into greater detail.

    I recently purchased this game from a fellow noter and having a
    blast.  Unfortunately, he could not supply me with the instruction
    booklet.  Would anyone be willing to xerox theirs for me?  It sure
    would make the going a lot easier.
    
    
    			Thanks in advance,
    
    
    					Jeff Belanger

    HELP!!!  I can't kill mother brain!  Possible spoiler follows:
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    I am getting very frustrated with this game.  I've gotten all the
    way to Mother Brain but I can't kill her!  Actually, I did manage
    to do her in once, but failed in the following mission and can't
    get there again.  Anyone have some hints?  I tried to shoot from
    the platform that was shot out last but eventually get pushed off.
    Once I'm pushed off, I can't get up again and must shoot from very
    close range.  I lose energy quickly and die.
    
    I have five energy tanks and enter with all tanks filled plus 99.
    I have never run out of missiles (I enter with over 150 usually).
    I need help please.
    

        *SPOILER*
        

        
        When you  reach  the platform, get off as many shots as you can
        at her, keeping  an  eye  out  for  the incoming from above and
        below - as soon  as  any shot gets near you, jump back and down
        to the ledge, and then  up  again  when  it's clear.  You might
        only get a couple of shots  off  each  time,  but  that's  what
        consistently worked for me.
        
        Good luck!
        
        Andy
        
        

    I have read through every note in this file concerning the location
    of the bombs but I have been unable to locate them.  I am new to
    this game and I do not have the directions (I bought it used) so
    please bear with me.   I remember reading that the bombs are at
    the top of the gold corridor in a door on the left.  Which gold
    corridor is that?  Could someone please give me directions from
    the game start?  I am getting reall frustrated because I can't seem
    to get an further.  I currently have 10 missles and one energy tank.
    I have been through the first blue corridor and the first gold
    corridor.  Also, I have seen a few red doors which don't seem to
    want to let me pass.  What is the secret to opening these gateways?
    
    				Thanks, jpb
    

    How do I open red doors?  Do I need a special weapon or persistence
    or what?
    
    jpb
    

    
    jpb,
    
    
        Yes you do need a special item;
    
    
                           SPOILER FOLLOWS
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    You need to get missiles first. You need 5 missiles to destroy the
    doors. I have'nt played the game in a while but I think you need to get
    two of the Missile boxes? Or is it 5 missiles for the box and two for
    destroying certain enemies?
    
    Anyhow you get the idea.
    
    Hope this helps,
    
    Scott

    Someone gave me an interesting password some time ago.  I didn't
    see it mentioned in this topic, so here it is:  (below the following
    request)
    
    One of the replies in this topic (I think .84) mentioned another
    world in Metroid.  Could someone explain how to get there.
           
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    JUSTIN BAILEY
    ------ ------
    
    Strange password, but quite convenient.  The character created by
    this is the female Samus, with all the weapons, both mini-bosses
    dead, 215 missiles (I think), and 5 energy tanks.  All one must
    do is pick up an ice beam and a sixth energy tank both located in the
    middle corridor off the gold corridor, and then go Metroid hunting.  I know
    there are better passwords, but this one is easy to remember.
    
    
    CE
    

    
    I am spending too much time looking for the bombs and not enough
    time sleeping.  I looked through this note and believe the only
    bomb location spoiler is incorrect.  A minor/medium clue would be
    useful.
    
    Thanks,
    
    BTW, I have the long beam, an energy tank, 10 missiles and MaruMari.
    I can't seem to get elsewhere without the bomb.  If this isn't correct,
    a correction instead of bomb clue would be useful.

    re .93:
    
    The red doors can only blasted through using missiles. You may have
    missed this in the directions. Blast through a few of these and you
    will find the bombs before too long.
    
    							John.

    
    I have been playing this game for several months now and have been
    unsuccessful in finding the bridge to cross into the last section
    of the game....any spoilers???
    
    
    /jeff
    

    On to the Mother Brain !!!
    
    The following spoiler is brought to you by Faulty Memories.
    We only forget the very best.
    
    (Not associated with CMOS, RAM, DRAM, SLAM BAM, or anything)
    
    -- spoiler -- spoiler -- spoiler -- Houston Oilers -- spoiler --
    
    The bridge is just up from the "start" (I think).  When you climb up
    you will find a room with a bunch of those big "butterflies".  At the
    far left is a RED door.  After blasting the red door you will find a
    room with an oracle (or whatever those stautes are called) with a small
    crack leading to a lava pit.  If your character is ready for it (you've
    knocked off the mini bosses) then you will be able to extend the bridge
    (I think it is when you "take" the gift the first time).
    
    It has been awhile and my wife took over as the Metroid controller.  It
    was my job to "fill-up" and to get to the Mother.  She was the Mother
    fighter.
    
    Remember Yogi : It ain't over till it's over.......

    re .-1 (Spoiler Part)
    
    It is not strictly necessary to kill both minibosses to get to the
    Mother Brain.
    
    My question to the real experts: What is the minimum equipment
    needed to destroy mom and survive?
    

    I'm still playing this game and wanted to find out how to RECHARGE.
    Can anyone dig back into memory and either describe how it's done
    or where to look for what I need to recharge. It's takes forever
    to build up energy points 5 at a time at the start of each game.
    
    thanks-
    /chuck

	The only way I know of to recharge, other than a bit at a
time, is to find a new energy tank.  Getting the tank fills up all
your tanks as well as adding one.  Once you have taken the tank
though, it isn't there if you use the new password.

	One way around this, if you haven't made much progress
other than finding the tank, is to use the old password so you
can find the tank again.

	Maybe someone else knows of another way, but I can't
remember any.

    OK, thanks.  That's what I thought, but the way some notes read
    I wasn't sure if I was missing something.  This last weekend I finally
    did in the mother brain.
    /chuck

    
    Does any body have a passward  for beginners.
    What I am looking for is not advanced but marginal.
    
    1-about 4-5 energy tanks
    2- 50 missles
    3- no bosses beaten
    3-girl person
    4 crew attak
    5. boots
    6. wave beam
    
    In general I want the most I can have without any bosses beaten.
    
    mike/

    I am trying to locate the RED level of play, I found it before
    I was ready to enter and can't find it again. I currently have 
    freeze ray, long ray, boots, four energy capsules and 200 missles.
    I have killed the first Mini-Boss so I guess I am ready for the next 
    stage of play and would appreciate some help locating it. 
    
    I have tried for three nights to find it......I need sleep.....zzzzzz 
    
    SLAM 
                                                                         

    
    If you mean the second miniboss. . .
    
    				-Andy 
    
    		<spoiler>
    
    . . . look for the bottom of the fire zone. (Brinstar ??)

    I can't find the zone at all! Directions would be appreciated.
    
    SLAM

    
    I have a map (kinda) for the fire/lava zone on the way to MB II,
    If I can find it, I'll post it in a future note. . . 
    
    				-Andy
    
    

	Here is a map of Norfair.

	To get to Norfair, you have to go to the bottom of the gold vertical corridor and
	go right until you hit the elevator.  Go down, and you are in Norfair.  The lair
	of Mini Boss II is at the bottom.

							-Andy

				<Map follows>
    
    						       ___         ___
						| |    | []=======[]_|
						| |    | |         _|_
						| |    | |    |===[] |
						| |    | |         | |
			   ___			| |    |_[]==[]===[] |
			   | |			| |                | |
			   | []=============[]==___==[]===========[] |
			   | |					   | |
			   |_[]===		    ==============[]_|
							           _|_  <- Secret passage
	  ___							   | |
	  | |===[]========[]====|=                                 | |
          | []============[]====|=[]======[]======[]======[]======[] |
          | |                   |           ---                    | |
          |_[]============[]====|=[]======[]= |			   | |
	  _|_                               | |			   | |
          | |                       =======[]_|                    | |
	  | |                                                      | |
          |_[]======[]=|=[]===[]=|=[]=========                     | |
                      | |       | |                                | |
                      | |   ===[]_|            ___                 | |
                      | []========             | []===============[] |
                      |_|		       | |                 |_|
					       | |
					       | []====  MB II LAIR
					       |_|
    

    Andy,
    
    Thanks for the help! It is much more than I expected! 
    
    Here I gooooooooooooooooooooo..................
    
    SLAM

    Help! I can't find the "secret" passage! One more hint please. 
    
    SLAM

    
    Bomb/shoot what is above or below you where you stand.
    
    					-Andy

    I have made it to the mother brain and can easily get to where I can
    fire a lot of missles at her but I need to get back to the hallway to
    refuel and then come back to unload on her again. I can't get back 
    to the hallway because the floor is so low at the brain that once I get
    close enough to fire at her there seems to be no way to jump out of 
    the area and get back to the hallway. Any pointers?
    
    SLAM

Re .110:

	It has been a while so I could be wrong but...


	If you ever get down in that pit, concentrate on getting out and away, 
    and do your best to forget the mother.  Ball, bomb and jump were what I 
    remember doing as part of the escape package.  Needless to say, it did not
    always work down in that goop.  I seem to remember that the MB did a lot 
    of repairs even with the support stuff gone.  Try clearing the approaches,
    going back to recharge (get your password if you know how to do it without
    killing yourself) and then do the final round of blasting in one pass.
    The key is doing her in faster and harder than she if doing you in and you
    can't do that down in the pit.

I have already won this thing a few times but never found the wave beam.
I suspect my map has a serious flaw.  Can anybody provide a spoiler ?

Now, to answer the question of getting out of one of the fire pits posted
a couple of notes ago...

SPOILER - DON'T LOOK IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE MB


Depends on what side of the last wall yer on.  If you're on MB's side just
jump up onto the support for her fishbowl and then hop to the right through
the hole in the last wall.  If you're on the OTHER side of the last wall
you'd do okay freezing one of the little cheerios swimming around and jump
up on THAT and then through the wall and all the other walls until you
get out to recharge on the metroids.

Hope this helps.
Scott.

    
    Re. -1.
    
    Look at the map in 9.106.
    
    				-Andy
    
    A further hint.
    
    
    It is in there at the bottom left side.  I don't know exactly where 
    it is, but that is where I got the wave beam.

    Help! I have been playing this game for about three weeks now and
    I can't seem to find the freeze ray. It would help me get over a
    few areas I can't jump over. Also, can someone help me find a few
    more energy tanks? I only have two at present and without much energy,
    I die too quickly. A hint or blatant spoiler would be greatly
    appreciated. (BTW I do have the armour, boots and long-beam)
    
    thanks.....BS

Freeze-ray spoiler:

From start:

Go over to the blue corridor and upto the door on the right.  This takes you
to the bronze corridor.  The door you want is immediately visible as you come
into the bronze corridor, go in.  Go through that room, a hallway, another
room, and into another hallway.  Bomb down through the floor.  One freeze-ray
is off the only room in that corridor.

There's another freeze-ray in the "purple" section.

Energy spoiler:

There's 7 tanks that I've found so far, I don't know which ones you've found
but this one can only be got with the freeze ray so you can probably use it:

From start, go through two doors and you come to the first place where you
need to "get small".  Roll under that and get the big bat to attack you.
Make him follow you back under and when you get out jump.  That'll make him
jump too.  Freeze him.  About two bricks in from where you have to get small
there's an energy tank in the roof so freeze the bat, jump up on him, shoot
the roof and jump upto the energy tank.

Hope this helps
Scott.

    
    re:-1
    
    Thanks Scott.. I found the freeze ray last nite (I thought that
    was lava down there) and also got the mentioned energy tank.
    
    I then went down and blew away MBI.....Escaped with only 10 units
    of energy........
    
    -Bruce S.

    I have seen notes here that you can kill the metroids on your way
    to the mother brain. How can you kill them? I have tried the freeze
    ray and the wave beam. I have frozen them and then tried missels.
    Nothing seems to work. Do they really give you lots of energy when
    you kill them? If so, how do you kill them?
    
    Thanks in advance for your help....
    
    /jim
    

    Kill them bugly Metroids by......*SPOILER*
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Use your freeze ray to stop them and then hit them with FIVE missles!

I've been playing METROID now for about a week, and need a couple hints that I 
don't think will spoil it for me:

1. After getting the bomb, long ray, etc, I roll into the pipe under the 
   statue, lay a whole bunch of bombs, and nothing happens. Is something 
   *supposed* to happen? Am I doing something wrong?

2. In some areas, when I blast at the walls, a block of the wall about three
   or four blocks in will disappear. What does this mean? How do I get to it?
   Am I *still* doing something wrong?

3. I fall to the bottom of one of the vertical shafts. There are no platforms
   to jump on to go back up. There are a couple of rippers (sluggish things) 
   and I have the freeze ray, but the rippers are spaced too far apart 
   (vertically) and I don't yet have the high jump. There are some different
   colored blocks on the wall that I can blast and bomb, but they are
   seperated by solid blocks which get in my way as I try to climb up. How do
   I proceed up the edge of the wall and get around the solid blocks? I know
   there's got to be a way to do this!

Thanks,
 Bob

    Here are a few things that I've found that work.  I'll put them behind
    a form feed in case anyone would consider them spoilers.
    
�1. After getting the bomb, long ray, etc, I roll into the pipe under the 
�   statue, lay a whole bunch of bombs, and nothing happens. Is something 
�   *supposed* to happen? Am I doing something wrong?
    
    I've never gotten anything to happen here.  There are other areas where
    you will find hidden tunnels by doing this.  I think that sometimes
    there are just dead ends.
    
�2. In some areas, when I blast at the walls, a block of the wall about three
�   or four blocks in will disappear. What does this mean? How do I get to it?
�   Am I *still* doing something wrong?

    Try bombing at the base of the wall or jumping up and shooting down the
    height of the wall.  A block on the face of the wall may dissappear
    allowing you to walk into the wall.  Once you get into the wall, you
    can keep bombing and shooting and you may end up in another room.
    
�3. I fall to the bottom of one of the vertical shafts. There are no platforms
�   to jump on to go back up. There are a couple of rippers (sluggish things) 
�   and I have the freeze ray, but the rippers are spaced too far apart 
�   (vertically) and I don't yet have the high jump. There are some different
�   colored blocks on the wall that I can blast and bomb, but they are
�   seperated by solid blocks which get in my way as I try to climb up. How do
�   I proceed up the edge of the wall and get around the solid blocks? I know
�   there's got to be a way to do this!
    
    This is a real pain.  Once I found it I try to avoid it.  I don't think
    there is much to be gained in this shaft (I could be wrong on this). 
    The trick is to blast away the blocks between the solid ones, jump up
    onto the solid block, jump up and out to blast away the next set of
    blocks and then swing back in to land on the block you were on before
    and then jump up, out, and in to get to the area you just cleared.  You
    have to be quick because the blocks regenerate themselves.  If you are
    in the space occupied by a regenerating block, you'll lose energy (only
    one color block does this, I don't remember which one).  Or, just hit
    the reset button and try again.

    Any suggestions on how to kill MB1 (the guy that shoots arrows and
    throws boomerangs at you). I got pretty wiped out by him last night
    and it really frustrated me. How many time do you have to hit these
    guys?
    
    -Andre

    
    A hint behind FF.
    
    
    Go into bomb mode and start bombing away.  This way you
    avoid most of the stuff that he throws at you.
    
    				-Andy

  re 9.121
    
    This creature you seek to destroy is named "KRAID".  Possible spoiler?
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    When you get to Kraid's lair use freeze beam to stop the boomerangs
    and then start shooting him with missles.  Keep doing this until
    he dies.  Another spoiler, over on the right side of the screen,
    right up above the lava, and below the door, there is an energy tank
    in the wall to get it you have to move very fast! Very fast! 
    
    
                     Screamin' Ben
                

    I was hoping for a little more technique than 'keep shooting him 'til
    he dies'. I've tried that but I always die first.
    

    re: 9.124
     
    I am sorry for being so vague.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
      When you enter the room wait until he shoots, then shoot his bullets
    (boomerangs and spikes) with the freeze beam.  Then jup over the
    spikes and shoot at him with missels until the spikes start to unfreeze when
    they do back up, and then use this process over an over.  If youre
    energy gets real low there is an energy tank over on the right hand
    side of the screen, hidden in the open space under the door its
    hard to get!
    
     Try to collect as many energy tanks as you can before you fight
    this tough foe!  Also when I played this game I went and beat riddley
    first to get the extra missles, then I went to beat Kraid.  And
    he was alot easier to beat.
     
    		Screamin' Ben 

    
      9.124   reread  9.122's advice.  It is the way you should go!!
    
    9.126

    
       Thought about it some more.  If you had tried .122's method and it
     didn't work for you, then you are going into battle without enough
     energy or you don't have the Varia (I think that's the one that
     reduces the amount of energy that you lose when you get hit by an
     enemy).  If you don't have it, go find it! You'll definitely need it
     for the Mama Brain.
    
    -rick

Just defeated Mother Brain over the weekend!!! My heart is still pounding!!

I have a few questions though:

Going at Mother a couple more times, I found that my missle count would get
extremely low because killing Metroids would not give me enough missles. One
time I had to back my way out of the corridors and shafts, freezing Metroids
all the way, until I reached the elevator and bridge to get me out. Once out,
I could then shoot the easier enemies with my ice beam, build my missles up a 
little, then go back to kill Metroids, and continue on to Mother, provided I
got enough missles!

Is there any other way to bring up the missle count other than killing off
Metroids? I had something like 50 missles left when I went back out to boost
my energy by killing Metroids. I thought that was plenty. No way!! Those 50
missles were depleated on the Metroids, and all I kept getting was energy
pills!!! NO MISSLES!!!! AAARRRGGGG!!! 



There is only one place throughout the whole world that I cannot get to.
That is the area down in Ridley's domain where you can see a missle pack on 
the other side of a wall which cannot be blasted. The "back entrance" to this 
area is by way of a very hard jump at the top of a shaft. I tried the jump 
about half a dozen times with no success. I would always miss the mark and 
fall down the shaft. Any ideas? I suspect that there are two missles packs in 
there, because my total missle count only goes up to 245.

Thanks

    Maybe I DON'T have the Varia. That may explain why I get killed so
    fast. I have plenty of energy. How do I know if I have the Varia? Any
    way of telling? COuld someone give me a good spoiler to the location
    of the Varia to see if I've got it already? 
    
    -Andre
    

If you have the Varia, when an enemy hits you, you'll only loose half the 
energy as before. For example, in Brinstar, when a zoomer or ripper hits you, 
you usually loose 8 bits of energy. With Varia you will only loose 4. I also 
think that Samus glows a little brighter than normal when you have Varia.
Also, falling into lava or quicksand will suck your energy much slower.

Spoiler follows as to where Varia may be found:















In Brinstar, go to the blue shaft, then to the top of the gold shaft. Take the 
airlock at the top. The Varia is in this corridor. Hunt around with your ray 
and bombs to find a secret passage that will lead to it. If you still have 
trouble, I'll give you more explicit instructions.

    
     Hi, I just recently acquired this game (great game!)... and am STUCK!
    
     Its really starting to get to me, for two evenings I have not been 
     able to get any further along, I only have 10 missiles and a long beam
     in my arsenal and one energy tank, sigh.
    
     Now I finally must admit, I need help!
    
     Where in the heck are the BOMBS!
    
     I have read all the replies in here, and have someone mentioned
     Gold corridor #4 and #5, eh?
    
     I have only found one gold corridor and know nothing about a #4 or #5,
    I know... I must be missing something.
    
     Could someone, please give me an outright SPOILER as to where those
     blasted bombs are, and how to get to them?
    
     I will need to really be talked through it, (ie; from the start, you
     go right...etc, etc), because I am not that familiar with everything.
    
     I would really appreciate it, I hate to give up, but after two nights
     am getting close (ok, patience was never my really big point, but I'm
     trying).
    
     
                              Much thanks,
    
                                         Perry F.
                                        ----------
    
    

Outright Spoiler to where bombs are located:


From the beginning, go east (right) through all the corridors and airlocks you
encounter. You will then reach a blue vertical shaft (others call it the blue
corridor). Go up the shaft, and take the first airlock on your right. It's a
ways up, but it sounds like you've probably been there before. Proceed east
through the small corridor. You will now be in a gold shaft. There will be an
airlock directly opposite you on the other side of the gold shaft. Go through
this airlock. Continue going east. Again it sounds like you've maybe been here
too. This part is a long hard stretch of three separate, very lenghtly
corridors, connected by a couple of small connecting corridors. KEEP MOVING
EAST. Your best bet is to just keep moving and jumping to avoid the green and
white things that float down to get you. After the third corridor, you will
arrive in another gold shaft. Go up the shaft and take the first airlock on
your left. There you have it! 

Bob

    Thanks for the help Bob, I will give that a shot tonight!
    
     I have made it to the first gold corridor, and even found an
    elevator... went down, found an opening to the left and right...
    cleared the left (can't recall what I gained in that room)... then
    tried the right, WOW, that was tough... finally got through the
    right... ended up in a purple corridor.... went down to bottom...
    entered there... got nailed real fast (these crab like things were onto
    me real fast like, sigh)... decided not to try that room again until
    things got better (ie; more energy)... went back into purple
    corridor... tried to go up, got to a point where I could not jump up
    onto the next ledge (must need higher jumping boots I imagine), and
    thats the furthest I could go... decided I gotta get those bombs and
    try to find the higher jumping boots etc.
    
     Again, thanks for the help.
    
                              Perry F.
                             ----------

That elevator you took was the gateway to Norfair -- the fire zone. You got 
there by going DOWN the first gold shaft I talked about. You really need to 
explore Brinstar -- the rocky zone -- a little more before going down to 
Norfair. So don't go down the gold shaft when you enter it...go straight on 
through. Remember, head EAST, and you'll find the second gold shaft!

You will find that bombs will "open up" whole new worlds for you. Having bombs 
is a must!!!

Bob

    I was wondering if there are two games out with similar names ?
    My latest SEARS mail-order catalog is offering METEROID at a
    substantial savings and I'm wondering if they just miss-printed
    the title. Anyone  know if there is METROID and METEROID or did
    SEARS just screw up.
    
    Jim C.

    
    Meteroid?  I have never heard of it and I have had my nintendo for
    about 2 years.  Maybe it is a misprint or maybe it is an Atari game?
    
    					Ben
    

    Hi
       I need some help on Metroid. Currently I have 5 energy tanks, freeze
    beam and high jump boots with 235 missiles and both mini bosses gone. I
    have done battle with mother brain and qot squashed imediatly, if not
    sooner. I nedd that one extra tank, and have search high and low and
    have come up empty. I got three tanks from the normal rooms, one tank
    just after killing Ridley and the one near the start of the game. I 
    did not find any tank near KRaid (should I have) . Could some kind soul
    clue me as to were a possible sixth tank could be. 
    
        Also, I do not have the screw gun. What does it do and do I need it
    
    
    
                                 Thanks in advance
                                 Stan

    Well, I don't know where you found the 3 tanks in the "normal rooms"
    but did you find the one that was 
    -possible spoiler-
    
    
     Through the wall in the second or third room down on the right of
    the white shaft at the bottom of the elevator ? The elevator is the
    one that you have to blow a hole in the floor in the room to the right
    of the starting point, fall through the lava, climb down, exit through
    the last blue bubble on the right and fight your way to ! It is a room
    off the same shaft that has the blue door that I can't get to !!! YOu
    need to blast a red door to get into the room then fight off the bees,
    cross the room, stand on a ledge, roll into a ball, etc.  These clues
    are probably pretty vague but I have a hard time describing places in
    this game !!!! I only have 4 energy tanks and 65 missles, high jump
    boots, varia, long ice beam. Have yet to find even a fake mini-boss!
    Good hunting !!!
    
    Jim

Here are the locations of the eight energy tanks:

in Brinstar (the rocky zone - from the beginning):

1.  East to the blue shaft, north then east to the gold shaft, go straight
    through the airlock on the other side, continue going east.
2.  East to the blue shaft, north then east to the gold shaft, north then east
    again, use beam and bombs at apparent dead ends, you'll find it.
3.  East a couple of rooms from the beginning up in the ceiling, long beam and
    freeze beam a must.

in Norfair (the fire zone):

4.  This one is too long to describe from the beginning, so I'll start from
    where the high jump boots were found: Roll and bomb west through the pipe
    under the boots, continue west through three airlocks, bomb through the
    floor, head east using beam and bombs at apparent dead ends, then bomb
    through another floor and go west.

in Mini Boss I hideout (Kraid):

5.  From the elevator, go down the shaft, second red airlock on the right,
    use beam and bombs at apparent dead ends.

6.  In Kraid's hideout (where you do in Kraid) use beam along the east wall,
    then bomb.

in Mini Boss II hideout (Ridley):

7.  From the elevator, go west through three airlocks, continue west through
    a red airlock, watch your step!

8.  In Ridley's hideout (where you do in Ridley) go west through the red
    airlock.

    re -1
    
       Thankyou for the pointer, I will try them tonight. Oh I still do 
    
    not know what the screw attack does, and if it is worth it looking for
    
    it. 
    
                                                          Thanks again
                                                          Stan

    >Oh I still do     
    >not know what the screw attack does, and if it is worth it looking for
     
    Only if you would like to be invulnerable for a few seconds at a time,
    as often as you'd like, even if it's a little hard to control.  I found
    it very useful.
    
    Dan

         This has got to be the most frustrating game I have ever played !
    I guess if I wasn,t such a pathetic jumper I could do better or if I
    could ever remember that I could shoot while spinning through the air
    it would be easier !!! Zelda was much easier and a lot more fun than
    this game . The graphics are great, I love running around and rolling
    through walls and bombing everything, I just get killed all the time
    and think I may never finish this game !!!! I'll stick it out just so
    everyone doesn't call me a wimp !!!!
    
    Jim C.
    

Here are a few hints to get you through:



  Get the Varia right after you get the boots. (you'll need the boots to
  get the Varia) The only pain is that the Varia is way up in Brinstar, and
  the boots are down in Norfair. But it is still better to turn around after
  getting the boots and head back to Brinstar to get the Varia, even though
  it seems a waste of time - it's not. I wouldn't survive through the lower 
  parts of Norfair if I hadn't got the Varia first.

  Get as many energy packs and missles as you can before going to kill Ridley
  or Kraid, otherwise they'll probably do you in first. You can get up to 4
  energy packs in Brinstar and Norfair combined before going to MBI or MBII
  hideouts. Then, there's at least one more tank in each hideout that you can
  get before getting the mini boss. Four ar five tanks, along with a good
  supply of missles, will give you the edge.

  Wave beam is an exceptionally powerful beam. The beam can penetrate rocks, 
  so if an enemy is visible on the other side of a wall or on a platform
  above you, you can still kill them. It also only takes very little of the
  wave to kill some enemies.

  Screw attack comes in handy at various places and lets you kill enemies on
  the fly. It's also very handy. May as well pick it up too.


  Once you get the hang of it, you'll find Metroid much easier than Zelda. I 
  can go through the entire game from beginning to end without getting killed. 
  I can't say the same for Zelda. I'm not sure if anyone ever made it through
  Zelda without loosing one life. Just remember what the blue and red ring did
  for you in Zelda - the Varia does basically the same thing in Metroid. Once
  you play through the game, you'll know what weapons you'll need - and where 
  - the next time around, so it'll be that much easier.

  Have fun!

  Bob

    re: .-1
    
    This was in the hidden section, but I don't believe it's necessary to
    hide this response:
    
>  Once you get the hang of it, you'll find Metroid much easier than Zelda. I 
>  can go through the entire game from beginning to end without getting killed. 
>  I can't say the same for Zelda. I'm not sure if anyone ever made it through
>  Zelda without loosing one life. 
    
    One of the kids in a Nintendo magazine I once read claimed to have
    finished both quests of Zelda I and through all of Zelda II without
    losing a life.
    
    I have personally gotten through both quests of Zelda I with no
    casualties...  Never tried with Link - but I doubt seriously that I
    could do it.  (And am *sure* that it's not worth attempting!)
    
    - Chris

    Its' no big deal to play Zelda without collecting any life points,
    all you have to do is stop the game before your hearts are drained
    using the second controller and it doesn't charge you a life for that
    playing session. That may not be the only way but it works.
    
    Jim 

	Just wondering if anyone out there knows how to get Samus
to keep his/her helmet off so you can play as a girl.

	I have beaten Metroid a few times but have never been able
to get Samus to keep the helmet off. I won the game and continued
playing and won again. That got him to take his helmet off and reveal
the long hair, but when I continued it was Samus with his helmet
again.

	I have used some of the passwords in here for MS Samus
and they do work. Anyone know what was done to get theese passwords?


	/Charlie_who_would_rather_do_it_himself
 

    
    I've never heard of playing "as a girl"  I always took it that samos
    was a girl, with or without the helmet.
    
    Ron.

    

  Whatever Samus is with the helmet, I still want to know
  what I have to do to play without the helmet. Other than
  using someone else's password of course.

  Does anybody know?

  /Charlie

    Re:-1

    	  In reply 45 the password is 000000 000020 000000 000020 to see
    Samus without the armor.

         Well, I have been playing this game off and on for a few
    weeks now and am having some real difficulties !!! First, I have
    killed Kraid but can't even find Riddley (mini-boss 2), also I
    can't figure out how to obtain the energy tank in Kraids lair.
    I can expose the tank but can't find a way to jump on it. I have
    found the elevator that goes down into Riddleys area and have
    searched endlessly but just can't find him !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I have 4 energy tanks and 135 missles, Ice Beam, Varia, High
    Jump Boots. Any hints or even outright spoilers as to Riddleys
    location and as to how to jump on the energy tank in Kraids lair
    would be greatly appreciated.
    
    Jim C.

         I am having extreme difficulty with this game !!!!! I need
    major help and am willing to take outright spoilers. My question
    is simple, at the bottom of the elevator that takes you to Ridleys
    hideout, which side will I find Ridley on. That is, do I search the
    rightside or the leftside. I have spent hours in both sides already
    and am ready to concentrate on one side only. I have spent more time
    trying to complete this game than any other and would like to finish
    it before I lose my mind and use the cartridge for skeet practice !!!!!
    
    Jim C.

I don't quite understand...if you have found Kraid, Ridley is really no harder 
to find. Are you sure you're in his hideout or just down in Norfair? There is 
an elevator that goes from Brinstar to Norfair, and then another elevator from
Norfair to Ridley's hideout. The elevator to Ridley is the one with two 
gargoyle-type statues gaurding it.

I hesitate to give you a spoiler because if you're really down in his hideout, 
I don't think you should be having so much of a problem. If you know for a 
fact that you're there, I would suggest that you start mapping it out from the 
elevator. That way you'll know just which paths you've taken or missed.

Try it again....

    I have definetly found Ridleys hideout, the top of the elevator
    has the statues indicating a mini-boss hideout. If I go into
    the left shaft, there are several corridors lined with white
    tiles. I can go up through some of them and found some missles
    and if I keep going eventually I come to a tall pipe that I can't
    get over. If i go to the right, I fight my way to another vertical
    corridor that has several doors which I have been through and 
    haven't found anything.
       I really don't care anymore whether anyone gives me a clue.
    This game has frustrated me to the point that I will probably
    never play it again. There are to many games to play to waste
    any more time with one that I don't even like. The graphics
    may be great compared to most other games but it isn't fun
    anymore.
    
    Jim

Did you try bombing along the floor in the room with the obstruction that you 
can't get over? Try bombing in different places...specifically between the 
short posts. There is a way to get past that obstruction.

When you got to the other vertical shaft, did you try going into the airlock 
that is the third from the top and then keep going west?

    I was so busy freezing those flying things and then trying
    to use them as jump points to get over the wall that I forgot
    about the old "bombing the floor" trick.
     I thought I had explored every corridor off the vertical
    shaft but I will try it again.
    THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Jim

    Oh well, I guess its time to apply for the Nintendo Hall of Shame !!!
    After several nights and many hours of play I finally htrew the Metroid
    cartridge across the room and vowed never to play it again. I have been
    unable to destroy the Mother Brain . When everything tourns to slo-mo
    it is just to frustrating to play. There is so much going on in that 
    last scene that my unit just can't keep up. I don't see how anyone can
    survive long enough to fire enough missles into the beast to cause
    destruction. Maybe turbo would help but I just have the standard 
    controllers. Oh well, back to FIghting Golf. 
    COngratulationsto everyone that has been able to finish this game,
    also I appreciate all the help that enabled me to find my way to
    the final battle. To bad I can't finish it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Jim C.

    Ok !!!!!!!!! I finally finished this game. Once I discovered
    exactly where to aim to inflict damage on the Mother Brain,  
    I had no problem destroying her !!! However, the final test
    just about finished me. I had to destroy MB 3 times before I
    finally completed the last challenge. Jumping has always been
    my weak point and this game really tests your jumping abilities.
       Thanks for all the help and encouragment. I needed it to
    finish this game.
    
    Jim C.

    HI, I just got this game and have only played for an hour or so,
    but am wondering about the use of passwords. I have tried using
    them, but always end up starting at the very beginning. The game
    seems to remember things i have (for nstance, the ability to roll
    up in a ball), but shouldn't it start me off where I died??? like
    LOLO does. Or does it only save your articles and physically start
    you at the beginning each time? It seems a pain to have to go all
    the way back through each time you die or quit the game.
    
    thanks,
    
    Lee

    There are several different areas where the passwords will start 
    you out. When you go down certain elevators and then die in those
    areas, the password you receive will start you out at the top of
    that particular elevator. Otherwise, you always start back at the 
    beginning. There is a particularly interesting password that I
    discovered in this notesfile. It doesn't give you any special powers
    or equipment. just an interesting twist.
    
    Spoiler password:
    
    Really want to try it ? Might be better to wait till you finish
    the game !
    
    Last chance To type NEXT UNSEEN !!!!
    
    Enter 000000 000020 000000 000020 for a surprise !!
    
         Jim C.

    HAH!! You caught my interest and then talked me out of looking.
    Oh well, it will be something to look forward to when I fiinish
    the game. Meanwhile, thanks for the info. I actually found an elevator
    and discovered the passwords do take you to different places. This
    is a tough game!
    
    Lee
     

    I found this game to be the toughest I have ever played. Several
    times I put the cartridge away and vowed never to play again.
    With the encouragement of several noters though, I put it back
    in the deck and finally finished. The password won't really spoil
    anything unless you can finish the game in less than an hour. It
    took me several months to finish as I would play other games
    until getting over my frustration. Jumping is not one of my strong
    points in Nintendo play and as you know by now, there is a lot of
    jumping in this game.
    
    Jim C.

    I put Metroid down a few months ago.  With the crummy weather in my
    area this weekend, I'll probably pick it up.  I could use a clue.
    
    I have all kinds of weapons, but I can't find the shoes for the life of
    me.  I have been to the bottom of the purple shaft and bombed down
    through the floor about 3 cubes, but I can't find anything there and
    have to bomb and jump my way out.  A pointer to those shoes would be
    greatly appreciated.
    
    Thanks in advance
    
    /brett

    /brett, check the directory of this topic (dir 9.*).  This question has
    come up a few times already, so the answer should be in here.

    The note below describes a tank that I have found early on but I
    haven't figured out how to actually get it.
    
    
�                      <<< Note 9.139 by WONDER::BOISSE >>>
�                               -< here they are >-
�
�Here are the locations of the eight energy tanks:
�
�in Brinstar (the rocky zone - from the beginning):
�3.  East a couple of rooms from the beginning up in the ceiling, long beam and
�    freeze beam a must.
    
    I shoot the ceiling and the tank appears.  I've frozen the hedgehog
    looking things as they come down the wall and used them as a platform
    from which to jump and reach the ceiling.  I still can't access the
    tank, though.  Can anyone else provide some tips?  Am I missing
    something?

    re .163
    
    Yea, I read all of the notes, but being as small minded as I am, I
    still couldn't find it.  The spoilers just didn't make sense to me.
    
    However, a friend dropped by with a map in a sealed envelope entitled:
    
    	Metroid Map for Emergency Use Only
    
    
    When I have a chance, may just pick up the contols again and peek in
    that little envelope.
    
    /brett

    Brett,
      possible spoiler follows:
    
    There are two areas with purple bubbles on the floor that look very
    similar. In one screen you only go down several blocks then get
    stuck, in the other screen you drop into another vertical corridor
    with several doors (behind one of which are the boots). These two
    areas with the same floor are very near each other so keep looking.
    I took months to finish this game because I would get frustrated
    with it. I finally finished though and was glad that I did. It is a
    pretty cool ending and destroying Mother Brain was worth it !!!!
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    JIm C.

    I agree, this is one of the most frustrationg games I have played. But
    slowly but surely I am getting there. I just got to the point where I
    have built the bridge into the last phase, but I only have 5 energy
    tanks. I hope that is enough. 
    
    To get to the energy tank in the ceiling, I got this from a previous
    note, and it works:
    
    major spoiler follows:
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    go through the low tunnel just after the energy tank and lure the
    butterfly like guy back through the tunnel. If you do it right, he will
    fly up and down underneith the ceiling block and you can freeze him
    with your freeze ray (hope you have that). Jump on him, shoot ceiling
    block to expose tank, jump into it, and VOILA, it is yours.
    
    
    good luck,
    Lee

    Well, I have spent a few hours now trying to get at the mother brain
    and haven't even seen her yet.I am having trouble getting through the
    section where you have to blast away the regulators?? that are in the
    piping system. I don't know what you call these, but I can wipe out the
    first one but will use up 5 tanks of energy trying to do in the second
    one. Can anyone offer help on how to get by this thing?
    
    Thanks,
    lee

    re: .168
    
    	spoiler:
    
    	heres what I did :
    	after you wipe out one of the energy thingies, go back out the
    	way you  came in, kill some metriods (each one will refill your
    	energy or missle count). until you are back to full power.
    	It doesn't take very long.
    
    	When fighting the 'regulators', I just jump and blast away with
    	missles (gotta keep doing this because over time, they will return
    	to their original strength).
    
    		hope this helps!
    			Robert.

    Just remember, the key to the last section is to be patient
    and keep refilling before each segment. The flying gold rings
    can really drain your energy fast !!!
    
    Jim C.

    Thanks guys,
    
    Hopefully this weekend I'll finsh the mother (brain) off. 
    
    Lee

    
    I've just gotten this game, and (after several hours of play) have
    come up against a couple of obstacles that I can't figure out. I
    haven't read through all of these replies....the note is rather
    lengthy. 
    Any way, in several rooms I come to the end, and bomb  through. It
    leads me to a room like:
    
          []
          []
          []
    	  []
          []
          []
          []                                       *come through
          []                                        the wall here
          []                                      [][][][]
          []                                      [][][][]
          []                                      [][][][]
          [][][][][][              [][][][][][][][][][][][
    
    
          I come through the wall on the right side of the room, 
          and cannot get over the opposite wall.... even with the 
          high jump shoes. These rooms have one of those zoomers
          going back and forth, and a bouncy-thing coming
          up between the gap in the floor. 
    
          Also, I have found Kraid's lair, but have been unable to 
          defeat him.... I  have only 
          2 extra energy tanks and 40 missles. Will this be enough to 
          defeat him? I don't have the varia or the freeze gun. 
    
          Any hints would be welcome.
    
    Doug
    

       Maybe a spoiler :
    
    
    
         So freeze something and use it like a step-ladder to
    enable you to reach the top of the wall !! I think this is the
    trick to use in this area !!
    
    Jim

    Thanks... but I only discovered the freeze gun last night!
    now it's a matter of freezing those springy things and climbing over.
    

  .172 said he did NOT have the freeze ray, so an alternative
   method to get over the wall is to stand just against the right
   edge of the wall, lay down a few bombs, quickly turn back into
   Samus, and use the bomb blast to propel you over the wall.
   This has worked for me even without the boots. The trick is
   to just keep laying bombs one after the other. Just hold the
   button down. Every now and then a bomb will be layed down not
   on the floor, but in "mid air". The blast from this bomb is the
   one you want to propel you upwards. At the right moment, just
   turn back into Samus, and as the bomb blast occurs, use the UP
   button. The combination of the blast and using the UP button
   will get you over the wall. But you've got to time the combination
   just right. If you jump too soon or too late, you don't go as
   high.

    There is now a Metroid II available (for the Game Boy). It's as
    addicting as the original.
    
    -Rich

I just got the original metroid for christmas.  It was at the FAIR in
West Bolyston for $14.  

/marc

    
    Marc, I got it there also. I've been playing it for a week now
    and have high jump boots, bombs, long beam, and 3 or 4 energy tanks.
    Still looking for the freeze beam, I cheated and looked thru this
    topic so I think I know where to find it..    
    
    spolier ahead
    
    
    One of the replies mentioned that the varia was in one of the mini
    hallways. I looked for it but couldn't find it, any hints?
    
                                              Walt

>    One of the replies mentioned that the varia was in one of the mini
>    hallways. I looked for it but couldn't find it, any hints?

No, I haven't found it either.  I just got bombs last night, so tonight I'll
hopefully find some secret passages.

/marc

    Have you tried shooting at the tops of some of the corridors as
    you walk through ??
    
    Jim c.

    
    
    Jim C,
    
        I tried that but must not have been in the right corridor, I'll
    try again today. I found the freeze beam last night, also found a trap
    and ended up dieing. This game is getting real good, welll worth the
    $14.99.
    
                        Walt

    
    
    After playing for quite some time the past 2 days I still have not found
    the varia. Any spoilers would be very welcome at this point. Thanks.
    
                                       Walt

    
    I finally found the varia, it is in a corridor, just not in the area
    I was looking. I also started exploring down one of the elevators and
    went into the "Bubble" shafts. Found more things I needed and went to
    try to destroy a mimi boss, I had 50 missiles and hit him with all but
    11 by the time he killed me. How many does it take to kill a MB? 
    
                                   Walt
    

This is definitly a game to make a map for.  I probably should start over. 
It seems like I'm blindly wandering around.

Can you have the game save more than  one setting?  I want to play and save 
where I left off, but my wife wants to start her own game.  If so, does 
anyone know how many settings it will save?

/marc

    
    Marc,
       if you start a game and get a password, then your wife did the same
    you both could play your own games and still have what you left off
    with. Does this make sense? In other words, yes more than one game can
    be played due to the password. I've used several different passwords
    as an example an possible spoiler...
    
    
    Right now I've got the varia, long ice beam, boots, and 3 energy tanks,
    bombs, and 55 rockets.
    What I will do is start the game and get the energy tank right at the
    beginning. This gives me 4 full tanks. Then I go exploring, if I find
    something I take a guess at how much energy I'll need to get it, reset
    the game and use the old password. The fill up my 3 tanks and go get
    what I want. That way I still have that one energy tank is reserve.
    I hope this helps, if you're having trouble finding things let me know
    and I'll see if I can help. 
                                Walt
    

    
    
    Well I finally killed my first mini-boss, I also found the screw
    attack so now I have that along with the varia, high jump, long ice
    beam, 150 rockets, 4 or 5 energy tanks, bombs and the ability to
    curl into a ball. I found another mini-boss but before I could kill
    him the wife yelled "Supper" so.... Well he'll fall to me another
    day. I found that in the other levels (other than the first) the screw
    attack helps alot when jumping and you do need to be able to jump
    accurately. This game can really get moving at times too.
    
                                             Walt

    Walt,
       You think metroid moves ? When you finish it try Guardian
    Legend. A real shoot-em-up arcade type game.
    
    Jim C.
    

    Re .183
    
    You can kill the MB without rockets.
    
    
    Questions: has anyone done this game, raw start to finish, under 1 hour?
    Hints? 
      

    
   < You can kill the MB without rockets.
    
          Can All the MB's be killed without rockets, and how?
    
    spoiler question
    
    
    I take it, it is done with the screw attack?
    
                            Walt

    
    
    Jim C. thanks for the tip on GL. If/when I finish this game I was
    thinking of going to Zelda but will definitly look into GL too.
    
                                    Walt

    re .189
    There could be a misunderstanding here; I just
    realized you probably think MB stands for mother brain,
    .183 meant miniboss, the gist of my reply in .188.
    
    Anyway, motherbrain requires rockets to kill, as far as I
    know, minibosses not.
    Don't know about the screw attack, maybe, never tried.
    Try other, basic, opponent elimination methods.
    Note that whenever the miniboss "flashes",  you've scored a hit.
    Incidentally, possible to finish the game (kill mother
    brain) without killing the MB's, though it's pretty hard.

    
    
    Re -1
    
    Thanks, I figured it out the other day. Trouble is he got me before I
    got him. I found a 5th energy tank near his hide out and want to get 
    that then go after him.
    
                           Walt

�    Incidentally, possible to finish the game (kill mother
�    brain) without killing the MB's, though it's pretty hard.
    
    
    
    Are you sure?  I thought the only way to build the bridge to get to the
    Mother Brain was to defeat the minibosses.

    
    Well Ridley fell to my hail of blazing rockets last night, I went in
    with 2 full enrgy tanks and by the time the smoke cleared I had 13
    energy points left. Don't know how I managed to survive. I found an
    energy tank real close to where Ridley was, so I tanked up with 5
    full tanks and headed for the bridge. I collected more rockets along
    the way, built the bridge and called it a night.
    
    So far I have 5 energy tanks and know where one more is, long ice beam,
    jump boots, bombs, varia, and screw attack. I don't want the wave beam
    so does anyone know if I'm going to find it in Tourian or did I miss it
    somewhere along the line? I think I've gotten everything I can get
    except the wave beam, two MB's dead and bridge built, I'm not
    forgetting anything am I? Thanks.
    
                                     Walt

    re .193
    
    I'm sure, it's very hard. Hint: you don't need the bridge to get
    across. 

    
    
    I toasted the Mother Brain over the weekend. Actually I did it twice
    but the first time I was taken aback by the results of her demise and
    possible spolier
      
      I ran back the way I came in only to discover I couldn't get out that
    way, by the time I found the real way out it was too late. So I tried 
    again, toasted her once more and made it back in one piece. 
    
                                     Walt

    I need help .I have the bombs ,varia,5 energy tanks,high jump boots
    long beam ,wave beam,and can almost beat MB I NEED ICE BEAM!!!
    so long
               some of you may know me from maniac masion 
    chris

    I don't recall having to have the Ice Beam to beat MB. I never did
    find Screw Attack !! How many missles do you have ?
    
    Jim C.

    
    re freeze ray
    
    see .115 it tells you where it is.
    
    Walt