Editing Metroid (section)

=== 1991–2002: Sequels and first hiatus ===
''[[Metroid II: Return of Samus]]'' was released for the [[Game Boy]] in 1991 in North America and in 1992 in Japan and Europe. ''Metroid II'' also further established [[Samus Aran|Samus]]' visual design, with the bulky Varia Suit upgrade and different arm cannons.<ref name="trailers" />

As R&D1 were committed to making another game, Nintendo brought in [[Intelligent Systems]] to develop ''[[Super Metroid]]'' for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] (SNES).<ref name="super" /> Development began in late 1991.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nintendo.com/super-nes-classic/interview-super-metroid/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925084427/https://www.nintendo.com/super-nes-classic/interview-super-metroid/ | archive-date=2017-09-25 | title=Super Metroid Developer Interview - Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition - Official Site}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://warrenleigh85.medium.com/game-retrospective-super-metroid-edcef70f34da | title=Game Retrospective: Super Metroid | date=8 April 2020}}</ref> Released in 1994, ''Super Metroid'' drastically expanded the ''Metroid'' formula, with numerous new power-ups<ref>{{Citation|title=Super Metroid Review - IGN|date=21 August 2007|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/08/21/super-metroid-review|language=en|access-date=2021-01-17|archive-date=2021-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225135951/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/08/21/super-metroid-review|url-status=live}}</ref> and a richer story.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Whitehead|first=Dan|date=2007-10-25|title=The History of Metroid|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/the-history-of-metroid-article|access-date=2021-01-17|website=Eurogamer|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921165659/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/the-history-of-metroid-article|url-status=live}}</ref> It received acclaim and is considered one of the best SNES games.<ref name="history" /> It was directed by [[Yoshio Sakamoto]], character designer for the first ''Metroid''; Sakamoto has directed or produced most of the 2D ''Metroid'' games since.<ref name="history" />

After ''Super Metroid'', Nintendo released no new ''Metroid'' games for eight years. They considered developing a ''Metroid'' game for its next console, the [[Nintendo 64]], but could not generate firm ideas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/15/metroid-prime-roundtable-qa?page=2 |title=Metroid Prime Roundtable QA |website=IGN |date=2002-11-15 |access-date=2008-02-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212170301/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/15/metroid-prime-roundtable-qa?page=2 |archive-date=2012-12-12}}</ref> Sakamoto said he could not imagine how the [[Nintendo 64 controller]] could be used to move Samus.<ref name=":02" /> An unidentified company declined an offer from Nintendo to develop a ''Metroid'' game for the Nintendo 64, as they were not confident they could create a worthwhile successor to ''Super Metroid''.<ref name=":02" /> Samus appeared in the Nintendo 64 fighting game ''[[Super Smash Bros. (video game)|Super Smash Bros.]]'' (1999).<ref name="Spot" />