The original Metroid was released in Japan in 1986. Nintendo launched it for the Family Computer Disk System on August 6, making it the first game in the Metroid series.
The game combined platforming, shooting, and non-linear exploration. Samus Aran travels across the planet Zebes, fighting Space Pirates and attempting to stop them from using Metroids as biological weapons. Nintendo R&D1 developed the game, with Gunpei Yokoi producing and Satoru Okada directing.
Its international releases came later. North America received Metroid for the Nintendo Entertainment System in August 1987, while Europe followed on January 15, 1988. Another frequently remembered milestone is the game’s ending: depending on the player’s performance, some endings revealed that Samus was a woman, a notable surprise in 1986 video games.