: To reach the final area, Tourian , Samus must defeat four primary guardians: Kraid, Phantoon, Draygon, and Ridley.
This version is the foundation for most and modern fan creations. Because it is the most stable and documented version of the game, creators use it to build entirely new stories and worlds: Super Metroid (JU)
: Shortly after Samus departs, the colony is attacked by the Space Pirate leader, Ridley . He slaughters the scientists and steals the hatchling, prompting Samus to follow him back to the Space Pirate stronghold on planet Zebes . : To reach the final area, Tourian ,
The "JU" in stands for Japan/USA, referring to the specific ROM version that contains both English and Japanese text. This version is widely considered the standard for fans, speedrunners, and ROM hackers. He slaughters the scientists and steals the hatchling,
: Samus explores the subterranean world, navigating diverse biomes like the rainy surface of Crateria , the overgrown Brinstar , the volcanic Norfair , and the sunken Maridia .
The story follows bounty hunter as she returns to the planet Zebes to rescue a stolen Metroid hatchling. The Narrative Arc
: In the final confrontation with the bio-mechanical Mother Brain , Samus is nearly defeated. The Metroid hatchling—now grown to a massive size—recognizes Samus as its "mother" and sacrifices itself to give her the Hyper Beam , allowing her to destroy Mother Brain and escape before the planet self-destructs. Why the (JU) Version Matters