Game Over

A Game Over is an event which occurs whenever Samus Aran is defeated; this can occur if her Energy Tanks are fully depleted, along with some other, rarer causes of defeat. The Game Over sequence has varied throughout all games in the Metroid series.
==Appearances==
===Metroid===
In Metroid, Samus will completely explode on the spot regardless of whether she is armored or not. The screen will say Game Over and return to the Password Screen. The Famicom Disk System version features a Continue Screen with the option to continue, save or quit. The screen depicts a sprite of Samus crouching and the text "Defeat Mother Brain and the Metroid threat!"
===Metroid II: Return of Samus===
In Metroid II: Return of Samus, Samus will freeze and gradually fade away. Interestingly, this includes any remaining Beam shots on-screen at the time.
==="Classic" Game Over===
In Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid: Samus Returns and Metroid Dread, Samus's suit will explode (dissipate in Zero Mission) and her vulnerable body will be left behind to die in the Casual Outfit or Zero Suit.
In Super Metroid, Samus's midriff initially appears covered by her black outfit but is exposed in later frames; this could be a sprite mistake or a remnant of an earlier idea in which Samus would have been nude under the suit. It is also possible to see her breasts bounce upward, which does not happen in the other games. In Zero Mission, Samus's hair also comes out of its ponytail in the last frame. Zero Mission has the shortest version of Samus's death, Super Metroid second shortest, Fusion second longest, and Dread longest.
After Samus's death animation, the "GAME OVER" screen appears, with the option to "TRY AGAIN" from the last point where the player saved their progress or quit to the title screen. The Game Over screens vary depending on the game: Super Metroid will depict the baby in its capsule, with the words "FIND THE METROID LARVA!" under it. In Metroid Fusion, the screen shows a star-forming region in space, while the screen from Metroid: Zero Mission depicts the asteroid belt. Samus Aran's Final Cry plays during the Super Metroid and Samus Returns Game Overs.
Although not an actual game, the promotional video for Metroid Dread The History of Metroid in 2D - Metroid Dread Primer when covering Samus's subsequent infection by the X Parasites has her posing upon infection in a similar manner to the classic game over.
===Super Metroid===
If Samus fails to escape the countdown in Ceres Space Colony, the screen fades to white as cutscene shows the station exploding without Samus's Gunship escaping at the last second. A cutscene does not occur for failing the Zebes escape, immediately cutting to the Game Over screen.
===Metroid Prime series===
In the Metroid Prime series, Samus's visor will shut off while she lets out a scream (followed by a sigh in Corruption), and then various game over screens will be shown depending on the game:
*Metroid Prime depicts Samus having a large crack in her visor, with the screen saying "Life support system: Critical." Seconds later, the screen goes red and the word "Offline" appears as Samus' head is shown, slowly sagging to one side as she begins to die. "Game Over/Failure" appears briefly, before the screen cuts out as Samus flatlines. The only difference in the remaster, other than the obvious, is that the screen cut out covers the entire screen.
*Metroid Prime 2: Echoes depicts Samus going into cardiac arrest, with the message, "Warning. System alert". As this happens, a heart monitor is heard rapidly beeping, before eventually flatlining as the message "Failure. Mission failure/Game Over" appears. This has been considered by many to be the darkest Game Over scene in the series. This particular game over screen was also used for the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Preview when showing SPC C. Campbell's demise. Samus' Varia Suit can still be seen during the sequence.
*Metroid Prime 3: Corruption will show a drop of blood slowly oozing across the screen as the words [GAME_OVER] appear. Corruption also has an alternate game over when Samus is terminally corrupted. This version is largely the same as the usual, though her visor will shake violently before fading out to the following Game Over cutscene, and at the Game Over screen, the drop of blood is colored a blue indicitive of Phazon instead of crimson, with the words TERMINAL CORRUPTION appearing below [GAME_OVER]. 
While using the Morph Ball, there are two more defeat sequences. In Prime, the Morph Ball will explode using Power Bomb frames before initiating the Game Over. In Echoes, the Morph Ball will explode with pieces flying. Strangely enough, it will also show Samus's visor shutting off. This is the same in Corruption (the screen goes white after the Morph Ball explodes) and is similar when the Morph Ball succumbs to Terminal Corruption, but in the latter, the Morph Ball will explode with a Blue Phazon covered explosion before the screen goes white and fades.
In Corruption, an additional heavy breath can sometimes be heard before Samus blacks out. This is commonly heard when Samus depletes her energy via the Grapple Voltage.
A variation of the shut-off visor effect was also used in the preview trailer for Echoes as SPC C. Campbell is killed by a Dark Splinter.
Samus's death scream is provided by an actress with the initials "VM".Interview: Clark Wen . Shinesparkers 2018-06-02. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
====Metroid Prime 2: Echoes====
In Echoes, if Samus unmorphs immediately before a Game Over, one can briefly see Samus stumbling before ultimately fainting before the screen fades to black (this is commonly seen when succumbing to the Air of Dark Aether). If eliminated by an enemy attack, she may also be seen briefly flung into the air in a rag-doll like manner depending on the type or power of the attack. Rarely, there may be other styles of death seen such as burning or incineration. If Samus operates a "Vigilance" Class Turret and its health is depleted, she will instantly die. This can only be seen in Central Mining Station, where enemies are present while manning a turret.
"Game Overs" can occur with any player in the multiplayer mode of Echoes. On a defeated player's screen, they appear identical to singleplayer, with the screen blacking. Shortly afterwards, the player respawns back onto the map with a short second of invincibility. On a non-dieing player's screen, one can see the opponent Samus dieing from various styles depending on how the player was killed. These animations mimic what is shown in singleplayer for both Samus and enemies. The following Game Over animations can occur on a player Samus:
*Fainting: (low Power Beam damage, Screw Attack, etc.)
*Knockback: (Missiles, Charge Beam, Annihilator Beam)
*Burning: (Light Beam, Sonic Boom)
*Incineration: (Power Bombs)
*Suit Exploding: (direct Super Missile damage, via Kinetic Orb Cannon)
*Dark Matter disintegration (exclusive to Darkburst via hacking)
====Metroid Prime 3: Corruption====
Within Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, there are certain instances where Samus can receive a unique automatic Game Over under certain conditions:
*On the Olympus, if Samus destroys both a level 1 and level 2 Halberd Class Turret, she will trigger a level 3 Halberd Class turret. Should Samus remain in the same room as the turret, or does not escape into the next room with the door closed behind her, the turret will fire a large flash of light, instantly killing her regardless of HP. This can be witnessed as early as Samus landing onboard the very first room. Interestingly, Samus can die to the Level 3 turret even while in Hypermode, which will curiously cause a Terminal Corruption Game Over instead.
*If Samus stands directly underneath a Berserker Lord as it unleashes its shockwave attack, she will die instantly.
*Should Samus fail to defeat Meta Ridley on time, she will die instantly as they both fall to the bottom of the Generator Shaft. This is similar to a Countdown sequence.
*Once all the Generators on Norion are back online, Aurora Unit 242 will inform Samus of how long she has to reach the Control Tower before the Leviathan impacts. There is an invisible time limit, and if Samus takes too long, the Leviathan will impact the planet, leading to the entire screen going white, followed by Samus's usual Game Over sequence.
*Should Samus fail to protect the Spire Pod equipped with the Theronian Bomb, the entire Spire Pod will produce explosions followed by the usual Game Over fadeout. There is also a countdown sequence aboard the Spire Pod and if the timer reaches 0:00:0, the timer will be displayed followed by a computer speaking the message: "Mobility controls disengaged. Engines shutting down." As the last sentence is being spoken, the usual Game Over sequence occurs.
*During the fight with the Mining cannon, if Samus lands inside the center hatch while it is open, she will die instantly.
*During the section in the Pirate Homeworld where Samus is escorting Demolition Troopers, if three or fewer said Troopers are left alive, Admiral Dane will remark that they have to abort, and then the Game Over screen shows. This is a rare instance of a Game Over being tied to the deaths of characters other than Samus herself.
*In the Corrupted Pool, Samus has a limited amount of time during a scripted event to vent out Phazon from within her body. If she refuses, within a few seconds she will automatically receive a Terminal Corruption Game Over. The same is true on Phaaze, where upon landing, she is immediately required to vent her Energy Tanks or succumb to Terminal Corruption. 
*If Samus is in permanent Hypermode outside its intended area (via glitching), it is possible for her to receive a Game Over whilst inside Fuel Gel. Doing so produces the usual Game Over, but also has the screen shine completely white, as if the normal and Terminal Corruption death sequences were combined.
===Metroid Prime Hunters===
In Metroid Prime Hunters, a warning siren will play, with the message, "EMERGENCY - POWER SUIT energy is depleted." appearing onscreen. As this happens, Samus's visor will shut off before showing a message stating "Energy depleted", with the option to continue the game. If Samus dies when using the Morph Ball, it will explode.
If another hunter defeats Samus, they will take an Octolith (if she has any) as the message "HUNTER HAS TAKEN AN OCTOLITH" appears. Samus will scream, but her scream in Hunters sounds differently than the one in the core Prime trilogy.
If Samus falls into a bottomless pit/open space or (unlike Prime) gets smashed by a Piston, she will immediately die.
===Metroid Prime Pinball===
In Metroid Prime Pinball, a voice will read "Mission Over" on the screen, while the Echoes Game Over chime plays.
===Metroid: Other M===
In Metroid: Other M, the Game Over combines elements from that of the classic games and the Prime series. Samus screams and falls to the ground, with her Power Suit disappearing and leaving her in her Zero Suit as she loses consciousness. The screen then fades to a light-green tinted flickering background and the words 'GAME OVER' and "CONTINUE? YES/NO" appear, with the option to continue the game from the last checkpoint reached.
When dying, Adam will frantically contact Samus, saying, "Samus! What's going on? Respond! Respond!". He will not say this if Samus dies after the cutscene preceding the Ridley battle, due to the fact that contact had been lost with her. It is interesting to note that nothing is said by Adam if Samus dies during the Brug Mass battle, suggesting he only speaks this line when he is in the Control Room. If Samus dies in lava, she falls in and sticks her hand out in a futile attempt to pull herself out. If dying in the arms of a Kihunter, Samus will simply become limp in its arms with her suit staying intact. If she runs out of Energy in the Queen Metroid's stomach, the Morph Ball will be surrounded by stomach acid. If Samus gets caught by Vorash in the boss battle with low health she will get pulled into the lava while in Vorash's teeth.
There are conditions where Samus is killed instantly. In the Biosphere, it is possible for a moving elevator to crush Samus and kill her if she fails to enter an alcove built in the sides of the room within a certain time limit. If Samus fails to avoid the Vorash's jaws in the "lava cavern" of the Pyrosphere, the creature will digest her. While Samus races up the Crater Interior, if she falls into the lava, the Goyagma will immediately grab her and pull her into the lava, though it will not do so after Samus reaches the top. In the Cryosphere, failure to escape from an avalanche will have Samus being buried under a large mass of snow, filling the screen to white. As Samus is escaping Sector Zero, any attempts made by her to Space Jump out towards an intact segment of the sector results in her falling into the abyss of space.
The only other condition where a Game Over is received if another character dies is when returning to the Pyrosphere; if Samus fails to save Anthony Higgs from being dropped into the lava by the Rhedogian, this results in a Game Over.
If Samus fails to escape the BOTTLE SHIP at the end, a cutscene of the destruction and flashbacks to the death of Adam and the supposed death of Anthony plays. The destruction part of the cutscene is also seen when Samus envisions the Federation destroying the ship, while questioning why they did not do so.
===Metroid Prime: Federation Force===
If all members (up to four) of the Federation Force die in any mission, the screen will display a message saying "Mission Failed: You were defeated." The message will change if the Game Over was for another reason, such as if a mission objective is failed.
===Metroid Dread===
In Metroid Dread, in addition to the classic Game Over, there are moments where the death animation is skipped and immediately fade to the Game Over screen:
*If Samus is captured by an E.M.M.I. and she fails to Melee Counter, it will impale her in the sternum and instantly kill her.
*If Samus misses the Finish Counter against Chozo Soldiers and Raven Beak, she will simply get knocked back. This attack is not an instant kill, but will nonetheless trigger an immediate Game Over if her energy is low enough. A demonstration of this can be viewed here.
*If Samus fails to shoot Raven Beak X, the hulking monstrosity will swallow and instantly kill her.
*If Samus fails to escape ZDR during the countdown sequence. The Game Over screen's backdrop is also changed to display a destroyed ZDR instead of the black and red backdrop.
==Official Data==
===Metroid manual===
;When The Game Is Over
:"*"GAME OVER" will appear.*The password will appear. At this point, if you press the START button, you can continue your last game.*If you use the password when you start a new game, you can continue your old game using that password."
===Metroid Virtual Console manual===
;Game Over
:"Samus will take damage from enemy attacks, lava, etc. If her energy is fully depleted, the game will end. You will then receive a password and will restart from the beginning of the area you were in.Note: If you are holding an Energy Tank, the tank will refill your energy when it is fully depleted, giving you another chance."
===Metroid II: Return of Samus Virtual Console manual===
;Game Over
:"Your energy will decrease if you come in contact with an enemy or an enemy attack. If your energy falls to zero, it's game over and the title screen will be displayed." 
===Metroid Prime Trilogy manual===
====Metroid Prime/Metroid Prime 2: Echoes====
;Game Over
:"The game is over when all Energy Tanks are empty and the energy gauge is 0. To start from the last place you saved, select YES with the Control Stick or +Control Pad, and confirm with the A Button. If you select NO, you'll go back to the Title Screen."
====Metroid Prime 3: Corruption====
;Game Over
:"The game is over when all Energy Tanks are empty and the energy gauge is at 0. The game will also be over if Samus is completely corrupted while in Corrupt Hypermode. To start from the last place you saved, select YES with the pointer and confirm with the A Button. If you select NO, you'll go back to the Title Screen."
===Metroid Prime Hunters manual===
;Game Over
:"If your remaining energy hits zero, the game ends. Select Continue to resume from the last checkpoint." 
===Metroid: Other M manual===
;Game Over
:"If all of your energy runs out, your game will end and the Continue Screen will appear. By choosing YES, your game will restart from either the last place you saved or the last checkpoint you passed. By choosing NO, you will end your game and return to the Title Screen."
===Metroid Prime: Federation Force manual===
;Mission Failure
:"The mission is over and all players return to the Game Lobby if the energy level of all players' Mechs is depleted. Depending on the mission, other circumstances may also lead to a mission failure." 
===Metroid: Samus Returns manual===
;If Samus's energy reaches zero...:"You will be returned to where you last saved the game, or to the last checkpoint. Checkpoints are created when you pick up important items or interact with certain devices (page 9).
:*Checkpoints are not saved. If you quit your game you will have to restart from where you last saved."
==Non-Metroid games==
===Super Smash Bros.===
In the first game, if the player loses all stocks in the Classic Mode with any character, including Samus, the doll representing the character will fall limp before asking if the player wants to continue. If the player says yes, the character's doll will reanimate.
===Super Smash Bros. Melee===
Similar to the first game above, if the player loses all stocks in Classic Mode, Adventure Mode, or All-Star Mode with any character, including Samus, the trophy representing the character (as well as which specific variant depending on the mode being played) will fall down before the announcer asks if the player wants to continue (exempting if it's All-Star Mode). If the player says yes, the trophy will be flipped back upward. If the player refuses, or if the player does not have any remaining coins to pay for the continue (or if it is All-Star Mode), the trophy will instead remain limp before the screen fades away and the announcer says Game Over in an ominous tone. Notably, if the player loses all lives if they fail to reach 4-2DASSYUT's exit on time before the Countdown ends, it will omit the scene of Zebes' explosion altogether and take the player to the game over screen.
==Development notes==
Originally, in Super Metroid, Samus was briefly nude and she screamed, the voice being recorded by Minako Hamano, but it was scrapped due to American sensitivity to nudity and the voice sounding too sexual. Nintendo Official Guide Book for Super Metroid, May 1994. Pages 86-95, as translated by Metroid Database This sound may represent Hamano's recording:
https://tcrf.net/Super_Metroid#Unused_Audio
The second pre-release trailer for Fusion depicted Samus wearing a blue dress with red shoes in her Game Over.
A storyboard for Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (pictured above) shows what appears to be a Game Over sequence in the style of Super, Fusion and Zero Mission, suggesting that the idea was scrapped.
==Trivia==
*In Metroid Prime, there is an animation bug that occurs when Samus is killed while exiting Morph Ball mode: Samus freezes and the camera zooms as normally until shutting off when she returns in first-person mode. Oddly enough, she doesn't scream and the sound of the visor shutting off is different, being some sort of bubbling sound instead of the usual sound.
*The Game Over in Metroid was ranked #8 on the "Top 10 Worst Ways to Die in a Video Game" by ScrewAttack.com.
*Ghor's death sequence in Corruption consists of his armorsuit exploding while Ghor is left floating in the air. This is similar to the Game Over scenes in the 2D Metroid series.
*The message by Adam during the Game Over in Other M is a reference to that of the Metal Gear series — starting from the first Metal Gear Solid onward — where Solid Snake's, Naked Snake's, or Raiden's name is shouted in a similar manner on their game over scenes.
*In Other M, if Samus dies in lava, Adam's messages are still heard despite her communication systems being incinerated, although it is more likely the player is hearing the message being sent rather than Samus receiving it.
*Samus will always wear the Varia Suit in Prime and Echoes when she dies, regardless of upgrades.
*Although she lacked it in the cutscene preceding the Ridley battle and throughout the whole Sector Zero cutscene, Samus wears the Paralyzer on her leg if she dies after either cutscene. However, she is seen wearing it in the cutscene where she collects Adam's helmet.
*Other M is the first game to introduce a Game Over tied to Out of Bounds. This is later seen in future titles of the Metroid series: 
**In Other M, each room possesses an elevation limit below the lowest point of the room. If Samus falls below a certain elevation in any room, the screen will immediately fade to the Game Over screen. It is normally impossible to clip out of bounds due to the enclosed environment of the BOTTLE SHIP, though hacking codes such as "Walk Thru Walls" cheats will achieve this scenario.
**In Dread, if Samus somehow enters the terrain or clips out of bounds she will die instantly.
**In Metroid Prime Remastered, if Samus falls below a certain line due to Out of Bounds exploration, she will immediately die and receive a Game Over. This change from the original game was likely made due to the large presence of out of bounds Sequence Breaking.
==Gallery==
Metroid Game Over.gif|Game Over in Metroid
Metroid II Game Over.gif|Return of Samus Game Over
Fusion Mission sprites.png|Metroid Fusion/Metroid: Zero Mission Game Over sprites
Beta Fusion 20.png|Beta Fusion
Super Metroid ~ Game Over Continue screen.png|Super Metroid Game Over screen
Metroid Fusion ~ Game Over Continue screen.png|Metroid Fusion Game Over screen
Metroid Zero Mission ~ Game Over Continue screen.png|Metroid: Zero Mission Game Over screen
MOM Game Over Continue screen.png|Metroid: Other M Game Over screen
MP1GameOver.png|Metroid Prime
File:Metroid Prime 2 Warning.png|Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
MP2GameOver.png
MP3GameOver.png|Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
MPH Game Over.png|Metroid Prime Hunters
JP Other M Guide 169.jpg|Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid Other M, page 169
Deathleft.gif|Samus Returns Game Over during a Zeta Metroid battle
SR Game Over.jpg|Samus in her Zero Suit after a Game Over in Metroid: Samus Returns
Metroid Dread Game Over.gif|Dread Game Over
Zero Suit Game Over Dread.png|Still frame
==Videos==
Evolution of Metroid Deaths and Game Over Screens (1986 - 2018)|Game Over compilation
Video Game Deaths Metroid (NES) (Death Animation Game Over)|Metroid Game Over sequence
Metroid II Return of Samus 100% Walkthrough Extra Part 1 - Endings, Deaths, and Queen Metroid|Metroid II: Return of Samus Game Over sequence
Game Over - Super Metroid|Super Metroid Game Over sequences
Metroid Prime Game Over Scene|Metroid Prime Game Over sequence
Game Over - Metroid Fusion|Metroid Fusion Game Over sequence
Game Over - Metroid Zero Mission|Metroid: Zero Mission Game Over sequence
Metroid Prime 2 Echoes Game Over Scene|Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Game Over sequence
Game Over Metroid Prime Hunters|Metroid Prime Hunters Game Over sequence
Metroid Prime 3 Corruption All Game Overs|Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Game Over sequences
Metroid Other M - Death Scene|Metroid: Other M Game Over sequence
==References==
ru:Game Over
Category:Miscellaneous