Attract mode

The attract mode is a feature in most of the Metroid games. If the player remains idle on the Title Screen for long enough, a series of pre-recorded gameplay clips will play, before looping back to the Title Screen. The respective game's title theme will play during these clips, without any in-game sound effects related to the exact moment being presented. The attract mode is used to demonstrate the gameplay of the game, and "attract" players into pressing start. While most of the attract modes feature gameplay clips, the original Metroid instead displays Samus Aran's mission orders. In some cases, such as at the start of the game, a movie also plays that briefly hints at the story of the game.
Metroid II: Return of Samus, Metroid: Other M, Metroid: Samus Returns and Metroid Dread do not have attract modes.
==Metroid==
If the Title Screen is left idle long enough, Samus's mission orders will be displayed. She is ordered to "defeat the Metroid of the Planet Zebeth and destroy the Mother Brain the mechanical life vein" by the "Galaxy Federal Police". This message was a poor translation by Nintendo localizers at the time; the correct terms are "Planet Zebes", "mechanical life form" and "Galactic Federation Police". After about nine seconds, the message will disappear, and the game's logo will return. This will repeat as long as the Title Screen is left idle.
A video demonstrating the NES version of the attract mode can be viewed here, with the original Japanese Famicom version here.
==Super Metroid==
Super Metroid is the first game in the series to feature what has become the traditional form of attract mode: short clips of gameplay, before looping back to the Title Screen. Some of the clips show hidden Special Actions in the game. Playback of the demo clips is slightly faster in the PAL version of the game.
The clips are as follows:
(Set 1)
*Samus Shinesparking through a hidden cliffside in Crateria,
*Samus swinging around on Grapple Points in "Mount Death", before launching herself on top of another pair of blocks,
*Samus using the Turbo Bomb above the tall cliff next to her Starship in Crateria's Landing Site,
*Samus using the Plasma Beam Special Charge Beam Attack on a trio of Zeelas in the main shaft of Brinstar,
*Samus performing the Crystal Flash on the same Craterian cliff.
(Set 2):
*Samus exiting her Starship during the Craterian thunderstorm and proceeding to the Blue Door on the left,
*Samus opening a Red Hatch in the old Brinstar room that formerly led to Kraid's Lair,
*Samus jumping over a swooping Kihunter, before charging and firing a Charge Shot at another,
*Samus Speed Boosting through the long horizontal path, breaking through Boost Block walls and Beetoms, before opening the door and running through it,
*Samus grappling over a pool of lava, spikes and Yapping Maws in Norfair,
*Samus demonstrating the Spin Jump Attack in the "pink shaft", and killing a Reo with it before firing at a Zeb.
(Set 3):
*Samus firing at a Cacatac in red Brinstar, and then freezing and jumping over two Yapping Maws suspended in water.
*Samus in a dimly lit corridor, killing a Fireflea and then aiming at another.
*Samus opening a shutter and firing a charged shot at a Small Side Hopper,
*Samus moving through lava filled with fire-spitting Namihes before emerging and running through Ridley's "Lair Entrance Statue",
*Samus Screw Attacking through a swarm of Mellows in a Craterian cavern,
*Samus falling down a long shaft in pink Brinstar and encountering the Dachora.
(Set 4):
*Samus in the Wrecked Ship corridor outside Phantoon's chamber, running up to two inactive Work Robots and chasing away the Sbugs that have gathered on them,
*Samus Shinesparking diagonally right upward in Crateria,
*Samus outside Kraid's room, firing 2 Missiles at the Gadora,
*Samus in a red Brinstar chamber with three Zeros that have molted from their skins,
*Samus watching Kraid begin to emerge from the ground,
*Samus watching the Golden Statue of Kraid "die".
A video demonstrating the game's attract mode can be viewed here, without Title Screen breaks or audio jumps here, and a comparison between the PAL and NTSC versions here.
Aside from this, the beginning, prior to showing the Title Screen, has the camera panning over the floor (complete with the corpses of various scientists aboard the Ceres Space Colony lying on the floor) while chirping is heard in the background, as well as cutting to the ceiling and then panning across it and eventually down computer rows before showing Baby, the source of the chirps, inside a containment field before showing the title of the game. Between shots, red font appears against a dark background and appearing as if being typed in with the following: "1994" "Nintendo" "Presents" "Metroid 3"
==Metroid Fusion==
Before the Title Screen even appears, a cutscene is displayed of a Biologic Space Laboratories vessel flying through space alongside Samus's Gunship. She is seen inside, apparently fine. Suddenly, her Gunship veers off course and crashes into an asteroid belt. The Title Screen then appears. Just before the arrival of the BSL vessel, it also, similarly to Super Metroid, shows white text first showing "Nintendo presents" and then "METROID 4" as if being typed.
If the Title Screen is left idle, clips are shown of Samus navigating a Morph Ball tunnel in Sector 2, climbing a ladder in Sector 5 and freezing a Ripper, killing Sciser-X in Sector 4, shooting zombie researchers and the Gadora outside the Arachnus' room on the Main Deck, Wall Jumping up to reach Missile Tank 1 in Sector 1, and the Speed Booster course to reach Power Bomb Tank 5 in Sector 2.
A demonstration of the attract mode can be viewed here.
==Metroid Prime==
Different versions of this game's attract mode plays different clips. The European version focuses on two clips at a time, before looping back to the title screen. The first clip is a portion of the introduction cutscene where Samus exits her Gunship and jumps onto the Frigate Orpheon. The next clip depicts Samus fighting against the Sheegoth and scanning it, followed by Samus engaging Space Pirates in the Research Core. After this, sequential footage is shown of Samus knocking a Mirror Array offline during the Flaahgra battle, engaging ground and Flying Pirates on the Control Tower, and the cutscene preceding the Thardus battle in which the beast rises.
The American/Korean version this time around plays a total of 19 clips. Most of the clips are only exclusive in the NTSC versions and in some occasions, it focuses on two clips at a time before it loops back to the title screen. The clips that play include a portion of the introduction cutscene, Samus fighting against the Sheegoth, destroying Auto Turrets and then using the Thermal Visor after, battling against Space Pirates with the Plasma Beam, blasting Space Pirates on the Control Tower, navigating through Transport Tunnel A while bomb jumping with the Morph Ball, utilizing the Spider Ball Tracks in the Furnace, defeating Space Pirates while using the Charge Beam, grappling over a lake in Tallon Overworld, the Thardus introduction cutscene, freezing Tallon Metroids with a charged Ice Beam and then using Missiles to finish them off, scanning in the Frigate Orpheon, ascending and overlooking the view of Phendrana Drifts, shooting the Parasite Queen and then scanning it after, ascending up with the X-Ray Visor in the Tallon Overworld, demolishing Beetles in Chozo Ruins, encountering the first Elite Pirate then fighting it and ascending up in the Crashed Frigate Orpheon. Most of these clips also play in the Japanese version as well.
In New Play Control! Metroid Prime, two sets of new clips play. Five clips are shown each in sequence with no breaks. The first set include Samus fighting a Baby Sheegoth, navigating Transport Tunnel A with the new Spring Ball ability, fighting the first Elite Pirate in Elite Control, the half-pipe in Reflecting Pool, and killing a Magmoor. The second set plays a portion of the introduction cutscene, battling against a Sheegoth, using the Grapple Beam, combating Flying Pirates on the Control Tower and utilizing the Spider Ball Tracks.
In Metroid Prime Remastered, seven clips play. Three of them carry from the original European version of Metroid Prime and the final four from the American/Korean versions. It focuses on two clips at a time before looping back to the title screen only after when the introduction cutscene clip appears. The first clip is a portion of the introduction cutscene. The next clip shows Samus fighting Space Pirates in the Research Core while using the Thermal Visor, followed by Samus engaging ground and Flying Pirates on the Control Tower. After this, two other clips play of Samus navigating through Transport Tunnel A with the Spring Ball and then Samus utilizing the Spider Ball Tracks in the Furnace. The final two clips are then shown after which includes Samus freezing two Tallon Metroids then using a Missile to finish them off in Metroid Quarantine A and finally, Samus grappling over the lake in the Frigate Crash Site.
A demonstration of the attract mode in the original game of the American/Korean versions can be viewed here, the New Play Control! version here and the Remastered version here.
==Metroid: Zero Mission==
A cutscene with frantic music plays with a better translated version of the mission orders in the attract mode of the original Metroid. Samus is shown rushing to Zebes, with a shot of Mother Brain in her Control Capsule before the screen shoots out with static. After the title appears, two sets of gameplay clips will play.
The first includes Samus destroying Skrees and Zoomers in Brinstar; ascending a Zeela-filled shaft in Kraid's Lair; using a zip line to escape pursuing Reos; killing an emerging Gamet before leaving the room; charging up a speed boost and then Shinesparking; moving through a corridor in Ridley's Lair with numerous Air Holes and obtaining Missile Tank 4; engaging a Barisute in Kraid's Lair; Space Jumping up to a Yellow Hatch in Chozodia; and the Acid Worm battle.
The second includes Samus ascending a shaft in blue Brinstar; freezing Rippers to ascend another shaft in Norfair and then freezing a Squeept; using a Morph Ball launcher in Kraid's Lair; clearing out a corridor of Tangle Vines and dropping into false lava; jumping into the hands of an upright Chozo Statue and using its Map feature; entering the flooded cavern; using the Ballspark to get through a room in Norfair; and fighting the Charge Beam Beast in Corridor No. 4.
A demonstration of the first attract mode can be viewed here, and the second here.
==Metroid Prime 2: Echoes==
Gameplay clips in this game are shown one by one. After the title appears, gameplay shown includes Samus destroying a Warrior Ing with the Light Beam while inside the Battleground's Safe Zone; ascending the Sanctum Access room in the Sky Temple; utilizing the Spider Ball Tracks at the Sanctuary Entrance; combating Dark Pirate Commandoes in the Torvus Grove; the Alpha Blogg battle in the Main Hydrochamber; and battling Splinters in the Temple Assembly Site, while scanning one of them (being that the last clip only plays in the American and Japanese versions).
In New Play Control! Metroid Prime 2: Dark Echoes, two sets of clips play just like in New Play Control! Metroid Prime. Nearly all of the clips carry from the original Gamecube version, some new clips were introduced as well. Four clips are shown each in sequence with no breaks. 
The first set plays a small portion of the introduction cutscene showing Samus's Gunship landing on Temple Grounds and then views Samus rising up from her Gunship, defeating a Pirate Aerotrooper with Missiles in Bioenergy Production, ascending the Sanctum Access room in the Sky Temple using the Screw Attack and destroying a Warrior Ing with the Light Beam while inside the Battleground's Safe Zone. 
The second set of clips includes Samus battling Splinters in the Temple Assembly Site while scanning one of them, struggling against a Quad MB in the Reactor Core, utilizing the Spider Ball Tracks at the Sanctuary Entrance and combating Dark Pirate Commandoes in the Torvus Grove. 
A demonstration of the attract mode in the original game can be viewed here, and the New Play Control! version here.
During the opening segment of the title screen itself, it shows "Nintendo" and "Presents", with alien-like objects in the background (presumably Ing).
===Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc===
Similar to the final game in terms of functionality. This game features 10 gameplay clips total, the second highest amount in the entire Metroid series. It focuses on a single clip at a time before looping back to the title screen. Gameplay shown includes Samus using the Screw Attack to reach a Missile Expansion in Mining Plaza, Samus using the Screw Attack to Wall Jump in Sanctum Access, using the Dark Visor and Seeker Missiles to open the gate in Sacred Bridge, a cutscene in GFMC Compound of an activated Kinetic Orb Cannon followed by Samus entering it, the Portal cutscene from Portal Terminal and Portal Site, using the Boost Ball to reach a Missile Expansion inside the Morph Ball tunnel leading to the Industrial-Grade Mining Drill, the Ing possessing Pirate Troopers in an incomplete Mining Station A, Samus battling Dark Samus in Main Reactor, the Amorbis pre-battle cutscene, and Samus battling a Warrior Ing in an unknown Dark Aetherian room.
==Metroid Prime Pinball==
If the game is left idle on the Title Screen, leaderboards will be displayed showing the top-scoring Pinball players in the world. as well as what are likely the high scores of Fuse Games personnel (one player, "CAI", may refer to Cai Remrod). Gameplay is shown of the Pirate Frigate table, with the word "Demo" flashing onscreen. Unlike most other games, this attract mode features sound effects. On the table, the Samus ball triggers the Wall Jump minigame.
The attract mode can be viewed in the first half of this video here.
== Metroid Prime Hunters==
When starting the game, a flashing yellow light will descend the top and bottom screen, illuminating elaborate Alimbic markings before finally stopping, and faintly revealing Gorea's form for a moment. After this, a cutscene plays introducing the Bounty Hunters and their origins, with a mini cutscene for each: Sylux of Cylosis confronting two Federation Marines after killing one; Weavel of the Space Pirates evading pursuers on what appears to be a race course; Noxus of the Vhozon perched upon a pillar of ice; Trace of the Kriken Empire surrounded by his race; Spire of Mondreus rolling down a cliff; and Kanden, an Enoema Hunter escaping from an unidentified building. Finally, Samus is seen battling a Pirate Trooper in a desert-like area. This video plays before the Title Screen, but will replay if the game is left idle. It can be viewed in the Movies collection after completing the game once.
The attract mode can be viewed here.
==Metroid Prime 3: Corruption==
There are two sets of gameplay clips. After one set, the title sequence repeats. 
The first set of clips played include Samus ascending with Wall Jump Surfaces in the Imperial Caverns; shooting ZipNMEBomber projectiles while using a Zipline Cable in SkyTown, Elysia; the Bryyonian Labor Golem in the Falls of Fire jumping down and releasing Samus; the damaged structure in Ruined Shrine falling over and dropping a Grapple Point; Samus being launched by a Kinetic Orb Cannon in SkyTown; and destroying a Space Pirate ATC in the Temple of Bryyo while on Hypermode. 
The second set includes Samus's Gunship flying to a Seed Shield Generator on Bryyo, the first Berserker Lord in Corruption throwing a Federation Marine's body in Docking Bay 5, Samus's Gunship destroying a Seed Shield Generator on Bryyo and Samus killing an Advanced Pirate Trooper in the Temple of Bryyo through Hypermode.
In the Japanese version, there are new clips that are only exclusive and does not appear in the American and European versions, some clips carry from those versions too.
A demonstration of the attract mode in the original game can be viewed here; some earlier versions can also be viewed here, another here; and a very early version here as well.
== Metroid Prime Trilogy==
Being that the Trilogy is a compilation, clips from all three games are shown. These clips are actually taken verbatim from the attract modes of the original games and placed together. There are two sets of clips that play during the title screen, after one set, the title sequence repeats. 
The first set views a portion of the intro cutscene from the first Metroid Prime game, Samus defeating a Warrior Ing with the Light Beam while inside the Battleground's Safe Zone, employing the Spider Ball Tracks at the Sanctuary Fortress and Samus's Gunship obliterating a Seed Shield Generator on Bryyo. 
The second set displays Samus annihilating a Flying Pirate on the Control Tower, climbing the Sanctum Access room in the Sky Temple while using the Screw Attack, the first Berserker Lord hurling a Federation Marine's body in Docking Bay 5 and vanquishing an Advanced Pirate Trooper in the Temple of Bryyo through Hypermode.
The European version oddly swaps around the two sets of clips as seen in the NSTC version (example: instead of set one, it plays set two first), but it still views the same clips in order from those sets.
A demonstration can be found here.
==Metroid Prime: Federation Force==
Before the Title Screen appears, a short summary of the previous developments in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is displayed, with the backdrop of Excelcion. which gradually zooms in until it consumes the screen. The summary mentions that the destruction of Phaaze and the end of Phazon was a landmark victory by the Galactic Federation against the Space Pirates. In order to continue their efforts to rout out the Pirates, the Federation initiates Operation Golem, a military campaign to overcome the Pirates through superior technology. The Mech battle armor is created, and with it the elite squad known as the Federation Force. After this cutscene is complete, the actual Title Screen appears.
Category:Game Modes