Y can't Metroid crawl?

"Y can't Metroid crawl?" is an internet meme that originated on Miiverse.
==Origin==
At 10:19am on May 16, 2013, a user named PaulyU asked in a since-deleted post "y cant metroid crawl?" on the Super Metroid community of Miiverse. Attached was a screenshot of the bottom of the second room in old Brinstar, which formerly led to Kraid's Lair in Metroid/Metroid: Zero Mission. PaulyU was confused as to how to pass through the narrow gap at the bottom of the room, unaware of using the Morph Ball.
The post quickly went viral on Miiverse, garnering 3,000 "yeahs". It also spread to communities on sites such as NeoGAF and Reddit, with many users mocking PaulyU's obliviousness and the fact that he called Samus Aran "Metroid". Other Miiverse users made similar posts mocking PaulyU's. "y cant metroid crawl?" has since become an in-joke among the Metroid fandom, with some debating whether PaulyU genuinely had trouble beating the game, or was trolling.
==Further posts by PaulyU==
While the above post is the most famous, PaulyU made several more posts asking how to pass obstacles within the game, including getting through Red Hatches, and general navigation.http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/05/weirdness_a_wii_u_gamers_miiverse_journey_through_super_metroid
On May 28, 2013, Kotaku reported that PaulyU had completed Super Metroid with a clear time of 7:35.https://kotaku.com/y-cant-metroid-crawl-guy-beats-metroid-is-hilarious-510191575 He posted a screenshot of the baby draining Mother Brain during the final battle against her, captioned with "jellyfish is helping yes". His final post, with a screenshot of his clear time, was captioned "not bad for 1st time and people say old games are short!!"
PaulyU was later banned from Miiverse for attempting to sell a game through the service.https://www.gonintendo.com/stories/216968-creator-of-the-y-can-t-metroid-crawl-meme-gets-banned-from-miiCheesemeister (Cheesemeister3k). "PaulyU, the #Miiverse user behind "y cant metroid crawl?", has been banned by the administrators. What'd he do? #FreePaulyU #WiiU" 8 June 2013 12:33 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/Cheesemeister3k/status/343390277114945538
==Acknowledgement by Nintendo==
There have been several instances where Nintendo has seemingly acknowledged the meme and made references to it.
A Nintendo tweet from April 28th, 2014 promoting NES Remix 2 has an image attached of the Samus and Metroid larva sprites from the original Metroid. It states that Samus "can't crawl" and the Metroid "also can't crawl".Nintendo UK (NintendoUK). "Know your #Metroid in #NESRemix 2" 28 April 2014 3:02 p.m. Tweet https://twitter.com/nintendouk/status/460841496959549440
The description of the Varia Suit Trophy in the NTSC version of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS ends with: "And, in a feature quite unique to the Metroid series, it lets her [Samus] morph into a ball instead of having to crawl!" The PAL version of the trophy description replaces the final sentence with "And, in a feature quite unique to the Metroid series, it lets her morph into a ball. Do you reckon it's comfy in there?"https://kotaku.com/smash-bros-tells-us-y-cant-metroid-crawl-1642339921https://www.engadget.com/2014/10/06/y-cant-metroid-crawl-smash-bros-has-the-answer/
On January 11, 2015, a Zero Suit Samus fighter card was uploaded to the Super Smash Bros. Facebook page and Nintendo UK Twitter. It was captioned "Back in Metroid: Zero Mission. She crawled."Nintendo UK (NintendoUK). "Back in Metroid: Zero Mission. She crawled. #SmashBros" 11 Jan 2015 3:00 p.m. Tweet https://twitter.com/nintendoeurope/status/554352124587700224
Kit Ellis referenced the meme in a video for Miiverse, although the Nintendo Treehouse presenter hosting the video either did not understand it or ignored it.Kit & Krysta. "EP9 - We Got Ditched by Hideo Kojima in Japan - Kit & Krysta Podcast" YouTube. April 14, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUvmG_gt48A (starts at 1:20:46)
On August 21, 2021, Nintendo UK and Nintendo of Europe both tweeted a video of the Morph Ball from the fifth Metroid Dread Report, captioned with "Who needs to crawl?"Nintendo of Europe (NintendoEurope). "Who needs to crawl? #MetroidDread" 21 August 2021 6:00 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/1429020452924571648 It is worth mentioning that other Nintendo accounts, such as Nintendo España and Nintendo DE, tweeted different captions.Nintendo España (NintendoES). "Rueda que te rueda, con la Morfosfera. #MetroidDread" 21 August 2021 6:00 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/NintendoES/status/1429020461359378432Nintendo DE (NintendoDE). "They see me rollin’… #MetroidDread" 21 August 2021 6:00 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/NintendoDE/status/1429020459857678338
On July 18, 2024, Nintendo of America uploaded "Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition – Hotline Hints Launch Trailer – Nintendo Switch", in which former game counselor Ed R. says "You do know Samus can't crawl in this one, right?"
==Gallery==
PaulyU other posts.png|Other posts by PaulyU.
NES_Remix_2_Metroid_can't_crawl.png|Nintendo tweet for NES Remix 2.
SSB43DSTrophyVaria.png|Varia Suit trophy.
Y Can't Metroid Tweet.png|Nintendo of Europe tweet from 2015
Nintendo UK Dread Report V5 Crawl Meme.png|Nintendo UK tweet from 2021
==See also==
*Ridley is too big, another meme alluded to by Nintendo
==External links==
*Y Can't Metroid Crawl on Know Your Meme
==References==
Category:Fandom