Super Metroid/Brinstar

Brinstar is a main area of Planet Zebes. It is being divided to a jungle-like, lively area (upper Brinstar), and a silent, red-soiled area (lower Brinstar).

Reaching Brinstar
Although it may seem like it isn't accessible from the get-go, Brinstar is the first place to go when arriving on Zebes. After you passed the old Mother Brain lair, an elevator leads to a deserted cave which seems to be not connected to the main section of Brinstar, though it actually is, as you will see when getting the Power Bomb upgrade. This place is the original start point of Metroid for the NES, where you can find the Morphball. See Crateria if you haven't gotten it yet.

However, you will be able to visit the main part of Brinstar after acquiring the Morph Ball Bomb from the Chozo Statue. After getting the bomb, battling the statue and leaving its chamber, go back the way you came until you reach the spot where you had to morph into a ball. Take the way on the right by climbing the steps and bombing away the blocks with your new item (, as shown when getting it).

After leaving the tunnel, head left until you reach a wall made of violet-grey stones. You can simply blast this wall. Pass the gate behind it, and run through the cave. At its end, you will find your first Energy Tank. The next room holds green Space Pirates, which are immune to your standard beam. Use missiles instead, or, if you're insane, bombs should also work. When reaching the bottom, you can choose between two gates. Take the left one. The right door leads to Tourian, an area you will explore much later on. Another corridor awaits you, which leads to the room that contains the elevator that will lower you down into Brinstar.

The first Room
The first room contains five gates. If you're interested in getting the Brinstar map, take the upper left gate first. When you reach a wall, place bombs at it to pass. After getting the map, you'll have to kill all the enemies to leave the corridor.

Thereafter, enter the opposite room. It contains a bridge that will collapse when you try standing on it. Try to fall down into the first "box" to get a missile container. Leave the box by placing bombs at the left wall (you can also enter the box that way). You can hardly cross the bridge until you get the Speed Booster, so exit the room. The middle left gate contains a save point. Save, if you want, and head for the bottom of the room. The left door leads to a a missile recharger. If you choose to get there, watch out for the firefly-like aliens. They can hurt you, but if you kill them all, the room will be completely dark.

Finally, take the right door as soon as you're finished.

Getting an Upgrade
After running along that shaft, you will arrive in a huge hall. Head for the upper part. As you arrive, you can see that the wall is thinner on the left side. You can reveal a save station by placing a bomb at the spot on the very left (&rarr; picture). Save, and head right. You will encounter some mantis-like critters; kill them to get to the next room.

Fighting Spore Spawn
That next room is Spore Spawn's lair. It's a giant spore, spawning little spores that can hurt you. It will immediately start moving around the room. Morph into a ball during this phase, and dodge the small spores. As it stops moving, it will open its "mouth". Shoot a missile into it (your beam won't have any effect). Now, simply keep that strategy for the rest of the fight. The boss will become faster over time, but that doesn't really matter. If you run out of missiles, shoot the small spores and collect their drops. 10 missiles should be enough for this boss.

As soon as it's dead, collect its drops, jump up the vertical shaft above and pass through the gate. At the end of the following room, you will find a spawner pipe that does not spawn enemies. Jump on its top to make it collapse. You'll fall down a long duct and land in front of a Chozo statue holding the first Super Missile Container.