Metroid/Brinstar: Difference between revisions

'''''Samus' mission begins in an area of tunnels called Brinstar.  Here the tunnels are composed mainly of stone and there are long shafts leading up and down.  Prepare to meet many dive-bombing Skrees and Rios as you search for Power-Up options.  This is the easiest area of the planet to clear, so use it to learn all of Samus' moves.  Remember that blue doors must be fired upon to open them.'''''

 

[[Image:Metroid_NES_Brinstar_A.png|310px|left]][[Image:Metroid_NES_Brinstar_B.png|540px]]

;1) A rolling start: If you begin by running to the right, you will eventually be blocked by a wall with a passage that is too small for Samus to run through.  She will need a way to shrink down in size and squeeze through the passage.  Instead, start by running to the left.  After jumping over the large outcropping, you will find the Maru Mari (Round Ball), a modular expansion to Samus' armor that allows her to safely roll up into a small ball.  As a ball, she can roll right though low passageways with ease.  Now you can progress to the long vertical shaft at the other end of the corridor.

;2) Your first rockets: Before you can collect any key Power-Ups, you are going to need some missiles, and the easiest ones to collect is the pack found in the bottom passage of East Brinstar.  You'll need to climb up the first vertical shaft to reach the bridge that connects East and West Brinstar.  Then drop all the way down to the bottom of the second shaft to reach the door.  As you run to the missiles, watch out for Skree that drop from the ceiling and the Zebs that appear from the pipes.  They will fly right into you without a second thought.  Once you collect the missiles, you will want to double back.  But remember this location well; the elevator to Norfair is a short distace away.

;5) Bring on the bombs: You're already headed in the right direction for the next power-up.  As a ball, Samus doesn't have any offensive power.  It would be nice to change that, so keep running to the right.  You will reach another vertical chamber.  Jump from platform to platform until you reach the next door on the left.  Pass through it, and you may be reminded of the Long Beam chamber.  Run to the end and blast the red door open (hopefully you were able to restock your five missiles by now.)  Head inside to get the next Power-Up: The Bombs.  You can set a bomb by rolling up into a ball and pressing {{control|{{nes|B}}|{{gc|B}}|{{gb|B}}|{{wii|1}}|{{wii-cc|b}}|{{3ds|B}}}}.

;6) The trouble with ice: The ice beam is a handy weapon to have, but it can be difficult to collect and continue without the High Jump boots (although not impossible.)  If you intend to visit Norfair immediately after completing Brinstar, you may wish to skip this particular Ice Beam in favor of a much easier one in Norfair.  You should only collect the Ice Beam now if you intend to battle Kraid (it's not a requirement, but it can be helpful), or if wish to collect the Varia Power-Up (number 7) right away.  If you would like to collect it now, return to where you collected the first Energy Tank, and pass through the door to the left.  A portion of the bridge over the acid can be bombed, allowing you to drop through.  You may be surprised to find that the acid is really just an illusion and doesn't hurt you at all.  Beneath it is another series of platforms.  At the bottom is a chamber, and at the end of that chamber is the Ice Beam.  So far so good, but the problem is getting out.  Samus can stand on a portion of the "acid" below the section of bridge that can be destroyed.  To get out without the High Jump boots takes careful timing.  You must shoot the section of the bridge, and wait until one second before the block reappears.  Jump at the last second so that Samus' feet get caught in the reappearing block.  She will take damage, but she will also be prevented from falling down again.  Of course, if you can get the Waver to sink down into the hole, you can also freeze it with your newly acquired Ice Beam and use it as a platform.  Another trick with your newly acquired Bomb is shoot the block above, and immediately morph, lay a bomb, get up, and as soon as you get to the highest point jump and you should make it.

;A difficult Energy Tank: As you can see on the map, there happens to be an Energy Tank hidden right in the corridor next to the one you start from.  However, it is located in the ceiling, and it extremely difficult to reach.  The easiest method to collect it involves the Ice Beam and the High Jump boots.  Follow a Zoomer that is crossing the ground to the left, and watch it as it climbs the walls, and up to the ceiling, where it will proceed to move right.  Wait until it reaches the overhang near the hidden tank, and let it come down close to you.  When it is a little less than half way off the ground, freeze it and use it as a platform to jump from and reach the Energy Tank.  This can be accomplished without the High Jump boots, but its rather difficult. You can also however freeze a Rio as well.