4 Things Even Metroid Fans Didn’t Know About Ridley (Like His TRUE Origin)

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In discussions about the Metroid games, it’s usually Samus Aran who first pops into people’s minds as the protagonist. However, Ridley, the dragon-like antagonist, is almost always associated too. Although he hasn’t been featured in every game, Ridley is a recurring character who has played significant roles in most of Samus’s adventures, making him well-known among fans due to his various forms and functions within the Metroid series.

Ridley is a captivating entity within the Metroid universe, known for making multiple appearances across various games – even after being vanquished in previous ones. Often taking on dragon-like forms, he’s best remembered by players for his shocking transformation as ‘The Other M’. His history, involving cloning and regeneration, is complex to say the least. Moreover, there are obscure details about this well-known Metroid character that even dedicated fans might not be privy to.

4. He’s Been Present In Every Super Smash Bros. Game

Even though Ridley hasn’t played all Metroid games, he’s always present for each version of Smash Bros., with an exception starting from his playable debut in Ultimate. However, he has made an appearance as a cameo character since the original Super Smash Bros., showing up as a background element on the Zebes stage.

In the initial scene of Super Smash Bros. Melee, Ridley and Samus engage in combat. In the subsequent game, known as Brawl, Ridley’s role expands as he and Meta Ridley become bosses in different levels – Research Facility for Ridley and Subspace Bomb Factory (Part II) for Meta Ridley. Lastly, in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Ridley transforms into both a boss character and a trophy, making his debut as the latter.

3. According to the Manga, He Can Talk

In the video games, Ridley never speaks a word. However, for those who are familiar with the Metroid series only through gaming, they might be unaware that Ridley is quite talkative in the Metroid comics. To add, conversations between Space Pirates in Metroid games are scarce, so it’s not unexpected that Ridley doesn’t have much to share.

Since Ridley communicates through dialogues in the manga, much of his history and background information is provided there. Although some fans argue whether these details are consistent with the games, they undeniably enrich this frequently appearing character. Whether he will speak in Metroid 4 or not, and if so, what role he’ll play, remains a mystery.

2. He Has Regenerative Powers

Just like any video game boss, it’s puzzling how Ridley continues to reappear even after being defeated multiple times. The games try to provide reasons for this, such as his Meta Ridley form having cybernetic upgrades and later, him being cloned. However, the manga offers an alternative theory on why he keeps coming back.

In the Metroid comic book, Ridley informs Samus that he possesses a unique ability to regenerate himself. This process involves consuming flesh, a disturbing detail he shares with Samus in the comic. Unlike how it appears when Ridley survives boss battles, this isn’t just a matter of licking his wounds; instead, he has an extraordinary method of healing. While the original Ridley is long gone from the series’ later installments, part of his longevity may be attributed to these regenerative powers.

1. His True Origins

In the Metroid series, the specifics surrounding Ridley’s background are largely left unexplored. Prior to his affiliation with the Space Pirates, Ridley’s past remains shrouded in mystery. His species is never explicitly identified, as no other characters similar to him appear within the games. The manga does introduce one character from his species, but their specific species isn’t named either. Yet, some early game materials offer a hint about Ridley’s origins.

In the instruction manual for the video game “Metroid,” Ridley is referred to as the first life form on the planet Zebes, which implies that he is extremely old and native to this planet where Samus was brought up. However, this information about his origins has not been reiterated in any later game materials. Similar to certain details from the manga, the exact truth of this can be debated. Nevertheless, as it appears in the official game manuals, I consider it valid.

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2025-09-10 17:17