: Shortly after Samus departs, the colony is attacked by the Space Pirate leader, Ridley . He slaughters the scientists and steals the hatchling, prompting Samus to follow him back to the Space Pirate stronghold on planet Zebes .
The "JU" in stands for Japan/USA, referring to the specific ROM version that contains both English and Japanese text. This version is widely considered the standard for fans, speedrunners, and ROM hackers. Super Metroid (JU)
This version is the foundation for most and modern fan creations. Because it is the most stable and documented version of the game, creators use it to build entirely new stories and worlds: : Shortly after Samus departs, the colony is
: Following her previous mission on SR388, Samus delivers the last surviving Metroid to the Ceres Space Colony for scientific study. Scientists discover its energy could potentially benefit humanity. This version is widely considered the standard for
The story follows bounty hunter as she returns to the planet Zebes to rescue a stolen Metroid hatchling. The Narrative Arc
: Samus explores the subterranean world, navigating diverse biomes like the rainy surface of Crateria , the overgrown Brinstar , the volcanic Norfair , and the sunken Maridia .
: In the final confrontation with the bio-mechanical Mother Brain , Samus is nearly defeated. The Metroid hatchling—now grown to a massive size—recognizes Samus as its "mother" and sacrifices itself to give her the Hyper Beam , allowing her to destroy Mother Brain and escape before the planet self-destructs. Why the (JU) Version Matters