The Problem with Ridley

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Links and Credits
Henry Selick, James & the Giant Peach (1996)
Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Cruz’s Introductory Remarks at “Emerging Space Environment” Hearing, • Sen. Cruz's Introducto...
Katie Tiedrich, Awkward Zombie, awkwardzombie.c...
LORE, LORE - Metroid Lore in a Minute!, • Video
Benimaru Itoh, Super Metroid, scanned by the Metroid Database
Magazine Z Metroid Manga translated by Snoopycool
Ridley is too big, knowyourmeme.c...
Jose Otero, “Why Ridley Isn’t Playable in Smash Bros,” uk.ign.com/art...
Doctor Who, “Love and Monsters”
Yoshio Sakamoto, Development Room FAQ, translated by the Metroid Database, www.metroid-da...

[@shoogles_]

CORRECTIONS and CLARIFICATIONS:- - There is actually another reference to Ridley killing Samus' parents in Western media - in the pamphlet that came with Metroid Prime Trilogy. - Benimari Itoh's Super Metroid comic art made its way into the Japanese Nintendo Official Guidebook for Super Metroid in April 1994. It describes Samus' backstory there as well. By the time the comic had reached the K-2L story, it would have already made its debut in Japan. - Ridley is not the leader of the Space Pirates. I refer to him as an "enforcer" because while his position is never made clear, but even when Mother Brain is absent he's said to answer to High Command. - I say Ridley appeared in "almost" every Smash game because he never appeared in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

[@Bakanineinstein]

Well... Yeah but um.... How to say this without running too much for others... PLAUSIBLE LIKELY SPOILERS First and foremost while currently EVERYTHING that is in the Metroid series is concerned cannon, the sad fact that at one point the Prime series was Rescinded because the series wouldn't quite fit in with the main storyline that the games main story director wanted is... Well disheartening at best... That said take everything I write here with a grain of salt but the last time I checked the upcoming MP4 is supposedly going to be a adaptation of the previously cancelled Metroid Dread... Now I have absolutely no idea what you may or may not have seen about that game so I am just going to state a spoiler warning yet again for anyone regarding it's plot should anything important make it's resurgence. Adam would be revealed as the man who pretty much destroyed Samus life, he has been stealing tech from the Federation for years and is the currently unseen face behind the Pirates raids... (Including the one that sent Samus down her path) And among said tech is bioengineering that the Pirates reverse engineered for the Chozo to increase their ability to steal and eventually win almost any war. So you can see the implication here... If they stick with this scenario Ridley is a biocontroled lifeform most likely used by Adam. Now from my understanding Metroid Dread's somewhat twisted plot was the primary reason as to why we didn't get the game... But since the Prime series has shown Nintendo that they can have a dark themed series and still have a family friendly image THAT is why we are supposed to get a lot of Dread's plot used for this upcoming game. But again... A grain of salt... PLEASE!

[@yoshiminer4289]

Alan Fuller Is that still true now that Prime 4 has restarted development from the beginning? Everything previously done had been scrapped, so I doubt the story would remain the same as it once was early in development. Plus, since Retro is now involved with Prime 4, they may take it in a completely different direction.

[@whosthatturtle2078]

I was actually more happy when they announced retro would be doing it again. They did a great job on the other ones. Hopefully p4 follows.

[@SonicFrake]

Huh, I guess I forgot about that (been a long time since I played Metroid Prime). I remember reading somewhere Ridley was the leader and I guess I was fooled into thinking that was canon. The part about Mother Brain being nothing but a tool for the space pirates still holds up though as it was also established in the prime series that these brains in jars are what computers are in the metroid universe. The organic components in their makeup give them true intelligence over simple A.I. but they lack free will and can only do what they are programmed/ordered to do just like any other computer. This is further backed by the comics/manga in which there is a scene where child Samus, Old Bird or some other chozo and Mother Brain are interacting with each other because as fans know, Zebes was the home of the chozo and where Samus grew up before the pirates took it over. If Mother Brain were a truly sentient being that could think for herself she would have viewed the pirates as hostile invaders and held them in contempt. Even if she was forced to work for the pirates against her will she would have cooperated with Samus when she showed up not fought against her. But no, when the pirates took over Mother Brain fell into their possession and she was reprogrammed and repurposed for their needs like the tool she is. She was basically the computer running the cloning machines or whatever that were mass producing the Metroids to be used as B.O.Ws for the pirates. That's why it was Samus's mission to destroy Mother Brain not rescue or reclaim her. Because this is a sci-fi series I suppose it's possible that Mother Brain became self aware at some point and went Skynet on the chozo when the pirates invaded but I'm not familiar with any lore that would support that theory. Even if it was the case that Mother Brain suddenly became a rogue A.I. I don't see how she would gain any authoritative position in the space pirate organization. It's laughable to think a conquering force would become subservient to the tool of a race they just conquered, least of all the space pirates. As you've stated, they are a very destructive group that tends to destroy the tech of other alien races if they don't like it. Any attempt on Mother Brain's part to do anything other than shut up and obey would most likely be met with blaster fire. Bottom line, the organic computers in the metroid universe are nothing but tools made to serve the needs of their human/alien masters and there's no reason to believe Mother Brain is an exception. Saying she's the mastermind or any part of the leadership in the space pirates organization is like saying Apple is being run by Steve Jobs' Iphone.

[@SonicFrake]

I realize my characterization of Mother Brain contradicts the very same comics/manga I was referencing but we can both agree that some parts of the comics are canon while others aren't right? Since the brains in jars are shown to be computer systems in the games themselves I think it's reasonable to assume that Mother Brain having a leadership position in the space pirate organization is something the manga got wrong. Nobody takes orders from their computer.

[@AllTheRooks]

I am absolutely interested in a 45 minute video about Rrrrrridley

[@IammeoramI]

Gurrreadt rreacorrrding rrruheally inforrromed pearrrspective

[@pivotguydc1149]

Incrrreeedible Charrrrracter

[@kirbyn5611]

It 46 minutes and 38 seconds long

[@Matthew-mo7wh]

Mother Brrrrain from Metrrrroid

[@PoloRossi]

Kirby None *fourrrrty-six minutes and thirrrrrty-eight seconds

[@nicoloenricorimoldi7425]

About Fusion's incarnation, I'd like to add a few things: 1- Seeing him in the freezer is frightening because of the implications: the Federation recovered his corpse for some unknown reason. 2- I like how twisted he becomes when corrupted by the X. He looks even more alien than his regular form.

[@JetstreamMax]

@Hippo Pilot Fusion is canonically the final game and is, beneath it all, about Samus discovering the corruption within the Federation. Prime 4 could maybe hint at it with Sylux (who hates the Federation for some reason) if he ends up being in it, but otherwise I think it would muddy the timeline unless Prime 4 is set after Fusion.

[@discountchocolate4577]

A proper sequel to Fusion which explores its aftermath (Samus becoming a fugitive, GF being the main baddies instead of or in addition to the Space Pirates, etc.) would honest to god be more exciting than just another Prime sequel so long as Sakamoto were kept on a tight leash - that is, unless Sakamoto and Retro had the balls to set Prime 4's story after the events of Fusion which I seriously doubt, in spite of the very strong story potential. Consider the following premises for future Metroid games that we'll probably never see: *The GF had the hubris to hold on to some of the phazon left over from the events of Corruption and more or less repeat the Space Pirates' mistakes by using it to make more dangerous machines and space monsters for Samus to inevitably run into through organic exploration and then destroy/kill. Like Fusion but 3D (or like Other M except with good controls). *Samus is a wanted criminal and has to evade or fight other bounty hunters and mercenaries hired to track and capture her by the GF (and who can _actually_ track her in real time, or a good-enough approximation permitted by a Switch's processing power, instead of the scripted scenarios like in Hunters). *Samus intervenes in a Chozo-esque planetary civilization's anti-imperial struggle against economic and military war waged by GF occupiers. Maybe Space Pirates are also there to profit from the ensuing chaos and (alongside Samus being there) provide a convenient additional excuse for the GF to invade (think along the lines of the US invading Iraq and Afghanistan using Al-Qaeda as pretext and you get the idea). In terms of story and world design, Prime 1 and Echoes would probably be a good foundation for this one. *Samus is captured by the GF and then tortured by the four-faced AI that Retro wanted to build a Prime sequel around before developing Echoes instead (I am having trouble tracking down any documentation about this but I swear this was a real thing that they were working on). The AI has different faces which each impose distinct restrictions on what Samus is allowed to do and was apparently the inspiration for the much worse item restriction feature shoddily implemented in Other M.

[@Galgus2000]

@@discountchocolate4577 Wasn't all Phazon somehow destroyed when Phaaze was? I liked seeing the GF as visible good guys in Corruption, and maybe we could have it both ways. Maybe this is too much like Other M, but it could be fun for Samus to find a planet with some secret GF bioweapon experiments gone wrong and seek to both destroy the monsters they created and recover proof of their actions to get the program shut down. It could start as a typical distress signal planet exploration as we learn what happened, maybe see some logs from a scientist recounting the horrors of the Space Pirates as their motive while they become increasingly disturbed by their work...maybe that's too much like PSO's Red Ring Rico messages. Evading bounty hunters could be worked in as they, GF black ops teams, and possibly Space Pirates seeking to steal more technology show up to try to stop her / get to the data vault first. Anyway, the data vault could be in a section was sealed when everything went south with a rogue guardian / terribly mutated scientist / other scary final boss thing waiting in there as the final obstacle to getting all the proof Samus needs. Perhaps that AI was some sort of experimental Aurora unit originally in charge of the place, that either helps Samus or works against her. ____ Your third idea seems too much like a war game for Metroid, though it could have a good Corruption-esq feel to it.

[@NaelRamos01]

And still up to this date, players still don't realize that the galactic Federation cooperated with the space pirates, in what? Remember that in Fusion there was the RESTRICTED AREA where they were cloning metroids? Yep....That's where all the other Ridley came from.

[@discountchocolate4577]

@@NaelRamos01 I'm open to the possibility that the Space Pirates are basically the Al-Qaeda or ISIS to the GF's NATO.

[@Alias_Anybody]

Wasn't the point of finding Ridley's frozen body in Fusion to raise suspicion that the Federation may be the bad guys here? Because why the heck is Ridley here when the game isn't about the Space pirates at all? Finding Ridley is not about the character himself but about the sinister implications about the organisation you are working for as well as a general "oh shit"-moment because you know very well that the X can copy everything.

[@rory6281]

That’s what I was thinking

[@TheCanineContrarian]

Very well said!!

[@kingofflames738]

Apparently the reason why Ridley os frozen there is because the federation salvaged his petrified body after OtherM where he gets his energy sucked out by Metroid.

[@worsethanyouthink]

ShayMay is talking from the point of view of how Ridley is portrayed in the situation, while excluding outside implications. You are right about the implication but that is not the point of the video

[@Alias_Anybody]

@@worsethanyouthink But mentioning it was a bit pointless in this context. He's literally dead at this point and you are fighting a copy. Psychological effects on Samus? Still there. Ridley's actual character? Well, he's dead.

[@5raptorboy1]

What I think you ignore is how Ridley destroying Samus's people relates to Samus destroying the Metroids in 2. It's interesting, not because it sets up for any of the plots you mentioned (a revenge plot, Ridley setting up his own destruction, etc.), it's interesting because it gives a motivation for Samus giving mercy to the Baby Metroid. She sees the parallel between Ridley, an alien invader which destroyed everything she knew, and herself, an alien invader which destroyed the Metroids. It also adds to your wondering if killing the Metroids was right or not.

[@shoogles_]

That's a really strong reading and it's brought me the closest I've come to liking the ending of Samus Returns.

[@5raptorboy1]

@@shoogles_ that's awesome, I didn't think you would reply, I love your videos

[@ProjectEchoshadow]

5raptorboy1 in that case fusion ruins the series as it answers the question for us. Taking away the ethical issues by saying clearly they’re the lesser evil.

[@5raptorboy1]

@@ProjectEchoshadow I can see where you're coming from, but, not necessarily. Just because it brings up an answer doesn't mean that the ethical question isn't still there. At the end of the day, metroid 2 also brings up an answer, simply the opposite one. Both games make cases for their answers in different ways. But both games also bring up points that should go against the concrete "answer". In metroid 2 as you descend into the planet the world becomes more and more barren as the metroids become more common. Throughout the rest of the series, Metroids are used for a lot of bad things. In fusion, the answer to kill the X seems clear but the game definitely portrays them as thinking feeling beings.

[@CeffyRoth]

Interesting idea that I’ve never heard before. However, I’ve always thought the act of mercy in Metroid 2 had little to do with sympathy or pity and more to do with the realization that Metroids aren’t mindlessly destructive; it was the first time a Metroid had been seen in a non-lethal context that put it on par with other animals. If it had anything to do with sympathy or affection, Samus wouldn’t have simply handed the hatchling over and left (“satisfied,” at that!). This is why Other M is so infuriating with Samus’ attitude toward “the baby,” because it goes against what her prior actions conveyed.

[@meangirlovania]

You say that Metroid Fusion's Ridley is an effective disempowering of an old enemy to elevate a new one, but I think what makes it so is it's not played straight. Ridley's power is less belittled than it is co-opted; what's frightening about seeing him there is that you realize what a deadly power the X parasites are about to get their...zygotes...on. I usually don't dig this trope, because it's basically the face of power creep and cheapens the earlier parts of the narrative. In this case, though, I dig it 'cause the two foes work in tandem. Well, as much as a re-animated husk can *work* of its own volition, but you get my point(?)

[@kgblagden]

That's what I was thinking. You can't really disempower an enemy that's already dead.

[@sonicANDtailsfan157k]

So what you're saying is (based on the earliest point in game in which we can encounter him), while most players would probably think about is "well look who it is, sucks being dead doesn't it, ok bye", what we should be thinking is "wait if he's here, well what's left of him, then... oh no!"

[@Harrinsain]

The implications of that scene aren't scary in fusion in spite of Ridley, they're scary specifically because of him.

[@eoinkeogh1839]

I love how well researched and well presented these videos are. I feel they do justice to the topics covered that only a documentary length can give. When I see these videos in my subscription box I get excited about the fact I know I’m getting something of such high quality no matter how long they take to produce. Well done and keep it up I love these videos from the bottom of my heart

[@StairwayToEvan-]

I agree. Ridley is a presence, a warrior, not a general but more of a direct tool of destruction. Truthfully it is ironic that he and Samus are both weapons of war when they are on the field.

[@andyenglish4303]

I think that dramatic irony is what makes me like the detail. The fact that it's so incidental to their relationship in the present is a subversion of the trope. It's not a revenge story, even if Samus has a right to revenge.

[@anthonymccall3064]

Nice. Its primal and viseral. Which can be more of an effective tool for story telling than our psuedo sophistication care to acknowledge.

[@Tazkar]

I would disagree slightly, I see Ridley as a Commander, he directs forces in an attack but at the same time still falls under the authority of higher ups that have the 'Big World View' going on. They just tell Ridley "Take your troops and go do this." Which he then carries out. As he is cunning but definitely not a mastermind.

[@worsethanyouthink]

Like... Any... Soldier... Of war...

[@XylitoI]

@@andyenglish4303 I think this is a great way of looking at it. Ridley killing Samus' parents is part of the series' backstory and there's no changing that, nor is there really reason to change it; it's ultimately not even that important within the games themselves. Ridley and Samus might have spoken to each other in this canonized manga, but in the games (all of which take place later) not a word is needed. Samus is on a mission, and Ridley is one of the forces standing in her way. Them having some history together is just incidental. The problem of Ridley becoming a victim of overuse due to developers and writers misunderstanding him is an entirely separate issue. I'd say it's even fine if we don't get the full picture of these characters in a cross-over title like Smash Bros., because you're supposed to play the source material to actually become familiar with them. No series or character is represented 'perfectly' in Smash, because it's a fighting game, and a unique one at that. Even Ryu and Ken who originate from a fighting game and are veterans of cross-over fighters are a bit different in their Smash Bros incarnation. It's a fair point that the less popular the IP is the more likely it is to suffer from misrepresentation within a more popular IP muddying its image, but what are you gonna do? The solution is for the other series to become more popular.

[@metalheadrebellion]

"That doesn't happen in a Nintendo game!" Pigma Dengar killed Fox's dad and then there's all the grim parts of Mother 3

[@awooga-gunga-israel]

Can we also talk about Giyagas in Earthbound? That boss was dark AF 😂

[@CeffyRoth]

Master Sword through the skull, anyone?

[@rory6281]

Not to mention Rex’s parents

[@jaysonklein6018]

Also... didn't Zant get killed by Gannondorf?

[@CeffyRoth]

Pretty unclear as I recall. It kind of looked like Zant did Ganondorf in at the end. Did G do something to K after you beat him earlier on? I don’t remember. I just know G hijacks the ending.

[@mredbadger]

“Ridley kills Samus’s parents” has the same energy as “tails dies in the sonic 2 bad ending”, “Mario punches Yoshi in the head” and “there’s blood in the Kirby’s Dreamland 3 final boss”. Its significance is severely overstated, ppl only bring it up in a “you thought this game was for kids?” kinda tone

[@DeepWeeb]

"This is the time to use Samus' full arse-" *pause video*

[@fireflocs]

We all knew Ridley was using that.

[@TheBlackLobo]

Oh god I hope so

[@Bakanineinstein]

Why... JUST WHY does everyone ship this...? I won't lie... I mean obviously NOBODY needs a good ass beating like Samus does... ESPECIALLY after Other M... But... Not like this... Just... Not like this...

[@fnln3011]

*Ridley tail trusting intensifies*

[@Bakanineinstein]

@@fnln3011 Shouldn't it be more like... "Ridley's tail... A ride though your life"

[@rezthemediaruler3768]

I'm a huge Fan of Ridley and I want to thank you for the Video. You know, it is hard to give this Character the Justice he deserves. Yes, his appearance in the 3DS Game was Fanservice, but I liked it anyway, because it was the first time Ridley was the Final Boss in a Metroid Game and it was well executed. And I love to play him in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (for me it was like a Dream came true). The Reason Nintendo does stick to the whole: "Ridley has killed Samus's parents" thing is not to create a "Revenge Story" or give a reason to tell the Players why he is Samus Arch-Nemesis, it is to show how cruel and relentless he is. Everytime we see Ridley, he shows us that,despite his appearance , he is not a mindless Beast. He doesn't need psychological Warfare (although I am sure that he enjoys to bring back Samus' Trauma...). The Dread comes through his Actions alone. He is titled "the cunning God of Death" for a Reason! And this is first represented through the way he is introduced and finally, when he fights Samus. Ridley will do everything to get the upper Hand against his Enemys, even if he had to play dead or retreat for a while. As you said in your Video: He imbodies the whole Theme of Metroid. And that is why I love this Character so much. His Design is perfect and I'm looking forward to future appearances. Ridley is very important to the Series. And if he wouldn't appear from time to time, this great Character would go to waste... I'm sorry for bad typing and mispelling or bad Grammar. I'm just a German Ridley Fan that had enjoyed your Video and wanted to show his love for the Character.

[@V1ncenz010]

This text is bigger than Ridley himself Comedy genius

[@nicegoatdoctor8224]

@@V1ncenz010 That’s a *MASSIVE* understatement.

[@jadendafinger]

“The *dread* comes from his actions” this aged greatly

[@rezthemediaruler3768]

@MageBurger No. I didn't. But thank you anyway. XD

[@rezthemediaruler3768]

@@jadendafinger This Comment is great. Thank you very much ^^

[@superbro6413]

The answer to "The Problem with Ridley" _Play the games nerds_ ..F-fair enough sir Good stuff as usual

[@Magic_Ice]

*Nair

[@CabeliotCometier]

@@Magic_Ice Bair like an inkling player

[@nstar674]

Personally I like how Ridley is being portrayed more as intelligent, because he is the defacto leader of the space pirates after mother brain is killed. I like that he has enough engineering prowess to be able to build a robot by himself that is literally just a robot version of him. I like how now he's returning from death both due to sheer force of will and his own intelligence, alongside his crew fixing him up every time. His brutal savagery and his new intelligence make him cooler to me than if he was just one or the other.

[@e-mananimates2274]

In my eyes, I see Ridley as a mad scientist. While he doesn't see himself as the leader of the Space Pirates, he likes to hide himself aways as he conducts twisted experiments on even himself. Unlike stereotypical mad scientists, though, is mental instability is not actual apparent. Instead, he speaks with a silver tongue and is overall cold. Also, while he is among the most intelligent creatures in the galaxy, it's painfully clear that he is still a hulking beast. Should he chose so, his personality will shift to the point where he'll pin you down and screech in your face.

[@punkrockdavid]

It’d be nice to actually see Ridley talk in the games. I think some mangas made him talk but even seeing on another Metroid game like a log he created to see how his mind works

[@e-mananimates2274]

If Ridely has a voice, I personally would go with Chase Young's voice from the original Xiaolin Showdown.

[@bugonboris6681]

@@punkrockdavid But... that will never happen.

[@IgnisRex64]

@@e-mananimates2274 He's a good representation of a real-world psychopath. He's smart, he's clever, maybe even charming. But if something happens that upsets him, he doesn't get what he wants, and the absolute cruelty and utter lack of remorse is suddenly at the forefront. It's even more terrifying than someone who's an angry brute all the time because it happens so suddenly. Even though, for Ridley, he's obviously a giant scary pterodactyl all the time, but you get my point.

[@Brione30]

Opening line: “Rrrrrridley is an incrrrrrredible villain” Sets a high bar

[@MrHocotateFreight]

19:45 i always found it hilarious that Samus just puts up a weak arm shield like "yeah, there's no way i'm stopping this freight train from slamming into me, but what the heck".

[@kingofthebis1068]

“Parents don’t die in Nintendo games” Fire Emblem: Am I a joke to you?

[@koatam]

Star Fox: You Wot Mate? Mother: Cries in a corner Pokemon: What's a father?

[@Jdudec367]

Mother 3: *coughs*

[@gmazurek746]

R.I.P President Haltmann

[@kevinrivera9917]

Fire Emblem 4: is literally everyone's parents a joke to you?

[@kingofthebis1068]

In sacred stones you literally murder Lyon’s father. In blazing sword you kill Eric’s father. Ect Ect.

[@dinglepuss8594]

As a MAJOR fan of both Metroid and Super Smash Bros I agree with everything you said regarding the character I love Ridley for the genius of his design within the context of the series especially in Super this was so cathartic thank you! I love this channel.

[@GeekCritique]

Gah, I don't think I ever consciously thought about it that way, but I knew there was SOMETHING tugging at my enthusiasm for Ridley in Smash. It's just, I _am_ a tremendous fan of Smash Bros (plus I'm a bit thick when it comes to "noticing obvious lore and worldbuilding in my shooty pow pow video games"), so I'd have never put it together myself. From the loving retrospective on what makes Ridley such a perfect recurring villain, to the one-note interpretation that Smash has stuck him with, this whole video is god-darn perfect and I thank you for making it.

[@LukasHale]

The Geek Critique aye nice to see you here!

[@superxavxii421]

Love your Metroid videos

[@pyroshell5652]

Hi! Can I pick your brain for a sec and ask what your thoughts on a Metroid movie would be if one was made?

[@Weighty68]

I knew to stay subbed to you after the Omega Ruby analysis and that it would pay off one day, and it sure did. Fantastic editing, cadence and presentation to the whole project, you deserve to rank among the greats on this platform in the field of game analysis channels. Thank you for this, such an interesting and researched take on our favorite purple space dragon.

[@SdudyoyO]

Funnily enough, I learned of Samus's backstory from the small art slip I got with Metroid Prime Trilogy, it has many pieces of information about the Prime Series, but it actually goes into detail about Samus's Backstory. Let me just put that right here: "Samus lived with her parents on the planet K-2L, a human colony in the Galactic Federation domain. When Samus was three years old, K-2L was attacked by a band of Space Pirates led by the brutal ruffian Ridley. When the Space Pirates left and the smoke cleared, a single figure remained standing. It was Samus Aran, the sole survivor of the attack on K-2L. Samus was rescued from the charred ruins of K-2L by the Chozo, a race of beings who resemble giant birds. They had received the colony's distress during during the attack and came to assist. The Chozo took Samus back to their home world, Zebes. Being a highly technologically advanced race, the Chozo crafted a power suit for Samus that gave her incredible strength. They trained her to become a fearsome warrior. Once her training was complete, Samus parted ways with the Chozo and became an intergalactic bounty hunter. Samus carried out countless missions. Many that other bounty hunters deemed impossible. She became the most famed and capable bounty hunters in the universe, yet she was not fulfilled. Samus didn't become a bounty hunter to achieve fortune and fame. Her purpose was to avenge the death of her parents by slaying Ridley and the rest of the Space Pirates. Before long, the opportunity to fulfill her purpose would arise." It may be obscure, but Samus's backstory has been referenced outside of Japan and outside of Smash Brothers. Once, in a booklet most likely only seen by the bigger fans of the series. Just thought I'd bring this up, I don't know why really.

[@WiiKing96]

A content warning for Other M, lmao.

[@justbny9278]

OH GOD

[@robinthrush9672]

MOM: The OG of character assassination.

[@rory6281]

And spoilers for Mario odyssey Oh wait there is spoilers for Mario odyssey

[@hockeater]

I mean... I certainly wouldn't expose children to it.

[@guillermorobledo2842]

Have y'all even played it? It was alright.

[@TwilightYonder720]

Good video. I always felt like Ridley being in Samus Returns was just to undo all the damage Other M had with him. Like Samus not having a panic attack when she sees him and can fight him head on, and Other M implied the Prime games didn't happen so they had Ridley recovering from his Meta suit

[@swagner7767]

Agreed. Even if he threw off the pacing somewhat, it was still leagues ahead of the other m portrayal.

[@K2niarDneK]

In reference to the Fusion Gallery artwork, I think it would just be more accurate to say 'The Space Pirates killed Samus' parents, along with everyone else in the vicinity, and the giant fire-breathing pterodactyl just happened to be the most unique part of their invasion force."

[@sh4d0w2013]

"Metroid hasn't been well represented in Smash Bros." *Laughs in Zelda* *Raughs in Fire Emblem* *cries in Sonic*

[@turtleanton6539]

Yuuuup

[@QuintaFeira12]

Jesus fuck who the hell decided that Sonic should have nothing but vocals. and TWO green hills, one of which was the second worst incarnation of in a main title. AND THAT IS STILL NOT THE WORST. FF7 GOT THE WORST REPRESENTATION OF ALL.

[@alexanderstilianov]

@@QuintaFeira12 FF7 got an overpowered RGP protagonist made even more overpowered in a fighting game.

[@Jdudec367]

@@QuintaFeira12 not now.

[@donkeyshspittle]

cries in kirby

[@mist8513]

I sympathize with your feelings on Metroid in Smash, and how it's negatively effected common consensus. I could go on for hours about just how thoroughly Smash failed the Fire Emblem series by reducing the most wildly diverse and experimental tactics series in gaming history to "anime swordsmen". It's a critical issue of the smash series made even more baffling by the fact that Sakurai is apparently a huge fan of FE. But even though I agree with your assessment on Metroid's misrepresentation within Smash, I have to admit I really like that bit in Ridley's trailer when he twirls Mario's hat around after destroying the bridge. It's an excellent way to show that Ridley has an intellect akin to a bird of prey, but the personality of a power-seeking monster.

[@operatorspectre7428]

As a non FE fan i agree with this too

[@kingofthebis1068]

Yeah it makes it harder for me to get my waifu Lyn in smash

[@PepsiMan666]

I think the worst example is Wario being reduced to disgusting farting man.

[@operatorspectre7428]

@@PepsiMan666 WaRiO is ThE ULTImate WAIfu

[@mrmwm5446]

Mist To be fair Fire Emblem is pretty fucking anime. Sakurai just a fan of the bombast, that’s why every character reveal is so “hype”.

[@CrypticMantisTX55]

Metroid: Samus Returns: "Suddenly... warping through space and time... Ridley appears!"

[@ultraspinalki11]

One of the many reasons why I'll always prefer the original Metroid 2 and the faithful fan remake, AM2R.

[@CrypticMantisTX55]

@@ultraspinalki11 I probably also prefer AM2R, although Ridley being in Samus Returns doesn't bother me that much. I mostly just find it amusing that Ridley has as much reason for being in Samus Returns as Bowser does for being in Yoshi's New Island.

[@turtleanton6539]

😂😂😂

[@turtleanton6539]

@@CrypticMantisTX55 yuuuup

[@carnage0685]

@@CrypticMantisTX55 What the fuck are you talking about? By extension, that means it makes no sense for Ridley to appear in Metroid, Super Metroid, and Metroid Prime 1 and 3.

[@01loganmc10]

0:26 Me: *Reading the Spoiler Warning* "Okay, spoiler warnings for the Metroid series. That makes sense. The video is delving into Ridley as a character, it only makes sense to discuss the material he's in and... wait, Super Mario Odyssey? Why? What does Super Mario Odyssey have to do with Ridley as a character?" I will say though, I love Ridley's character development through the Metroid timeline. Metroid ZM saw him as Mother Brain's right hand, attempting (but failing) to prevent Samus from reaching the Space Pirate's leader. Metroid Prime implies that the Space Pirates found Ridley after he lost to Samus in ZM (with most of his body destroyed and barely clinging to life) and replaced the missing parts of his body with cybernetic enhancements, turning him into Meta Ridley. Prime 3 saw him trying to further enhance himself after losing to Samus in Prime by injecting himself with Phazon, which by the time you run into him, appears to have had the side effect of giving him superhuman-eske regeneration abilities, as he has less cybernetic parts than he did in Prime, thus making him Omega Ridley. Metroid: Samus Returns further supports the idea that the Phazon gave him regenerative properties, as he appears to have even more of his original body back, and the end credits scene shows an enemy (I forget it's name, but I know it starts with "H" and ends with "-noid") nibbling on one of his discarded cybernetic claws. He is known as Prometheus Ridley here. Super Metroid saw him return as Mother Brain's right hand fully recovered (as he appears to have fully regenerated his entire body), as well as his death (because the entire planet of Zebes exploded, with him on it). Other M shows that the Federation cloned him using DNA found in traces of his blood that had gotten onto Samus' Power Suit. It also shows that Ridley's species is a metamorphic one. The frozen Ridley in Fusion is the husk of the Ridley clone after it had been sucked dry by the Queen Metroid in Other M. The Federation scientists most likely recovered the husk from the BOTTLESHIP before it's destruction and brought it to the BSL Station for study so they could learn more about Ridley's species. The X then later extracted some of the Ridley clone's DNA from the husk to become Neo-Ridley.

[@eightballfracture9510]

You know it's ShayMay when the video starts straight off with "Rrrrrrrrrrrridley is an incrrrrrrrrrredible villain"

[@NoahNCopeland]

That fact that the "Ridley killed Samus' parents" bit is so downplayed and obscure in any official capacity, yet it is still widely referenced by fans and passerby's, proves to me that it is very important. It's just a plot point that you want to believe in and get behind. They mentioned it once in a magazine, and it made so much sense that it stuck around. You can't just sweep that under the rug. That said, I agree that Ridley has become an interruption. His appearance at the end of Metroid 2 Remake is not a surprise. It feels more like an obligatory checking-of-the-box. Blaming that his overuse on the fact that he killed Samus' parent is a little peripheral if you ask me. His overuse is because the developers making these games are overusing him and not showing restraint.

[@Spamus]

Ridley's BEEN an interruption. He's inevitable. For once, I want a Metroid game that centers around the conflict between Samus and Ridley, because it's so important

[@Galgus2000]

I think people cling to it due to the background it gives us on Samus rather than Ridley. I skipped Other M, but generally Metroid games don't tell us a lot about her character. We know she's a bounty hunter and learn some things by implication - she goes into remote dangerous places out of some sense of duty, she seems extremely introverted quiet and sort of shy in interacting with others despite her obvious courage, and she seems extremely independent. But Ridley killing her parents sets up why she was adopted by the Chozo, why she's so driven to root out threats to the galaxy, and possibly why she seems quiet around others. It's easier to relate to Samus with that motive.

[@lunatic0verlord10]

You forget one thing : He didn't show up in Federation Force. Not to mention the gap between Samus Returns and Other M. If the Metroid Series had as punctual releases as, say, Zelda or, dare I say, Pokémon, him showing up constantly would be truly him being overused.

[@matthewaddai5336]

Lunatic 0verlord I’m gonna have to argue your point is quite mute. He has as of now, featured 9 times across 8 games (Metroid, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, Metroid:Zero Mission, Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 3, Metroid:Other M and Metroid 2:Return of Samus Remake). In Metroid Zero Mission, a robotic version of him appears as the final boss, in Metroid Prime we are introduced to Meta Ridley (whose concept puts into question how he reappears in Super Metroid canonically as a wholesome flesh being) Metroid Prime 3 you fight him twice (same point as mentioned previously, and the question of how he even survived the first games makes the whole Ridley clones thing plausible), in Metroid Fusion he reappears as frozen (when I could have sworn he was destroyed in that game for good?), then we fight a X-clone version of him, in Metroid Other M the game literally has a central plot point surrounding his stages of evolution from a strange furry creature to the ferocious space pterodactyl/dragon we know him as (which honestly did more harm than good to be honest) and now in Metroid 2 Remake, he’s thrown in as an obligatory final boss fight. The issue isn’t so much how many times he reappeared in relation to how many games are out per say, it’s also about the manner in which he’s fit into those games (Metroid Other M and Metroid 2 Remake by far the worst examples of this imo). He most definitely HAS been overused, and there’s no point even trying to debate it in light of all I’ve just said.

[@DrakeSilver]

@@matthewaddai5336 I mean at this point Ridley is the most well known and memorable villain of the Metroid series. It's been like that since forever even before he got "overused". Also I wouldn't consider the first Metroid and Zero mission as separate things since one is a remake of the other so it would be weird to have a boss randomly cut from the remake. At this point and pretty much at any point after prime 1 having a Metroid game with no ridley would feel incredibly weird. It would be like having no bowser or ganon/ganondorf fight in Mario/Zelda. I would love to have them have a game that is actually centered around this conflict between Samus and Ridley instead of Ridley randomly appearing like at the end of the Metroid 2 remake or Other M (which is the biggest BS of all his appearances). But as long as space pirates are part of the game then Ridley will be in the game so it's also more of a "this is the only villains we are willing to re-use" thing that is more of an issue than Ridley himself imo at least.

[@TheBestPikachuFan]

As someone who hasn't played any Metroid game for 2 hours (except fusion) let alone beaten any, and as someone with 0 interest to ever do such a thing let alone reading Japanese Manga's, Ridley has been crunched down to something more digestible for the uncultured like me. > He's extremely destructive, more than most other villains > He truly doesn't give a fuck and only cares for what he wants > Is extremely smart despite his Savage appearance (probably my favorite thing about him) > Has impacted the main character in a very very big way. I don't think the rest about him that's been detailed in this video will become lost because of the simple representation outside of the series, but more so something for me and others that know zilch about him to find out through playing the games after gaining am interest to know even more about the intricacies. Hell his appearances outside of Metroid has driven me to watch this video entirely. Must be doing something right no?

[@MozillaFennekin]

I love how you take your time to explain your understanding and opinion of this character before diving into your argument. It's neatly organized and helps someone like me understand without even playing Metroid. Not that I will claim to understand Metroid thanks to this video, but I can at least see your point. Great video as always, Shay.

[@josiahgarber3761]

I do understand that Ridley is more of an instrument of fanservice in Samus Returns. That being said, I think if any game is going to have fanservice, a return to the series makes sense. Not only that, but it still makes sense within the story, and the rest of the game is so fantastic. Either way, Dread seems to be doing so much awesome stuff and keeping things fresh. Sure, Kraid may be there, and maybe for fanservice, but there is clearly a strange mystery behind him, a reason as to why he is there. Dread is going to be fantastic!

[@petemurphy5044]

Released 8 seconds ago! Where have I been to miss this?!

[@tacosunbirth]

Although I agree with most of the video, I want to argue in favor of the popular depiction of Ridley. I don't want Ridley to only be seen as the monster that killed Samus's parents, but I feel like the popular identity of Ridley can work alongside what made Ridley great in the Metroid games. Imagine a game that uses Ridley accordingly to represent everything great about Metroid, but it takes place during the span of time where Ridley kills Samus's parents. That would be a perfect mix of blending Ridley's popular depiction with his more nuanced representation in Metroid games. Both can coexist

[@BenFromCanada]

OH MY GOD LET'S FUCKING GO

[@AschaVovina]

39:15 I recall reading interviews that the infamous scene in _Other M_ was intended as a reference to the similar scene in the _Metroid_ manga. Also, one thing that Ridley's appearance in _Samus Returns_ does do is tie the _Metroid Prime_ subseries and _Super Metroid_ together.

[@ultraspinalki11]

Unfortunatly, adding Ridley in SR came at a cost. Samus now looks like a very unintelligent heroine for thinking it was perfectly safe to bring the Metroid to Ceres after leaving Ridley unconscious back on SR388. Keep in mind that Ridley was able to track her on the planet in the first place, which meant she should have logically known he'd track her to Ceres just as easily, causing the deaths of everyone on the station. If they really wanted to connect the Prime series to Super Metroid, the intro to Samus Returns could have just made a reference to them without changing the events of Metroid 2.

[@AschaVovina]

@@ultraspinalki11 Maybe she thought he was dead... though her defeating and seemingly killing him only to have him regenerate and show up later seems to be a running gag with the series.

[@ultraspinalki11]

@@AschaVovina There is no justification for her to believe Ridley was dead this time when past battles have ended with him disintegrating into literal dust. His defeat in SR is extremely tame in comparison. The fact that Samus simply walks away from her arch nemesis is a poor representation of their long history together. She's always made sure to utterly destroy Ridley before, except the two times he fell into an abyss beyond her physical reach.

[@joisama]

I get what you mean. It's like how people think that dark Samus is actually a dark and edgy Samus, (Which it's not). But I mean People who don't play the games, would not know the games, it makes sense. About the manga, I think it's better to look at it has lore then story. If you liked reading the lore in the prime games, then yeah go ahead kinda thing.

[@tripleCartoonist]

I see Ridley as one of the fascinating alien character in all of fiction. Here you have this monstrous space dragon thing. It's nothing more than a beast from our perspective, and yet it does these things even from casual observation that serve a greater plan. Going purely off his actions he could be seen as nothing more than an attack dog for the space pirates. Some monster they've manged to train to do their bidding. But no... Ridley is their leader. Mother Brain is computer. A tool that enhances their plans. Ridley is the one turning that into orders for the troops. This thing that we cannot understand is intelligent. What kind of leader is he? What kinds of things does he "say" to his subordinates? Is her versed in the technology that the science officers are developing, or does he just demand results? Ridley is ALIEN! We know surface level things about him, and have the vague mention of what he is beneath it. Did Ridley really build mecha Ridley? Did he really do that to stroke his ego? It feels like nothing more than a rumor compared to the creature we're familiar with. We know NOTHING about what he is as a "person"! He's a completely alien character that we'll never actually understand and I love him!

[@datdamnmegabusta5604]

This is a really positive outlook on a character issue that, as much as it still bothers me, has been fun to think about and speculate on from time to time. The idea that Ridley could be so intelligent, despite how animalistic and primal he appears on the surface, is interesting. Ultimately, though, it might just be best for Metroid to steer towards that primitive and visceral element the series has largely represented Ridley with. I absolutely love what he represents as a predatory, looming symbol of death. An especial plus for me is the sometimes manic way in which he's presented, with the bulging, beady eyes as seen in his renders from SSBM and SSBB. Neo Ridley as well, during his screams. Blank eye Ridley actually bores me, because while I understand the intention, it's not the same as eyes that express the coldness of predatory aggression like a hot fire. It's horrific in the most animal way, and is easily my favorite thing about Ridley.

[@jjabbott7249]

The e-manga delves into his character quite a bit. He's ruthless, of course, but also sarcastic, arrogant, intelligent, and hotheaded. I highly recommend you read it. It's free and easy to find online.

[@andresmarrero8666]

@@datdamnmegabusta5604 no reason why he can't be both. Though I never took him for the talkative or egotistical type. He is a gaint, purple, space dragon that leads the space pirates. Apart from toying with you if you happen to be there. This guy will just simply kill you the moment you pop up on his radar and he gets the chance to.

[@ultraspinalki11]

But Ridley is subservient to Mother Brain though. He follows her orders and recognizes her as his master.

[@tripleCartoonist]

I'm not really sure where the idea of a subservient Ridley comes from There were pirates before Mother Brain, and there are pirates after her. She's a Chozo AI that knows the secrets of the metroids... they are going with her plan, but I see that as more of a team up than kneeling before her. I have a hard time picturing Ridely handing over the keys to his organization to a computer they stole. And I admit that Ridley being the leader of the pirates is a retcon, but so is the fact that Mother Brain was made by the chozo. They went in a different direction after Super Metroid... multiple different directions, honestly. But both remakes shoehorned in Ridley final boss fights. I'm pretty sure his status has been cemented at this point.

[@GamingWarlord64]

Wait your voice is familiar o you the 8 houre omega ruby guy i saw that videp twice it helped me during school thanks. Can't wait for the 16 houre video on sword and sheld

[@MarxForever]

Dude, check out his Sonic videos, they're amazing. Even if you're not into the franchise it's just a great breakdown of the series concepts and it's game design choices.

[@clipchimp7406]

Uh, did you have a stroke?

[@wienerschnitzel1739]

O no, do I detect a *SLIGHT MISTAKE IN SPELLING?* I better be a jerk about it and point it out obnoxiously

[@clipchimp7406]

@@wienerschnitzel1739 Slight? He misspelt almost a whole sentence. Jesus.

[@areoants9453]

I'm from the future, it's actually 11 Hours to Shining Diamond. Pretty close!

[@ikeblueflames3902]

Ridley killing Samus's parents was in the Prime Trilogy booklet (that was packaged with the game): "When Samus was three years old, K-2L was attacked by a band of Space Pirates led by the brutal ruffian Ridley. When the Space Pirates left and the smoke cleared, a single figure remained standing. It was Samus Aran, the sole survivor of the attack on K-2L." The booklet goes on to say how the Chozo raised her and she became a bounty hunter. It then says this: "She became the most famed and capable bounty hunter in the universe, yet she was not fulfilled. Samus didn't become a bounty hunter to achieve fortune or fame. Her purpose was to avenge the death of her parents by slaying Ridley and the rest of the Space Pirates." Not to mention Ridley's Brawl trophy (which you showed), stating that Ridley killed Samus's parents. Regarding the manga being canon/referenced in games: The manga writer is credited as "Special Thanks" in Other M, and Sakamoto is credited as "General Supervisor" for the manga (Sakamoto even answers questions regarding the manga in relation to the Metroid universe's story/lore). Also, in an interview with Shinesparkers, Nate Bihldorff (writer of Prime 1) has called the manga Samus's official backstory, and Nintendo Magazine (UK) recommended people to read the Metroid Recon translation of the manga. Nate's quote: "Samus’ story-her voice, her motivations, everything about her-has largely been a matter of individual perception, especially in the US, where people haven’t read any of the official manga related to her childhood." Zero Mission changed how Ridley first appears on Zebes from how he appears in the original Metroid, by making Ridley arrive on Zebes after Samus was already on the planet, rather than making him already be there (which falls in line with what the manga established). Adam's ship in Other M (during the Ian flashback), is called "Battleship VIXIV" and in the manga, Adam's ship is called "Battleship VIXIV IV" In the manga, Samus (and others) often refer to Mother Brain simply as "Mother". Other M also does this. Samus's PTSD attack in Other M is depicted basically the same as it was in the manga (only more severe in the manga).

[@TheConnorWing]

I'd say the PTSD actually makes sense in the Manga, considering this is literally the first time she's seen Ridley since the Space Pirates wiped out her colony.

[@ikeblueflames3902]

@@TheConnorWing The PTSD scene in the manga, was Samus overcoming her PTSD, not eliminating it. Her PTSD only resurfaced in Other M because she believed Ridley to be truly gone for good (which he is, the "Ridley" she fights in Other M is a clone). In the opening of the game, Samus says that the explosion on Zebes was the end of her "long-standing nemesis, Ridley". Every other game Ridley was defeated, with his return always a possibility. After Super, he is gone for good, so in her mind she is finally rid of the monster that murdered her parents and can be at peace. She was tracking the "Mystery Creature" and then out of nowhere, "Ridley" appears (it's why she's caught so off guard and flashes back to when she was a child). Also, these are quotes from a vgcharts interview with: Darian Koehne - Former Army (rank withheld), suffers from PTSD John M. Grohol, PsyD., founder and CEO of Psych Central com (They were shown the Ridley scene and told the context). Koehne: "That is very much so how PTSD works.... you daze out of it for long stretches and your brain seems to freeze and do its own thing or render you basically useless..." Dr. Grohol: "If someone experience a trauma at an early age, such as having someone kill their family, then something like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is indeed a possible reaction. One does not simply "get over" a mental disorder because these are not choices we make in the first place. Who would consciously choose to be depressed, or to have PTSD? It's an absurd argument." Someone can have a PTSD attack and then go years without being affected, until one day, something triggers it. This is from iwanttochangemylifeorg: "Sometimes people develop post-traumatic stress disorder, not after one overwhelming trauma, but after many accumulated smaller traumas. If you don’t know how to let go of stress, many repeated traumas can have the same effect as one big trauma. This is supported by the fact that adults who develop post-traumatic stress disorder often had painful or traumatic childhoods. In their case the final trauma is just the top layer of many accumulated traumas. Past traumas become interconnected so that one triggers another, and older traumas intensify newer ones." And this is from PsychGuidescom: "As with most mental illnesses, no cure exists for PTSD, but the symptoms can be effectively managed to restore the affected individual to normal functioning. The best hope for treating PTSD is a combination of medication and therapy. By working with a healthcare professional, individuals with PTSD can resolve their triggering factors and learn new and effective ways of coping with the stress of the past trauma." When Samus is having a PTSD attack in the manga, Kreatz says: "But she's been fighting against them for so long with us, why is the happening now...!?" To which Platinum Chest responds with: "Repressed fear will grow inside of you, even if you are unaware that it even exists." Samus's PTSD was held at bay because she was mentally prepared that Ridley COULD return. She doesn't have to know for sure that he is alive, just that the POSSIBILITY of him returning was always present. After Super Metroid, Samus believes (for the first time) Ridley is finally gone for good (which he is). She can finally be at peace and let her mental guard down. The CONTEXT of the situation is why she doesn't have a PTSD attack in her other encounters with Ridley. This is from Nate Bihldorff (the writer of Prime 1): "I’ve seen the same comments you have, and while I understand where they come from, I definitely don’t agree with most of them. For me, Samus’s detached monologue speaks to the reticence of a wounded character, one scarred by the tragic events of her childhood. The glimpse of the pain and fear she carries-shown in the flashback scene when she sees Ridley-is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. People who call out that scene as anything but empowering are kind of missing the point, in my opinion-she does end up torching Ridley, after all. There is no courage without fear, in my mind, and knowing that Samus overcomes that repressed terror makes her all the more heroic than someone who plods forward without a hint of humanity."

[@wreathofpalmaria]

The manga's depiction of samus PTSD made more sense, but Adam's depiction in the manga is VASTLY different than the asshole he is in Other M.

[@ikeblueflames3902]

@@wreathofpalmaria I believe that the PTSD made perfect sense in Other M (as stated in my previous comment), and I don't see how Adam is "VASTLY" different in the manga.

[@wreathofpalmaria]

@@ikeblueflames3902 It did not make sense at all in oter M and adam in the manga actually treated samus with respect instead of treating her like she's 10 years old. The adam in the manga wouldn't cowardly shoot Samus in the back OR act like she's completely incompetent, also in the manga, samus doesn't work under adam at all. Manga Adam actually knew Samus was a perfectly competent Warrior and did not act like she was in the way even after she no longer worked for the federation. I own the manga and I've read it often.

[@blepthebleep469]

Fun fact: At 32:24, you said that Marvel is the biggest media franchise, when in actuality that distinction goes to Pokémon.

[@turtleanton6539]

Hm.

[@Spore_Spawn]

they added Ridley to the end of Samus Returns in an attempt to bridge the Prime series to Super Metroid (See Ridley's partially cybernetic appearance) without taking into account his appearance just hours later in the opening segment of Super.

[@cawo619]

sam s ahh shit

[@todd2.08]

It wasn’t an hour later lmao. It’s unconfirmed how long the time between Samus handing over the baby and the Ceres raid was

[@theterribleclaw4285]

And that's why AM2R is a better Remake than Nintendo's own Remake of Metroid 2.

[@toxicastigator]

I loved almost every point in your video, and do agree that Ridley’s role as the main villain shouldn’t be from a cliche. However I do love the Proteous Ridley battle from the Samus Returns remake. They were trying to tie-in the Prime games with the 2D ones, explaining his cybernetic look. So I like it more as a lore dump for a crazy fan like myself. Maybe one day, Metroid will combine Ridley’s psycho murderous personality, with how he plays of each game’s themes. Then we will have a perfect Ridley

[@spudermoth]

Ridley should be in a potential Metroid 5 because the smash fans want it, OMG imagine x3

[@toxicastigator]

@@spudermoth what do gain from this? He’s a great character and a “potential Metroid 5” has existed for awhile now in the form of Metroid Dread for the Switch.

[@spudermoth]

@@toxicastigator "Great character" does NOT mean repeat over and over regardless of story thats being thrown out the window.

[@spudermoth]

@@toxicastigator if you care about Metroid lore so much then you would agree that repeating the same villain regardless of it blowing up constantly is bad writing and only hurts the plot, mainly when it's done like it is in samus returns.

[@spudermoth]

@@toxicastigator kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3-8XmWQl7eJfdE This video shows everything wrong with samus returns, and there's even a follow-up to it.

[@sevii4584]

the way you say Ridley alone made me subscribe

[@CJTheExpert]

Honestly, this video ended up feeling like an extensive ramble about Ridley that ended up nowhere. There were a few points where it felt like it was time to get a reason or justification for the history/literary analysis lesson, but it just...never came. I feel like I watched someone talk in circles for almost an hour without actually getting anywhere. This felt like the KZbin version of a McDonalds meal: looked appetizing, tasted pretty good while I was eating it, but after it was over I was left feeling empty, like I hadn't eaten anything at all, questioning my recent decisions. Except I don't think I ever took 45 mintues to eat anything from McDonalds.

[@zeoxdragon]

I thought Ridley presence in Samus Returns made sense... well, kinda. It explains better the relationship between Samus and the baby and it makes the baby more of a character, it also explains how Ridley find out about the baby metroid in Super Metroid, and how he transformed from Meta Ridley to regular Ridley again, it is also a nice surprise for anyone that already played the original game and thought it was all over. But is just my opinion.

[@vsear5911]

Please consider talking about Sword & Shield once they come out. GF has since done nothing but double down on every issue you've raised on your legendary ORAS video.

[@HighLanderPonyYT]

S&S sucks.

[@hoodedman6579]

They at somewhat fixed at least one; Hyper Training makes IVs not as bad.

[@harrylane4]

@@HighLanderPonyYT it's called swish not s&s

[@trainershade1937]

Honestly, I wish Ridley was an optional super boss in Samus Returns that would occur after 100% the game (and perhaps 1 other prerequisite) as a non-canon end to the game. The justification for why he is suddenly here? You took too long.

[@CaptainHoldenian]

Great video. I liked what you said about Ridley complimenting Metroid. Ironically enough, I always found his lack of appearance in Prime 2 to be really refreshing. Of course later, I discovered he was planned for the game but was cut due to time. Even though he compliments the series so well, I wish he was used slightly less for more impact.

[@CeffyRoth]

My only real complaint about MP2 is that there are metroids in it! It could have stood 100% on its own.

[@nermfulness]

it does show how fandom perception can really alter the meaning of a character. ive been noticing it happen with characters a lot, especially lately, where people will find one trait and the character will be reduced to that trait, and people will either like them or hate them for it and that's it. it's really hard to see have happen with characters i'm fond of, knowing people who also like them like them only for some superficial, possibly not even canon in the case of a few characters, reason. ridley's a really special character, imo, and while i havent really interacted with the people who are doing this to him, im really glad you delved into this reduction of ridley in this video, because it's just really telling how information spreading can affect the overall outlook of something. thank you; excellent video.

[@galacticspecter4364]

“Ridley killed Samus’ parents” is to Metroid what “The Great Ape War” is to Donkey Kong. None of it actually happens in the games

[@JustAndre92]

Or outside of the games, in the case of the latter. For those unaware, the Great Ape War was entirely the invention of someone editing the Donkey Kong Wikia as an April Fool's joke; it got spread around by various outlets who didn't realize and/or didn't care all the information was fabricated, and the wiki staff openly admitted they decided to leave the page up simply because it continues to bring in traffic.

[@gulfgiggleanimations4472]

I hate how a piece of lore from an obscure manga has dominated fan discussion and comedy on Metroid as a whole. The closest the games come to acknowledging this is in Metroid Zero mission, where Samus is shown to have grown up on Zebes, raised by Chozo, which only really begs the question of what happened to her parents. Even Other M, doesn’t even mention it.

[@scipion3679]

Metroid Fusion japanese endings confirmed that (I do not include Other M since that game isn't even able to respect the timeline at all)

[@andresmarrero8666]

@@gulfgiggleanimations4472 sometimes things like this can elevate the series but only if one takes care and properly implements it. How I would have it is that they only were killed because they happened to be there with the chozo and got in the way. They were nothing more than collateral, not even worth noticing or remembering that they were there in the first place.

[@Stout936]

@@andresmarrero8666 it wouldn't surprise mr if this was the case before Samus made herself known to him during their encounter on Zebes. He gets called back to his current base of operations (presumably because Samus is wrecking the place) and discovers (er, is discovered by) a young Samus who's hell bent on getting revenge on the space pirates who have now killed / displaced both of her families. I'd assume that after an ass-whoopin like that, you'd do a bit of research into the orange blur who tore through your army using Chozo tech. That would reveal her identity, and presumably at least a part of her history. Given that Zebes was her home, I'd assume there's at least some record of who she is and where she came from somewhere in the databases on Zebes. Ol' Ridley would then know that he was at least involved in the attack that killed Samus' parents. I personally don't mind the backstory (I was one of the kids who unlocked the fusion gallery when ZM was new, so I've not really questioned it, honestly). I definitely don't like the mostly senseless cameo in SR, though. It makes sense that the pirates would've known about SR388 (given their experiments with Metroids in the now-destroyed Tourian base), but it's just too damn convenient to be impactful imo.

[@latrodectusmactans7592]

This is a fantastic video. I think when talking about Samus Returns, a good contrast with Ridley is Diggernaut. Diggernaut is also an entirely new boss, but he fits so well into the game’s adventure and atmosphere.The way you accidentally awaken him and he retreats into the shadows to stalk you, it feels like you’ve “dug too deep” and unleashed some ancient threat even you can’t handle. And when you finally defeat him, it’s right before the game begins emphasizing the Metroids as an even BIGGER threat; even the mighty Diggernaut robots like the one you just took down are lying around deactivated.

[@grimmmasterofthetroupe6707]

I am still very confused about what your actual point is. The Metroid games have Ridley as more of a set piece, sure. A set piece that establishes a goal for the player to work towards. However, Metroid has never been known for its story telling, so the one story element we get about this character is going to be what we latch on to, especially if it impacts our protagonist so heavily. Ridley is sadistic, and as you said, he spearheads invasions to further the Pirates’ goals. That sounds exactly like the kind of character who would kill Samus’s parents. I think you’re imagining a problem where there is none. Sure Ridley’s inclusion in Samus Returns is undeniable fan service, and it really should not have been included. But this is one instance of it happening from a developer who didn’t want to stick to what Metroid is truly about. This is an issue. Ridley having killed Samus’s parents is not.

[@Calvin_Coolage]

Ridley's in Samus Returns does serve a greater narrative purpose. After the fight he sheds off what was left of Meta Ridley and is completely healed to the state he was in during Super Metroid.

[@nightshroud9671]

+Calvin_Coolage And also explains about how did the pirates know about the baby Metroid pretty much(when they attacked the lab in Super Metroid).

[@CeffyRoth]

Yeah but it totally wrecks Samus leaving the station for Ridley to then attack. I’ve heard people say, “She thought he was dead after he got crushed by the rocks on SR388!” but even if she wasn’t worried about Ridley coming after the metroid, she should have suspected SOMEBODY in the Space Pirate gang would show up. The only way she left Ceres “satisfied that [her] work was done” was if she thought the Space Pirates were out of commission, which Ridley just disproved.

[@Calvin_Coolage]

@@CeffyRoth Ridley could very well have been the only one left, as far as Samus knew. It's still a lapse in judgement but it isn't a nonsensical one.

[@CeffyRoth]

Sure, that’s possible, but I don’t find it plausible. A lot of long-running stories, especially when delving into prequels, fall into this trap where the continuity of events can be made technically explainable while becoming less and less believable. The greater the level of explanation required for events to make sense together, generally, the worse the story and/or characters are getting. This example is mild compared to, say, the post-Enterprise Star Trek universe, but it isn’t that different: fan service was worked in where it didn’t truly belong, and any patchwork required to make it still mesh with prior material detracts from the integrity of the whole. I may sound harsh, but I think it’s especially important to watch out for this in a medium that partly builds its stories on player experiences. It’s one thing for a viewer or reader to have more info than the protagonist and therefore anticipate events differently; it’s another for a player to experience a pattern of events *as the protagonist* and then have their own expectations forcibly removed from said protagonist. I realize this is exacerbated by the fact that Super is an older title from a then-smaller story, but honestly, that should count for something. Players saw this story through as it was then, and these new details aren’t so much fleshing out the gaps as re-writing history. This goes beyond Ridley: the prevalence of metroids in the Prime series makes the belief that SR388 held the only remaining metroid presence seem presumptuous; the scientists’ discoveries of the potential to harness the metroids’ power for constructive purposes shouldn’t be “astounding” when the Space Pirates were keeping detailed logs of such experiments on Tallon IV; Samus’ “satisfaction” in leaving the hatchling at Ceres Station is incongruent with her attitude of motherly attachment in Other M. (Speaking of, people who argue that Samus didn’t really have any established character to be contradicted overlook the amount of subtext present in the original trilogy. Those who got a mental image of Samus’ character before Other M did not make it from whole cloth, they got it from playing the games, reading the instruction booklets, and experiencing the saga in a “do>show>tell” storytelling priority.) Sorry for the overlong reply;I just really think the soul of Metroid’s story has morphed since its revival in the 2000s, and I haven’t had a good opportunity to voice a lot of this. “Is it better? Is it worse? I don’t f-in’ know. BUT IT’S NOT THE SAME!” -Egoraptor

[@MatrixEvolution17]

I can't believe Ridley is cancelled

[@LiteralmenteFadul]

OH YES SHAY IS BACK IMMA HAPPY BOI. Edit: Shay, I cannot overstate this, you should be EXTREMELY proud of what you achieved with this video. The evolution of your editing and production style elevated this video so much! I am absolutely hyped for your content going foward.

[@MAYOFORCE]

I don't necessarily think that his exposure and generalization through smash bros is a "problem". I got into the Mother series through Smash Bros with a vastly different interpretation of what the games would be like through trophy descriptions, and despite not getting anything of what I wanted to see in Earthbound, it's one of the best RPGs I ever played. Smash Bros introduced me into something I didn't know existed beforehand, and gave me an experience I never knew I wanted until I played the real thing. I imagine there are fans of Metroid who had similar feelings about Samus and Ridley. There can always be people who come into metroid for "Ridley killed Samus' parents", but stayed for the very things you talked about in his appearances in the games.

[@datdamnmegabusta5604]

Very true, and an entirely valid perception to have. SSBM was my introduction to F-Zero, and had me genuinely believe that Captain Falcon must've been some crime-fighting superhero who can amplify his attacks with fire...but most of that is just Smash magic. XD The main problem in Ridley's case is the bare inconsistency that he is a brilliant genius, yet hardly exudes any good traits to even believe that. It's reminiscent of old lore like the power-up blocks in Super Mario Bros. being cursed denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom. It's something you never think about, and almost could never think about, because the games never explore that angle.

[@MAYOFORCE]

@@datdamnmegabusta5604 I think Ridley is very intelligant in the same sense that dolphins are intelligant. He's an apex predator who remembers Samus and uses his body and environment to his advantage. He might be as smart as a human but I don't necessarily think he has to possess human traits like speech to demonstrate it.

[@datdamnmegabusta5604]

@@MAYOFORCE Huh...like a dolphin. I never thought of it that way, but it perfectly expresses how smart I've considered Ridley.

[@Jdudec367]

honestly...thanks to a game called smash brawl I got introduced to so many video game franchises when I was younger it was insane im trying to play more of all of these franchises in smash bros

[@Jdudec367]

@@datdamnmegabusta5604 they said blocks...not the brick ones pretty sure it's the coin ones especcialy since in old Japanese mythology there were legends of like spirits being trapped in certain blocks and if the block was broken or anything the spirit would be free and thankful maybe the coin you would get is kinda like that thankfulness I guess

[@rafaelcafonso]

To be fair, I loved Ridley’s battle in Samus Returns. It was, from a gameplay standpoint, the most fun boss fight.

[@FreddyMontana69]

A really interesting essay. I did not expect much from the thumbnail alone but it turned out to be a captivating and thought provoking watch. Good job!

[@samuellamoureux977]

22:43 *cough cough* MAJORAS MASK we forgot about it? its a very dark game

[@KageMaxwell]

I remember fighting Ridley in Samus Returns. That confused the hell out of me. When he popped up I was like 'Oh hi, Ridley! Wait, what?! Uh... does he suppose to here?'

[@Quelandoris]

I'm a simple man, I see ShayMay and lose an hour of my day

[@JamieIsJammed]

I love visiting this video again after actually playing the Metroid games due to the Dread announcement

[@S3N0RTACO]

Found your channel through The Geek Critique, love your content!

[@osaka5754]

That was TREMENDOUS. Thank you for doing this. It's so nice to hear an accurate, in depth analysis on my favorite villain of all media and literature. DIRECTLY into favourites ❤

[@froglaine]

I agree with your opinions on Ridley's in-game representation, except Samus Returns. Though different than the original, I liked the Ridley battle in Samus Returns as the game got me invested in the cute baby Metroid following me around and protecting that, and story wise I think it feels in line that Ridley would be after the metroids because of Super Metroid following this. I don't think Ridley should be overused, but the theme and dramatic execution was great, and was also a very fun and difficult battle. I wouldn't want this for every game, but for Samus Returns I felt it was good, especially because it was such a surprise. I feel that Ridley's (robot, I don't remember if he was there physically) appearance in Zero mission and even Metroid fusion barring the frozen and anticipatory parts were much weaker.

[@datdamnmegabusta5604]

Hard disagree on the Fusion appearance, but the addition of Mecha Ridley, as much as I love it, is honestly meh. It's an oddly "Sonic the Hedgehog" boss battle, and doesn't really feel fit for Metroid. Like, what IS Mecha Ridley? What would it even do, had it been completed? Can you seriously imagine a Mecha Kraid, or Mecha Crocomire? Mecha Ridley just sort of exists.

[@andresmarrero8666]

@@datdamnmegabusta5604 I would just use a completed mecha Ridley as a vehicle, drone, or just a security system. After all it is still a dragon robot modeled after Ridley. Points for inspiring terror on the battlefield.

[@PokeDeses]

One thing about the manga. There's another version of it that cuts right after Samus leaves Zebes and where the Chozo weren't observing the growth of the X parasite on Zebes but the metroids. It was published on a web with some sound bits and stuff but I don't know how much older (if really at all) it is. I recall people saying it was published a bit after the launch of Super Metroid but they might be getting it mixed up with the Nintendo Power comic.

[@Mr_SU]

Great video! While I still haven’t played any metroid games yet myself, I know exactly how it feels to see a character I know misrepresented in seeing them return elsewhere as a fan of fire emblem. Also advertise your damn discord server.

[@DrWiley-fm3ik]

Shay I just wanted to say I found you through the ORAS video and you quickly became one of my favorite youtubers. Please more stuff like this, it's so fucking good. You're a gift

[@TwilightWolf032]

"Content Warning: This video contains Metroid: Other M" Best trigger warning ever! XD

[@macsimilyun]

16:27 - 18:33 is so wonderfully articulated this is such a great video

[@Fatalfury1391]

I agree a lot but for Ridley being in SR, the fight the scene and sequence changes seems to be Nintendo trying to make up for their failure at depicting Samus vs Ridley in Other M. Which to me was a major disappointment. Samus should never have a breakdown of any kind. its so out of her character. But at the End of SR I felt like that was the encounter I wanted.

[@Limayde]

I'll be honest, I completely forgot about the whole "Ridley killed Samus' parents" thing until you brought it up.

[@BulletBillSoilder]

Fun Fact: Ridley is in the background of the Metroid Stage in Smash 64. So he's been in every single Smash game.

[@HannahBanina]

Hi, _Metroid_ fan who is _just_ too young to have grown up with the series and experienced it from the perspective you describe here. I confess, _Smash_ and Ridley specifically are what made me curious enough to check out the series, and of course I started with the manga. Since then I have played the _Prime Trilogy_ and _Samus Returns,_ and thanks to Virtual Console, I have also played _Metroid NES_ (while shamelessly abusing the save-state/restore point feature), _Metroid II_ (which I've now actually played and beaten I think three times now?), and _Super Metroid_ (which I really loved! Like a lot! Even if I spent way too long being lost in Maridia). I really like how the general formula for the series is basically a cycle of getting your ass kicked until you find a power-up, getting that power-up, and then that feeling of "YES! I am invincible!!" until you start getting your ass kicked again. It really is a great motivator. But anyway - yeah. I read the manga first. And so, here's my take on Ridley: I agree that "He killed Samus's parents" is a far too simplistic way to describe his role in Samus's story, but not because it's a cliché; more because it ignores the important context of the fact that he didn't really do it on purpose. He wasn't directly involved in Rodney Aran's death, like you mentioned (even if it _was_ due to Ridley's actions that he ended up dying), and he only ended up directly killing Virginia because she ran in front of Samus. To me, the more monstrous thing is the fact that he was *_trying_* to kill a lost and scared three-year-old child who had just offered him her friendship; the kid's mom just threw herself into the crossfire, and the guy absolutely didn't even care! When they meet again years later, yeah the fact that Ridley's actions led to the deaths of Samus's biological parents is clearly something he enjoys having over her, but to me at least, that was a bit overshadowed by his *_pissed off_* realization that this girl was the same girl who made the day everything came crashing around him so, ahem, "memorable". She's the one that got away. And he clearly _hates_ her for it. Like it or not, familial symbolism is very much a part of _Metroid,_ and to me, Ridley fills the role of a mean older brother who never wanted a baby sister and was actually being 100% serious whenever he said he wanted to get rid of her. They hate each other. So much. And, while it is made clear that they do have lives outside of each other, it seems they're kinda stuck with each other. And this is why I still really love his boss fight in _Samus Returns:_ You can *feel* how much these two hate each other. That, and I'm a sucker for _~CONTINUITY~_ and Proteus Ridley definitely seems to provide us with a clear link between the Prime games and the rest of the series -no matter what bullshit comes out of Sakamoto's mouth,- and let's face it, we _needed_ a good old-fashioned Samus-Ridley throwdown to cleanse our palates of the last Ridley fight we the consumers had experienced. I don't love Ridley for being a meme, I don't love Ridley for representing or enhancing certain concepts like you seem to argue here, and I don't love Ridley for being simplified into a draconic Voldemort. I love Ridley for being a character, and a brutal, vicious one at that. I don't feel him defined completely by his actions, or at all by what he represents, but rather by his attitude toward and relationship with Samus herself; his involvement in her life. I enter his lair in _Super Metroid_ and I get a kick out of how spiteful and petty he is building his base in such a way that it deliberately defaces old Chozo ruins; I see his face carved into his lair's entrance and imagine Samus thinking, "Seriously?" while I'm snickering at what a self-absorbed piece of shit he is. He is truly unique among the Nintendo pantheon in more ways than one, and I feel he should be celebrated for all of them, not just "He killed Samus's parents". That said, I do also agree that he should be allowed to take breaks so he doesn't oversaturate the series. If you did bother to read all of this, thanks! Here's hoping he's not in _Prime 4._

[@JasonParadoxProductions]

Please do a video on Kraid, he’s easily one of if not THE MOST underrated villain in all of Metroid. (Especially because he canonically only has 3 appearances in the entire series)

[@brinstarmedia1411]

And Metroid and zero mission are technically the same appearance. Lol. He was suppose to be in Bryyo in MP3 but then scrapped the idea and put in Molenaar. Who actually resembles Kraid. You can find the concept art for MP3’s Kraid online. So even though it’s not canon that Kraid is originally from Bryyo, it does make sense. It’s inhabited by 3 eyed lizard people like Kraid. And the giant golems show that there could be large lizard creatures like Kraid

[@nightshroud9671]

+Brinstar Media Would be interesting if it turned out that Kraid was from Bryyo honestly. Would love to see how would his backstory went.

[@pv2]

Wow. That was absolutely delightful, thanks for collating all that research - even though I was one of the people who hooked up fusion to zero mission to see those child mode endings (using a gameboy player naturally, what else?), it never occurred to me that this is close to the only place where the series directly acknowledges that part of the backstory. Generally, I found your analysis of how Ridley expresses the themes of each game very novel as well. I'd never considered Metroid Prime as a criticism of fascism, and had mostly read into Ridley's interruption as a "if we can't have it, like hell we'll let The Hunter get her hands on it" moment, or maybe a change of heart in wanting metroid prime to stay locked up when they realized they had no hope at keeping a leash on the thing (I played version 1.0, before the retcon). But the ending of that fight comes off much less as a deus ex machina and more as a conclusion to that theme which evicts the space pirate's ability to be relevant to the final conflict as a consequence of their disregard for history in pursuit of relentless progress. So, thanks. You've deepened my appreciation for the character, and Metroid Prime in particular quite a lot here.

[@captaindapper5020]

"It's okay we can share custody (of Ridley). We only need him once every 8 years or so" I can't tell if I'm crying or laughing

[@WiltheLiam768]

11:02 half expected you to say "The last Metroid is not in captivity. The galaxy is not at peace"

[@genuineangusbeef8697]

Thank you for the content warning. I need to brace myself for that game

[@sonicx45shadow]

A new ShayMay video is like christmas coming early.

[@Dan_Cattell_Art]

Hey! I've been doing a convention panel on Samus for the last few years and used to write Wikitroid. I think the K2-L story actually came from the Japanese Super Metroid player's guide before it was played out in the Nintendo Power Super Metroid comic. (The first appearance in Western media.)

[@shoogles_]

Hey man, thanks for getting in touch! Yeah, I only found out about this the other day myself. The Nintendo Power comic started in February 1994, whereas the Official Guide Book came out in April 1994. If I have my dates right, by the time the comic reached the K-2L story, it would have already appeared in Japan. I'm kicking myself for not stumbling across this in time to include it in the video - still, chalk it up to experience eh?

[@Dan_Cattell_Art]

@@shoogles_ It's all cool! By the way, if you are on Facebook, join us at the Metroid Cosplay community!

[@SonGara]

Saw The Geek Critique tweet today recommending this video. I must say it was very well done and informative. I had no idea about the secret complete gallery with the child's pictures. Subbed.

[@kingdracox3008]

The Problem with Ridley is he's too big

[@starpetalarts6668]

Imagine if they gave us a Metroid compilation with Prime Trilogy, Metroid Zero Mission, Samus Returns, and Fusion.

[@cringyperson9670]

As disappointing as Ridley showing up as the final boss for Samus Returns is, and even more disappointing how the devs just said it was fanservice, I personally accept a headcanon explanation. I agree that there should've been an in-universe explanation, but I personally think that the lack of one is better than a shitty one.

[@SSJ22Terris]

Totally agree. I haven't played many Metroid, but I do remember the feeling of dread I had when I found Ridley's frozen Corpse in Fusion.

[@GabrielGreedy]

Everyone : " THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN ON NINTENDO GAMES!" Nintendo: " Star Fox members, had his legs amputated and replaced with metal prostheses"

[@lamegamertime]

Kirby: *exists* Kirby fans: oh my gosh I can't believe this creepy stuff is in a nintendo game!!!!!1!!!1

[@kirbysmith64]

Actually, that's never been confirmed.

[@GabrielGreedy]

@@kirbysmith64 have you ever seen the original SF manual? those are not boots my boy...

[@TwilightYonder720]

Kirby's had blood in like 5 games too most of Nintendo's RPG series have dArK stuff in them too (Mother, Fire Emblem, Xenoblade)

[@dragonridley]

This video definitely introduced me to some tings I never realized. The idea of Ridley killing Samus' parents doesn't seem to be the problem so much as its overemphasis. I've long thought of that part of the story as only being the beginning of the conflict, rather than something of central importance: Ridley is a representation of Samus' rivalry with the Space Pirates condensed into one character. He frequently eludes Samus and, even when she defeats him, he refuses to stay dead. He repeatedly attacks the Galactic Federation, destroys the Artifact Temple, and steals the baby metroid. But there's also Samus as a rival to Ridley, destroying Space Pirate facilities and handing him several painful defeats. It's a mutual and lasting rivalry much bigger than the raid on K2L.

[@CirkuitBreaker]

Mother 3: Dead Parents Ocarina of Time manga: Link's mother dies in front of the Deku Tree due to injuries she sustained because of a war Fire Emblem: Dead parents everywhere

[@hammerstix5791]

Fire Emblem: Parents are born to die

[@maks_____]

Controversial opinion: your accent is *fucking amazing*

[@DrMadd]

Personally I strongly disagree with your sentiment on Ridley’s characterization being a bad thing. I love Ridley as the cruel and sadistic psychopath who murdered Samus’ parents. It gives him an actual personality beyond scary monster and makes him the only Nintendo villain to have an actual personal rivalry with the hero. When Samus fights Ridley there’s a greater emotional investment than say Mario fighting Bowser or Link fighting Ganon. Without these traits that make him a unique character Ridley may as well just be like Death from Castlevania, a recurring boss who’s only real reason for sticking around is because he’s memorable from the first game.

[@lightbrand_]

Dr. Madd Ridley would have a personnal rivalry with Samus nonetheless as they have faced so many times already they don’t really need that kind of backstory to be taken as rivals, plus as stated in the video it’s extremely cliche in the first place that he has killed samus’s parents

[@DrMadd]

Maybe this is just me preferring a traditional hero/villain dynamic but I don't think a monster who never talks and is just fought multiple times over the series history to be a real personal rival. I also don't think that just because their relationship is cliché it's necessarily bad. I'd rather something cliché that makes the character of Ridley more interesting (at least for me) then Ridley simply being the Space Pirates guard dog.

[@jgunner280]

I think a large part of Ridley's story regarding the "killed parents" thing is partially due to just the way Nintendo runs with their stories. They still have a feel going for that "story in the manual" thing. Not to be taken literally, but you're almost never going to actually get a full and detailed story in their games. You get lots of quick set ups, often with many parts done completely exclusive to visuals, and then the plot of the game is something simple. Find the metroid. Kick Bowser's butt. Follow this rail shooter to the giant monkey man head, where most of the dialogue is just simple team aid and banter. Things of that sort. However, there's always something more going on in the background. Something that always has you curious, and named characters that barely have their name even in the game itself, and things going around of that sort. Its got the right balance of flavor text and ideas to get the fans searching, craving for something else, and making up their own theories, or looking and clinging tightly to other sources down to the typos in manuals, and obscure japanese mangas, or quick trophy descriptions. So when some un-discredited source says that Ridley partially defined Samus's childhood, your better believe a lot of people bring that up with the character, even if its pretty obvious he keeps coming back as a prominent villain for something that has very little to do with that odd backstory.

[@MAYOFORCE]

Ridley's kinda like your rival in the first couple pokemon gens So if Game Freak made a new Metroid game, Ridley would throw an energy tank at Samus before and after every battle

[@datdamnmegabusta5604]

@K19 This is objectively perfect, I am so upset you're not top comment.

[@soulsparx]

extremely extremely good video. the title had me worried this was gonna be one of those hot take hatefests but damn you really took all my feelings about the current state of metroid both as a series and as a fandom and put them into better words than i ever could

[@Sandromatic]

I actually really like ridley's appearance in samus returns, not because of ridley, quite honestly the final boss could be anyone and ridley fit the canonical bill given that ridley would be showing up soon after in the timeline anyway, but because it makes me as a player care about the baby metroid more, since that matters later on. the baby metroid is the final power up, and helps me obtain powerups to fight ridley. The baby metroid fights alongside me to defeat him. that makes it really satisfying to defeat him because he serves the game's story. He himself isn't neccessary, but he's good enough. it could really have been anyone as the final boss, but including an extra final boss serves metroid 2 more strongly than the original ending IMO.

[@roseheart270]

39:45 I really am appreciating your video, after I got past your rolling R's that feel like someone dumping cold soup down the back of my shirt, though I do feel there is another half of the Smash interpretation. Melee depicts a desperate fight with Samus, similar to the one you described in Super Metroid. Brawl has one battle where Ridley appears from the shadows on and eventually builds up to a Meta Ridley fight later on. The Ultimate trailer has Ridley attack from the shadows, with the anticipation being the security door like intro, and the fact Samus is in the lead.

[@GeebzGBZ]

Your accent is amazing, and so is the video

[@fijiplus]

Oh my god you’re back, I’ve missed you so muc