Metroid Construction

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===== Why ROM Hack? =====

{{samusapproves.png |Samus approves this page!}} So, you've got your brilliant idea for a Metroid game - your re-imagination of Super Metroid, or you just want to make Fusion suck less - and you want to make it into a game to show the world, but you don't know anything about programming for making your own game engine…

But wait, have you thought about ROM hacking? With ROM hacking, you can create your own game by editing the existing Metroid games covered here. ROM hacking can also be your first foray into game making! By giving you an easy platform to test your level design out on, you can make a quality game without needing to know anything about programming!

===== WebArchive =====
https://web.archive.org/web/20240226211446/https://wiki.metroidconstruction.com/doku.php?id=general:why_rom_hack

===== What games can I edit? =====

So, you decided you want to ROM hack, but which game are you going to pick? Below is a list of games that are hacked on MetConst by people.

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==== Metroid ====
[[m1|{{ editroid.png?256|Editroid}}]]
^  [[m1|{{m1.png|Metroid}}]]  ^^
| Released: | 1986     |
| Console:  | Nintendo Entertainment System ⭐\\ Famicom Disk System |
| Hacking Popularity: | [[https://metroidconstruction.com/hacks.php?sort=&dir=&filters[]=M1|3rd]] |
| Editors:   | [[https://metroidconstruction.com/resource.php?id=1|Editroid ⭐]]\\ [[https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/176/|MetEdit]] |


Metroid has a good wealth of information around it and new advancements are being pushed forward, all of which are very exciting!

Editroid is the tool of use for when hacking Metroid. It was created by [[https://forum.metroidconstruction.com/index.php?action=profile;u=37|snarfblam]] in 2007 and is extremely comprehensive, even including a built in assembler for assembly tweaks located on this wiki. The editor is actively worked on by snarfblam and is continually receiving improvements to itself. For more information on Metroid hacking, please check the [[m1|Metroid]] segment of this wiki.

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==== Metroid II Return of Samus ====
[[ros|{{ lamp.png?256|LAMP}}]]
^  [[ros|{{ros.png|Metroid II Return of Samus}}]]  ^^
| Released: | 1991     |
| Console:  | Game Boy |
| Hacking Popularity: | [[https://metroidconstruction.com/hacks.php?sort=&dir=&filters[]=M2|5th]] |
| Editors:   | [[https://metroidconstruction.com/resource.php?id=584|LAMP]] ⭐\\ [[https://github.com/liamnajor/ROSE|ROSE]]\\ [[https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/144/|M2Edit]]     |

Metroid II is the least hacked Metroid game, but is steadily picking up pace. Documentation is still in the process of being written for this game.

The main editor of choice is [[https://metroidconstruction.com/resource.php?id=584|Level Arranging Metroid (2) Program (LAMP)]] by [[https://forum.metroidconstruction.com/index.php?action=profile;u=40477|Conner]]. There is another online work-in-progress editor named [[https://github.com/liamnajor/ROSE|Return of Samus Editor (ROSE)]], by [[https://forum.metroidconstruction.com/index.php?action=profile;u=31872|Liamnajor]]. There is a Metroid 2 hacking Discord server named Metroid II Construction (M2Const). With any luck, something may be popping up at some point! Stay tuned on the [[ros|Return of Samus]] segment of the wiki.

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==== Super Metroid ====
[[sm|{{ smile.png?256|SMILE}}]]
^  [[sm|{{sm.png|Super Metroid}}]]  ^^
| Released: | 1994 |
| Console:  | Super Nintendo Entertainment System |
| Hacking Popularity: | [[https://metroidconstruction.com/hacks.php?sort=&dir=&filters[]=SM|1st ⭐ ]] |
| Editors:  | [[https://edit-sm.art/|SMART]] ⭐\\ [[https://forum.metroidconstruction.com/index.php/topic,3575.0.html|SMILE RF]]\\ [[https://metroidconstruction.com/resource.php?id=63|SMILE]] |

Super Metroid has the majority of the community's attention. It has the best documentation and the most community support.

Most of Super Metroid editing is done using [[https://metroidconstruction.com/resource.php?id=63|SMILE (Super Metroid Integrated Level Editor)]]. SMILE was created in 2003 by Jathys; it is old but still features everything you need to make a great Super Metroid Hack. The things it can't edit are covered by the rest of the wiki in the [[sm|Super Metroid]] segment.

[[sm|{{ smart.png?200|SMART}}]]
| Super Metroid Auto Repointing Tool (SMART) |
| There is also a newer and easier to use Super Metroid editor named SMART (Super Metroid Auto Repointing Tool). SMART was created in 2016 by TestRunner and Amoeba Of Doom; However it wasn't until 2018 that it became the editor it is today. SMART has everything you would need to make a great ROM hack of Super Metroid, and will even handle repointing data for you. What it can't edit is covered by the rest of the wiki in the Super Metroid segment. |

In addition to this, most people on [[https://discord.gg/xDwaaqa|Metconst Discord]] are comfortable with editing Super Metroid, so there is plenty of assistance if you require it.

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==== Metroid Fusion ====

[[fusion|{{ mage_fusion.png?256|MAGE}}]]
^  [[fusion|{{fusion.png|Metroid Fusion}}]]  ^^
| Released: | 2002 |
| Console:  | Game Boy Advance |
| Hacking Popularity: | [[https://metroidconstruction.com/hacks.php?sort=&dir=&filters[]=MF|4th]] |
| Editors:  | [[https://nightly.link/ConConner/MAGE-Themes/workflows/build/QOL-Improvements/MAGEThemes.zip|MAGE Themes]] ⭐ [[https://github.com/ConConner/MAGE-Themes|(Source)]]\\ [[https://metroidconstruction.com/resource.php?id=90|MAGE]] \\ [[https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/560/|Double Helix]]\\ [[https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/391/|Zero Fission]] |

Fusion is behind in community attention but picking up pace. Documentation is still in the process of being written for this game.

[[#metroid_fusion|Metroid Fusion]] and [[#metroid_zero_mission|Metroid Zero Mission]] are unique in that they share the same engine, so a lot of knowledge from hacking one of them may be carried over to the other.

Currently, the editor for Fusion is [[https://metroidconstruction.com/resource.php?id=90|MAGE (Metroid Advance Game Editor)]]. MAGE is a new and improved editor by [[https://forum.metroidconstruction.com/index.php?action=profile;u=28871|biospark]] and is currently in development. There is a [[https://discord.gg/WtekHKb|Discord Server: Metroid Advance Game Construction (MAGConst)]]. For more information please check the [[fusion|Fusion]] segment of the wiki.

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==== Metroid Zero Mission ====
[[zm|{{ mage_zm.png?256|MAGE}}]] 
^  [[zm|{{zm.png|Metroid Zero Mission}}]]  ^^
| Released: | 2004 |
| Console:  | Game Boy Advance |
| Hacking Popularity: | [[https://metroidconstruction.com/hacks.php?sort=&dir=&filters[]=MZM|2nd]] |
| Editors:  | [[https://nightly.link/ConConner/MAGE-Themes/workflows/build/QOL-Improvements/MAGEThemes.zip|MAGE Themes]] ⭐ [[https://github.com/ConConner/MAGE-Themes|(Source)]]\\ [[https://metroidconstruction.com/resource.php?id=90|MAGE]] \\ [[https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/560/|Double Helix]]\\ [[https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/391/|Zero Fission]] |

Zero Mission is the [[https://metroidconstruction.com/hacks.php?sort=&dir=&filters[]=MZM|2nd]] most hacked Metroid game, behind [[#super_metroid|Super Metroid]]. Documentation is still in the process of being written for this game.

[[#metroid_fusion|Metroid Fusion]] and [[#metroid_zero_mission|Metroid Zero Mission]] are unique in that they share the same engine, so a lot of knowledge from hacking one of them may be carried over to the other.

Currently, the editor for Zero Mission is [[https://metroidconstruction.com/resource.php?id=90|MAGE (Metroid Advance Game Editor)]]. MAGE is a new and improved editor by [[https://forum.metroidconstruction.com/index.php?action=profile;u=28871|biospark]] and is currently in development. There is a [[https://discord.gg/WtekHKb|Discord Server: Metroid Advance Game Construction (MAGConst)]]. For more information please check the [[zm|Zero Mission]] segment of the wiki.

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==== Metroid Prime ====

^  [[mp1|{{mp1.png?231|Metroid Prime}}]]  ^^
| Released: | 2002 |
| Console:  | Gamecube |
| Gameplay: | 3D   |
| Hacking Popularity: | [[https://metroidconstruction.com/hacks.php?sort=&dir=&filters[]=MP1|6th]] |
| Editors:  | Prime World Editor\\ STRG Editor |

Metroid Prime is the first 3D game in the franchise, and currently the most popular 3D Metroid game to hack.

For hacking this game, tools include * Prime World Editor for level editing and * STRG Editor for editing string files. There is also a [[https://discord.gg/tQAdp3A|Discord Server: Metroid Prime Modding]]. To learn more, check out the [[mp1|Prime]] segment of the wiki.

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==== Metroid Prime 2 Echoes ====

^  [[mp2|{{mp2.png?231|Metroid Prime 2: Echoes}}]]  ^^
| Released: | 2004 |
| Console:  | Gamecube |
| Gameplay: | 3D   |
| Hacking Popularity: | [[https://metroidconstruction.com/hacks.php?sort=&dir=&filters[]=MP2|7th]] |
| Editors:  | Prime World Editor\\ STRG Editor |

Metroid Prime 2 sees about the same amount of hacking attention as the first prime game, and uses the same tools: * Prime World Editor for level editing and * STRG Editor for editing string files. There is also a [[https://discord.gg/tQAdp3A|Discord Server: Metroid Prime Modding]]. To learn more, check out the [[mp2|Prime 2]] segment of the wiki.

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===== What Assistance Can I Get? =====

In addition to the wealth of knowledge on this wiki, Metroid Construction has an Active Forum of people who can answer any questions you may have. There is also a Discord Server available for you to connect to which is populated by most of the active MetConstians. If you need a quick answer to something, the Discord Server is the place to go. There is also an IRC Chatroom which doesn't see a whole lot of activity nowadays.

The main site also hosts a Resources Page with lots of free resources for an aspiring hacker to use. All of these resources have been created by MetConstians to help you create the best hack possible.

===== Conclusion =====

So, you might have started unsure about how you feel about ROM hacking. Maybe the word hacking intimidated you, or perhaps you felt like you needed to know programming to get somewhere, but now you feel confident about ROM hacking, and hopefully, want to get started on a game! So head back to the Start page and pick a game and get hacking! Happy hacking MetConstian!