Metroid Construction

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!

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

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.

Released:	1986
Console:	NES ⭐ FDS
Hacking Popularity:	3rd
Editors:	Editroid ⭐ 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 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 Metroid segment of this wiki.

Released:	1991
Console:	GameBoy
Hacking Popularity:	5th
Editors:	LAMP ⭐ ROSE 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 Level Arranging Metroid (2) Program (LAMP) by Conner. There is another online work-in-progress editor named Return of Samus Editor (ROSE), by 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 Return of Samus segment of the wiki.

Released:	1994
Console:	SNES
Regions:	JU ⭐ E
Hacking Popularity:	1st ⭐
Editors:	SMART ⭐ SMILE RF 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 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 Super Metroid segment.

In addition to this, most people on Metconst Discord are comfortable with editing Super Metroid, so there is plenty of assistance if you require it.

Released:	2002
Console:	GBA
Regions:	U ⭐ E J C
Hacking Popularity:	4th
Editors:	MAGE Themes ⭐ (Source) MAGE Double Helix 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 and 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 MAGE (Metroid Advance Game Editor). MAGE is a new and improved editor by biospark and is currently in development. There is a Discord Server: Metroid Advance Game Construction (MAGConst). For more information please check the Fusion segment of the wiki.

Released:	2004
Console:	GBA
Regions:	U ⭐ E J C
Hacking Popularity:	2nd
Editors:	MAGE Themes ⭐ (Source) MAGE Double Helix Zero Fission

Zero Mission is the 2nd most hacked Metroid game, behind Super Metroid. Documentation is still in the process of being written for this game.

Metroid Fusion and 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 MAGE (Metroid Advance Game Editor). MAGE is a new and improved editor by biospark and is currently in development. There is a Discord Server: Metroid Advance Game Construction (MAGConst). For more information please check the Zero Mission segment of the wiki.

Released:	2002
Console:	GameCube
Gameplay:	3D
Hacking Popularity:	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 Discord Server: Metroid Prime Modding. To learn more, check out the Prime segment of the wiki.

Released:	2004
Console:	GameCube
Gameplay:	3D
Hacking Popularity:	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 Discord Server: Metroid Prime Modding. To learn more, check out the Prime 2 segment of the wiki.

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.

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!