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Samus vs. The Galaxy
1up has a look back at the Metroid series during the 20th anniversary of Metroid for the NES. From the article: "Metroid's gameplay isn't beloved exclusively. Fans love the series' heroine, Samus Aran. Samus is hard to define as a character, which adds to her appeal. In the scrolls of the Chozo, the avian race that raised her after she was orphaned, she's recorded as The Newborn, and the hope of their depleted race. To the Galactic Federation, she's the protector of the galaxy. To Space Pirates, she's the Huntress, or a handful of vulgar alien words. To gamers, Samus is mostly an enigma. Unlike other game heroines, she hasn't spread herself and her secrets everywhere like a high school senior of ill repute. Samus' motivations still command respect and a certain degree of awe."
Under two hours, actualy, though you can get the helmet off only with an intermediate time.
Well, it isn't completely obvious, as in most of the Metroid games i've seen, you don't really get to see much of her face. There's a way in Metroid prime to see a reflection of her face on the visor, something to do with bright lights and water or something, can't remember exactly how it happens, but i've seen it a few times. The metroid series is great, and most people don't care or notice that it's a girl as a star because they don't make that the entire point of the story. When you look at games like tomb raider, they make it completely obvious, and the entire point of the game, that the hero is a girl. When that's all they focus on, the game tends to be lacking in other areas. however, when it's just taken as matter-of-fact that the hero is a girl, and they don't dwell on it, nobody notices, and you get a great game.
Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
IIRC, you can see the face pretty clearly in Metroid Prime during the lift 'loading' screens or if you fire a charge beam at a wall right in front of you.
Metroid was never popular in Japan, and despite Nintedo's efforts to push it back into that market, it doesn't seem to have worked. The Metroid Prime series seems to be primarily developed in the US, with North American gamers in mind.
"You spoony bard!" -Tellah
There was also a way to see that she was a girl in the original Metroid game. WHen you finished the game depending on how well you did Samus changed color, and if you did real well she took off her helmet and had long hair.
There's a fantastic little video spot that assembles all the best bits of the metroid games in order of the story 'arc' that has developed on imeem - it's accompanied by some funny commentary about how she just can't hold onto her power ups and her relationship with the metroids.
Definitly worth a watch even if you've played all the games and know all the bits.
I'm pretty sure you meant to say Metroid II: The return of samus. It is at the end of that game, after killing the queen metroid, that the last metroid hatches and bonds with samus.
Umm, what absence of information? There's a e-manga that fills in most of her back story. (Translations of which can be found here.) Then the manuals are actually filled with a great deal of information. Some of the Chozo lore scans from MP1 give you the Chozo viewpoint of Samus and her role. And, there are also the flashbacks in Zero Mission which give a small detail to what here childhood was like. There's a whole bunch of information on Samus for those that actually want it. It just comes down to whether or not you really care to get into the story of the Metroid series.
Personally, throw a Metroid onto a system and I'll buy it. I can't wait to see how the Prime trilogy ends.