It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Metroid is one of the most influential series to come from Nintendo. There is an entire genre that was spawned from this legendary franchise. During the intervening decades, the Metroid games have taken many shapes. The same couldAC be said of its central protagonist: Samus.
Throughout her many adventures, Samus has acquired a number of different outfits. Most of them have given her resistance to the alien planets she is exploring, but some of them have come with other perks as well. We will list them chronologically, in order of appearance in the Metroid timeline.
9 Power Suit - Canonically First Appeared In Metroid
The power suit is Samus's base suit - the no-frills variation. It is the suit you quickly move past as you expand your arsenal. Its design matches its purpose as being a starter suit, as it looks a little basic. Without the additional plates adorning it, the Power Suit is just less visually interesting (though we're sure the minimalists love it).
The Power Suit is also comparatively slim to the other suits (in every Metroid game outside the first, where Samus's silhouette never changes), which gives it a slightly more frail appearance; especially when it comes to the shoulders. It feels like the Power Suit is primarily a way to show progression visually. In that regard, it works brilliantly.
8 Varia Suit - Canonically First Appeared In Metroid
The Varia suit serves as an upgrade to the Power Suit and exists to provide Samus with greater defense (as well as greater resistance to environmental conditions). Initially, in the first Metroid game, the Varia Suit was just a palette swap. However, ever since the release of Metroid 2: Return Of Samus, this suit has had its own unique aesthetic. While the Varia suit has changed a little here and there, the color scheme has stayed largely consistent: iconically, the suit is orange and red. However, in Metroid Fusion, the Varia Suit appeared snot green (yuck) and pink, so even the colors have changed occasionally.
The shoulders may have gotten beefier from game to game, but outside the odd iteration seen in Fusion, one thing remains true about the Varia Suit: this is Samus's definitive look. Which is strange, right? Given that the Power Suit is her default outfit, you would assume that would be the suit we associate with the character most. Yet, the Varia Suit is the one they typically put on the cover. And for good reason, there aren't many badass characters colored orange. Samus is in a league of her own in that regard.
7 Gravity Suit- Canonically First Appeared In Metroid Prime
Typically, this is a simple pallet swap. The arms become purple, and the visor becomes blue. However, in Samus Returns for the 3DS, they made the Gravity Suit more visually distinct. In that game, it has glowing, neon blue veins. Which is a pretty nice addition. Once you have obtained the Gravity Suit you gain greater defensive boost and greater tolerance to the hostile environment.
There are a few games where the Gravity Suit's color scheme differs to a greater degree. Most notably, in Metroid: Fusion, the Gravity Suit is colored light blue with the arms and legs being a brighter purple. Honestly, it is the best-looking suit in the game and maybe the best the Gravity Suit ever looks. On the other hand, in Metroid: Other M, this suit just makes you glow purpley. Leave it to Other M to phone it in.
6 Phazon Suit- Canonically First Appeared In Metroid Prime
The Phazon Suit, lore-wise, makes Samus impervious to the effects of Phazon (which is a mysterious, toxic substance). However, we all know the real reason was to give her an edgier, darker design. It feels like something that was borrowed from the Spider-Man Symbiote Saga. Heck, it even manages to separate from her and become a primary antagonist.
To be fair, the Phazon Suit does look super cool. It also comes paired with the extremely impressive Phason Beam. The Phazon Suit is an absolute testament to the powerful pairing that black and red will always be. They would later try to recapture this look with the Dark Suit, but as far as the edgier Samus designs go, this suit is clearly the one to rule them all.
5 Dark Suit - Canonically First Appeared In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
The Dark Suit canonically exists to help resist the Dark Aether atmosphere (which is a parallel version of the planet Aether). However, visually, it feels like a bit of a rehash of the Phazon Suit. This time, though, Samus's shoulder pads are wheels! Take that how you will.
The real strength of this suit appears to be that it sets up for a gratifying transition to the Light Suit, which is Samus's ultimate form in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
4 Light Suit - Canonically First Appeared In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
The Light Suit is the perfected form of the Dark Suit and this is one of Samus's slickest suits. With the Light Suit, Samus gained full resistance to the dark aether. It changes her armor to a stark white. It also loses the wheel design of the shoulder pads and looks substantially slimmer as a direct result.
Overall, this is a great suit to end the game on. Obviously, Samus being in the Light Suit makes for a natural contrast with Dark Samus. It is also just another undeniably cool look.
3 PED- Canonically First Appeared In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Visually, the PED Suit is one of the most muted suits Samus acquires. It feels like the direct antithesis to the neon-colored, organic Fusion Suit. Aesthetically, it has a lot of similarities to the classic Varia design, but with a less colorful palette.
While the PED Suit may not pop visually, it does have a neat power associated with it. In this suit, Samus can go into hyper mode, which allows her to shrug off basically anything her enemies throw at her (though at the cost of an energy tank). It also powers her weapons up, as well. So, while the PED suit may not be her flashiest design, it is associated with a pretty fun mechanic.
2 Fusion Suit- Canonically First Appeared In Metroid Fusion
The Fusion Suit is very interesting, lore-wise as the suit itself fused to Samus. Having been overcome by alien X Parasites, Samus nearly dies. However, a vaccine, containing Metroid DNA, was able to save her life. Though now the suit has fused to her (we see what you did there).
The Fusion suit is, by far, one of the most visually distinct suits Samus acquires. Instead of looking like a suit of armor, the Fusion Suit looks suitably alive. The color scheme also pops, being indigo and yellow. It was a fun, alternative take on the classic, but we are happy Samus returned to a look that is a little closer to the rest of the series in Metroid Dread (where the Fusion Suit acquires a more armor like appearance again).
1 Metroid Suit- Canonically First Appeared In Metroid Dread
For all the people who grew up calling Samus "Metroid" because they didn't read the manual, this is the closest to vindication you are ever going to get. This suit is, on some level, a Metroid. Which is, you know, kinda fun narratively. It feels like we have come full circle. From hunting Metroids to being buddies with a Metroid to just being a Metroid.
Visually, this one is pretty wild. While the Fusion Suit looked organic, it had more of a slimy aesthetic to it. The Metroid Suit, on the other hand, is more than a little beatle-like. It has a carapace-like exterior, with jagged ridges and folding plates everywhere. It is one of the most out-there designs Samus has had. The Metroid Suit is also associated with one of the greatest cutscenes we have ever seen in a Metroid game. This suit screams "don't screw with me", and for good reason.