Metroid is one of the longest-lasting and most popular video game series in history. Since its launch over 30 years ago, the game has released ten games so far, not counting the announced, but not scheduled, Metroid Prime 4. The heroine, Samus Aran, is not only one of the most famous video game characters of all time, but has gained a reputation as one of the most powerful.
As happens with many powerful characters (from Godzilla to Bill & Ted), Samus ends up fighting a dark version of herself because it seems she has run out of challenging enemies. But if she's looking for good opponents, she need only to look to anime to find challenging enemies, including some who are just too much for her.
10 Samus Would Defeat Spike Spiegel
Of all the characters in the popular anime (and soon to be live action series) Cowboy Bebop, Spike Spiegel is the most skilled fighter. Whether wielding his Jericho 941 in a gunfight or practicing Jeet Kune Do in hand-to-hand combat, Spike has shown himself a formidable opponent, but he would likely be no match for Samus in any of her guises.
Her powered armor would even give her an edge against Spike's fighter craft, the Swordfish II. Spike is a wily character, though, and it's possible that he could win this fight through guile if, say, his nimble fingers could somehow disable Samus' armor in an unguarded moment.
9 Samus Would Lose to Edward Elric
Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, and his brother Alphonse, the alchemist who is fully metal, would prove just too much for Samus. While Samus has faced many powerful and even supernatural foes (like Phantoon), one thing she has not faced is magic. While alchemy requires rituals, it can offer almost unlimited power, as long as you are willing to pay the cost.
In a battle against Samus, the Elric brothers would be prepared to pay the cost and they would have their rituals prepared. Samus' skill and speed would not avail her in a battle where the elements were turned against her, but she would have a chance if she could manage to disrupt the ritual.
8 Samus Would Defeat Shinji Ikari
In Neon Genesis Evangelion, Earth's generals make a desperate bargain. To protect themselves from massive aliens called angels, they sacrifice children to serve as pilots of semi-sentient mechas called Evangelion. Shinji is the pilot who becomes something of the leader of the small band of children, and he's good at vanquishing the massive angels. But he would have several disadvantages against Samus.
First, her speed and evasiveness would make her a hard target for the Evangelion. Plus, her firepower is designed specifically to fight large opponents like the Evangelion. And if Samus could get Shinji to detach from his umbilical (or damage it), she could easily run out his power. Shinji's only hope would be a lucky quick strike.
7 Samus Would Lose to Lelouch Lamperouge
Lelouch Lamperouge is the powerful rebel leader in Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, and like Shinji, he pilots a powerful mecha. We still believe that in straight combat Samus could easily defeat Lelouch, in or out of his knightmare. But Lelouch has some things that Shinji doesn't, such as the Geass power, experience, and strategy.
Not to mention an army! Using these abilities, he could set up the battle in a way that he'd be sure to win before he entered the battlefield. Samus could still win—she's overcome tremendous odds before—but it would take every bit of her skill and stamina.
6 Samus Would Defeat Ryoku Matoi
This would admittedly be a tough battle. Ryoku from Kill la Kill is a powerful opponent. Her speed and agility at least rivals Samus'. She can wield powerful energies with her scissor-sword, the kind of energies that would fling Samus around and beat her armor up pretty bad. But it's that armor that would make the difference.
While Ryoku's scissor-sword can cut Goku Uniforms, those are pretty flimsy affairs, all things considered. Samus' armor is quite sturdy by comparison, and even the Zero Suit would give Samus enough protection to take down Ryoku.
5 Samus Would Lose to Major Motoko Kusanagi
Like Ryoku, the Major is an opponent whose speed and dexterity match Samus. Unlike Ryoku, the Major can't wield impossible energies. Instead, she has to rely on her pistols and her strength. So how could the Major win where Ryoku would lose? She has three advantages. First, stealth, which would allow her to surprise Samus, winning a huge initial advantage. Second, she has tactics.
She knows how to use the environment to her advantage. And finally, she's prepared to sacrifice. To the Major, her body is just a shell, one that can suffer a lot of punishment before it finally gives out. Using her advantages and pushing herself to her absolute limit, she would wear Samus down.
4 Samus Would Defeat Aang
There's no doubt that Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender can wield tremendous powers. Using all his elemental bending powers, his magic could create a devastating onslaught that would wear down Samus' armor. Not only that, but he could quickly restrict the battlefield to take away her advantageous maneuverability.
But while Aang could and should beat Samus, he has never been a particularly decisive fighter. The likely moral ambiguity of circumstances surrounding this conflict would likely cause him to hesitate just enough to give Samus the upper hand. Of course, there's an off-hand chance that in the course of the fight, Samus' attacks would solidify Aang's resolve, and then he might win.
3 Samus Would Lose to Goku
Of all the anime out there, Dragonball Z is the one with the most overpowered characters. And of all these overpowered characters, Goku is the most powerful. We mean, he has so many powers, it boggles the mind.
And he's not slow and ponderous the way that many of Samus' enemies are: he's lithe and nimble. Plus, he's a very skilled fighter at all distances, from close grappling to long-range combat. Samus might be able to score a few hits, but she would likely find herself overwhelmed in relatively short order.
2 Samus Would Defeat the Titans
While this isn't a specific character that Samus would fight, it's a matchup that she was practically designed to win. Her complement of weaponry is specially suited to take on this type of large, hulking enemy. Which is not to say it would be easy.
The titans are powerful creatures. But she would probably be able to keep her distance and snipe at the titans, utilizing her missiles to soften up their armor. The occasional blows scored by the titans wouldn't be enough to break through her armor, and while she wouldn't emerge unscathed, she would emerge victorious.
1 Samus Would Lose to Naruto
Is there any doubt that Samus would be unable to defeat Naruto? The character is well-known as one of the most powerful in all anime, and his combination of skills would give him an insurmountable advantage against Samus.
He could use his chakra arms to negate her agility, then achieve a killing blow with the Rasengen, for example. And if that didn't work, he has dozens of other techniques at his disposal. Even if it takes time and Samus can inflict some damage on him, Naruto's healing powers would help him stay alive long enough to win the battle decisively.