A creative fan of the Metroid series has taken the internet by storm with an intricately designed cosplay of Samus Aran, featuring her legendary Varia Suit. Complete with a functioning arm cannon and the signature oversized shoulder pads, the cosplay captures the essence of this iconic Nintendo character. The cosplayer showcased their impressive creation on social media, posting a series of pictures from a convention where they donned the Varia Suit.
When Samus Aran first made her debut in the 1986 game Metroid, she quickly became one of Nintendo’s most legendary figures. Raised by the avian-like Chozo race after her family was killed by Ridley and the Space Pirates, Samus was injected with Chozo DNA and trained to use the Power Suit. This training, coupled with her formidable arsenal—like Power Bombs and various laser beams—cements her status as one of gaming’s most formidable heroes.
Among the various renditions of armor that Samus has sported over the decades, the Varia Suit remains a fan favorite. Recently, a cosplayer known as King_JohnnyVIII on Instagram unveiled their homage to this iconic suit at the Cleveland Gaming Classic in September 2024. Their custom Varia Suit boasted a striking blue laser on the right arm, vibrant orange shoulder pads, a golden chest plate, and the classic visor featuring a blue-eye guard. To make navigating the convention more feasible, the cosplayer opted for practical black footwear instead of the traditional armored boots. The Instagram post also highlighted other creative cosplays at the event, including a group of Halo Spartans and a Mandalorian outfitted with Mario-themed armor.
Creating such a detailed tribute to Samus isn’t a walk in the park. Real-world recreations of Samus Aran’s suits are notoriously complex, owing to their intricate details. The cosplayer, despite initially sharing the images months earlier, received an outpouring of admiration from fans well into February. Reflecting on the journey, they shared it took over two years to craft the suit and expressed gratitude to those who assisted in its creation.
Looking to the future, fans are abuzz with anticipation as rumors circulate about a new 2D Metroid in development for a 2025 release. Meanwhile, excitement builds with the expected launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, where players will once again step into the shoes of the galaxy’s most feared bounty hunter, Samus Aran. Only time will tell what fresh challenges and upgrades await her in this next chapter of her saga.
