This article's title is conjectural.
Any name given in official media is eligible to become the title of the article.
The current title is not an official name.
Non-canon warning: This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.
"Space Dragon" refers to pterosaur-like sentient beings that are alluded to in the Captain N: The Game Master comic Breakout, as well as the manga Metroid EX. Both of these sources are not considered canon. Ridley, a common antagonist in the Metroid series, is the only purported individual of the species to appear in the canon of the series. Whether he is canonically part of this race is unknown.
Captain N: The Game Master
Breakout introduces a judicial member of this race, Judge Racklas. It is said by Mother Brain that every member of the species looks alike, which was how in the comic Ridley and Racklas were easily switched in their plot to imprison Princess Lana and Samus Aran. Both Racklas and Ridley take the latter's physical appearance from concept artwork for the original Metroid, which was the only Metroid game in existence at the time.
Samus and Joey and Metroid EX
The end of Samus and Joey introduces a new villain, Greed, who appears nearly identical to Ridley. In the series' continuation, Metroid EX, Greed reveals that he wants revenge on Samus because she "utterly destroyed" his race. He elaborates that they were once the rulers of the Space Pirates, a position they had held for ages. Samus quickly infers that he is of the same race as Ridley, and is seeking revenge for Ridley's death during the events of her Zero Mission. This may imply that with Ridley dead, he is the only "Space Dragon" alive.
Role in Canon
Neither of the stories above are considered part of the official Metroid canon. However, there are some implications that Ridley is part of a species in the overall story. In Metroid: Other M, Ridley is shown to have a three-step metamorphic life cycle, first as a small birdlike creature, then a large lizard, and finally his iconic dragon form. Presumably, this life cycle is shared by other individuals of the species. Ridley is referred to as "geoform 187" in Metroid Prime, which may be a designation for this species.
Additionally, the Metroid Manga hints at the Chozo having an unknown history with Ridley's race.
Trivia
- In the files for the original Metroid, there is an unused Fake Ridley which may have been a weak member of Ridley's race impersonating him.
Gallery
Non-canon warning: Non-canonical information ends here.
| Sentient Species in the Metroid series |
|---|
| Extant Sentients |
| Human | Space Pirate | Craftsmen | Kriken | Luminoth |
| Former Sentients |
| Reptilicus | Diamont | Elysian | Ing | ancient Bion race |
| Unknown Status |
| Alimbic | Chozo | N'kren | Phrygisian | Enoema | Vhozon | Ylla | machine race "Elfin" | "Simian" | "Ceratopsid" | "Space dragon" |