Samus works alone

This story was originally published on May 9, 2013 in re/Action, a feminist gaming blog of the era. It has been republished in full here at Mothership with permission, as re/Action's website went offline years ago. We're republishing this story today, on the 40th anniversary of the release of the very first Metroid game.

Editor's note: This story contains descriptions of suicidal ideation.

I still remember the date. Thursday, December 13, 2007.

For months afterward, I did not cry. I did spend a lot of time sleeping. I had trouble moving. What had I ever contributed to the world? Nothing. I had done nothing. I had failed at my life’s sole significant venture, and what’s more, that venture had been attaining the interest of a man. Pitiful.

My ex-boyfriend of five years had moved out. I had been forced to live with the person who I hated the most: myself. I couldn’t escape her. She was everywhere.

I knew a couple things for certain: I wanted to kill myself. And Metroid Prime 3 had just come out.