Samus Aran, the iconic protagonist of Nintendo's Metroid series, has been a central figure in gaming culture since 1986. The character is most famous in meme circles for the 'Metroid is a girl' reveal, which subverted expectations during the 8-bit era and remains a classic gaming trivia point. Memes often focus on her silent but lethal demeanor, the contrast between her hulking Power Suit and the agile Zero Suit, and her never-ending battles against Ridley. Over the years, she has evolved from a pixelated bounty hunter into a symbol of strength and stoicism, with fans using her image to represent everything from 'speedrunner energy' to the feeling of being over-equipped for a simple task.