The design of the Metroids in Metroid 2: Return of Samus.

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

So this game established that the Metroids can "grow" or evolve into a other forms And I feel there design is rather.....Un-Metroid-like.

Here is the official Metroid Life Cycle they call it:

I mean I don't know they went from Fanged Jellyfish to basically an Alien Dinosaur....kind feels less alien looking.

And also I feel there is a missing form (or missing link) between the Gamma to Zeta Metroids like how did it go from from this:

to this:

I feel they should have added another form to bridge Gamma and Zeta to make it any biological sense.

 

[CaitSeith]

The graphics in the GB make the metamorphosis look less nonsensical. The insect body became just a shell as all the changes happened inside. Its new form finally ripped through its old body, like a butterfly coming out of its chrysalis.

Err... is it me or that sounded way too poetic?

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

'Un-Metroid like'? In the first game we just had larval Metroids to deal with, with no idea about the other forms. The second game showed the 'natural' growth cycle on their home planet when they're not being affected by Phazon or Ing or just by being in a different ecosystem from SR388.

Omegas are very Xenomoph-looking, which was doubtless the intention considering all the other parallels to Alien. It's definitely a beneficial evolution given how each change gives it more carapace and less vulnerable nucleus to hit, as well as increased strength and durability. Omega Metroids have given me more game overs than any other video game enemy this year except Lucifer. The only weird thing I find is how Alphas become immune to freezing after hatching from their larva cocoons but vulnerable to plain missiles hitting the nucleus.

 

[Erttheking]

Yes, well, they're based off of xenomorphs from Alien. The thing that went from this

Spoiler

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/avp/images/b/bb/Alien-The_Facehugger.png/revision/latest?cb=20080712194332

To this

Spoiler

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/aliens/images/f/ff/XenomorphXX121.png/revision/latest?cb=20141005001209

With only one more stage in-between. Hell, Metroids make more sense considering that they've got more stages acting as bridges.

 

[Post Tenebrae Morte]

The difference between gamma and zeta is that, to get to zeta, the Metroid cocoons itself and emerges as a zeta. As with anything that undertakes such a process, it likely consumes the nutrients needed and then hibernates, emerging later. In am2r, if you look at the models of the later alpha and zeta fights, you can see them changing such as the presence of vestigial legs for the alpha as it nears transforming into the gamma and more armor along with a slight height increase for the zeta.