So, I decided to look a bit into the Metroid storyline, and this is what I found:
Metroid
Metroid: Zero Mission
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Super Metroid
Metroid: Other M
Metroid Fusion
The basis for my question is simple enough: Ridley. While he was presumably defeated before Prime, he was recovered from time to time, appearing more differently than before. But then, in Super Metroid, he looks just like he did back then. I don't really get why the storyline is like this. It was quite a shocker for me that the Prime series took place before Super Metroid.
So yeah, I need to hear opinions. ^_^
I've always been under the assumption that the Ridley in Metroid Prime and Corruption were the Ridley from the original Metroid, and that the Ridley in Super Metroid was just a completely different Ridley entirely.
It's not a plotline issue, but a bit of a continuity snarl.
Ridley in Prime 3 doesn't look as metallic as Ridley in Prime. I would guess that the space pirates technology got better and they were able to make him look more organic from Super and Other M.
Maybe he's wearing armor? I don't know...