Fans have created a full blown Metroid prequel

Ever wondered how Gumpei Yokos beloved heroine Samus Aran started her journey as the galaxy's most feared bounty hunter? That question and a whole lot more will be answered in Metroid: Rogue Dawn, an unofficial prequel to the original 8-bit game that's been in developed by four fans over the course of two years. Now it has finally been finished up.

Here is an excerpt that explains the premise for Rogue Dawn:

"Rogue Dawn is an unofficial prequel to the original Metroid game released in 1986. 30 years later we bring you the events that unfolded before Samus's famous "Zero" mission on planet Zebes. The original Metroid manual tells us about a deep-space research spaceship that was attacked. Pirates seized a capsule said to contain a newly discovered life form in a state of suspended animation. Rogue Dawn surrounds these events that led up to the theft of the capsule which ultimately placed the Metroid's under the control of Ridley and the Mother Brain. The mission to acquire the capsule is placed in the hands of one of Ridley's best kept secrets. A rogue human agent trained and manipulated by Ridley from a young age. Taken as a child from a Federation colony obliterated by Ridley's faction she was initially just another test subject slated to undergo horrific experiments. Ridley decided to instead manipulate and mold her into a weapon, his first human servant and dark agent. Primed yet untested she is sent out on her "zero" mission to retrieve a newly discovered biological specimen in the possession of a Federation research crew orbiting planet SR388 and prove her worth. Her name is Dawn Aran!"

If this catches your fancy, it is available for download right here.