| Mystro-Sama said: Haven't played one before but it looks like a series I would like and I want to play all the mainline ones before Prime 4 comes out. |
I'd play the 2D ones in chronological order. Zero Mission (remake) /Metroid, Samus Returns (remake)/Metroid II, Super Metroid (Metroid III), Metroid Fusion (Metroid 4.) Play the prime series whenever you want, but if you are interested in its chronological position -- the Prime series takes place after Zero Mission/Metroid.
Note: Super Metroid is the best of the 2D series, but Fusion is also very good in a different way.
Don't bother with Other M, to be honest, unless you really enjoy the other games and want to try it. You can read the story details on Wiki after playing Super Metroid (the game takes place right after Super Metroid.) The game does some interesting things, but its not worth more than $20 (fortunately is only like $12 online.) Really don't bother with federation force. Prime Hunters has an okayish single player, but the highlight of that game back in the day was its multiplayer. It wouldn't hurt to skip it, but there is a character in the game that probably will be relevant to Metroid Prime 4.
Other than that, enjoy! I wish I could play the best video game series ever for the first time again. 
