Metroid Prime (creature)

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Metroid Prime is a fictional creature that can be found in the Nintendo GameCube video game Metroid Prime.

The creature Metroid Prime is the final boss fought by Samus Aran, the protagonist of the Metroid series of video games, in Metroid Prime. Samus must kill the creature in order to bring peace to the game's setting, planet Tallon IV. Metroid Prime's lair is located inside the meteorite that brought the substance known as Phazon to Tallon IV.

History

In the North American release of the game, the Space Pirates capture Metroid Prime for an unspecified amount of time, but in the European version they do not even see the creature, only detect its bio-signs. Also in the North American release, it is the Space Pirates who name Metroid Prime based on genetic similarities to the Metroids — because Metroid Prime is not captured in the European release (due to changes in the logbook to make the story less inconsistent), the game is not clear as to how the creature gets its name. The North American Chozo lore entries suggest that Metroid Prime is an ancient creature that arrived with the Phazon meteorite, a being that produces and controls the poisonous substance Phazon and is directly responsible for the decline of Tallon IV and eventual (assumed) extinction of the Chozo civilization. Although it seems to be related to the Metroids of SR-388, the exact relationship is unknown. Prime can evidently produce Phazon by itself. It supposedly absorbs some of the Phazon it produces to make it stronger. This is supported by several Chozo lore, and some Space Pirate logs.

Exoskeletal form

Metroid Prime appears in two forms. When Samus first encounters Metroid Prime, the creature is found to be heavily armored, with a black, insectoid exoskeleton and multiple limbs. North American Space Pirate log entries detail the evolution of Metroid Prime (via Phazon exposure) from a weaker creature to its current form, which exhibits armored plating and mechanical outgrowths capable of generating defensive screens. The creature can shift these screens to protect itself against new weaponry, but, through a genetic flaw, is vulnerable to one energy type (including Power, Wave, Ice, or Plasma Beams) at a time. This flaw is believed to be rooted in the fact that the Prime has 4 beam weapons, Power, Wave, Ice, and Plasma, and cannot fire them through a screen that disallows penetration by that beam type. In this form, it is only vunerable when its eyes are exposed. Metroid Prime, according to log entries, is capable of assimilating mechanical weaponry into its body — weapons presumably collected during the creature's encounter with the Space Pirates (the European release leaves it unclear as to how the creature acquired these weapons). In addition, the study of Metroid Prime is cut short by its virtual elimination of all research-division Space Pirates on Tallon IV, so further data on the makeup of the creature or its exoskeleton is limited.

Core form

When Samus destroys Metroid Prime's exoskeleton, it reveals its "core essence". In this form, Metroid Prime appears as a true, Metroid-like organism, with six long tentacles and eyes that form a humanoid face. While in its second form, Metroid Prime becomes impervious to Samus' weapons, except for the Phazon Beam. In addition, the creature can become undetectable in the visual spectrum, requiring Samus to use one of her two (discounting the scan visor) special visors to see it. It also spawns all three types of Metroids found on Tallon IV — the archetypal jellyfish-like Metroids, the long-ranged Hunter Metroids, and Fission Metroids. Which Metroid is spawned depends on Metroid Prime's health — no Metroids are spawned at full health, regular Metroids are spawned when it takes some damage, Hunters are spawned at medium damage, and Fissions at high damage.

Upon its defeat, Metroid Prime absorbs Samus's Phazon Suit. It then seems to die, however getting a 100% ending reveals a dark hand (presumably that of the Phazon Suit) rising from a pool of Phazon, hinting that the Metroid Prime is still living, but reborn in the form of Samus Aran's suit. This mysterious new enemy is renamed Dark Samus and is encountered in searching for more Phazon to replenish her strength.

See also

• Metroid series
• Metroids
• Phazon
• Dark Samus

External links

• [Official Metroid Prime Site]
• [Metroid Prime on the Alien Species Wiki]
• [The Metroid Database]
• [Metroid Prime on Wikitroid].

 

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