Difference between revisions of "Arm Cannon"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | NOTICE: With the release of "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption," this page will have spoilers. | ||
| + | |||
{{expand}} | {{expand}} | ||
| Line 40: | Line 42: | ||
==Plasma Beam== | ==Plasma Beam== | ||
| − | *[[Metroid: Zero Mission]], [[Metroid Prime]], [[Metroid II: Return of Samus]], [[Super Metroid]], [[Metroid Fusion]] | + | *[[Metroid: Zero Mission]], [[Metroid Prime]], [[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]], [[Metroid II: Return of Samus]], [[Super Metroid]], [[Metroid Fusion]] |
==Phazon Beam== | ==Phazon Beam== | ||
| − | *[[Metroid Prime]] | + | *[[Metroid Prime]], [[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]] |
==Dark Beam== | ==Dark Beam== | ||
| Line 53: | Line 55: | ||
==Annihilator Beam== | ==Annihilator Beam== | ||
*[[Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]] | *[[Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Nova Beam== | ||
| + | *[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]] | ||
==Wide Beam== | ==Wide Beam== | ||
| Line 75: | Line 80: | ||
==Seeker Missile Launcher== | ==Seeker Missile Launcher== | ||
| − | *[[Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]] | + | *[[Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]], [[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]] |
==Darkburst== | ==Darkburst== | ||
| Line 87: | Line 92: | ||
==Ice Missile== | ==Ice Missile== | ||
| − | *[[Metroid Fusion]] | + | *[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]], [[Metroid Fusion]] |
| + | |||
| + | ==Hyper Missile== | ||
| + | *[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]] | ||
==Diffusion Missile== | ==Diffusion Missile== | ||
| Line 118: | Line 126: | ||
[[Image:Grapple_Beam.jpg|200px|right]]As shown in the Metroid Prime series, the Grapple Beam is not actually a part of Samus's Arm Cannon, but is a unique device on her left arm. In every appearance, the Grappling Beam is used to lock on to special targets (including blocks, hooks, and some enemies); Samus can then swing from the end of the beam to cross large gaps. The Grapple Beam is first found in "Metroid Prime" in Storage Depot B of the Phazon Mines. She retains it to the start of "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes," but it is stolen by the Ing early in the game; Samus must defeat the Grapple Guardian in the Sacrificial Chamber of Dark Tovrus Bog to get it back. In "Super Metroid," the Grappling Beam can be obtained from a Chozo Statue in Norfair shortly after killing Crocomire. | [[Image:Grapple_Beam.jpg|200px|right]]As shown in the Metroid Prime series, the Grapple Beam is not actually a part of Samus's Arm Cannon, but is a unique device on her left arm. In every appearance, the Grappling Beam is used to lock on to special targets (including blocks, hooks, and some enemies); Samus can then swing from the end of the beam to cross large gaps. The Grapple Beam is first found in "Metroid Prime" in Storage Depot B of the Phazon Mines. She retains it to the start of "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes," but it is stolen by the Ing early in the game; Samus must defeat the Grapple Guardian in the Sacrificial Chamber of Dark Tovrus Bog to get it back. In "Super Metroid," the Grappling Beam can be obtained from a Chozo Statue in Norfair shortly after killing Crocomire. | ||
| − | *[[Metroid Prime]], [[Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]], [[Super Metroid]] | + | |
| + | In "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption," the Grapple Beam's abilities have been divided up into four functions, listed below. | ||
| + | *[[Metroid Prime]], [[Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]], [[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]], [[Super Metroid]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Grapple Lasso== | ||
| + | *[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Grapple Swing== | ||
| + | *[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Grapple Voltage== | ||
| + | *[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Hyper Grapple== | ||
| + | *[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]] | ||
Revision as of 12:32, 28 August 2007
NOTICE: With the release of "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption," this page will have spoilers.
|
This Entry Needs More Information It is requested that this article, or a section of this article, be expanded. See the request on the listing or on this article's talk page. Once the improvements have been completed, you may remove this notice and the page's listing. |
The Arm Cannon is the primary weapon of Samus Aran in the Metroid series. It is a gun of alien design affixed to the right arm of the Chozo Power Suit. The Arm Cannon doubles as a Missile Launcher and can be adapted to other foreign technologies. It can be used to download information at Map Stations, or recharge energy and missiles at Recharge and Missile Stations.
Beams
The Arm Cannon can play host to a variety of energy beams. In the original "Metroid" and "Metroid II: Return of Samus", the beams are separate weapons that can be switched at Chozo Statues or by recollecting them from their original location. This is continued in "Metroid Prime" and "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes", though the beams can be switched at will. In "Metroid: Zero Mission," "Super Metroid," and "Metroid Fusion," the effects of the beams combine into one.
Power Beam
The initial beam in every Metroid game and a constant companion for Samus through most, the Power Beam can rapid-fire small yellow orbs of damaging energy. This energy is also able to deactivate force fields commonly placed over doors in this region of the galaxy. In "Metroid: Zero Mission," the Power Beam can only fire a short distance and must be upgraded with the Long Beam; this upgrade is automatic in all other games. Likewise, Samus cannot charge the Power Beam without first collecting an upgrade in "Metroid: Zero Mission," "Super Metroid," and "Metroid Fusion;" the Metroid Prime series allows for immediate charging and the original "Metroid" and "Metroid II: Return of Samus" avoid it altogether.
In the Metroid Prime series, the Power Beam can be switched to at will and often has the highest firing ratio and weakest strength of any weapon. A charged Power Beam shot can be combined with the Missile Launcher to create a Super Missile. The remaining games will either replace or upgrade the Power Beam with new functions, appearances, and a new name.
It is interesting to note that in "Metroid Prime," the Space Pirates have successfully reverse-engineered the Power Beam to create Power Troopers, yellow-armored Space Pirates who are weak to their own weapon of choice.
- Entire Series
Long Beam
The Long Beam is an upgrade found early on in "Metroid" and "Metroid: Zero Mission;" it is being held by a Chozo Statue in Brinstar in both games. It increases the range of the Power Beam so that the weapon can be fired up to and beyond the length of the screen. It also increases the strength of the Power Beam. In later games, the Long Beam is made irrelevant by the fact that the Power Beam always fires to the length of the screen.
Charge Beam
The Charge Beam is only an upgrade in the later half of the 2-D Metroid games. While holding down the fire button, the presently equipped beam will build energy within the Arm Cannon to create a much more potent blast; a charged Power Beam is roughly the strength equivalent of a Missile.
Shortly after collecting the first Missile Tank in "Metroid: Zero Mission," Samus is attacked by a Beam Beast; killing the beast will net her the Charge Beam. The Charge Beam is found early in Brinstar in "Super Metroid." It is being held by a Core-X in Sector 1 of "Metroid Fusion;" the Core-X fires the Charge Beam at Samus until it is destroyed, after which it can be reclaimed.
In the Metroid Prime series, a charged beam will draw power-ups to itself and allow for easy collection in a 3-D environment. Charged beams can also be combined with the Missile Launcher for more potent Combo Attacks. Super Metroid uses similar combos, though they are powered by Power Bombs and act as shields instead of weapons. In the remaining games, charging the Arm Cannon and then somersaulting creates an effect similar to the Screw Attack. Samus will retain the charge after somersaulting unless she bumps into an enemy, in which case the charge is redirected into the enemy and destroys it.
Ice Beam
A frequent upgrade from the Power Beam, the Ice Beam, as its name implies, fires shards of ice that can freeze enemies in their tracks--even while floating in midair. Frozen enemies can be safely touched (even if they bear spikes) and used as platforms. The weapon is invaluable against the namesakes of the Metroid series, who are particularly weak to frigid temperatures.
In "Metroid" and "Metroid II: Return of Samus," Samus switches between the Ice Beam and one or three others at Chozo Statues or by recollecting the original; it is found near the entrance to Norfair in the first game and in the First Chozo City (for the first time) in the second game. "Metroid: Zero Mission" and "Super Metroid" simply upgrade the Power Beam with ice capabilities, which are retained after later upgrades as well; both games provide the Ice Beam shortly after entering Norfair. "Metroid Prime" allows for the Power Beam and Ice Beam to be instantaneously swapped between after the latter is collected; it is found in the Antechamber of the Chozo Ruins.
In "Metroid Prime," the Ice Beam is the third most powerful beam, but is also the slowest. Additionally, it will only freeze enemies when charged. It is only required to open doors with a white force-field around them, but also helpful against stronger enemies; a frozen enemy can be destroyed with a single missile. A charged Ice Beam can be combined with the Missile Launcher to create the Ice Spreader. Like the Power Beam, Space Pirates have reverse-engineered the Ice Beam to create the white-armored Ice Troopers.
The Ice Beam is replaced by the Ice Missiles in "Metroid Fusion" due to storyline elements; since Samus is infected with Metroid DNA, she is particularly weak to ice and it is considered unwise for her to download the beam. The SA-X that stalks Samus throughout most of the game uses the Ice Beam against Samus, increasing its threat toward her. Near the end of the game, Samus destroys the SA-X, but is unable to reclaim the Ice Beam from it. After confronted by an Omega Metroid, the SA-X presumably sacrifices itself to Samus so that she can use the Ice Beam to finish the beast off.
- Metroid, Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid Prime, Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion
Wave Beam
- Metroid, Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid Prime, Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion
Plasma Beam
- Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion
Phazon Beam
Dark Beam
Light Beam
Annihilator Beam
Nova Beam
Wide Beam
Missiles
Missile Launcher
- Entire Series
Super Missile
Wavebuster
Ice Spreader
Flamethrower
Seeker Missile Launcher
Darkburst
Sunburst
Sonic Boom
Ice Missile
Hyper Missile
Diffusion Missile
Other
Battlehammer
Judicator
Volt Driver
Shock Coil
Magmaul
Imperialist
Omega Cannon
Grapple Beam
As shown in the Metroid Prime series, the Grapple Beam is not actually a part of Samus's Arm Cannon, but is a unique device on her left arm. In every appearance, the Grappling Beam is used to lock on to special targets (including blocks, hooks, and some enemies); Samus can then swing from the end of the beam to cross large gaps. The Grapple Beam is first found in "Metroid Prime" in Storage Depot B of the Phazon Mines. She retains it to the start of "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes," but it is stolen by the Ing early in the game; Samus must defeat the Grapple Guardian in the Sacrificial Chamber of Dark Tovrus Bog to get it back. In "Super Metroid," the Grappling Beam can be obtained from a Chozo Statue in Norfair shortly after killing Crocomire.
In "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption," the Grapple Beam's abilities have been divided up into four functions, listed below.