Summary
Metroid Primewas the culmination of a six-year absence for the series, as Nintendo tried to bring Samus Aran to the N64, but couldn’t find a suitable adventure for her. And when it was time for Samus to return, it ended up being well worth the wait, asMetroid Primeis still one of the most incredible games ever made and a strong contender for the greatest of all time. This iconic first-person adventure game was also where theMetroidfranchise saw some of the biggest shifts in the lore that the series had seen since the beginning, altering the course of this legendary series for years.
Metroid Primespent a lot of time filling out the lore of the series and introducing new pieces of mythology that would have a major impact on every entry in the series moving forward. And thanks toMetroid Prime’sinnovative scanning system, uncovering lore made players feel active in its unfolding drama. Whether it was re-examining the origins of Samus Aran or introducing a massive new element,Metroid Primewasn’t just going to rest on the laurels of the franchise and instead would create one of the most important entries in the series. It would laterbe remastered for the Nintendo Switchin 2023, making this hugely influential game easy to experience today.
During the epic conclusion of Samus' GameCube debut, she faces off with the eponymous Metroid Prime, a terrifying creature born from the element known as Phazon and the final boss of the game. But despite its defeat, the remnants of the creature absorbed the bounty hunter’s Phazon Suit,giving birth to Dark Samus, a dangerous, lethal doppelganger of the franchise hero that served as the main antagonist ofMetroid Prime 2: Echoes.
Dark Samus makes her first appearance in the secret ending ofMetroid Prime, unlocked after completing the game to 100%, but doesn’t become a full-fledged antagonist untilEchoes. She is a major part of a continuing trend in the series, as Samus often finds herself staring into a cracked mirror at her visage, her haunting past and uncertain future in a dangerous world always at constant risk of eradication. Dark Samus' creation would go hand-in-hand with the creation of SA-X inFusion, as the lead of theMetroidseries would find the birth of her deranged counterpart to have a prominent impact on the franchise moving forward.
After making their debut back in the original game, the Space Pirates have become a constant thorn in the side of Samus Aran, appearing in most major entries in the series. But withMetroid Prime, developer Retro Studiosre-examined the Space Pirates and their role in the franchise, tying them directly into both the overall direction of the franchise, but also within the larger framework ofEchoesandHunters.
Various logs and scans found on the planet Tallon IV reveal that the Space Pirates have graduated from simple raiding and destruction, now venturing deep into the heart of scientific curiosity and dark experimentation. Their exploration of the most nefarious science led to the creation of Meta Ridley, further establishing the Space Pirates as one of the franchise’s most destructive, sinister groups in the franchise. It’s also implied they experimented on themselves, further explaining their more reptilian appearance inPrimeand the rest of the games moving forward in the timeline.
3The History Of The Chozo
The Tragic Downfall Of The Chozo Race
TheSuper Metroidtie-in comics established a strong link between the Chozo, the race of humanoid avians that adopted Samus Aran after the destruction of her colony, and the Space Pirates, as they were ultimately responsible for their extinction.Metroid Primefurther establishes thetragic downfall of the Chozo, as Samus' trek through Tallon IV leads her to uncover a huge portion of the mythology surrounding them. PreviousMetroidgames had subtly hinted at their origins, butPrimechronicled the Chozo in the deepest, most layered way that the franchise had seen to that point.
Metroid Primededicates a significant chunk of scans and logs to the Chozo, as they become a major part of the game’s background storytelling once Samus lands on Tallon IV. Their brief, limited appearances inSuper Metroidand the tie-in comics only scratched the surface, asPrimeshowcases their history, and rivalry with the Space Pirates and positions them as haunted souls who foresaw their death at the hands of the ominous forces lurking in the cosmos. This expansive look at the Chozo became a key aspect of the franchise moving forward, influencing bothPrimesequels and the mainline series for years to come.
4The Debut Of Phazon Energy
A Dark Energy Force From The Cosmos
Once Samus lands on the planet Tallon IV, mere moments after escaping an explosive confrontation with Meta Ridley on the Space Pirate frigate Orpheon, the ongoing rivalry between the Space Pirates and the Chozo leadsto one ofMetroid Prime’smost significant additions to the lore in the form of Phazon.
The Space Pirates believed that Phazon, a cosmic energy source with immense power, could lead them to infinite power in the universe, and began using it for all sorts of nefarious purposes. Phazon powers a huge chunk ofMetroid Prime’ssprawling mythology, even resulting in the birth of the eponymous final boss and Dark Samus, as this mythic element would go on to play a large role inEchoes, and an even more prominent role inHunters. Phazon was responsible for giving Samus a lot of trouble during this time, ultimately paving the way for the bounty hunter’s most challenging journey.
