A theory regarding Metroid Prime.

**Valigarmander** · 02-18-2010, 04:04 AM

Metroid Prime is the main antagonist in the Prime series, though there's very little we seem to know about this entity. Much of its origin is hinted at, though never explicitly stated. So what is and where exactly did Metroid Prime come from? I've come up with this theory as to the details of the creature's existence.

We know that Tallon IV was struck by a Leviathan seed several decades prior to the events of the first game. The impact razed nearby lands, destroyed wildlife and left a scar on the planet's surface that was visible from space. At the time of the impact, the planet was inhabited by a group of Chozo. As the Leviathan seed began to spread Phazon throughout the world, the animals, plants, and landscape of Tallon IV slowly became more corrupted. Those Chozo who weren't killed or driven mad by the Phazon eventually left the planet.

Now, the Leviathan seed itself is a living entity. The seeds are born deep within the surface of the planet Phaaze, are incubated to adulthood, and upon reaching the surface of the planet locate a distant planet, and launch themselves toward it. Impact into the planet is usually fatal for the Leviathan, though its most important cargo is the Phazon Core deep within it, which controls the flow of Phazon into the planet after the death of the Leviathan. Before a Leviathan dies, it entices a powerful native creature (usually an apex predator or an otherwise mighty entity) to the center of the seed to protect the Core with its life, since the Core itself is defenseless. Beings made to protect the Core are fed enormous amounts of Phazon by it, and become more and more mutated and violent. The beings we've seen protecting Phazon Cores were Mogenar on Bryyo (a Reptillicus war golem), Helios on Elysia (an Elysian defense droid), and Omega Ridley on the Pirate Homeworld (well, you know). The Emperor Ing in Metroid Prime 2 presumably held the same role for Aether. On Tallon IV at the core of the seed, as we all know, was Metroid Prime itself. So, what great predatory creature became the basis for the defender of the seed on Tallon IV? The most obvious one: a Metroid.

We already know the Chozo have engineered Metroids on at least two other planets (Zebes and SR388), so it's not a stretch to say there could've been Metroids on Tallon IV. In both of the later two games in the Prime series, it's implied that there is a strain of Metroids unique to Tallon IV. When the Leviathan seed struck the planet, it's very possible that the creature drawn to protect the Core was none other than a Metroid. After all, Metroids are potentially the most dangerous predators on any world. Once the Core was protected by a suitable creature, it began spreading Phazon throughout the planet, and into its guardian, violently mutating it. The Space Pirates, upon discovering it within the seed, christened it "Metroid Prime" due to its biological and genetic similarities to Metroids. They noted that it appeared to be much more "evolved" than a regular Metroid, and that it never stopped growing.

Morphologically, Metroid Prime is quite a bit different than normal Metroids. However, several decades is a very long time to be exposed to such a powerful mutagen as Phazon. Metroid Prime is first encountered in its exoskeletal form: an enormous six-legged insectoid being with black armor and glowing red eyes. On SR388, Metroids are observed to go through several evolutionary stages, eventually losing their jellyfish-like form and becoming more reptilian in appearance. Phazon seems to alter this evolutionary process. The Hopping Metroids from Metroid Prime 3 have undergone radical mutation from Phazon, and have the appearance of four-legged hopping insects not unlike a miniature Metroid Prime. It's very likely this form of Metroid Prime was induced by the extreme mutation undergone during years within the Leviathan.

Underneath the large exoskeleton is the core of Metroid Prime, which is decidedly more similar to an normal Metroid, only more evolved. It has several long, octopus-like tentacles which it can use to create pools of Phazon. Metroid Prime also has an eerily human face, with two eyes and a facial structure very similar to that of a person. The familiar quadripartite nuclei visible within a normal Metroid's translucent membrane have now mutated into a cluster of neural matter very similar to that of a human brain. Upon being defeated by Samus, Metroid Prime violently absorbs all nearby Phazon, including Samus's Phazon Suit. With the new Power Suit technology, Metroid Prime began to reconstruct itself in a form similar to that of Samus, becoming Dark Samus. Metroid Prime's familiar facial structure is visible during the final fight with it during Metroid Prime 2.

There's one issue with Metroid Prime and the Leviathan on Tallon IV, though. Most other Leviathans seem to have a visible Phazon Core. Where was the core in the Tallon seed? Evidence seems to suggest that the Core was absorbed by Metroid Prime, and there's a couple of things to support this theory. First, the core of Metroid Prime is able to generate pure Phazon by itself seemingly out of nowhere, a trait not present anywhere else (even among other Core guardians). Another thing is the relation of the Phazon Core to the Leviathan as a whole. In Metroid Prime 3, the Leviathan seeds are seen exploding and collapsing after the Core is destroyed, since the source of Phazon has been destroyed. In Metroid Prime, this happens after Metroid Prime itself is defeated. It seems that Metroid Prime eventually became such a powerful source of Phazon that it eventually assimilated the very thing that had been supplying it with Phazon and took over its role as Phazon generator on Tallon IV.

Phazon seems to hold a special connection to other Metroids as well. Fission Metroids are mutant Metroids found near heavy sources of Phazon on Tallon IV, including the interior of the Leviathan, from which they seem to spawn endlessly. The core form of Metroid Prime is able to generate both Fission Metroids and Hunter Metroids (it is unspecified whether or not Hunter Metroids are a mutation brought on by Phazon or a natural life stage for Metroids on Tallon IV, though the fact that Metroid Prime can generate them almost endlessly seems to support the former). Phazon Metroids and Hopper Metroids are forms of Metroids extremely mutated by Phazon, and are encountered on the planet Phaaze. It's uncertain how they got there, though due to the fact that Metroids are a fairly recent invention of the Chozo it's unlikely they've been there very long, or even at the point in time that the Tallon IV Leviathan was launched from the planet. The most likely explanation is that they were introduced to the planet's ecosystem by either Dark Samus or the Space Pirates amid their "alliance" during or shortly before the events of Metroid Prime 3. It's also worth pointing out that within the caverns of Phaaze, the remains of at least one bioform similar in appearance to the exoskeletal form of Metroid Prime. This raises the possibility that Metroids have evolved or attempted to evolve similarly to Metroid Prime on Phaaze.

There's a lot of information to consider here, and I think I got everything I needed. The information about Metroid Prime and Tallon IV are mostly from the original Metroid Prime. The information about Leviathans is mainly from Metroid Prime 3. The art booklet packaged with Metroid Prime Trilogy states that it was in face a Metroid that became Metroid Prime. Hopefully this provides a sound insight into the enigmatic origins of the Metroid Prime series' eponymous antagonist. I'm not sure how much of this is new and how much has already been decided on/assumed by the fandom, bu I thought I'd share my little theory since I had a "eureka" moment earlier while replaying Prime. Feel free to comment/argue/whatever.

Robotazy · 02-18-2010, 04:19 AM

huh.

Interesting bit of info there.

Metal Man · 02-18-2010, 04:34 AM

It seems sound to me. It actually made me facepalm at not taking the revelations of Metroid Prime 3 and applying them backwards. Suddenly, the cryptic nature of Aether's split and Tallon IV's sealed core is revealed.

The only question it causes me to raise is what started the phazon off; the AI on the Phaaze world was a recent acquisition and Dark Samus was also recent.

So the planet may be sentient, but it seems rather odd that it wouldn't have a central intelligence. Either someone who made Phaaze or who caused it to become so virulent.

I guess we'll never know though, because whatever it was chose to manifest through the captured AI rather than a natural form.

Also, what of the red phazon and its ultra-toxicity? I see hints of (crazy theory, yes) Metroid Prime becoming the new center--that the Phaaze phenomenon was fairly random and unintelligent until Metroid Prime evolved to such a state it created red phazon (not seen anywhere else), split dimensions (Aether), and knew to steal a Federation AI (Prime 3.) It is quite clear that perhaps the answer to my question lay within the obvious;

Metroid Prime may be named that because it was the Metroid Prime which turned a relatively random sentient radioactive goo issue into a warlike monstrosity seeking to consume all planets.

***the Octopus*** · 02-18-2010, 09:05 AM

^ Actually, I've got a few thoughts that correlate with the Metroid's unprecedented appearance at Phaaze and elsewhere. It's possible that this could tie into a greater scheme relevant to the great span of presence that the Chozo enjoyed, as well as their disappearance.

Take for instance, the appearance of what could possibly be a phazon-like substance at what the Federation afterwards declared the likely "home-planet" of Metroids:

Now, that stuff can damage Samus on contact, similarly to phazon, and it appears frequently near Metroids on SR388. It's actually a potential link to the presence of Metroids: they might require a radioactive energy source to sustain their colony.

Considering that the mission to SR388 was to actually destroy the Metroids before they became space-faring creatures, and then afterwards witnessing their obvious presence in the vacuum aboard the federation vessel toward the end of Corruption, I'd say that was either a wild guess or an outright lie conceived by the Federation to convince Samus to aid them in becoming the sole proprietors of Metroids.

Because of the Metroid presence on the wrecked Federation vessel, I think those Metroids had already become space-faring, if they hadn't been to start with. Considering this information, and their possible dependence upon radiation, it's likely that their movement and habitats are naturally limited to those environments that meet the necessary conditions.

What if Phaaze was one of those planets? What if its sentience wasn't caused by the Phazon, but by the metroids? The entire planet could've been an immensely evolved metroid, or related creature. Considering that there were different strains of the creatures, which the Chozo had created, what if this planet was the final undoing of the majority of the Chozo?

A big supporting factor to this type of theory is the predatory behavior of the metroids; they are such efficient predators that it is unlikely, should their sole food-source be the energy produced by other creatures, for their species to exist for any prolonged time - they would simply over-hunt every other present creature into oblivion. I think, instead, that they are capable of drawing on life-energy as a suplimental source of sustenance. It's likely even that they are merely territorial - since they almost always attack to kill and seem to remain in a relatively small area.

Jere · 02-18-2010, 11:26 AM

now where is my spreadsheet of Metroid evolutions....

hmm no where to be found, interesting this, considering the timeline and such

**Valigarmander** · 02-18-2010, 04:04 PM

^ You mean this one?

Jere · 02-25-2010, 02:20 PM

No the one that shows Samus height against the metroids on SR388

FlipSwitch · 02-25-2010, 06:44 PM

Lots of info in this.

**Valigarmander** · 02-25-2010, 09:00 PM

Jere · 02-26-2010, 03:23 AM

Yes that one!

02-18-2010, 04:04 AM	#1
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,223 Thanks: 1,611 Thanked 5,553 Times in 2,499 Posts Blog Entries: 18	A theory regarding Metroid Prime. Metroid Prime is the main antagonist in the Prime series, though there's very little we seem to know about this entity. Much of its origin is hinted at, though never explicitly stated. So what is and where exactly did Metroid Prime come from? I've come up with this theory as to the details of the creature's existence. We know that Tallon IV was struck by a Leviathan seed several decades prior to the events of the first game. The impact razed nearby lands, destroyed wildlife and left a scar on the planet's surface that was visible from space. At the time of the impact, the planet was inhabited by a group of Chozo. As the Leviathan seed began to spread Phazon throughout the world, the animals, plants, and landscape of Tallon IV slowly became more corrupted. Those Chozo who weren't killed or driven mad by the Phazon eventually left the planet. Now, the Leviathan seed itself is a living entity. The seeds are born deep within the surface of the planet Phaaze, are incubated to adulthood, and upon reaching the surface of the planet locate a distant planet, and launch themselves toward it. Impact into the planet is usually fatal for the Leviathan, though its most important cargo is the Phazon Core deep within it, which controls the flow of Phazon into the planet after the death of the Leviathan. Before a Leviathan dies, it entices a powerful native creature (usually an apex predator or an otherwise mighty entity) to the center of the seed to protect the Core with its life, since the Core itself is defenseless. Beings made to protect the Core are fed enormous amounts of Phazon by it, and become more and more mutated and violent. The beings we've seen protecting Phazon Cores were Mogenar on Bryyo (a Reptillicus war golem), Helios on Elysia (an Elysian defense droid), and Omega Ridley on the Pirate Homeworld (well, you know). The Emperor Ing in Metroid Prime 2 presumably held the same role for Aether. On Tallon IV at the core of the seed, as we all know, was Metroid Prime itself. So, what great predatory creature became the basis for the defender of the seed on Tallon IV? The most obvious one: a Metroid. We already know the Chozo have engineered Metroids on at least two other planets (Zebes and SR388), so it's not a stretch to say there could've been Metroids on Tallon IV. In both of the later two games in the Prime series, it's implied that there is a strain of Metroids unique to Tallon IV. When the Leviathan seed struck the planet, it's very possible that the creature drawn to protect the Core was none other than a Metroid. After all, Metroids are potentially the most dangerous predators on any world. Once the Core was protected by a suitable creature, it began spreading Phazon throughout the planet, and into its guardian, violently mutating it. The Space Pirates, upon discovering it within the seed, christened it "Metroid Prime" due to its biological and genetic similarities to Metroids. They noted that it appeared to be much more "evolved" than a regular Metroid, and that it never stopped growing. Morphologically, Metroid Prime is quite a bit different than normal Metroids. However, several decades is a very long time to be exposed to such a powerful mutagen as Phazon. Metroid Prime is first encountered in its exoskeletal form: an enormous six-legged insectoid being with black armor and glowing red eyes. On SR388, Metroids are observed to go through several evolutionary stages, eventually losing their jellyfish-like form and becoming more reptilian in appearance. Phazon seems to alter this evolutionary process. The Hopping Metroids from Metroid Prime 3 have undergone radical mutation from Phazon, and have the appearance of four-legged hopping insects not unlike a miniature Metroid Prime. It's very likely this form of Metroid Prime was induced by the extreme mutation undergone during years within the Leviathan. Underneath the large exoskeleton is the core of Metroid Prime, which is decidedly more similar to an normal Metroid, only more evolved. It has several long, octopus-like tentacles which it can use to create pools of Phazon. Metroid Prime also has an eerily human face, with two eyes and a facial structure very similar to that of a person. The familiar quadripartite nuclei visible within a normal Metroid's translucent membrane have now mutated into a cluster of neural matter very similar to that of a human brain. Upon being defeated by Samus, Metroid Prime violently absorbs all nearby Phazon, including Samus's Phazon Suit. With the new Power Suit technology, Metroid Prime began to reconstruct itself in a form similar to that of Samus, becoming Dark Samus. Metroid Prime's familiar facial structure is visible during the final fight with it during Metroid Prime 2. There's one issue with Metroid Prime and the Leviathan on Tallon IV, though. Most other Leviathans seem to have a visible Phazon Core. Where was the core in the Tallon seed? Evidence seems to suggest that the Core was absorbed by Metroid Prime, and there's a couple of things to support this theory. First, the core of Metroid Prime is able to generate pure Phazon by itself seemingly out of nowhere, a trait not present anywhere else (even among other Core guardians). Another thing is the relation of the Phazon Core to the Leviathan as a whole. In Metroid Prime 3, the Leviathan seeds are seen exploding and collapsing after the Core is destroyed, since the source of Phazon has been destroyed. In Metroid Prime, this happens after Metroid Prime itself is defeated. It seems that Metroid Prime eventually became such a powerful source of Phazon that it eventually assimilated the very thing that had been supplying it with Phazon and took over its role as Phazon generator on Tallon IV. Phazon seems to hold a special connection to other Metroids as well. Fission Metroids are mutant Metroids found near heavy sources of Phazon on Tallon IV, including the interior of the Leviathan, from which they seem to spawn endlessly. The core form of Metroid Prime is able to generate both Fission Metroids and Hunter Metroids (it is unspecified whether or not Hunter Metroids are a mutation brought on by Phazon or a natural life stage for Metroids on Tallon IV, though the fact that Metroid Prime can generate them almost endlessly seems to support the former). Phazon Metroids and Hopper Metroids are forms of Metroids extremely mutated by Phazon, and are encountered on the planet Phaaze. It's uncertain how they got there, though due to the fact that Metroids are a fairly recent invention of the Chozo it's unlikely they've been there very long, or even at the point in time that the Tallon IV Leviathan was launched from the planet. The most likely explanation is that they were introduced to the planet's ecosystem by either Dark Samus or the Space Pirates amid their "alliance" during or shortly before the events of Metroid Prime 3. It's also worth pointing out that within the caverns of Phaaze, the remains of at least one bioform similar in appearance to the exoskeletal form of Metroid Prime. This raises the possibility that Metroids have evolved or attempted to evolve similarly to Metroid Prime on Phaaze. There's a lot of information to consider here, and I think I got everything I needed. The information about Metroid Prime and Tallon IV are mostly from the original Metroid Prime. The information about Leviathans is mainly from Metroid Prime 3. The art booklet packaged with Metroid Prime Trilogy states that it was in face a Metroid that became Metroid Prime. Hopefully this provides a sound insight into the enigmatic origins of the Metroid Prime series' eponymous antagonist. I'm not sure how much of this is new and how much has already been decided on/assumed by the fandom, bu I thought I'd share my little theory since I had a "eureka" moment earlier while replaying Prime. Feel free to comment/argue/whatever. __________________

02-18-2010, 09:05 AM	#4
*the Octopus* THE PRESIDENT OF FUN Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 27,481 Thanks: 1,974 Thanked 5,121 Times in 2,320 Posts	^ Actually, I've got a few thoughts that correlate with the Metroid's unprecedented appearance at Phaaze and elsewhere. It's possible that this could tie into a greater scheme relevant to the great span of presence that the Chozo enjoyed, as well as their disappearance. Take for instance, the appearance of what could possibly be a phazon-like substance at what the Federation afterwards declared the likely "home-planet" of Metroids: Now, that stuff can damage Samus on contact, similarly to phazon, and it appears frequently near Metroids on SR388. It's actually a potential link to the presence of Metroids: they might require a radioactive energy source to sustain their colony. Considering that the mission to SR388 was to actually destroy the Metroids before they became space-faring creatures, and then afterwards witnessing their obvious presence in the vacuum aboard the federation vessel toward the end of Corruption, I'd say that was either a wild guess or an outright lie conceived by the Federation to convince Samus to aid them in becoming the sole proprietors of Metroids. Because of the Metroid presence on the wrecked Federation vessel, I think those Metroids had already become space-faring, if they hadn't been to start with. Considering this information, and their possible dependence upon radiation, it's likely that their movement and habitats are naturally limited to those environments that meet the necessary conditions. What if Phaaze was one of those planets? What if its sentience wasn't caused by the Phazon, but by the metroids? The entire planet could've been an immensely evolved metroid, or related creature. Considering that there were different strains of the creatures, which the Chozo had created, what if this planet was the final undoing of the majority of the Chozo? A big supporting factor to this type of theory is the predatory behavior of the metroids; they are such efficient predators that it is unlikely, should their sole food-source be the energy produced by other creatures, for their species to exist for any prolonged time - they would simply over-hunt every other present creature into oblivion. I think, instead, that they are capable of drawing on life-energy as a suplimental source of sustenance. It's likely even that they are merely territorial - since they almost always attack to kill and seem to remain in a relatively small area. Last edited by the Octopus; 02-18-2010 at 09:19 AM.

02-18-2010, 04:04 PM	#6
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,223 Thanks: 1,611 Thanked 5,553 Times in 2,499 Posts Blog Entries: 18	^ You mean this one? __________________

02-25-2010, 09:00 PM	#9
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,223 Thanks: 1,611 Thanked 5,553 Times in 2,499 Posts Blog Entries: 18	^^ __________________

02-18-2010, 04:19 AM	#2
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,284 Thanks: 521 Thanked 1,238 Times in 885 Posts Blog Entries: 43	huh. Interesting bit of info there.

02-18-2010, 04:34 AM	#3
Metal Man Fairy-Slaying Maniac Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: 1592 Miles Away From Here Gender: Posts: 18,062 Thanks: 148 Thanked 683 Times in 482 Posts	It seems sound to me. It actually made me facepalm at not taking the revelations of Metroid Prime 3 and applying them backwards. Suddenly, the cryptic nature of Aether's split and Tallon IV's sealed core is revealed. The only question it causes me to raise is what started the phazon off; the AI on the Phaaze world was a recent acquisition and Dark Samus was also recent. So the planet may be sentient, but it seems rather odd that it wouldn't have a central intelligence. Either someone who made Phaaze or who caused it to become so virulent. I guess we'll never know though, because whatever it was chose to manifest through the captured AI rather than a natural form. Also, what of the red phazon and its ultra-toxicity? I see hints of (crazy theory, yes) Metroid Prime becoming the new center--that the Phaaze phenomenon was fairly random and unintelligent until Metroid Prime evolved to such a state it created red phazon (not seen anywhere else), split dimensions (Aether), and knew to steal a Federation AI (Prime 3.) It is quite clear that perhaps the answer to my question lay within the obvious; Metroid Prime may be named that because it was the Metroid Prime which turned a relatively random sentient radioactive goo issue into a warlike monstrosity seeking to consume all planets.

02-18-2010, 11:26 AM	#5
Jere Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sutme Gender: Posts: 3,455 Thanks: 396 Thanked 295 Times in 233 Posts Blog Entries: 3	now where is my spreadsheet of Metroid evolutions.... hmm no where to be found, interesting this, considering the timeline and such

02-25-2010, 02:20 PM	#7
Jere Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sutme Gender: Posts: 3,455 Thanks: 396 Thanked 295 Times in 233 Posts Blog Entries: 3	No the one that shows Samus height against the metroids on SR388

02-25-2010, 06:44 PM	#8
FlipSwitch Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Looking forward. Gender: Posts: 1,169 Thanks: 17 Thanked 16 Times in 13 Posts Blog Entries: 12	Lots of info in this.

02-26-2010, 03:23 AM	#10
Jere Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sutme Gender: Posts: 3,455 Thanks: 396 Thanked 295 Times in 233 Posts Blog Entries: 3	Yes that one!