Metroid Prime

Metroid Prime

First Person Adventure

Retro Studios, 2002

Critically acclaimed on release, Metroid Prime was Samus’ first outing on the Gamecube after her notable absence from the N64. The game’s viewpoint from behind the bounty hunter’s mask, combined with exploration and adventure elements, it in the unusual genre of ‘First Person Adventure’. Metroid Prime has the player, in control of Samus, explore numerous regions Tallon IV, a planet contaminated by a mysterious and powerful substance known as Phazon.

Notable Archetypes

The Hero / Anima - Samus Aran

Samus shares a lot with the hero of the Tomb Raider series, Lara Croft. Both are classic representations of the Anima [xxx ask John].

The Devil Figure - Metroid Prime

Metroid Prime lies at the Phazon source, the ‘Impact Crater’. He is the font of Phazon corruption, residing in a decaying and rotten subterranean fissure, beneath a Chozo Temple built solely to keep him locked there. He is the personification of Phazon, weaker forms of which are found all over Tallon IV (but mostly underground, such as in the Phazon Mines). The Space Pirates are keen to harvest the powers of Phazon, especially that of Metroid Prime, and exploit its corrupting power.

The Shadow - Meta-Ridley (Space Pirate)

Meta-Ridley’s role as Space Pirate lieutenant is far removed from Samus’ role as bounty hunter. She is in command of nobody but herself, and she answers to nobody but herself. Meta-Ridley is the conniving, corrupt, evil embodiment of Space Pirate power, the very force that Samus is determined to destroy. Meta-Ridley’s attack on Samus, removing her of her suit’s powers (emasculating her, ironically), is noteworthy. The emasculation of the Self by the Shadow, and the subsequent Apotheosis and integration of the Shadow by the Self (Samus slaying Meta-Ridley) is spread over the course of the entire game, accentuating its significance.

The Departure

The Call to Adventure - 6

Before the game begins proper, Samus has responded to a distress signal from an (apparently) abandoned space station, which she (as the player) explores and examines. After learning of the nature of its research, and the involvement of her persistent enemy, the Space Pirates, Samus slays a huge parasitic monstrosity in the reactor, causing the station’s destruction. As she makes a swift exit to escape the blast, Samus is attacked by the resurrected Space Pirate Ridley (renamed Meta-Ridley). Having lost most of her suit’s abilities in the attack, Samus makes it to her ship and follows Meta-Ridley to the surface of the nearby Planet, Tallon IV. The Call to Adventure is the implication that Meta-Ridley and the Space Pirates have a base on Tallon IV.

Refusal of the Call - N/A

Samus pursues Meta-Ridley to Tallon IV with no second thoughts.

Supernatural Aid - 4 (Out of sequence)

The first of Samus’ suit abilities to be regained is the missile launcher. She finds it in an eerily empty chamber, but fills with toxic liquid when the missile launcher is approached, and she is attacked by a mechanical wasp hive. Upon defeating the machine, the missile launcher is available. The classical Supernatural Aid centers on a character who generously gives the hero a protective amulet. Samus must fight, tooth and nail, for her protective amulet. Another difference is that the amulet (missile launcher) was Samus’ beforehand. This is more important than it might first seem; Samus shouldn’t have to rely on generosity, she had her suit damaged by a Space Pirate, and now she’s going to repair it.

The Crossing of the First Threshold - 9

After defeating the Parasite Queen and being attacked by Meta-Ridley, Samus boards her ship and lands on the planet of Tallon IV to investigate. Upon arrival, she leaves the safe confines of her gunship to explore the dangerous alien world on foot and alone.

The Belly of the Whale - N/A

Initiation

The Road of Trials - 8 (Out of sequence)

Metroid Prime’s Trials are based on collection. There are a large number of suit upgrades which are necessary to collect in order to progress. As well as this, there are twelve ‘Chozo Artifacts’ which allow access to the final boss once completed. As with many videogames, MP’s Road of Trials is not a single stage, but actually encompasses the majority of the gameplay.

The Meeting with the Goddess - 6 (Out of sequence)

Samus finds various pieces of ‘Chozo Lore’ inscribed on the surface of Tallon IV, most notably in their former city (Chozo Ruins). The Chozo Lore documents the demise of the Chozo civilisation and the spread of Phazon across the planet. The wise, mysterious and almost supernatural Chozo are Samus’ ancestors, infused as she is with Chozo blood, and their solemn messages of danger, decline and doom are therefore even more poignant. As the Chozo were wiped out, Samus never actually meets any of them. Another contender for Meeting with the Goddess is at the end of the game, just before the final boss battle. Upon the wounding of Meta-Ridley, some Chozo Ghosts appear and finish him off with a laser attack. After this, they create a portal for Samus to travel inside the Phazon meteorite Impact Crater to fight Metroid Prime.

Woman as the Temptress - N/A

Atonement with the Father - 6

The only thing remotely resembling a father to Samus is the long-dead Chozo race, so atoning with them would be rather difficult. Instead, Samus’ atonement comes from slaying the beast which caused her troubles in the first place - Meta-Ridley. Meta-Ridley makes the penultimate boss battle, once Samus has all of her scattered gear recollected. Killing this monster proves that Samus is not to be trifled with, and can not be kept down.

Apotheosis - 7 (Out of sequence)

As is rather common in videogames, Samus’ Apotheosis is expressed through practical actions rather than character interaction or verbal descriptions. As Samus explores the gameworld, she collects the various suit augmentations which were scattered over the area as Meta-Ridley landed (presumably). Full combat strength represents self actualization.

The Ultimate Boon - 5

Samus collects twelve vital artefacts in order to open a portal to the Impact Crater. The artefacts were built and hidden by the Chozo, and the Space Pirates are also very interested in getting their hands on them, to gain access to the vast wealth of Phazon resources hidden below the surface. If the artefacts were for Samu’s benefit, then they would be a very weak boon (if one at all), but they are the key to meeting and destroying the hideously Phazon-mutated Metroid Prime, and ending the source of corruption which wiped out the Chozo.

Return

Refusal of the Return - N/A

The magic Flight - 6

The Impact Crater becomes unstable due to the destruction of Meta-Ridley, and Samus runs for her life towards the surface.

Rescue from Without - 10

After sprinting through the Impact Crater back to the surface, Samus’ ship arrives via remote control to collect her. She jumps from the Chozo Temple and is caught mid-air, escaping with seconds to spare.

The Crossing of the Return Threshold - 10

Samus flies into space, away from Tallon IV, her mission completed.

Master of the Two Worlds - 9

Samus has dominated the Space Pirates on Tallon IV, and leaves to return to the outside world (i.e. the galaxy in general), where she dominates every problem that arises.

Freedom to Live - 10

Samus is free to explore the galaxy and fight the good fight.

Conclusion

Metroid Prime has a distinct lack of characters. This is mostly due to the game’s taking place after the important events (Phazon meteorite strike, demise of the Chozo, occupation by the Space Pirates, mining of Phazon) have occurred. The game therefore plays out rather like an epic, violent episode of Time Team, minus Tony Robinson; Samus explores the gameworld, uncovering the truth of what happened on Tallon IV and why the Space Pirates are here. The lack of characters has a huge effect on the Hero’s Journey, as stages like Atonement with the Father and Meeting with the Goddess rely heavily on character interaction. Because of this, most of the Hero’s Journey is very inwardly-focused, dealing with Samus, and occasionally her Chozo ancestors or Space Pirate enemies. Samus as the strong, independent, unaided female character is reminiscent of Lara Croft (although Samus has been around for longer, it should be noted). This is a common use of the Anima archetype in videogames.