TheMetroidseries boastssome of the most influential 2D sidescrollers of all time. There’s a reason why this series, along withCastlevania, has spawned a whole new genre of progression-driven 2D platformers that are still wildly popular to this day. That being said, theMetroidseries hadn’t really received any major updates for the longest time… that is, untilMetroid Dreadwas finally announced to massive fanfare.
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The title served as a return to form for theMetroidseries, boasting everything from incredible level design to heart-pounding combat encounters. The release of this game has reinvoked interest in theMetroidseries, with players being more and more interested in the histories of these characters… including Samus herself.
There was a time when Samus was hounded by a dark version of herself in theMetroid Primeseries. Keeping this in mind, here are some facts about Dark Samus that most people had no idea about.
7Dark Samus' Sounds Are Heavily Processed Versions Of Samus' Unused Sounds
Most people who battle with Dark Samus across theMetroid Primeseries will notice that its grunts sound extremely familiar. This was a conscious decision on the part of the developers, who wanted Dark Samus to sound just like its heroic counterpart.
Clark Wen, the audio lead for theMetroid Primeseries, stated that the grunts and exclamations were actually unused audio assets of Samus that were heavily processed to give them more of a sinister edge. It’s one of the cleverest ways toconnect Samus with her evil doppelgangerand is just one of the many examples that show just how incredible the audio design of theMetroidgames really is.
6The Idea Of A Dark Samus May Have Existed Since The Very First Game
Dark Samus was introduced for the very first time in theMetroid Primeseries. The addition of Samus' evil doppelganger was a wild reveal that compelled most people to check out the rest of the trilogy.
Related:Hidden Secrets Many Players Still Haven’t Found In Metroid Dread
However, it’s possible that the idea of a Dark Samus existed all the way back sincethe very firstMetroidgame was released. In the artwork for the series, fans have noticed a police officer shooting at a shadowy figure that very much looks like Dark Samus in its Wraith form.
5Dark Samus Inspired A Sequel
Kensuke Tanabe is one of the most notable and high-profile employees at Nintendo. He served as a producer for some of the biggest games in Nintendo’s library, includingMetroid Prime.
However, it seems that Tanabe never even thought about getting to work on a sequel to the originalMetroid Prime. This mindset changed after he witnessedthe teaser with Dark Samus in the game’s ending, which ultimately convinced him of the benefits that could be enjoyed by turning the game into a series as opposed to a one-off.
4Dark Samus' Confrontation With Samus In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Was A Callback To Aliens
While Dark Samus is only teased in the firstMetroid Prime, it turns into the final antagonist of the other twoMetroid Primetitles. It was clear that the developers loved their fair share of sci-fi films, and this can be seen during a particular moment inMetroid Prime 2: Echoes.
During their first encounter, Dark Samus points its Arm Cannon at Samus and fires a Phazon attack. During this attack,Samus lightly twists her neck, which is a reference to the final scene inAlienswhere Amanda Ripley pointed a flamethrower at the Mother Alien before dousing this creature in flames.
3The Complicated Relationship Between Dark Samus And The Space Pirates
While most of the lore surrounding Dark Samus is pretty airtight, there are some facets of this character that Nintendo hasn’t cleared up properly. One such aspect of this character is the relationship it has with the Space Pirates of theMetroidseries.
Related:Metroidvania: Things Metroid Does Better Than Castlevania (& Other Things That Castlevania Is Superior At)
In the first game,Dark Samus is referred to as a class Platinum-AAA threat levelby the Space Pirates, implying that she was working against this group. However, she’s shown to be leading the pack at one point and is even considered as a god in Another Side Story. For the most part, most people consider her to be an enemy to the Space Pirates… but this fact isn’t completely ironclad.
2It’s One Of Two Samus Doppelgangers In The Metroid Series
While Dark Samus is easily one of the most notable doppelgangers that Samus has to face in her adventures, it’s not the only evil copy of the series' heroine.Metroid Fusionmarked the debut of another evil Samus clone called Samus Aran-X, or SA-X for short.
While Dark Samus was a being made completely of Phazon that took on the appearance of Samus, SA-X is an X Parasite that mimics Samus instead. Out of the two doppelgangers, Dark Samus has way more personality while SA-X is little more than a mindless figure.
1The First Duel Is A Famous Reference
The Good, The Bad, and The Uglyis one of the most iconic films ever made. The movie arguably popularized the genre of spaghetti westerns and is still considered by many to be one of the greatest accomplishments of classic cinema.
Funnily enough,Metroid Prime 2: Echoesfeatures a callback to the finale of this movie during the first duel between Samus Aran and Dark Samus at Argon Wastes. Just before this battle, both combatants locked eyes in a scene that was heavily reminiscent of the final showdown inThe Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
