Metroid Prime™ - Phendrana Drifts: Into the Core

Welcome to a darker place in Phendrana. Head into the Research Core. Enter into Specimen Storage, disable the defense turret (easily done if you charge your Wave Beam) and prepare your scan visor. A Shadow Pirate will come hopping out after you. Into the Research Entrance where you are spotted. Out comes the Space Pirates. But, before you scan them and blast them to pieces, turn around and look at the door you just entered through. Scan it and see that it is a Locked Door, which can only be opened by defeating all the enemies in the room. It enters into your Log Book, so it is worth examining.

After you have defeated everyone in that room, go back to the bottom floor and you will see an unopened door. This is the Map Station for Phendrana Drifts. Once it is downloaded, head back up the walkways and exit through the top of the room.

This is the Research Entrance. Find the next room, Research Lab Hydra, is also full of Space Pirates. Destroy them all and then get your scan visor ready to scan the area. On the bottom floor you will find three Pirate Data log book entries: Security Breaches, Phazon Analysis, Mining Status. At this point you should have completed 50% of your Log Book, thus unlocking Image Gallery 1, accessible through the main menu. Upstairs there is another set of computer terminals, which also contains the Pirate Data Parasite Larva and Glacial Wastes. Move out through the Wave Beam door on the ceiling. You should end up in the Observatory. Clear out the Space Pirates and head to the bottom.

More Pirate Data is available for downloading: Phazon Program and Contact. Scan the center module to activate one of the Morph Ball slots in the room. Bomb it and you send power to the hub. You need to bomb the second Morph Ball slot located on the opposite side, however. This takes some large leaps, but you can do it. Once activated, you will trigger power to the Morph Ball spinners below. Roll down there and Boost Ball spin in all four of them. This will cause the power to flow to the astronomical holographic projector. Be sure to scan the new Research Data floating around: the planets Zebes and Tallon IV. Your goal is to make it to the top by platforming around the edge. There are some very distant jumps to complete, but it is doable. At the top you will find the Super Missile upgrade, resting in the center of the Observatory.

Move through the West Tower Entrance and access the Control Tower transport. As soon as you enter the Control Tower, a battle is waiting for you. Clear out the Space Pirates on the ground and then prepare to meet the Flying Pirate, an agile, missile-shooting unit that requires a little more persistence. Try firing back with your own missiles; they are just as quick and deadly, but be wary of the Flying Pirate when it falls. Like a bottle rocket, it zooms toward you out of control and explode. You should burn through about four of them before the doors unlock. If you need any health, just shoot the nearby boxes. Then head into the East Tower and activate the transport to the Research Lab Aether. Inside the lab you will see several things to scan. First check out the two Pirate Data entries Meta Ridley and Metroid Studies. You will also be treated to your first Metroid encounter. Blast it with missiles and your Wave Beam. If it attaches itself to you, just roll into a ball and set a bomb to jolt it loose.

A Space Pirate jumps through a window to attack you. Proceed into that room (defeat the pirates, of course) and check the computer terminals at the top and bottom of the room. you will find the Pirate Data Phazon Infusion, Metroid Forces, and Metroid Morphology. There are several more stasis containment units in the lab. There is one more Metroid hiding in one of them. Shoot the glass with a missile to free it and dispose of it. Take a closer look at the rest of the stasis units. An Energy Tank is hidden in one that is adjacent to the wall. Blast it open with a missile and power up. Take the elevator back up to the walkways hanging above. If you look closely at the piping in the room, there is a Missile Expansion hidden at the end of one. you have to jump up there and roll in Morph Ball form to get it. It is tricky too.

From the lower floor, drop down into the Research Core Access. do not be surprised to see your first Ice Beetle. As you enter into the Research Core, you are met with some opposition from Space and Flying Pirates. Destroy them and then scan the nearby terminal to disconnect the containment unit below. You get a quick glimpse via cut-scene of a visor upgrade. Continue down. Watch and listen for defense turrets — and access the next terminal, disconnecting yet another power source to the unit below. Finally, when you reach the bottom there is one last terminal to scan, which frees the force field around your new Thermal Visor. Grab it and prepare for a power outage. Accustom tapping down on the D-pad to use it. you are going to need it immediately, as Shadow Pirates will be running around the area causing havoc. Likewise, the Metroids will grow restless. Blast them away with your Super Missiles if you do not want to prolong the battles. Return up to the top where you entered. The door no longer has power. This is where your Thermal Visor comes in handy. On the right side of the door is a power conduit (only visible with the Thermal Visor), which can send power from your Wave Beam to the door. Simply shoot it to continue forward.

On the other side of the door you will find a Sentry Drone waiting for you. They cause major static to your visor, so try blasting them quickly with missiles. Move back through the Research Lab Aether and be wary of more Shadow Pirates. Right now you should just focus on getting back to the save station located in the Observatory. If you make it there all right, you are next check point should be the save station located off of the Ruined Courtyard. you need all your energy for the forthcoming boss fight. In the Ruined Courtyard flip on your Thermal Visor and examine the door straight across from the save point. A glowing power conduit on the archway above it. It is shielded by cordite, Use your Super Missiles (Charge Beam+Y) to uncover it. Then send power to the door by shooting it with your Wave Beam. Continue forward and enter into the Quarantine Cave, and prepare for battle.

Boss: Thardus

As always, be sure to scan for vital Log Book data immediately. you find that Thardus, a rock structure infused with Phazon, cannot be targeted as usual. The data suggests you should try another visor, and that's just what you need to do. Use your Thermal Visor to locate the hot spots on Thardus. you are able to lock on to him while using this visor. You can easily crack the highlighted stone portion of his body with the use of charge blasts and missiles. Try not to get too antsy and use Super Missiles just yet. Save those for a bit. When the Phazon-infused rock cracks open, it will expose the highly radioactive material beneath it. The material is far too bright for your Thermal Visor, so just switch it off and you will be able to lock on as usual. Repeat the same process of hitting the weak spot with charge blasts and missiles, all the while sidestepping out of his line of fire.

Thardus will often summon rocks from beneath the ground and toss them your way. Take the moment to lock on to them and blast them to pieces. Note: if you are in Thermal Visor mode and try this, the Phazon material inside will blind you. If you get frozen by Thardus, just quickly tap the B-button to get out of it. Another attack that you must get a handle on is his boulder form. You will him animate, leaning back and then curling up in ball form. This is your cue to turn into a Morph Ball and boost out of the way. It is important that you memorize this animation. As soon as he begins to roll into a ball, do the same and boost out of the way. Thardus will also summon snow storms to blur your view. Try not to let it disorient you too much, and use your Thermal Visor when possible to cut through the haze. When it gets to the point that his Phazon is exposed during a snow storm and you cannot see him, try to get as close as possible and use those Super Missiles. You should eventually be able to work him down to the final center point of his body. Work through it and he will die.

You are rewarded with the Spider Ball, which is just about the coolest upgrade in the game. It allows you to attach yourself to magnetic Spider Ball Tracks (scan), which are all around the world. To accustom you to the process, you actually have to escape Thardus's lair by using the Spider Ball. You should find another exit, leading you through the South Quarantine Tunnel and to the Magmoor Caverns South transport. Proceed downward into the warmer territory. There is a Blast Shield and save station right behind the elevator when you arrive in Magmoor. After freshening up, head into the Magmoor Workstation and fight the Flying Pirates from behind the entrance door if you want to save some health. Then jump down to the bottom where you will see three glowing passages: green, purple, a blue. Scan around and you will see there is a pillar-shaped machine that is not receiving power. Flip on your Thermal Visor. This reveals a power conduit next to each colored passageway. Flash power through them with your Wave Beam and the machine will begin to function. This cools the lava beneath the blue passage. Roll underneath the grating and access the area behind the ,blue passage. You will see a panel ready for the scanning. Do so and you will cool the lava in the green passageway. Repeat this process and you will end up behind the purple passageway where an Energy Tank awaits you.

Face the purple passage and exit the door directly to the right. This leads into the South Core Tunnel. The giant mollusk Puddle Spore will be standing in your way. Shoot its mouth when it opens and jump on it like a platform when it flips over. Use the same technique to get across the Geothermal Core, and nevermind the tall pillars that spike through the room. In the North Core Tunnel use a missile to shoot down the stalactite that is hanging above, and use it as a platform. Move forward into Twin Fires and repeat the same procedure by missile-blasting the stalactite at the front of the room. Hug the right wall, take down another stalactite and move to the other side of the cave. Yet another stalactite must be used as a platform. Open the next door and you should be in Twin Fires Tunnel, which connects you to the Tallon Overworld West transport. You may have seen this room before if you went snooping around. Use your Spider Ball and roll into the small hole. Hold on to the magnetic track and cross the lava pit. Then take the transport up to Tallon Overworld. Then head over to the Chozo Ruins West transport.

Head for the Main Plaza in Chozo Ruins. Remember that half-pipe structure in there? Time to put it to use. Roll into Morph Ball so you are under the bridge and slip underneath it to grab a Missile Expansion pack. Roll your way into the Ruined Fountain. With the water free of toxins and your new magnetic Spider Ball, you will find a nice little puzzle awaits you. Bomb your way up on top of the fountain spout. It will spit you onto the Spider Ball track above with leads to another Missile Expansion. After finishing up that, head into the Aboretum right next door with the goal of arriving in the Watery Hall. There is a small Morph Ball tunnel at the end where you original got the Charge Beam. Bomb it and roll through it to the Dynamo. Once in the Dynamo, scan the room and locate a weakened metal structure. you will find a Missile Expansion pack behind it. Then look above and access the Spider Ball track , which leads to yet another Missile Expansion. Now would be a good time to save off of the Gathering Hall. Platform to the top of the hall and look above the doorway to the East Atrium. Yet another Missile Expansion is hidden above it. you will need to use the red lights as stepping stones before you can double jump up there. Bomb the wall and grab the missiles.

Head through the East Atrium toward the Furnace As soon as you enter you will see a Spider Ball track. It leads you to a whole new area. you will need to use Boost Ball to get across some disappearing blocks. Once in the heart of the Furnace get your scanner out. The little critters carving their way around the elevated Spider Ball tracks are called Plated Parasites. You cannot do anything with that track for now, but keep it in mind. Spin around and head to the other side of the room where you will find a Morph Ball tunnel and Chozo Lore. Scan it and roll through the tunnel to access the Crossway. there is a lot to do in this room. you will notice the half-pipe in front of you. Use it to propel yourself high enough to access the other side. Once there scan the three Chozo Lore engravings.

After reading through them, you should scan a cordite shield just on the adjacent wall. Blast through it with a Super Missile shot and scan the reticle behind it. This will activate one of a set of Spider Ball tracks. Use the half-pipe to launch yourself up to it, then bomb the nearby Morph Ball slot. Repeat this process and you will be able to take a special Morph Ball elevator up to a Missile Expansion. After receiving it, head through the archway and into the Elder Hall Access. You should eventually arrive in the Hall of the Elders where you will immediately find a Morph Ball tunnel that leads to a Missile Station. This should be your first encounter with one; scan it. Then jump down into the center of the Hall of Elders. The room will darken and you will meet your first Chozo Ghost. Use a few Super Missiles to dispose of him and then walk behind the giant Chozo statue in the room and check out the latest Chozo Lore. With that out of the way, jump into the hands of the Chozo statue and change to Morph Ball form. It will toss you like a bowling ball, ramping you up the opposite wall of the room where you can use your Spider Ball to access a Morph Ball slot. Bomb the slot and you will reveal three more special slots.

Jump back over by the Missile Station and look up where you can find another ledge to platform on. This will lead you to the three slots. One of them will work with your Wave Beam. Shoot it and you will reveal another Morph Ball slot behind it. Bomb it and a new path will be opened in front of the Chozo Elder. Once again, roll into his hands and you should be able to follow a new path that leads you behind an energy shield. Scan the nearby reticle to take it offline and then enter the unopened door in the same vicinity. This leads to the Reflecting Pool, which is surrounded by Stone Toads. Roll into a ball and drop into the center of the pool. Bomb the drain to release the water. Now you can see the pool acts as a half-pipe. Use it — avoiding the Toads — and boost up to the second floor. There are two Blast Shields. you are looking for the Antechamber. Walk in and find your new best friend, the Ice Beam. After, head do the door across from the Antechamber, which leads to a Save Station. From Save Station 3 you can roll into Morph Ball form and access Tallon Overworld East transport, but do not use it just yet. You should also walk in to the unopened Ice Beam door on the top floor of the Reflecting Pool. This is another transport to Tallon Overworld South.

With that out of the way, head back to the Hall of Elders. This time use your Ice Beam to activate the second Morph Ball slot located behind the Chozo Elder. He will then toss you down a new path, which leads to an Energy Tank.

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