Countdown: Difference between revisions

The '''escape sequence''' or '''countdown''' is a common element of the [[Metroid (series)|''Metroid'' series]] which is usually activated or triggered usually after an important boss battle or event. Escape sequences are almost always activated by the boss or the main antagonist of the game and always involve a fatal occurrence of some sort. Occasionally in the series, a time limit will be implemented during boss fights such as the battle against [[Meta Ridley]] and [[Dark Samus]].

The original ''[[Metroid (game)|Metroid]]'' featured the first Self-destruct Sequence upon [[Mother Brain|Mother Brain's]] defeat in the depths within planet [[Zebes]]. Samus then has 99.9 seconds to escape the region of Zebes, [[Tourian]], and reach an elevator leading to the surface of [[Zebes]]. Samus's arrival to the surface marks the end of ''Metroid'', where the earned ending is displayed and credits begin to roll. It serves as a sort of prologue in Super Metroid.

''[[Metroid: Zero Mission]]'' features two Self-destruct Sequences: one mirroring the original ''Metroid'' ending and a second one upon defeating [[Mecha Ridley]]. Like the original ''Metroid'', Samus must escape Tourian and reach Zebes's surface. This escape is much longer and more complicated than the original ''Metroid'' escape. Samus is given one minute on Hard Mode, 2 minutes on normal mode, and 3 minutes on easy mode to escape Tourian and reach her Gunship. ''Zero Mission'', unlike ''Metroid'', does not end upon Samus's escape from the planet. As Samus enters her [[Samus Aran's Gunship|starship]] and flies away from Zebes, she is chased down by [[Space Pirate]]s and her ship is shot back down onto the planet. On the planet's surface she infiltrates the [[Space Pirate Mother Ship]].

The countdown in ''Metroid Prime 2: Echoes'' takes place immediately after Samus defeats the [[Emperor Ing]] and drains [[Dark Aether|Dark Aether's]] final [[Energy Controller]]. She is given eight minutes to escape, but after using the [[Light-Based Teleportation System]] to exit the [[Sky Temple]], her exit is blocked off by a wall of [[Phazon]], impeding her movement and preventing her escape. After carefully examining the area for the source, she finds that the Phazon was generated by [[Dark Samus]] who has become excessively supercharged with Phazon. After Samus defeats Dark Samus by using her Phazon energy against her, she escapes through a nearby portal.

''[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption|Corruption]]'' is the only game in the series to contain more than two timed sequences. Additionally, not one of the three sequences contain a countdown timer. [[Aurora Unit 242|AU 242]] informs Samus, however, whenever a checkpoint to a certain amount of time remains.

The first timed sequence occurs on [[Norion]] as the first encountered [[Leviathan]] is headed straight toward Norion. Samus and the other [[Bounty Hunter|hunters]] must reach and activate the Energy Cannon used to destroy the Leviathan while it hurls toward the planet. She manages to reach the Energy Cannon in time but along with the other Bounty Hunters, is confronted by Dark Samus, who nearly prevents their objective from being completed. Samus, fortunately, is able to activate the Energy Cannon before it is too late.

The second instance occurs when Samus faces the returning [[Meta Ridley]]. Samus and Meta Ridley are both falling down an extremely long, narrow shaft. Samus must defeat Meta Ridley before they impact the core of the shaft. After defeating Meta Ridley, Rundas is able to locate and remove Samus from harm by pulling her to the top of the shaft.

The final timed sequence occurs as Samus is aboard the [[Spire Pod]] equipped with the [[Theronian Bomb]]. After successfully thwarting [[Space Pirate|Pirate]] efforts to destroy the bomb before it reaches the Elysian [[Leviathan|Leviathan's]] shield, Samus attempts to escape using the single [[Escape Pod]] on board. The pod, however, malfunctions and must be repaired. Samus has a limited amount of time to repair the pod using her recently acquired [[Plasma Beam]] and welding the broken machinery together. Samus, however, succeeds in escaping in time, landing the Escape Pod safely in [[SkyTown|SkyTown's]] [[Escape Pod Bay]]. If Samus is unable to escape, she is killed in the impact of the Theronian Bomb as it crashes into the Leviathan shield.