Samus Aran's Gunship: Difference between revisions

'''Samus Aran's Gunship''' is the private spacecraft of bounty hunter [[Samus Aran]]. The [[Spacecraft Classifications|Hunter-class]] gunship is a one of a kind spacecraft. It was custom built for Samus by the [[Federated Shipyards]] at [[Aliehs III]]. It contains a mobile energy recharge system, microfactories designed to produce ammunition, and sophisticated onboard computer stores mission data collected in the field for further reference.<ref name=MP2/> Throughout the series Samus uses different models of the gunship, some of which are her own design.<ref name=MP3/>

The ship's design and size have shifted greatly throughout the series. Surprisingly, some versions of the ship seem almost identical, even though the games are not direct sequels, with different designs being introduced between them. For example the ship seen in ''[[Super Metroid]]'' makes a 3D appearance in ''[[Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]]'', but does not appear in any other game of the ''[[Metroid Prime (series)|Metroid Prime series]]''. The ship is easily recognizable from the landing mechanisms located at the bottom of the ship.

The gunship that appears in ''[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]]'' is a completely new design (with similar colors) that combines [[Chozo]] and [[Galactic Federation|Federation]] technology. It was designed by Samus Aran, based off her original gunship. Like its predecessor, the new model was also constructed at Aliehs III. The vessel is equipped with a powerful Chozo biotech computer that can interface with Samus's [[Command Visor]] to deliver aerial bomb raids to locations of her choosing. The [[Ship Missile|ship's weaponry]] is capable of destroying structures made of [[Maldium]], otherwise invulnerable to Samus's regular weapons. The ship also carries a [[Biohazard Scanner]].<ref name=MP3/>

[[File:Samus19.png|100px|thumb|The first ever appearance of the gunship in ''[[Metroid II: Return of Samus|Return of Samus]]''.]]The gunship first appeared in ''[[Metroid II: Return of Samus]]'', although chronologically the ship appears much earlier in the series [[timeline]], in ''Metroid Prime 2: Echoes''.

Samus starts her ventures through [[SR388]] in ''Metroid II: Return of Samus'' after landing her gunship on the planet's surface. The ship remains there for the entire game. The ship is equipped with a [[Missile Battery]] on the interior's right and a [[Big Energy Ball]] on the left, effectively serving as a recharge station for Samus. ''Metroid II'' ends when Samus brings the [[Metroid Hatchling]] to her gunship.

Located on [[Crateria]] after landing on Zebes, the Gunship has a similar function in ''Super Metroid'' as it does in ''Metroid II'' with a few added capabilities. Merely entering it causes Samus to replenish any depleted ammunition, energy, and also allows her to save her progress. After destroying [[Mother Brain]], Samus uses this ship to escape Zebes before its destruction.

Samus's gunship lands on [[Aether]] after Samus receives a distress signal from the planet. On her way to Aether, the unstable atmosphere damages the ship. Throughout the game, Samus's ship remains in [[Temple Grounds|Temple Grounds']] [[Landing Site]]. There, Samus can use it to save progress and regain [[energy]], [[Missile Ammo]], [[Power Bomb Ammo]], and [[Beam Ammo]]. The ship appears to be damaged. After defeating [[Dark Samus]] in [[Sky Temple Gateway]], Samus returns to Aether and leaves in her gunship. It is unknown whether the ship repaired itself like her ''Corruption'' gunship or if the [[Luminoth]] repaired it for her.

''[[Metroid: Other M]]'' also features the classic ship. The ship is used by Samus in opening scenes and is used to reach [[Bottle Ship]]. Unlike other games, Samus cannot use the ship to save or refill her energy reserves or any of her weaponry. Unlike ''Corruption'', ''Other M's'' gunship holds a highly inactive role. It sits parked aboard a Bottle Ship landing site. The controls used for this ship appear different then any other gunship, it is controlled by a spherical control similar to a {{wp|Mouse (computing)|mouse}}. Samus leaves Bottle Ship on her gunship after defeating the [[Metroid Queen]] and returns to retrieve [[Adam Malkovich|Adam's]] helmet. She then escapes again, as Bottle Ship is on the verge of destruction.

This design of the gunship appeared briefly in the opening scenes of ''Metroid Fusion''. As Samus drove it along side the [[Biologic Space Laboratories Research Station|B.S.L Station]], the [[X Parasite|X parasites]] inside her body began taking over her body and made her lose consciousness. The ship then veered off into an asteroid belt.<ref>{{cite|Once the X had infested my central nervous system, I lost consciousness and my ship drifted into an asteroid belt.|[[Samus Aran]]|[[Metroid Fusion]]}}</ref> The ship's safety measures, however, managed eject Samus within an [[Escape Pod|escape pod]], which [[Biologic Space Laboratories|B.S.L]] researchers found. They then sent Samus to the [[Galactic Federation]]<ref>{{cite|The ship's emergency systems automatically ejected the escape pod before impact. Biologic's vessel recovered it and transported me to Galactic Federation HQ.|Samus Aran|Metroid Fusion}}</ref> The ship's whereabouts were not mentioned, leaving the assumption that no part of it was recovered and it was abandoned as scrap in the asteroid belt.

Although not the first ship to be introduced to the series, the Zero Mission Ship is chronologically the first gunship to be piloted by Samus Aran. The vessel makes its first and only appearance in ''[[Metroid: Zero Mission]]''. The ship's coloring and design resemble the [[Power Suit|Power Suit's]] helmet. In the beginning of the game Samus lands the ship on planet [[Zebes]] to begin her mission. Samus can return to her ship regularly in [[Crateria]] to save. Unlike most [[Save Station]]s in ''Zero Mission'', however, Samus's [[energy[[Missile]]s, [[Power Bomb]]s, and [[Super Missile]]s are replenished as well.

 

Once her objective is complete she takes off but is soon ambushed by a group of Space Pirate fighters. Her ship is shot down and forced to crash land back on the surface of Zebes. Samus eventually escapes the planet in a [[Space Pirate]] ship, leaving her ship to be destroyed in an explosion. The vessel is never rebuilt in this design.

[[File:Gunship MP1.png|200px|thumb|Samus Aran's second gunship seen in ''[[Metroid Prime (game)|Metroid Prime]]'']]The ship appearing in ''[[Metroid Prime (game)|Metroid Prime]]'' and ''[[Metroid Prime Hunters]]'' is of a new design. The most visible difference to the previous design, and the different models that succeeded the ship, are the four maneuvering thrusters, located on the bottom of the vessel. ''Metroid Prime'' opens with Samus approaching the [[Frigate Orpheon]] aboard her new ship, using the thrusters to make fine adjustments to her landing.

In both ''Prime'' and ''Hunters'' the ship is referred to as a [[Spacecraft Classifications|Hunter-class]] gunship, the first ship to be categorized like this. The later models are all Hunter-class, except for the Fusion ship which cannot be scanned in the game.

The ship resembles Samus's classic ship, first featured in ''[[Metroid II: Return of Samus]]'', but it's clearly a different design. Like with the first ship the design resembles Samus's Power Suit, with its coloring and structure.

[[File:Gunship MP3 Art 2.png|250px|thumb|The gunship in ''[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]]'']] The gunship appears in ''[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]]'' with a more active role than other games. The gunship is used to travel between the games different areas: [[G.F.S. Olympus]], [[Norion]], [[Bryyo]], [[Elysia]], [[G.F.S. Valhalla]], [[Pirate Homeworld]], and [[Phaaze]]. Many of Samus's ship's interior features are shown but do not return in ''Other M''. Samus can enter the gunship to regain all ammunition and energy with the obvious exception of [[Ship Missile Ammunition]]. It is unknown why this gunship was not used in later chronological games (''Metroid II'' forward) and the older model of the ship returned.