Spider Ball

From Metroid Wiki

The Spider Ball is an upgrade for Samus's Morph Ball. In its first appearance in Metroid II: Return of Samus, it allowed Samus to scale nearly any wall while in Morph Ball mode. In the Metroid Prime series, the Spider Ball can only cling to magnetically charged surfaces, usually special tracks.

Spider Ball
Spider Ball (Echoes).png

The Spider Ball upgrade in Echoes

Game(s)
Users
Located in
How to Obtain
  • Defeat Thardus (Metroid Prime)
  • Defeat Spider Guardian (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)
  • Fix a gear mechanism in the Powerworks (Metroid Prime 3: Corruption)
Uses

While Samus typically uses the Spider Ball to access hard to reach locations, she can use it in combat. Bosses such as Quadraxis, the Power Bomb Guardian, and the Emperor Ing have weaknesses that can only be reached with the Spider Ball.

Appearances[edit | edit source]

Metroid Prime[edit | edit source]

In Metroid Prime, the Spider Ball can only cling to magnetically charged tracks spread out around Tallon IV. It is obtained after defeating the quarantined Space Pirate experiment, Thardus, in their research outpost Glacier One. It radically alters Samus' Morph Ball's appearance: the sides become made of a hardened, clear substance that allows the interior of the Morph Ball to be seen. When Samus activates the Spider Ball, the ball glows green, blue, or red depending on what suit Samus has at the time. It also adds multiple lines on the ball for a sleeker appearance.

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes[edit | edit source]

In Echoes, the Spider Ball was stolen by the Ing in the prologue of the story, and was later obtained after defeating a possessed Pillbug in Sanctuary Fortress. The Spider Ball retains its limited abilities to travel on magnetic tracks on Aether. However, the Boost Ball can be used in conjunction with the Spider Ball to propel the Morph Ball away from surfaces and becomes critical to solving certain puzzles and defeating certain bosses, including one of the dark temple guardians and the final boss of the game.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption[edit | edit source]

In Corruption, the Spider Ball upgrade doesn't alter the appearance of the Morph Ball like it did in the first Prime. It it found on Skytown in the hands of a Chozo Statue. Once again, it can only travel on Spider Ball Tracks and can still be propelled away from them by using the Boost Ball. It is essentially for discovering high, out of reach area of Skytown, as it is slowly disassembled as Samus explores it.

Metroid II: Return of Samus[edit | edit source]

In Metroid II: Return of Samus, the Spider Ball made its debut appearance as one of the most important upgrades Samus acquires to fully explore SR388. It can cling to nearly any floor, wall, or ceiling in the game.

Data[edit | edit source]

Manual[edit | edit source]

Manual Entries
Manual info from Metroid Prime
Spider Ball: Once Samus finds the Spider Ball, she can magnetically attach herself in Morph Ball mode to specific magnetic tracks that run throughout Tallon IV's environment. To activate the magnet, simply press and hold the R Button. The Morph Ball will stay fixed to the track as long as you hold the R Button—tilt the Control Stick to move along the track and release the R Button when you wish to drop off the track. You can propel yourself upward by laying Bombs while attached to a track.[1]


Manual info from Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Spider Ball: Once Samus finds the Spider Ball, she can attach herself to specific magnetic tracks. To activate the magnet, simply press and hold the R Button. The Morph Ball will stay fixed to the track as long as you hold the R Button—tilt the Control Stick to move and release the R Button when you wish to drop off. You can propel upward by laying Bombs when attached, or launch out by using the Boost Ball function.[2]


Manual info from Metroid Prime Trilogy
Spider Ball: Once you obtain the Spider Ball, you will be able to magnetically attack yourself in Morph Ball mode to certain magnetic tracks by pressing and holding Z. If you move [Control Stick] on a Spider Ball track, you can move along the track.[3]
Metroid Prime entry


Manual info from Metroid Prime Trilogy
Spider Ball: As the game progresses, if you obtain the Spider Ball, you will be able to magnetically attach yourself in Morph Ball mode to certain magnetic tracks by pressing and holding Z. If you move [Control Stick] on a Spider Ball track, you can move along the track. To release from the track, let go of Z. Also you can launch off the track with the Boost Ball by pressing and holding B, then letting go.[4]
Echoes and Corruption entry


Spider Ball: When Samus has obtained the ball shape, she can activate the Spider Ball by pressing Down on the Control Pad. This "sticky ball", gives her the power to move across the walls and ceiling unhindered by gravity. To maneuver, use the Control Pad. To return to the regular ball, press the A Botton[sic].[5]

Official Metroid Prime Website[edit | edit source]

Spider Ball
Name: Spider Ball
Weapon Effect: N/A
Weapon Range: N/A
Weapon Potential: Non-Lethal
Morph Ball Upgrade
The Spider Ball allows Samus to take advantage of special Spider Ball Tracks while in Morph Ball form. With the Spider Ball, Samus can cling to these surfaces and roll over obstacles, across walls and even upside-down. The Morph Ball Bomb can be used to trigger a Bomb Jump while Samus is attached to a Spider Ball Track.[6]

Samus's Notes[edit | edit source]

Metroid Prime[edit | edit source]

"Follow the magnetic rails to explore new areas. The Morph Ball Bomb can be used to trigger a Bomb Jump while attached to a rail."[7]

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes[edit | edit source]

"Follow the magnetic rails to explore new areas. The Morph Ball Bomb can be used to trigger a Bomb Jump while attached to a rail. You use the Boost ability to rapidly propel the Spider Ball away from magnetic rails."[8]

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption[edit | edit source]

"Follow the magnetic rails to explore new areas.
The Morph Ball Bomb cam be used to trigger a Bomb Jump while attached to a rail.
You can use the Boost ability to rapidly propel the Spider Ball away from magnetic rails."
[9]

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • The Return of Samus manual entry for Spider Ball has a typo in it, writing 'Botton' instead of 'Button'.
  • By taking advantage of glitches and with enough skill, the Spider Ball upgrade can be skipped in Metroid Prime.
  • The Spider Ball is the only upgrade in the entire Prime series that is found in the hands of a Chozo Statue. The only other item is the Chozo Artifact of Strength in Magmoor Caverns.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

References

  1. "Once Samus finds the Spider Ball, she can magnetically attach herself in Morph Ball mode to specific magnetic tracks that run throughout Tallon IV's environment. To activate the magnet, simply press and hold the R Button. The Morph Ball will stay fixed to the track as long as you hold the R Button—tilt the Control Stick to move along the track and release the R Button when you wish to drop off the track. You can propel yourself upward by laying Bombs while attached to a track." Metroid Prime Instruction Booklet, Pg 21
  2. "Once Samus finds the Spider Ball, she can attach herself to specific magnetic tracks. To activate the magnet, simply press and hold the R Button. The Morph Ball will stay fixed to the track as long as you hold the R Button—tilt the Control Stick to move and release the R Button when you wish to drop off. You can propel upward by laying Bombs when attached, or launch out by using the Boost Ball function." Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Instruction Booklet, Pg 20
  3. "Once you obtain the Spider Ball, you will be able to magnetically attack yourself in Morph Ball mode to certain magnetic tracks by pressing and holding Z. If you move [Control Stick] on a Spider Ball track, you can move along the track." Metroid Prime: Trilogy Instruction Booklet, Pg 18
  4. "As the game progresses, if you obtain the Spider Ball, you will be able to magnetically attach yourself in Morph Ball mode to certain magnetic tracks by pressing and holding Z. If you move [Control Stick] on a Spider Ball track, you can move along the track. To release from the track, let go of Z. Also you can launch off the track with the Boost Ball by pressing and holding B, then letting go." Metroid Prime: Trilogy Instruction Booklet, Pg 32 and 48
  5. "When Samus has obtained the ball shape, she can activate the Spider Ball by pressing Down on the Control Pad. This "sticky ball", gives her the power to move across the walls and ceiling unhindered by gravity. To maneuver, use the Control Pad. To return to the regular ball, press the A Botton." Metroid II: Return of Samus Instruction Booklet, Pg 17
  6. "Morph Ball Upgrade
    The Spider Ball allows Samus to take advantage of special Spider Ball Tracks while in Morph Ball form. With the Spider Ball, Samus can cling to these surfaces and roll over obstacles, across walls and even upside-down. The Morph Ball Bomb can be used to trigger a Bomb Jump while Samus is attached to a Spider Ball Track.
    " Metroid Prime, Metroid.com
  7. "Follow the magnetic rails to explore new areas. The Morph Ball Bomb can be used to trigger a Bomb Jump while attached to a rail." —Samus's Notes (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)
  8. "Follow the magnetic rails to explore new areas. The Morph Ball Bomb can be used to trigger a Bomb Jump while attached to a rail. You use the Boost ability to rapidly propel the Spider Ball away from magnetic rails." —Samus's Notes (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)
  9. "Follow the magnetic rails to explore new areas.
    The Morph Ball Bomb cam be used to trigger a Bomb Jump while attached to a rail.
    You can use the Boost ability to rapidly propel the Spider Ball away from magnetic rails.
    " —Samus's Notes (Metroid Prime 3: Corruption)


Morph Ball
Morph Ball · Morph Ball Bomb · Power Bomb · Spring Ball · Boost Ball · Spider Ball · Hyper Ball · Death Ball · Cross Bomb