Alpha Splinter

Alpha Splinter
	; ; The Alpha Splinter
Game(s)	Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Main Species	Splinter
Attacks	Ramming; Dark Energy Burst (Dark Splinter);
Location(s)	Great Temple
Room(s)	Temple Sanctuary
Rewards	Energy Transfer Module

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The Alpha Splinter is the alpha male of the Splinter war pack. He is larger and faster than other Splinters. He attacks much like other Splinters, with increased potency due to his size, strength, and cunning.^[1]

Samus Aran encounters the Alpha Splinter while exploring the Great Temple. She arrives at the Temple Sanctuary, and sees a few Splinters hatch from cocoons on the ceiling. The Splinters are promptly possessed by the Ing, turning into Dark Splinters. After she kills the Dark Splinters, an extremely large cocoon hatches, spawning the Alpha Splinter. After its defeat, the Ing in possession of the Energy Transfer Module possesses it, creating a Dark Alpha Splinter, with the intention of stealing the last remaining energy of Aether.

Battle

Alpha Splinter

The battle ensues in a roughly circular arena in the middle of the room. The Alpha Splinter attacks by lunging towards Samus, then quickly lunging back to the center of the room. It is capable of predicting where Samus will land if she should strafe in an attempt to dodge it. After Samus damages it enough, it is possessed by the Ing.

Dark Alpha Splinter

After Samus defeats the Alpha Splinter, the Ing possess it, creating a Dark Alpha Splinter. In this new form, it leaps at Samus again, and then fires a blast of Dark Energy from where it lands. It repeats this pattern until its defeat. It loses its ability to predict where Samus will be when he makes contact; instead, it lands where Samus was when it lunged.

Logbook

Logbook entry from Metroid Prime 2: Echoes: Alpha Splinter

First Location: Temple Grounds - Great Temple

Limited Scan

Gigantic predator. Very swift and strong, it uses ramming attacks to defeat its foes. Splinter war packs are dominated by the largest male. Alpha Splinters use their tremendous strength, size, and speed to subdue and kill prey, paving the way for their smaller broodlings.^[1]

Logbook entry from Metroid Prime 2: Echoes: Dark Alpha Splinter

First Location: Temple Grounds - Great Temple

Limited Scan

Gigantic predator with symbiote-enhanced strength, speed, and armor. Splinter alpha males are the first to be targeted for darkling possession. Dark Alpha Splinters grow in strength and durability, making them an even greater threat than normal.^[2]

Gallery

The Alpha Splinter's Cocoon
The Alpha Splinter emerging
The Dark Alpha Splinter

Trivia

Interestingly, the Dark Alpha Splinter may be easier to defeat after possession. Its loss of its ability to predict where Samus will land means that Samus must use far less cunning to dodge its attacks; she need only sidestep once after it has began its attack.
The Japanese name for the Alpha Splinter is the "Giga Splinter."

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 "Gigantic predator. Very swift and strong, it uses ramming attacks to defeat its foes. Splinter war packs are dominated by the largest male. Alpha Splinters use their tremendous strength, size, and speed to subdue and kill prey, paving the way for their smaller broodlings." —Logbook (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)
↑ "Gigantic predator with symbiote-enhanced strength, speed, and armor. Splinter alpha males are the first to be targeted for darkling possession. Dark Alpha Splinters grow in strength and durability, making them an even greater threat than normal." —Logbook (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)