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Lock-On
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The Lock-On ability is a technique used by the Samus Aran. She can use this technique with any of Samus's Visors, most commonly used with the Combat Visor. It is a crucial element of the Metroid Prime games that allows Samus to remain aimed at targets through many conditions. In Metroid: Other M, Samus automatically Locks-On to her nearest target, shooting will cause her to shoot directly at said target. In first person mode, Samus can choose which enemy to Lock-On to. Samus must lock on to Grapple Points in the Primes and Other M to Grapple onto them.
Versatility
It allows Samus to remain aimed at her target, even if she is moving or it is moving. Samus can strafe only while locked on to a target. Strafing allows Samus to sidestep very quickly, allowing her to dodge attacks and remain in motion. Locking on to a target will keep Samus faced toward the target under many conditions, her Targeting Reticule will stay aimed at the target, even if the target moves behind an object or wall.
Locking on to a target can cause certain HUD systems to display on Samus's current Visor, such as the distance between Samus and the target with certain Visors equipped. Locking on and shooting a Missile, charged Wave Beam, charged Annihilator Beam, or Seeker Missile will cause the Missile or beam to home into and follow the target, even if it moves away. This is not to say, however, that the attack will hit the target indefinitely, certain targets are able to evade Samus's homing attacks by quickly moving away.
Samus's Seeker Missile follows Lock-On rules different to regular Lock-On. Because Seeker Missiles Lock-On to more than one target, Samus does not face the direction of any one of her targets, instead she is able to look around freely.
Locking-On and Visors
Samus can Lock-On to her targets with any visor. Samus's Combat Visor is designed for combat situations, allowing Samus to Lock-On to most enemies and some other targets of interest, such as the red targets on a Mk II Bridge. Targeting with her Combat Visor is most practical, as Samus can see textures and colors she cannot with other Visors. It is easier to maneuver and walk around with the Combat Visor, however it has some limitations. While most other Visors can all Lock-On to enemies the Combat Visor can, certain enemies cannot be seen or Locked-On to with only the Combat Visor.
While Scanning with the Scan Visor, Samus is Locked-On to her target. She is able to strafe and remains faced toward the target while she is scanning. Although she can't Scan targets that are too distant, Samus can still Lock-On to them.
Targets with certain energy signatures can only be targeted, sometimes only even seen, with the Thermal Visor. The Thermal Visor can Lock-On to hidden enemies such as Shadow Pirates and is especially crucial in defeating Thardus and Metroid Prime. Metroid Prime's core has can phase to a state where she can only be seen with the Thermal Visor.
Samus's X-Ray Visor can lock on to hidden enemies as well. Chozo Ghosts, Flickerbats, and Shadow Pirates can be Locked-On to with the aid of the X-Ray Visor. In their hidden state, the Combat Visor could not lock on to them. Omega Pirate while healing and another of Metroid Prime's states can only be seen and Locke-On to with the X-Ray Visor. In Corruption, all enemies can be seen with or without the X-Ray Visor, however weak spots are revealed on Phazite-plated enemies with the X-Ray Visor. Berserker Knights, Pirate Commandos, Omega Ridley, Phazon Metroids, Metroid Hatchers, and Dark Samus all have weak points that the X-Ray Visor can help scope out. While Locked-On to all but Dark Samus, the X-Ray Visor will reveal a zoomed in view revealing a bright red target. For these cases, all but Omega Ridley can be killed with one lethal blow of the Nova Beam.
Echoes' Dark Visor can be used to Lock-On to many enemies, notably Dark Pirate Commandos and Dark Samus. It is used to Lock-On to enemies in a transdimensional state, a somewhat between Aether and Dark Aether.
Echoes also holds an Echo Visor, a Visor working off the principle of echolocation. It seems to send a sound-based signal that is returned to the Visor, allowing Samus to detect targets not normally visible. This can be used to target invisible enemies and more importantly objects in the Echo Key Beam System.
Samus's Command Visor is significantly different from all other Visors. It is not particularly designed for fighting purposes, however it can still be used to attack. It is used to Lock-On to certain icons with different functions. Depending on which icon Samus Locks-On to, her ship can Land, Grapple large objects, or perform a bomb run. Unlike the other Visors, Samus cannot Lock-On to enemies or even shoot at them. In large open rooms, however, there will be a Ship Missile icon allowing her to command her ship to drop Ship Missiles.
Trivia
- Though Pirate Commandos are able to jam Samus's X-Ray Visor, if she Locks-On to them with her Combat Visor then switches to the X-Ray Visor she is able to deal the lethal shot with the Nova Beam by shooting randomly through the static.
