Missile Launcher: Difference between revisions

The Missile Launcher's firepower seems to depend on the Missile upgrade Samus has collected. Initially, and as is the consistent case, Samus's Missile Launcher fires a single Missile at a time to deliver concentrated, explosive damage in one area. Missiles seem to be able to break through many obstacles that Samus's [[Power Beam]] cannot. Missiles are known to be effective against [[Brinstone]], [[Radion]], [[Blast Shields]], [[Red Door]]s, [[Fuel Gel]], [[Phazon]] crates, flammable crates, and other substances. They can break through hard-shelled enemies such as [[Brizgee]]. In all cases, there is at least one brief second where Samus cannot fire a consecutive Missile. The Missile Launcher's firepower can be altered through acquiring different upgrades, though acquiring any Missile upgrade does not alter the Missile Launcher's appearance in any way.

The Missile Launcher seems to be heavily used by the [[Galactic Federation]]; [[Adam Malkovich|Malkovich]] uploads Missile data onto Samus's [[Power Suit]],<ref name="Manga Missile">{{cite manga|I've uploaded data on the [[Missile]] and [[Morph Ball Bomb|Bomb]] system|[[Adam Malkovich]]|2|14|15}}</ref> former Federation [[Dark Missile Trooper]]s use Missiles, and Missile data seems to appear in many GF locations such as ''[[G.F.S. Olympus]]'' and [[Biologic Space Laboratories Research Station|B.S.L Station's]] [[Main Deck]]. The Missile Launcher system seems to have been created by the [[Chozo]] considering it is a weapon found in [[Zebes]] and [[Chozo Ruins]]. The Galactic Federation seems to have adapted to this Chozo technology and used it themselves.

At the start of her mission to eradicate [[Metroid (species)|Metroid]]s on [[SR388]], Samus is equipped with the Missile Launcher. This Missile Launcher is required to even begin her mission, as the various Metroids on the planet are only able to be destroyed by taking hits from Samus's Missiles in certain areas. [[Metroid II: Return of Samus|''Metroid II'']] introduces a new element to the Missile world, the [[Missile Battery]]. Missile Batteries recharge Samus's Missile count to their max.

''[[Metroid Prime (game)|Metroid Prime]]'' enters Missiles to the 3D world. Here, the Missile Launcher is retrieved from [[Hive Mecha]] in Chozo Ruins' [[Hives Totem]]. In ''Prime'', Missiles are enhanced with homing capabilities. If Samus is [[Lock-On|locked on]] to a target using her [[Combat Visor]], shooting a Missile will cause the Missile to follow her target, making it easier to hit enemies. Samus can either fire a homing Missile or free-fire an unguided Missile.

''Prime'' also introduced [[Charge Combo]]s, weapons that combing separate [[Beam|beams']] Arm Cannons with the Missile Launcher. The power of the Missiles with [[Charge Beam|charged]] beam weaponry allows Samus to fire different kinds of weapons. Among these Charge Combos is the [[Super Missile]], with similar capabilities as before. It fires a much stronger, faster variant of the Missile that retains its homing ability.

''[[Metroid Prime Hunters]]'' emphasizes the Missile Launcher as Samus's signature weapon. In ''Hunters'', it is her [[Affinity Weapon]], her main weapon when fighting the other [[Bounty Hunter|hunters]] in the game. It is the only Affinity Weapon not to have an opposing counterpart.

Samus is obtains the Missile Launcher early on when she arrives on [[Aether]]. After reaching the downed Federation ship ''[[G.F.S. Tyr]]'' in [[Temple Grounds|Temple Grounds']] [[GFMC Compound]]. The Missile Launcher functions identically to the first ''Prime''. ''Echoes'' has a set of Charge Combos of its own, integrating [[Luminoth]] weaponry with Missiles.

After locating and defeating the [[Phazon Corruption|corrupted]] bounty hunter Rundas, Samus retrieves Ice Missiles. For a brief moment while obtaining the upgrade, Samus's Missile Launcher turns a frigid blue at the tip, the Launcher quickly reverts to its original state, however. Ice Missiles give Samus the ability to freeze enemies and Fuel Gel, much like her [[Ice Beam]].

After Samus completes her exploration on [[SkyTown]], she is able to enter [[Elysia|Elysia's]] [[Leviathan]] and battle [[Helios]]. Destroying Helios further corrupts Samus with Phazon and gives her the ability to shoot [[Hyper Missile]]s. Hyper Missiles are very powerful Missiles that are infused with poisonous Phazon. These Missiles are identical to the Missiles that Dark Samus fires, even leaving behind a similar sized blast radius. Dark Samus, however, is able to shoot Missiles at a much faster rate.

[[File:SSBB Super Missile.jpg|thumb|left|Samus firing a high-powered Super Missile in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl|Brawl]]'']] [[File:Samus ssbm.jpg|thumb|right|Samus's Missile Launcher in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee|Melee]]''

 

*The Missile Launcher, [[Morph Ball]], [[Morph Ball Bomb]], and [[Varia Suit]] are the only [[upgrade]]s that have appeared in ever ''[[Metroid (series)|Metroid]]'' game.

*Using the [[X-Ray Visor]] in ''[[Metroid Prime (game)|Metroid Prime]]'' and ''[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]]'', Samus's Missile Launcher is shown to activate when Samus twists her arm clockwise and fires with her index finger. When she twists her arm back, the [[Arm Cannon]] reverts to its current [[beam]] setting.