Serris

Template:Enemy-infobox Serris-X is the third boss Samus encounters aboard the BSL Research station which orbits SR388, the setting of Metroid Fusion. It guards the Speed Booster ability.

It is a large serpentine creature which seems to be aquatic, although the damage suspected to be caused by this creature around Sector 4 would imply that it is able to survive out of water for some time.

Although the host creature, Serris, had not been seen in any game up to this point, its existence is known by the Federation, and information passed onto Samus.

Serris

Adam's Description

This sector is home to a very large creature the researchers called Serris. It is capable of moving and attacking at ultra-high speed. The more senseless and widespread destruction here may be attributable to Serris. No doubt the SA-X released it, but I can't be sure why yet. Serris has returned often to the breeding tank here. Its natural behavior must be to go back to it periodically. It's a valuable specimen, but you have been authorized to terminate it. If you don't, it may invade other sectors.

Breeding Tank

File:SERRIS.png

Samus encounts the ready-terminated Serris.

The breeding tank to which Adam refers, when entered is shown to have already fallen victim to the X (Adam suspects it is in fact specifically the SA-X's doing). The skeleton of what is presumed to be the original Serris can be seen inside the tank, well and truly deceased.

Because the skeleton is now devoid of any external appearance, assessing differences between the original Serris and the host species is all but impossible. However, Adam states that Serris is capable of extreme speeds and mass destruction.

Interestingly, the reference of 'breeding' tank would imply that this creature was capable of reproduction, yet Adam's description implies it is a lone specimen. It is unknown whether this implies asexual reproduction, other juvenile Serris specimens, or if it is merely an artistic choice of words for its otherwise home.

The Battle

Attacks

Ram: Serris-X's primary form of attack is simply to journey around the room in a snake-like, twisting pattern. Although it does not seem deliberately to aim for Samus during this movement, there is great contact damage to be dealt from being in its path for too long.

Speed Boost: When attacked, Serris-X retaliates by speeding up its movements dramatically. Though its path is unaffected, the speed at which it now moves makes predicting its movements and dodging far more difficult.

This attack may be the reason why the Core-X absorbed from its defeat restores Samus' Speed Booster ability.

Defences

The majority of Serris-X's body is covered with inpenetrable armor. Attacking any part of its body or tail will result in no damage being dealt at all, and Missiles will simply 'ping off'.

Weaknesses

Although its body is heavily armoured, Serris-X's head is entirely defenceless to the point of its brain being able to be seen through its thin skull casing. Firing Missiles at its head as it approaches is the most effective strategy, although be ready to dodge when it begins its Speed Boost.

Other strategies include tackling the foe underwater, as it is easier to predict its movements by watching the trail of bubbles that signifies its approach. The downside of this technique, however, is that Samus (having not yet acquired the Gravity Suit by this portion of the game) is significantly less agile underwater, and dodging is all but impossible should she be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Core-X

Being a boss creature, Serris-X reveals, upon defeat, a Core-X. As the ability guarded is not a beam upgrade, the Core-X revealed will attempt only to ram Samus, having no projectile attacks. It is, however, only able to be damaged by Missiles or the Charge Beam.

Trivia

• Serris is called "Ishtar" in Japanese.
• Serpentine bosses are a common theme in the Metroid series, with most games featuring one.
• Aesthetically, due to their multiple eyes, sharp teeth and 'fins', Serris very closely resembles a Magmoor. However, while Magmoors are exclusively lava-based, Serris is water-based.
• It is theorized that Serris-X's ability to roll into a ball is the reason for its Core-X holding the key to Samus' Speed Booster ability. This theme can be seen in several other bosses in Metroid Fusion; the boss having a variant of the ability to be recovered (this is comparable to the similar convention in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, in which Ing have possessed Samus' abilities and use them against her).