Zazabi

Template:Enemy-infobox Zazabi-X is the second boss Samus encounters aboard the B.S.L. Research Station which orbits SR388, the setting of Metroid Fusion. It guards the High Jump ability (which in the Gameboy Advance Metroid games also includes the Spring Ball ability).

Its form resembles a Medusa or a mobile sea anemone, but of a size much larger than any found on Earth. It has a large, cyclopean eye, and a translucent pinkish-purple body lined with tentacles and what appear to be teeth.

Somewhat strangely, there is no information either in-game or related media in regards to the species the X-Parasite is mimicking when in this form, apart from the assumed name Zazabi. It is possible that it is a conglomeration of several species custom built by the X, as seen exhibited in Aqua-Pirates, but there is little knowledge as to which creatures may be combined.

The Battle

Attacks

File:PARACHUTEZ.png

Zazabi-X executing its Parachute Trap attack, while exposing its weak point.

Stomp: A basic attack which takes advantage of the creature's contact damage. Zazabi-X will jump across the room, landing harshly in an attempt to crush Samus with its mass.

Parachute Trap: Zazabi-X is able to leap incredibly high and position itself above Samus, opening what is presumably its mouth to act as a parachute as it falls. Should Samus be in its shadow when it lands, it will 'swallow' her whole. Samus can only counter this by laying Morph Ball Bombs while in Morph Ball mode, which will allow her to escape in a similar manner as when trapped by a Metroid. It is also during this attack in which Zazabi-X reveals its 'weak spot', and opens itself to being damaged.

The jumping abilities of Zazabi-X's attacks may be the reason why its Core-X restores Samus's High Jump ability.

Defences

Zazabi-X is impossible to harm from the outside, as presumably its skin is incredibly resiliant to firepower. Should it be damaged, it is also able to "shed" its damaged parts in order to continue battle for as long as possible.

Weaknesses

During its Parachute Trap attack, Zazabi-X reveals its vulnerable insides in an attempt to "swallow" Samus. When this attack is attempted, it can be damaged by firing Missiles or Charge Beams into its gaping maw. This must be repeated until all its shell has been shed.

Core-X

Being a boss creature, Zazabi-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

• Zazabi-X is one of only two enemies in Metroid Fusion for which there is no non-X equivalent known or suspected. The other is Yakuza-X.
• It is theorized that Zazabi-X's ability to jump incredibly high is the reason for its Core-X holding the key to Samus's High Jump and Spring Ball abilities. 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's abilities and use them against her).