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Biotech Research Area 1 is a lab in which Space Pirate experiments are carried out. It is a room found in the Frigate Orpheon in Metroid Prime, and the game takes the player through it twice, once during the escape from the frigate. In the first trip through, the path around the upper level is taken; upon returning, one can see that two out of the three Parasite Queens have broken out of their containment, leaving shattered containment tubes. This time, Samus approaches from the lower floor, and two Space Pirates and the remaining mutated creature are killed in an explosion. A ventilation cap explodes when it is approached, providing a way out.

The wall on the top floor of the room features a diagram explaining different stages of Phazon mutation of a Parasite Queen.

The room is completely flooded when Samus returns to the frigate on her way to the Phazon Mines. The room is completely lopsided and contains a large amount of debris. The walkway above the main room is now almost entirely blocked by debris, except close to the doors leading to Deck Beta Conduit Hall and Deck Beta Security Hall. The door leading to Connection Elevator to Deck Beta is blocked by debris. The hatch leading to Subventilation Shaft Section A was closed off by a large door after Samus passes through it. The door remains intact after the crash but is powerless and cannot be reactivated. The hatch covering a shaft below it was destroyed. However, it is blocked by debris. On the first visit, 3 Aqua Pirates are found in the room, but in the second visit, 4 Jelzaps can be found in their place. The door leading to Deck Beta Conduit Hall is de-energized and must be powered by three Power Conduits. The first is on the wall to the right of the door leading to Deck Beta Security Hall. The second is near the open tunnel. The last is directly below the door.

Connecting rooms[]

Biotech Research Area 1

The room on the first trip

Before Parasite Queen battle:

After Parasite Queen battle:

After crash:

Data[]

Scans[]


Parasite Queen scanpic 2 - RemasteredParasite Queen scanpic 2
Parasite Queen skeleton scanpic 3 - RemasteredParasite Queen skeleton scanpic 3
RemasteredOriginal

Specimen tank

Temporary scan

Morphology: Unknown
Low life signs detected.

This creature appears to be in a state of stasis hibernation.


[Remastered][Original]

Wall holograms

Temporary scan

Specimen Cell A
Status >> Hibernation.
Transference of Phazon Batch 0081.D complete.

Temporary scan

Specimen Cell B
Status >> Unknown.
Rejection of Phazon Compound detected.

Temporary scan

Specimen Cell C
Status >> Unknown.
Rejection of Phazon Compound detected.

Parasite panels

Temporary scan

Parasite egg in pupa stage.

Its tough exoskeleton protects it from its mother's acidic embryonic fluid.

Temporary scan

The fluid sacs in the mouth enlarge after mutation.

This allows for increased production of corrosive bile.

Temporary scan

After mutation, the carapace of the larva becomes rigid.

The carapace is quite resilient, able to resist the attacks of many predators.

Temporary scan

Combat mutation applications are complete.

The primary legs of this creature possess galvanized tips, allowing it to penetrate any known alloy.

Ventilation cap

Temporary scan

The coils on this ventilation cap look unstable.

Pirate scanpic - RemasteredPirate scanpic
Pirate face scanpic - RemasteredPirate face scanpic
RemasteredOriginal

Space Pirate

Temporary scan

Morphology: Space Pirate
Status >> Severe internal damage detected.

Pirate joint scanpic - RemasteredPirate joint scanpic
Pirate legs scanpic - RemasteredPirate legs scanpic
RemasteredOriginal
Temporary scan

Morphology: Space Pirate
Status >> Both legs of this creature are broken.

Pirate arm cannon scanpic - RemasteredPirate arm cannon scanpic
Pirate schematics scanpic - RemasteredPirate schematics scanpic
RemasteredOriginal
Temporary scan

Morphology:  Space Pirate
Status >> Minimal injuries assessed.

Use caution. Maximum firepower recommended.


[Remastered][Original]

Computer station

During escape

Temporary scan

Containment seal breached.
Larva vital signs critical.
Secure area and terminate specimen.

Dead Queen

During escape

Temporary scan

This creature is deceased.

Creature's incubation period was prematurely terminated. Its shell has not yet fully hardened.

Doors

Temporary scan

Entrance to Deck Beta Conduit Hall

Temporary scan

Entrance to Deck Beta Security Hall

Temporary scan

This door has been sealed to prevent radiation leaks.

After crash

Powerless door
"This door has no power.
Three nearby Power Conduits must be energized for it to open. Blasts of electrical energy will energize the conduits. The conduits radiate some heat that is invisible in the normal spectrum."


Tutorial[]

"Use GC stick sideways/Wii stick sideways while holding GC L trigger/Wii Z button to strafe around enemies."

Development notes[]

Biotech Research Area 1 is known internally as 04_intro_specimen_chamber before the crash and 05_under_intro_specimen_chamber after the crash.

Jack Mathews cited this room as an example of how Retro Studios nailed the atmosphere they were attempting to create in Prime.[1]

An Aqua Drone is present within the files of the underwater version of the room, suggesting Aqua Drones were intended to be encountered in more than one room. Using game editing, it may be possible to load the enemy back in-game within the room.

Trivia[]

  • The two Space Pirates in the pre-crash version of the room that die from the containment explosion are not programmatically killed by it, but are actually killed by the damage from the explosion, and can be saved if they are drawn far enough away from the explosion. They fire much faster than normal Space Pirates. [2]
  • Pre-crash, the Parasite Queen in stasis hibernation appears invisible and cannot be seen when using the Thermal Visor (via hacking).
    • With a high enough jump, one can actually see a small heat signature emitting from the top of the container. Manipulation of the game camera reveals that the creature within does indeed have a heat signature, suggesting the container is most likely heat shielded in some way.
  • After the Frigate has crashed and been flooded, there are a few textures in this room that do not render correctly on the floor, and instead show up as black spaces. The textures are present when viewed through the Thermal Visor, however.

Gallery[]

Pre-crash[]

Post-crash[]

References[]

  1. ^ (2015, December 1). Extra Life 2015 (Part 2) [Stream]. Crackdown. Twitch. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022.
  2. ^ http://www.metroid2002.com/other_rapid_fire_pirate.php


Rooms in Metroid Prime
Frigate Orpheon Exterior Docking HangarMain Docking BayAir LockDeck Alpha Access HallEmergency Evacuation AreaDeck Alpha Umbilical HallMap FacilityConnection Elevator to Deck BetaDeck Beta Conduit HallBiotech Research Area 1Deck Beta Security HallBiohazard ContainmentDeck Beta Transit HallCargo Freight Lift to Deck GammaReactor Core Entrance
Save StationReactor Core

Deck Gamma Monitor HallConnection Elevator to Deck BetaSubventilation Shaft Section ASubventilation Shaft Section BMain Ventilation Shaft Section AMain Ventilation Shaft Section BMain Ventilation Shaft Section CMain Ventilation Shaft Section DMain Ventilation Shaft Section EMain Ventilation Shaft Section FBiotech Research Area 2Connection Elevator to Deck AlphaDeck Alpha Mech Shaft

Tallon Overworld Landing SiteCanyon CavernTallon CanyonTransport Tunnel ATransport to Chozo Ruins WestRoot TunnelRoot CaveArbor ChamberTransport Tunnel BTransport to Magmoor Caverns EastGullyAlcoveWaterfall Cavern

Temple HallTemple Security StationTemple LobbyArtifact Temple


Frigate Crash SiteOvergrown CavernTransport Tunnel CTransport to Chozo Ruins EastFrigate Access TunnelMain Ventilation Shaft Section CMain Ventilation Shaft Section BMain Ventilation Shaft Section AReactor CoreReactor AccessSave StationCargo Freight Lift to Deck GammaDeck Beta Transit HallBiohazard ContainmentDeck Beta Security HallBiotech Research Area 1Deck Beta Conduit HallConnection Elevator to Deck BetaHydro Access Tunnel


Great Tree HallGreat Tree ChamberTransport to Chozo Ruins SouthTransport Tunnel DTransport Tunnel ETransport to Phazon Mines EastLife Grove TunnelLife Grove

Chozo Ruins Transport to Tallon Overworld NorthRuins EntranceMain PlazaNursery AccessEyon TunnelRuined NurserySave Station 1North AtriumRuined GalleryMap StationTotem AccessHive TotemTransport Access NorthTransport to Magmoor Caverns NorthVault AccessVaultPlaza AccessRuined Shrine AccessRuined ShrineTower of Light AccessTower of LightTower ChamberRuined Fountain AccessRuined FountainMeditation FountainMagma PoolTraining Chamber AccessTraining ChamberPiston TunnelArboretum AccessSunchamber LobbySunchamber AccessSunchamberSun Tower AccessSun Tower

ArboretumGathering Hall AccessGathering HallSave Station 2Watery Hall AccessWatery HallDynamo AccessDynamoEast AtriumEnergy Core AccessEnergy CoreBurn Dome AccessBurn DomeWest Furnace Access


FurnaceEast Furnace AccessCrossway Access WestCrosswayCrossway Access SouthElder Hall AccessHall of the EldersElder ChamberReflecting Pool AccessReflecting PoolAntechamberSave Station 3Transport to Tallon Overworld EastTransport Access SouthTransport to Tallon Overworld South

Magmoor Caverns Transport to Chozo Ruins NorthBurning TrailSave Station Magmoor ALake TunnelLava LakePit TunnelTriclops PitStorage CavernMonitor TunnelMonitor StationTransport Tunnel ATransport to Phendrana Drifts NorthWarrior ShrineShore TunnelFiery ShoresTransport Tunnel BTransport to Tallon Overworld West

Twin Fires TunnelTwin FiresNorth Core TunnelGeothermal CorePlasma ProcessingSouth Core TunnelMagmoor WorkstationWorkstation TunnelTransport Tunnel CTransport to Phendrana Drifts SouthSave Station Magmoor BTransport to Phazon Mines West

Phendrana Drifts Transport to Magmoor Caverns WestShoreline EntrancePhendrana ShorelinesSave Station BIce Ruins AccessIce Ruins EastPlaza WalkwayRuins EntrywayIce Ruins WestCanyon EntrywayPhendrana CanyonTemple EntrywayChozo Ice TempleChapel TunnelChapel of the Elders

Courtyard EntrywayRuined CourtyardSave Station ASpecimen StorageResearch EntranceMap StationHydra Lab EntrywayResearch Lab HydraObservatory AccessObservatorySave Station DWest Tower EntranceWest TowerControl TowerEast TowerAether Lab EntrywayResearch Lab AetherResearch Core AccessResearch CoreQuarantine AccessNorth Quarantine TunnelQuarantine CaveQuarantine MonitorSouth Quarantine TunnelTransport to Magmoor Caverns South


Transport AccessFrozen PikePike AccessFrost Cave AccessFrost CaveSave Station CUpper Edge TunnelPhendrana's EdgeStorage CaveSecurity CaveLower Edge TunnelHunter CaveLake TunnelGravity ChamberChamber AccessHunter Cave Access

Phazon Mines Transport to Tallon Overworld SouthQuarry AccessMain QuarrySave Station Mines ASecurity Access AMine Security StationSecurity Access BStorage Depot AElite ResearchResearch AccessOre ProcessingElevator Access AElevator AStorage Depot BWaste Disposal

Elite Control AccessElite ControlMaintenance TunnelVentilation ShaftControl RoomOmega ResearchMap Station MinesDynamo AccessCentral DynamoSave Station Mines BQuarantine Access AMetroid Quarantine AElevator Access BElevator B


Fungal Hall AccessFungal Hall APhazon Mining TunnelFungal Hall BMissile Station MinesQuarantine Access BMetroid Quarantine BSave Station Mines CElite Quarters AccessElite QuartersProcessing Center AccessPhazon Processing CenterTransport AccessTransport to Magmoor Caverns South

Impact Crater Crater Entry PointCrater Tunnel APhazon CoreCrater Missile StationCrater Tunnel BPhazon Infusion ChamberSubchamber OneSubchamber TwoSubchamber ThreeSubchamber FourSubchamber FiveMetroid Prime Lair
Unused Engine RoomReactor Room
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