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Shriekbats are a species of flying creatures found in the Metroid Prime series. They are very similar to the Skree of Zebes in their basic form, but many different breeds exist, spanning several planets.

Description[]

The Shriekbats native to Tallon IV most closely resemble the Skrees, though they do not rotate when roosting, and do not have exoskeletons that will fragment in the event of an explosion. Unlike Skrees, all existing variants of the Shriekbats dive-bomb their prey/threat at the cost of their own lives, exploding when impacting any surface.

On Tallon IV and Excelcion, the Ice Shriekbat variant is adapted to life in the Phendrana Drifts. Similar versions are located on Arcterra.

Sandbat crop

An Aetherian Shriekbat

The Shriekbats of Aether do not resemble the classic Skree at all. They instead take on the appearance of purple horseshoe-shaped creatures with a pair of bat-like wings. They do, however, behave identically to their relatives.

In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, there are four different kinds of Shriekbat: Bryyonian Shriekbat, Elysian Shriekbat, Urtragian Shriekbat, and Phazon Shriekbat. The Urtragian variant closely resembles those from Aether, while the Bryyonian subspecies are literal bats. Elysian Shriekbats are robotic imitations from Skytown, built by the Chozo. Phazon Shriekbats resemble no other known organisms, and are only found in areas heavily corrupted with Phazon.

In addition to Ice Shriekbats, Metroid Prime: Federation Force introduces Fire Shriekbats on Bion.

Locations[]

Metroid Prime[]

Metroid Prime Hunters[]

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes[]

Official data[]

Logbook entries[]

ShriekbatScan - RemasteredShriekbatScan
RemasteredOriginal

Shriekbat

Metroid Prime

Temporary scan

Morphology: Shriekbat
Territorial ceiling-dweller. Body temperature peaks at 121° centigrade.

Logbook entry

Shriekbats have high internal temperature, making them easy to spot with thermal imaging. They roost on cave ceilings while hunting for small prey. Fiercely territorial, they dive-bomb anything that wanders near.

Shriekbat

Metroid Prime Hunters

Logbook entry

A winged creature that explodes on contact to defends its territory, it will attack any creature approaching its nesting grounds. Inhabitants of Tallon IV have called for its extermination because of the threat it poses to the infrastructure and cultural heritage of the planet.

Shriekbat

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

Temporary scan

Morphology: Shriekbat
Territorial flying rodents. Rapid-flying, explosive enemies. Target and eliminate enemy at range if possible.

Logbook entry

Shriekbats have high internal temperatures, leading them to seek cool climates to dwell in. They prefer caverns, roosting on ceilings while hunting for small prey. Fiercely terratorial, they dive-bomb anything that wanders near. This attack is fatal for the Shriekbat, as the impact sets off a discharge of thermal energy.

[Remastered][Original]

Biohazard Containment[]

Shriekbat scanpic - RemasteredShriekbat scanpic
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Specimen Holding

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Morphology: Shriekbat
Info >> Native of Tallon IV


[Remastered][Original]

Metroid Prime website[]

"Shriekbats are fiercely territorial ceiling dwellers. They roost on cave ceilings from tiny posterior legs while hunting small prey, and will aggressively dive-bomb anything they perceive to be too large to consume. A high internal temperature makes them easy to spot with thermal imaging.

Its small body is dwarfed by razor-sharp wings. Body temperature peaks at 121 degrees centigrade."

Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide[]

Shriekbat
"Shriekbats are aptly named for the sound they make when they attack. They usually hang upside down high on walls and charge you as you near them. Until you get the Thermal Visor you can't target Shriekbats while they are hanging. You must either manually target them or wait until they are airborne to fire at them. Once the Shriekbats begin their dive-bomb attack at you, they can't change course. The Power Beam is quick enough that you can usually target and shoot each one before it reaches you. Add your dash maneuver while you're shooting, and any you miss will crash into the ground where you formerly stood."
Shriekbat
Found In: Chozo Ruins, Phendrana Drifts
Recommended Weapon: Power Beam
"Shriekbats hang upside down from ceilings and are best detected by using your Thermal Visor. If you detect them while they still hang on the ceilings, you can pick them off without danger. If you don't destroy them before they detect you, they launch a screeching attack toward where you stand. Use your quick-firing Power Beam to pick them off as they fly toward you. Once they are in the air, they cannot change direction. If you simply step out of the way, they go crashing into the spot where you once stood."

Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]

SHRIEKBAT
"The denizens of Tallon IV weren't kidding around when they named one of the local creatures "Shriekbat." The animal attaches itself to ceilings, then dive-bombs any would-be attacker while emitting a horrible, high-pitched squeal. If you can't blast a Shriekbat, back up so it doesn't slam into you on its kamikaze run."

Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide[]

SHRIEKBAT
MORPHOLOGY
"The Shriekbat is a territorial ceiling dweller. Body temperature peaks at 121 centigrade. Shriekbats have high internal temperature, making them easy to spot with thermal imaging. They roost on cave ceilings while hunting for small prey. Fiercely territorial, they dive-bomb anything that wanders near."
COMBAT TIPS
"Shriekbats are a suicide enemy in that they dive-bomb straight at Samus and explode upon impact. A Power Beam is more than enough to take them out, but act quickly once they're spotted or they'll swoop in and deal significant damage."

Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide[]

SHRIEKBAT
"Shriekbats will suicidally chase at you--lock on with the L Button and start firing as soon as you see them."

Metroid Prime Pinball manual[]

"A fast moving creature that dive-bombs its target while emitting a high-pitched squeal."

Development notes[]

Noncanon
"What's the matter? All I said was that Komaytos look like little Metr-"

Non-canon warning: This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.
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The Shriekbat idenified as a Metaree in the beta demo

In the beta demo of Metroid Prime, the Shriekbat specimen in Biohazard Containment is identified as a Metaree. Furthermore, the Nintendo GameCube Preview Disc identifies the Shriekbat and Ice Shriekbat's concept artwork as "METAREE / SKREE", and internal voice clip files for Metroid Prime 2: Echoes lists the Shriekbat's file name as Metaree. This suggests that Shriekbats were originally intended to be Metarees before development shifted in favor of replacing classic Zebesian enemies with new original species,[1] explaining the strong similarities between Shriekbats and Skrees.

Unused Shriekbat subspecies are featured in the internal data of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, suggesting these were intended to be enemies, but likely scrapped for being too similar to regular Shriekbats. Infant Shriekbats and Minirees, which may in fact be the same creature, only exist as a name with no programmed data, sounds, models or textures. There is an unused Logbook entry for a Dark Shriekbat, which is said to be more durable than one on Aether:[2]

Dark Shriekbat

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

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Morphology: Dark Shriekbat
Darkling cavern dweller.
Presence of symbiote increases durability of target. Use high-damage or light-based attacks when targeting this creature.

Logbook entry

Darkling Shriekbats prefer the cooler climates found on Dark Aether, gaining strength from the lack of pure light and heat.
Though more durable, they still explode on impact when performing an assault run on an enemy.

Non-canon warning: Non-canonical information ends here.

Trivia[]

  • In ReCore, a 2016 Xbox One game developed by veterans of the original Metroid Prime, the Diver enemies resemble Shriekbats in their behavior and method of attack.
  • In Metroid Prime, if the player somehow bypasses the trigger in a room that causes the shriekbats to attack, they will remain docile. They can then be safely viewed and scanned up close, but will still damage the player if touched. This can most readily be observed in the top of the Gathering Hall, where the player can use the Space Jump to 'climb' up part of the crumbling bridge and skip part of the platforming. There will be a few Shriekbats just in front of the door.
  • Despite being described as "rodents" in Metroid Prime 2's Logbook entry, Shriekbats actually have zero qualities in common with actual rodents. Similarly, real-life bats are falsely deemed by some to be "flying rats".
  • The model for the unused Dark Shriekbat seen in the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc highly resembles the Shriekbat's artwork from Metroid Prime Pinball.

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ^ "The entire first year’s worth of characters I modeled for the game were cut. At first, we were making all the enemies looking just like the old Metroid 2D enemies. Nintendo later decided that they wanted the enemies to have a new look, so we scrapped all of those creatures. These weren’t just models that were scrapped, but these were enemies that had a full set of animations and some even had AI programmed. I’m actually very glad Nintendo made that call because I think the newer designs that Jones and Keller came up with were a big improvement over the original 2D designs." https://shinesparkers.net/interviews/mike-sneath/
  2. ^ http://tcrf.net/Metroid_Prime_2:_Echoes/Old_Scan_Data_Lists


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