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Dark Splinters are Splinters converted into Darklings.

Description[]

Dark Splinters inhabit planet Aether and its opposite, Dark Aether. Compared to its unpossessed variant, a Dark Splinter is much stronger and more resilient to damage from normal weaponry, requiring two fully Charged shots of the Power Beam to deal with (Normal/Veteran mode). However, it can also die from a single blast from the Light Beam, a natural weakness that the Ing passed to its host. Visual differences between a Splinter and a Dark Splinter is the latter's dark coloration, as well as the presence of the Ing's glowing red particles on the darkling's front. Dark Splinters behave and attack identically to Splinters, which is similar to the Beetles from Tallon IV.

Involvement in the Aether Incident[]

While the Splinter species's aggressiveness and goals are linked to their natural survival, all Dark Splinters inherit the Ing Horde's sentience and its will: the subjugation and death of all inhabitants on Aether, including any unfortunate extraterrestrials present on the planet. Prior to the events of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, an innumerable group of Ing invaded the Splinter Hive on Temple Grounds and possessed an equally innumerable amount of Splinters: the resulting Dark Splinter army were the cause of the GFMC Task Force Herakles' demise.

When Samus Aran entered the Temple Sanctuary, a smaller group of Splinters and an Alpha Splinter nesting within were converted into darklings. The Dark Alpha Splinter and Dark Splinters' mission was to steal Aether's last remaining planetary energy from the Main Energy Controller found inside the Great Temple. Were it not for Samus' unintentional interference, the Ing would have likely won the war against the Luminoth, resulting in the stabilization of Dark Aether and the obliteration of the opposite light planet.

Locations[]

Dark Splinters are found in these rooms:

Logbook entry[]

Dark Splinter

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

Temporary scan

Morphology: Dark Splinter
Darkling-possessed insectoid predator. The alien symbiote within the Splinter augments its strength and durability. Threat level raised.

Logbook entry

Target is host to a parasitic bioform. The presence of the parasite increases the target's overall combat threat level. Concentrated weapons fire will damage the target.

Unused[]

Dark Splinter

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc

Logbook entry

The vicious Splinter is playing host to a parasitic bioform. Concentrated weapons fire will separate the parasite from its Splinter host. Once separated, exposure to Aether's atmosphere is fatal to the symbiote creature.

Trivia[]

  • When first encountered near the crashed G.F.S. Tyr, Samus can defeat the group that appears without firing a single shot. She need only stand near the edge overlooking the jungle far below and move just as they leap at her. If done correctly, they will soar over the ledge and fall to their deaths.
  • When frozen by the Entangler, part of the Dark Splinter's appearance reveals the body of a normal Splinter. The same is true for the Alpha Splinter (via hacking). What this means is unclear. It is possible the symbiotic Ing possessing said Splinter is frozen by the dark energy of the Entangler (along with the creature).
  • Logbook data exists for a Dark Splinter in the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc, where it is different from the final. Notably, the entry mentions that firing on a Dark Splinter will eventually cause the attached Darkling to be removed from the possessed Splinter. This type of gameplay is not seen in the final, where both creatures die simultaneously from weapons fire. Remnants of this gameplay detail may still be present in the final build, where firing an Entangler shot at a Dark Splinter or Dark Alpha Splinter (via Sequence Breaking) will cause them to temporarily reveal their natural bodies. Also when certain creatures are Darkling possessed, killing the target will revert the defeated creature to its normal unpossessed state.

Gallery[]

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