Extra Ball

An Extra Ball is an item that appears in Metroid Prime Pinball. It grants Samus another ball, and as such allows Samus to return to the field after going down the gutter.

Starting lives

In Multi Mission, Samus starts with two Extra Balls and more can be obtained. In the Single Mission tables Tallon Overworld and Pirate Frigate, Samus starts with two Extra Balls and can obtain more. In the Single Mission tables Phendrana Drifts, Phazon Mines, and the Impact Crater, Samus starts with no Extra Balls and none can be obtained.

Obtaining Extra Balls

Samus gaining an Extra Ball on the Phazon Mines stage.

Extra Balls can be obtained in many different ways: playing minigames, earning points, and as an award.

Mini-Games

Mini-games will occasionally give Extra Balls instead of Special Tokens, but not instead of Artifacts. The exception is the Wall Jump mini-game, which gives an Extra Ball the second time Samus enters it on a table without fail.

Points

Samus gets an Extra Ball every time her point total reaches a certain threshold. Known point totals that grant an Extra Ball are:

• 2,000,000 points.
• 5,000,000 points.
• 10,000,000 points.
• 50,000,000 points.

Awards

On rare occasions the Award Scanner will grant Samus Aran an Extra Ball, this also replenishes the Force Field for a short time. In addition, the board Artifact Temple gives an Extra Ball when it is defeated during Multi Mission.

Life-saving abilities

Normally, if Samus were to go down the gutter with no Extra Balls, the game would end. However, if there was an Extra Ball on the table when Samus went down the gutter, the Extra Ball will be removed from the table and Samus will be able to come up to the table once more. Also, if the Bounty Bonus were to push Samus' score above any of the points thresholds, an Extra Ball would be directly obtained, allowing Samus to continue on the table.