A Reo (リオ Rio), known as Rio in earlier media, is an enemy in Metroid, its remake, Super Metroid, Metroid: Other M, and Metroid Fusion.
Description[]
Reos have disproportionate bodies characterized by two oversized limbs below a tiny torso and a large pair of brightly colored insect wings, giving the creatures a shape that vaguely resembles the letter X in most 2D games. In earlier games their torso consisted of a head featuring compound eyes and mandibles, and their massive limbs were initially pincers. Later appearances altered the Reos' design, starting with their limbs which became talons and then gaining an extended main body. Their movement and attack pattern vary throughout the series: their appearances below are presented based on the series' chronological timeline and not by actual game releases.
Metroid[]
Rios stay immobile until they see a threat, at which point they execute rapid, continuous swooping dive attacks with their pincers. They can take much more damage from Samus' Power Beam and Bombs than most other early-game enemies, making them one of the first challenging threats that she will encounter. There are yellow Rios and the stronger red variant found on the higher floors of Brinstar.
Metroid: Zero Mission[]
In this remake of the original Metroid, Reos retain their pincer limbs despite the change in earlier released games (see further below), though they no longer perform the swooping dives. They now fly directly at Samus when she approaches, pursuing their target until the Reos are killed. Like in the original game, they come in two variety: a standard yellow and a stronger one that is no longer red in color but instead green. The green Reos fly at much higher speeds capable of catching up to Samus even while she uses a Zip line. All Reos were moved to Kraid's Lair and can no longer be found in upper Brinstar, which may have been done to address the difficulty of encountering them in the early game.
Super Metroid[]
It is in this game where Reos first had their pincers replaced with talons. Each of the lower limbs have three talons where two are positioned at the front and the third one at the back, overall resembling those of predatory birds. Only yellow Reos are present this time around but their swooping pattern is performed at a faster speed and in far quicker successions which make hitting the creatures with the Power Beam somewhat of a challenge; rooms with low ceilings are where the Reos are particularly dangerous as a result. They can be found in the corridor preceding the map room in Crateria, and in certain corridors in Brinstar, including the Overhang corridor, the upper level of the Dachora's room, and the Pink shaft.
Metroid: Other M[]
In their first 3D appearance, Reos have undergone the most changes in design and role. Their talons are now three forward-facing claws and their torso features an abdomen. They are green in color, resembling the more powerful version from Zero Mission and they use a melee attack that involves latching onto Samus. However, these are the weakest Reos ever encountered in the entire Metroid series, as they can be killed with a single shot from the Power Beam. They can be found in the Main Sector and Sector 1 / Biosphere of the BOTTLE SHIP, often emerging from Fly Pods that resemble a giant brown pulsing compound.
At the beginning of Metroid: Other M, Samus will encounter a Reo while running through a catwalk in the Main Sector. It will latch onto her and knock her down to the floor. This encounter is unavoidable.
Metroid Fusion[]
When infected and/or mimicked by X Parasites, Reos gain a more gruesome physical appearance than their natural counterparts due to the X altering their DNA. They are larger in size and have much larger talons that almost appear to be armored. These limbs are a light blue that contrasts with their orange colored main body, further giving the Reos a sickly appearance. Although they have wings, the creatures might also be flame-propelled as insinuated by what seems to be a constant, flashing blue light behind their torso. Starting with this game, the Reos fly towards Samus in a linear trajectory which would be seen again in the later released Zero Mission.
Similar enemies[]
Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid Other M states that Reos, Mellas, and Himellas are members of the Rio (リオ系 Rio-kei) species. This may also mean that Mellows are related as well, although they are not featured in Other M and therefore are not mentioned in the guide.
The Gerutas of Norfair and Holtz of Ridley's Lair behave exactly the same as the Reo in the 2D games.
Other appearances[]
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.
Captain N: The Game Master[]
A Rio in "Gameboy"
In the Captain N: The Game Master season 2 episode "Gameboy", the eponymous Gameboy is reprogrammed by Mother Brain and Dr. Wily to serve as their minion aboard their mobile asteroid base Metroid. To demonstrate his power, Gameboy displays Rio sprites on his screen and then generates an entire swarm of Rios to attack the N Team. After shooting them with his Zapper, Kevin remarks that he has never seen so many Rios traveling in a pack before. One remaining Rio is then dispatched by Simon's whip.
Nintendo Comics System[]
Rios appear frequently as enemies in the Nintendo Comics System adaptations of Metroid and Captain N. Unlike their animated appearance, they much more closely resemble their original artwork from Metroid, albeit with slightly different coloration: blue faces with yellow eyes, wings, bodies and pincers.
Interestingly, Rios are depicted as sentient in these comics. Deceit Du Jour shows that Rios are capable of speech and wielding firearms, and they take orders directly from Mother Brain and Zoomer. One Rio alerts Mother Brain to Samus infiltrating their Metroid base, prompting Mother Brain to send 'Big Time' Brannigan, Zoomer, and the Rios to apprehend the intruder. Four Rios hold Samus at gunpoint and help Big Time escort her into the Mother Brain Chamber. After Samus escapes Big Time, two Rios lift him by his arms and carry him toward his execution by Metroids.
In the Captain N comics, Rios are often seen alongside other enemies from Metroid, Kid Icarus, and Punch-Out!! as minions of the League of Darkness. In Breakout, a Rio is a prisoner of RX 338 and is currently detained in Metroid Cell Block 1. In A King of Shreds and Patches, Kevin practices his Zapper on a target shaped like a Rio.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS[]
A Reo attacking Samus in Smash Run
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Reos appear as enemies in the Smash Run mode. They are visually based upon their design in Other M, but behave more similarly to their original 2D appearances. They fly in place until a fighter approaches, at which point they quickly swoop down to attack. As revealed in the Tips, they are unable to attack fighters who are directly below them. Like all other Smash Run enemies, Reos also have an unlockable Trophy.
Non-canon warning: Non-canonical information ends here.
Official data[]
Metroid manual[]
- Rio
- "These are also pretty strong. They zoom down to attack Samus from the upper walls. The red ones are stronger than the yellow ones."
Victory Techniques for Metroid[]
This article, section, or file contains text that is unofficially translated by Metroid fans. Some information (such as proper English names of characters or items) may not be accurate. If an official translation becomes available, the fan translation(s) may be replaced.
"Flies from the ceiling toward Samus. The red ones have strong attack power and the yellow ones are weak. Several shots with the normal beam or one Missile will defeat them."
The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]
- RIO
- "He attacks Samus from the ceiling. His defensive power is high, and he is hard to kill with a normal beam."
Nintendo Power Volume 29[]
- ENEMIES OF BRINSTAR AND NORFAIR (pg. 41)
- RIO
- "This bird also attacks from above, but it is hard to defeat."
Super Metroid manual[]
- REO
- "These creatures have sharp claws and can withstand several hits."
Super Metroid Nintendo Player's Guide[]
REO
| Enemy Data | Description | |||||||
| Color | HP | ATK | E | BE | M | SM | PB | Crateria/Brinstar. They fly in diagonal patterns and look like giant moths. |
| Normal | 45 | 15 | 12 | 31 | 33 | 4 | 4 | |
Information
Super Metroid Players' Guide[]
"Flying creatures that swoop in quickly to attack. A couple of hits is all that's required to deal with them but you have to be swift as they're very fast."
Metroid: Other M Premiere Edition[]
- Low-Level Enemies (p. 8)
- Reos, Mellas, and Himellas
- "Reos, Mellas, and Himellas are bothersome, buzzing bugs that can be found in nearly every sector of the BOTTLE SHIP. Reos don't pose as much of a threat as the other two types of space flies; they simply fly toward you and try to hit you. Mellas and Himellas, however, are elementally charged creatures that are able to shoot flames and icicles, respectively. If Beam blasts are too slow to destroy the pests--they travel in swarms out of their respective pods--Charge Beam blasts will usually take care of them in one fell swoop."
Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid Other M[]
This article, section, or file contains text that is unofficially translated by Metroid fans. Some information (such as proper English names of characters or items) may not be accurate. If an official translation becomes available, the fan translation(s) may be replaced.
"Rios are a series of bug-type flying creatures. In Sector 1 is the Rio, Sector 2 is the ice-attack wielding Himella, and Sector 3 is the fire-attack wielding Mella, making 3 different types of Rio."
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Trophy[]
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Trophy.
"These clawed, fly-like enemies from Metroid show up in Smash Run, too. They float in midair, then fly in a U shape when you get close. They're predictable, which makes them easy to outsmart, but stay on your toes anyway—their attacks can send you flying. One way to beat them is to grab and throw them when they buzz near you. "
The PAL version of the trophy changes the spelling of "midair" to "mid-air".
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Tips[]
"These enemies swoop down from above to tackle fighters. However, they can't actually hit you if you're directly below them. Give it a try!"
Trivia[]
- In the original Metroid game, a Reo can be lured inside the Stone Statues' chamber to be used as a vital component for one of the game's largest sequence breaks. By immobilizing the Reo in a specific location with the Ice Beam, Samus can perform Bomb Jumps off the Reo and enter Tourian without needing to defeat Kraid and Ridley.
- Grippers are sometimes seen feeding on Reos. Reos can also be found ensnared in Kihunter webbing. This suggests that Reos may be relatively low in the food chain in the Biosphere ecosystem.
- Metroid Fusion: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide refers to Reos as a "buglike beast".
- Rios were displayed with the capability to speak and wield small firearms in Deceit Du Jour, although this is most likely non-canonical.
- Reos have their own battle theme during significant encounters with them in Other M.
- In the Captain N: The Game Master TV series, Kevin uses "Rio" as the plural form of Rio. In the comics, he says "Rios" instead.
- In the House episode "Occam's Razor", one of the characters while playing a Metroid Zero Mission-esque game mentions Space Bunnies, which was most likely referring to Reos due to their wings giving them a superficial resemblance to rabbits.
Gallery[]
Captain N: The Game Master[]
| Food, Nourishment and Sustenance | |
|---|---|
| Plants & Fungi | Blueroot Tree • Fruit • Red Starburst • Sap Sac • Saturnine • Tangle Vine Fruit |
| Species | Geruta • Embers • Kiru Giru • Pirate Militia • Reo • Ripper • Sciser • Scritter • Skree • Space Pirate • Tallon Crab • Torizo • X Parasite • Zoomer |
| Carrion | "Deceased Soldier" • Amok Mommy |
| Liquid | Lava • Phazon |
| Artificial/Misc. | Deca-triticale • Elite Nutrient Mix • Energy • Nutrient-grade biomatter • Synthetic Metroid rations • Wrecked Ship |