Kraid's Lair[1][2][3], also known as Kraid's Hideout[4], Mini-Boss Hideout I[5], Brinstar Area F[6], Brinstar Area G[7], depths of Brinstar[8], Brinstar Depths,[9] or simply Kraid[10], is the name of two distinct areas on planet Zebes. The first lair appeared in Metroid and its remake, while the second one, built in another location within Brinstar, was visited during Super Metroid. These places are where Samus Aran battles the Space Pirate enforcer, Kraid.
Kraid's Lair also appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee as a stage named Planet Zebes: Brinstar Depths.
Description[]
Both of Kraid's Lairs had their entrances decorated with a large statue of an unknown creature featuring a disproportionate head similar to a Geega. The statue's appearance remained mostly unchanged between Metroid and Super Metroid, but Zero Mission heavily redesigned it to resemble a reptile-like being with its mouth closed.
Metroid[]
In Samus's first mission on Zebes, Kraid's Lair was completely separate from Brinstar, and consisted mostly of structures crafted out of natural stones colored white. Despite this, vegetation was persistently growing in several segments of the region. Pools of acid were common hazards to be found; a few of these were actually illusions used to hide passages. Several isolated rooms, including Kraid's room, contained blue colored metals, while others featured Air Holes as well. As Samus reached closer to the Pirate's room, the surrounding environment was no longer built out of stones, but instead with green metal, panels and fences; Fake Kraid was located in these synthetic corridors. Both rooms outside and inside Kraid's chamber contained ceilings made to resemble eyes and sets of teeth. Noticeably, an extensive vertical shaft containing long rows of Fake Blocks can be found in this region, which required Samus to carefully shoot and move quickly before the blocks would reform on her.
It is reached via the second room in Brinstar, once Bombs have been obtained.
Zero Mission[]
In the remake Metroid: Zero Mission, the layout of Kraid's Lair was slightly changed. The background of the entire region now featured ruins and crumbled architecture. There was also sophisticated technology to be found in the area, such as zip lines and their power source, the ancient Chozo machine, along with Morph Ball launchers. One of the large pools of acid now contained a mini-boss known as the Acid Worm. Rooms with purple stonecraft seemingly replaced all blue colored rooms.
Thanks to Zero Mission's improved graphics and additional content, Kraid's Lair was ultimately revealed to have once been an important Chozo region before the gigantic Pirate settled in it, as it featured numerous ruins and destroyed structures, along with Chozo machinery.
Similar to Metroid, Samus can reach Kraid's lair the moment she has bombs. Although the Power Grip is needed to reach certain Morph Ball ledges, it is possible for Samus to reach and defeat Kraid immediately after obtaining bombs via Infinite Bomb Jumping. Doing so means Samus can defeat Kraid even before reaching Norfair.
Super Metroid[]
By the time Samus returns to Zebes during Super Metroid, the original lair belonging to Kraid was inaccessible, with its only entrance entirely closed off with Brinstar's blue cavernous rocks. Kraid was to be found in a new lair, located in the red swamp segment of Brinstar, though carefully hidden with Super Missile Blocks. It was largely industrialized, with scarce signs of greenery and plant life, save some vines and Kraid's chamber. Some rooms were built with the same synthetic, green metal seen during the previous mission on Zebes. Contrary to the original hideout that mostly featured dangerous wildlife, there was a large presence of Space Pirates in the form of green Kihunters and Green Zebesians which guarded Kraid and Mini-Kraid; the corridor containing Mini-Kraid featured a ceiling crafted into a threatening face similar to those found in the boss' chamber in the previous hideout.
Power-Ups[]
Metroid[]
Zero Mission[]
Super Metroid[]
Enemies[]
Metroid and Zero Mission[]
- Barisute (Zero Mission)
- Gadora (Zero Mission)
- Geega
- Memu (Metroid)
- Mini-Kraid (Metroid)
- Reo (Zero Mission)
- Ripper
- Sidehopper
- Skree
- Zeela
Super Metroid[]
- Beetom
- Gadora
- Green Space Pirate
- Kihunter
- Mini-Kraid
- Sbug (non-hostile)
- Zeb
- Zeela
Bosses[]
Music[]
In Metroid, Brinstar Depths plays throughout Kraid's Lair. The Zero Mission remake features a remixed and extended version of Brinstar Depths.
In Super Metroid, Lower Brinstar plays in the first few rooms of Kraid's Lair. Upon entering the long corridor containing Zebesians and Mini-Kraid, a tense theme will start playing up until the boss battle against Kraid; if Samus revisits these areas after defeating Kraid, Silence will play instead.
Official data[]
Nintendo Power Volume 29[]
- KRAID'S HIDEOUT
- "Mini-Boss number two is Kraid, a reptilian monstrosity which fires spikes from its belly. Although the hideout is near the starting point of the game, visit Kraid only after having defeated Ridley. Here you will find treacherous shafts and other challenges."
Super Metroid Players' Guide[]
- Area F
- "There's no rest for the wicked or heroic adventurers in this section. Virtually all the skills required in the game will be tested in the gruelling arena of section F. A tough challenge climaxes with Kraid and the battle for the Spazar [sic]."
Metroid: Zero Mission manual[]
- KRAID
- "This is the lair of the largest boss in the fortress - Kraid."
Trivia[]
- Kraid's Lair in Super Metroid contains the infamous and mysterious dead soldier, seemingly killed a considerable amount of time before Samus returned to Zebes.
- In Super Metroid, the ceiling made to resemble eyes and teeth in Kraid's second hideout can harm Samus if she were to jump and touch the sharp structures that make up the fangs. (The original version seen in Metroid is harmless.) Due to Mini-Kraid launching its belly spikes from across the corridor, a player trying to jump over these obstacles is likely to hurt themselves on these spikes.
See also[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ^ Classic NES Series: Metroid manual, pg. 16
- ^ Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide pg. 130
- ^ Metroid: Zero Mission: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide pg. 43
- ^ Nintendo Power Volume 29, pg. 43
- ^ Metroid instruction manual, pg. 30
- ^ Super Metroid Players' Guide pg. 36-37
- ^ Super Metroid Nintendo Player's Guide pg. 56-57
- ^ Super Smash Bros. Melee Kraid Trophy
- ^ Super Smash Bros.
- ^ Metroid: Zero Mission
| Kraid | |
|---|---|
| Areas | Kraid's room (Kraid's Lair/Cataris) Planet Zebes: Brinstar Depths • Volcanic Sector • Dark Realm |
| Weapons | Spinning claw • Kraid Bouncing Creature Kraid's Missile Gun • Rocket |
| Music | Tourian • Big Boss Confrontation BGM (Kraid, Crocomire, Phantoon) • Boss Kraid Brinstar Depths • Brinstar (Metroid) |
| Other | Gallery • Mini-Kraid • Raven Beak X Kraid's Toy Shop |