Spider Ball Tracks (also referred to as magnetic rail system tracks) were introduced in Metroid Prime and since then have appeared throughout the Prime Series. Using magnetic force, they allow objects with an opposite polarity to attach and traverse them. Samus can only navigate them once she acquires the Spider Ball upgrade for her Morph Ball. If Samus uses a Bomb whilst attached to a track, it will disengage her from the track and cause her to jump up, or fall down, depending on the situation of the track. In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, the Boost Ball upgrade will repel Samus away from the track, in what is known as a Boost Jump.
Magnetic rails are often used by the Space Pirates for transport of small cargo, although it unclear what actually bears the cargo, it is possibly small drones. O-Lir states that the machines of the Sanctuary Fortress use them to reach areas not normally accessible.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption concept art for the Powerworks room of SkyTown.
A Spider Ball Track could be seen in Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt, in Regulator (which is a training hologram) on the floor of a ramped shaft. More tracks can be seen bridging the floors of some raised platforms on Celestial Archives in Metroid Prime Hunters, but these are also not usable by Samus due to a lack of the Spider Ball upgrade. Their presence in this ancient location suggests that the technology is thousands of years old.
In Metroid II: Return of Samus, the first game to feature the Spider Ball, the Spider Ball can be used on all surface areas. This is still true for the game's remake, Metroid: Samus Returns, although it cannot scale yellow "sticky" ones and Spider Ball Tracks are present during the Diggernaut battle, used by Samus to climb its drilling arms. Metroid Dread features blue magnetic strips, similar technology that allow Samus to climb walls and ceilings in biped form with her Spider Magnet.
Spider Ball Tracks appear in Metroid Prime: Federation Force aboard the Doomseye. They are present in M22: Convergence, in the chamber where Samus is battled. She uses them to gain a tactical advantage during the fight.
Official data[]
Logbook entries[]
Spider Ball Track
Magnetic rail system track.
In Morph Ball mode, press and hold 
/ 
when close to this type of surface. Use 
/ 
to move the Ball along the track. Release / to disengage from the surface.
CAUTION: A Morph Ball Bomb will briefly disengage the Ball from the track.
Spider Ball Track
System: Spider Ball Track
Magnetic rail system track.
In Morph Ball mode, press and hold R/Z when close to this type of surface. Use [Control Stick] to move the Ball along the track. Release R/Z to disengage from the surface.
CAUTION: A Morph Ball Bomb will briefly disengage the Ball from the track.
In Morph Ball mode, press and hold R/Z; when close to this type of surface. Use Control Stick to move the Ball along the track. Release R/Z to disengage from the surface. Using the Boost ability when on a Spider Ball Track will rapidly launch the Spider Ball from the track. Detonating a Morph Ball Bomb will briefly disengage the Ball from the track.
Spider Ball Track
System: Spider Ball Track
Magnetic rail system is powered and active.
While in Morph Ball mode, press and hold Z when close to a magnetic rail. Use Control Stick to move the Ball along the track. Release Z to disengage from the track. Using a Bomb will briefly disengage the Morph Ball from the track.
- Scan before Spider Ball (Metroid Prime)
- "Magnetic rail system track detected.
It appears to be active. Spider Ball technology required to access track." - Scan before Spider Ball (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)
- "Magnetic rail system track detected.
Rail system powered and active. Spider Ball technology required to access track." - Scan before Spider Ball (Metroid Prime 3: Corruption)
- "Scan complete. Magnetic rail cannot be used with current suit abilities."
Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide[]
- SPIDER BALL TRACK
- "As mentioned in Appendix Epsilon, the Spider Ball Track is an electro-magnetically charged surface that allows the Morph Ball (once the Spider Ball upgrade is in hand) to move along its surface, even upside down!"
Sentinel comment (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)[]
- O-Lir
- "The machines travel on a network of magnetic rails. They go to places you cannot reach.
It's a pity I didn't have the time to craft a way for people to use those rails as the machines do."
Development notes[]
Datamining of Metroid Prime Remastered has uncovered an unused, alternate Logbook entry for Spider Ball Tracks when scanned prior to obtaining the Spider Ball.
Spider Ball Track (before obtaining Spider Ball)
Heavy magnetic field detected emanating from treads in track.
Trivia[]
- There is a glitch in Metroid Prime that allows Samus to get an early Ice Beam. By looking slightly to the left of a Spider Ball Track and jumping against it, it is possible to climb it without the Spider Ball.
Gallery[]
