Pirate Aerotrooper

Samus facing off two Aerotroopers in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes concept art.

Pirate Aerotroopers are aerial varieties of Space Pirates. They first appeared in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and later several varieties were seen in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Pirates of a similar nature appeared in Metroid Prime, but these were much different in design and were called Flying Pirates. Gandrayda will also transform into an Aerotrooper.

Description

Aerotroopers would be assigned the most dangerous missions, and would rather die than be captured. They used jetpacks, and could be set on fire using the Light Beam in Echoes. Later on in Corruption, a combination of a charged Plasma Beam shot and the use of the Grapple Lasso could separate an Aerotrooper from their jetpack, sending them to the ground. The explosion of the jetpack would kill them if they did not fall to their doom.

When critically injured, Aerotroopers would attempt a swirling suicide attack on their opponent, hoping to take their attacker with them to the grave. The Dark Beam, Ice Missiles and Phazon-based weaponry could prevent the Aerotrooper from executing this maneuver.

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

An Aerotrooper in Grand Windchamber

The Aerotroopers seen in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes are scarce, but well-armed and armored. They are equipped with modified green Galvanic Accelerator Cannons, swirling homing Missiles and as a final resort can use their suicide techniques. However, they can be shot down with three missiles from Samus (six on Hard Difficulty). A Super Missile will take down a Pirate Aerotrooper on Hard mode and spares the use of an extra Missile. They have a large, bulky structure protruding from the left side, which serves as the jetpack. This device produces a lot of smoke, and sparks can be seen from the thrusters. Overall their appearance is crude, and their armor looks large and inelegent. They have long, beak-like heads, and two blue glowing eyes.

The animations and attacks from these Aerotroopers was recycled from the Flying Pirates of Prime.

Logbook entry

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Gallery

Aerotrooper model

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Samus battles a standard Aerotrooper at Cargo Dock A, Norion.

The Metroid Prime 3: Corruption variations of Aerotroopers use a Remote Attack Pod system rather than the bulky pack-mounted weapon system seen on Aether. The pods make use of Particle Cannons and Helix Missiles/Gel Bombs. The system allows for a greater maneuverability, and can break a target lock from Samus. The disadvantage to this lighter system is the weaker armoring, and a flaw: If the pack is ignited, it can be separated from the flier. If this happens, the Aerotrooper will either get killed when the jetpack explodes, or fall to the ground and die. The first time Samus does this, she will get a Friend Voucher. The technique can be repeated with any Aerotrooper, but Samus will not get any more Friend Vouchers from this technique after she has used it once already.

Varieties

Several types of Aerotrooper exist in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.

• Armored Aerotroopers are armed with a standard, Echoes-style armorsuit that provides adequate protection against beam weapons, but can be breached with missiles. These units are often deployed in harsh combat zones.

• Advanced Aerotroopers are armed with additional layer of armor that can only be breached with missiles.

• Assault Aerotroopers are equipped with resistant armor that deflects all Missile fire, but is still damaged by beam attacks. Only the best Aerotroopers can join this rank.

Logbook entries

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Gallery

Assault Aerotrooper at the Craneyard, Pirate Research.

Gandrayda as an Armored "Aerotrooper-G" at the Proving Grounds.

Scan images used for all varieties of Aerotrooper.

Trivia

• No matter how low to the ground the Aerotroopers from Corruption are when they fall to the ground if separated from their jetpack, they will still die.
• Aerotroopers have yet to be seen teleporting despite the description on their scans.
• The equipment worn by Aerotroopers from Corruption is very similar to that of the Kyratians.
• Gene Kohler stated in an interview that they strived to make all pirate variations from the first Prime look different, because "it would have been pretty boring to simply see a regular pirate with a jet pack on for the Flying Pirate." Despite this, Corruption's Aerotroopers are just that.