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The Reactor Core is a room in Metroid Prime. It is found in the Frigate Orpheon, and encountered twice, before and after the ship crashes. The first visit to the room provides a battle with a Parasite Queen, the first boss in the game, who is partially protected by a moving cylindrical barrier. Killing the creature initiates a sequence in which the frigate begins to destruct before crashing into Tallon IV, a nearby planet. Samus is given a few minutes to escape before this happens.

Later, when Samus explores the wreckage of the Orpheon she comes across this room again. Now completely underwater, the Reactor Core has multiple floating platforms to get to the top and bottom of the room. The bottom of the room is covered with sand and a bunch of rocks pierce through the room. Several Power Conduits need to be activated with the Wave Beam to energize the door out.

Connecting rooms[]

Inhabitants[]

Pre-crash[]

Parasite Queen render

Samus battles the Parasite Queen in the Reactor Core.

Post-crash[]


Data[]

Logbook entries[]

Parasite Queen body scanpic - RemasteredParasite Queen body scanpic
Parasite Queen head scanpic - RemasteredParasite Queen head scanpic
RemasteredOriginal

Parasite Queen

Logbook entry

Morphology: Parasite Queen
Parasite female, genetically enhanced by unknown means.

A weak spot has been detected in this creature's mouth. Use your auto-targeting to acquire this new target!

Scans indicate the presence of a potent mutagen, origins unknown. Creature exhibits the ability to fire weapon-grade blasts of energy from its mouth, a trait not present in the standard parasite genome. It appears the Pirates have begun a bioengineering program, with considerable results.


! This is a rare creature/object. It may only be scanned in one or few encounters.

 
[Remastered][Original]

Scans[]


Pre-crash
Please note that these scans are before the elevator down into the room.

Space Pirate

Temporary scan

These creatures still contain a heat signature. They have not been here for very long.

Temporary scan

Analysis detects large amounts of blood missing from the carcasses.

These bodies may have been used for nourishment. Pattern consistent with predator behavior.

Temporary scan

No life signs detected.

Doors

Temporary scan

Entrance to Deck Gamma Monitor Hall

Post-crash

Powerless door
"This door has no power.
Four nearby Power Conduits must be energized for it to open. Blasts of electrical energy will energize the conduits. The conduits radiate some heat that is invisible in the normal spectrum."


Unused[]

Unused scans in this room have been found through datamining of Metroid Prime Remastered.

Pre-crash:

Temporary scan

Reactor core critical!
Evacuate immediately!

Post-crash:

Temporary scan

Emergency channel>>Tallon IV exosphere penetrated. Reactor irreparable due to Queen Parasite corpse. Crash procedure AA3 initiated.

Temporary scan

Emergency channel>>Majority of crew killed or evacuated in Queen specimen breach. Hunter infiltration confirmed. Reactor critical. Ship foundering.

Temporary scan

Emergency channel>>All crew inside the ship are dead. Surface survivors are activating the remote distress beacon. Glacier One please respond.

Temporary scan

Emergency channel>>Rescue. Four known survivors. Rescue. Ship interior flooding. Rescue beacon active. Life support inoperable. Rescue.

Temporary scan

Emergency channel>>Rescue beacon activated. Ship impacted near body of water in northern hemisphere. Near total mechanical failure throughout.

Messages[]

"Use GC stick sideways/Wii stick sideways and tap GC B button/Wii B Button to dash while locked on."

"Scan this enemy to find its weak spot."

"Reactor Core critical! Evacuate immediately!"

LeRoy Strauss design notes[]

Orpheon screenshot 12

The Reactor Core itself.

What is of most interest about the environment design on Metroid Prime is the fact that the modelers of each area created their own concepts, instead of having concept artists design them. "Well the way I approach building a level is I start by doing little thumbnail sketch's," described Strauss. "That way if I decide I don't like the look of something I can just draw a new thumbnail sketch rather than scrap a few days of work. If I like how the rough drawings are starting to turn out, I have a good idea of how I want the room to look, so the blueprint is now on paper and in my head. Then I plan on how I can best use my time and what pieces can be re-used in the same room without being to overly redundant."

According to LeRoy, modeling and texturing of the queen's boss chamber took between two and three weeks. When questioned on the polygon count, he became a little vague due to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) imposed by Nintendo and Retro Studios. "I know we pushed the GameCube very far and still tried to maintain 60 fps. Lets just say lots of thousands. [laughs]"[1]

Trivia[]

  • The Reactor Core is known internally as 07_intro_reactor before the crash and 07_under_intro_reactor after the crash.
  • Before the crash, this room is shown as the southernmost one on the Orpheon. After the crash, it becomes the easternmost point on Tallon IV explorable by Samus. Finally, if the simplified World Map of Tallon IV is taken at face value, the Reactor Core appears to be the deepest room on the planet even though parts of the Phazon Mines and Impact Crater reach even lower.

Gallery[]

Post-crash[]

References and footnotes[]

Rooms in Metroid Prime
Frigate Orpheon Exterior Docking HangarMain Docking BayAir LockDeck Alpha Access HallEmergency Evacuation AreaDeck Alpha Umbilical HallMap FacilityConnection Elevator to Deck BetaDeck Beta Conduit HallBiotech Research Area 1Deck Beta Security HallBiohazard ContainmentDeck Beta Transit HallCargo Freight Lift to Deck GammaReactor Core Entrance
Save StationReactor Core

Deck Gamma Monitor HallConnection Elevator to Deck BetaSubventilation Shaft Section ASubventilation Shaft Section BMain Ventilation Shaft Section AMain Ventilation Shaft Section BMain Ventilation Shaft Section CMain Ventilation Shaft Section DMain Ventilation Shaft Section EMain Ventilation Shaft Section FBiotech Research Area 2Connection Elevator to Deck AlphaDeck Alpha Mech Shaft

Tallon Overworld Landing SiteCanyon CavernTallon CanyonTransport Tunnel ATransport to Chozo Ruins WestRoot TunnelRoot CaveArbor ChamberTransport Tunnel BTransport to Magmoor Caverns EastGullyAlcoveWaterfall Cavern

Temple HallTemple Security StationTemple LobbyArtifact Temple


Frigate Crash SiteOvergrown CavernTransport Tunnel CTransport to Chozo Ruins EastFrigate Access TunnelMain Ventilation Shaft Section CMain Ventilation Shaft Section BMain Ventilation Shaft Section AReactor CoreReactor AccessSave StationCargo Freight Lift to Deck GammaDeck Beta Transit HallBiohazard ContainmentDeck Beta Security HallBiotech Research Area 1Deck Beta Conduit HallConnection Elevator to Deck BetaHydro Access Tunnel


Great Tree HallGreat Tree ChamberTransport to Chozo Ruins SouthTransport Tunnel DTransport Tunnel ETransport to Phazon Mines EastLife Grove TunnelLife Grove

Chozo Ruins Transport to Tallon Overworld NorthRuins EntranceMain PlazaNursery AccessEyon TunnelRuined NurserySave Station 1North AtriumRuined GalleryMap StationTotem AccessHive TotemTransport Access NorthTransport to Magmoor Caverns NorthVault AccessVaultPlaza AccessRuined Shrine AccessRuined ShrineTower of Light AccessTower of LightTower ChamberRuined Fountain AccessRuined FountainMeditation FountainMagma PoolTraining Chamber AccessTraining ChamberPiston TunnelArboretum AccessSunchamber LobbySunchamber AccessSunchamberSun Tower AccessSun Tower

ArboretumGathering Hall AccessGathering HallSave Station 2Watery Hall AccessWatery HallDynamo AccessDynamoEast AtriumEnergy Core AccessEnergy CoreBurn Dome AccessBurn DomeWest Furnace Access


FurnaceEast Furnace AccessCrossway Access WestCrosswayCrossway Access SouthElder Hall AccessHall of the EldersElder ChamberReflecting Pool AccessReflecting PoolAntechamberSave Station 3Transport to Tallon Overworld EastTransport Access SouthTransport to Tallon Overworld South

Magmoor Caverns Transport to Chozo Ruins NorthBurning TrailSave Station Magmoor ALake TunnelLava LakePit TunnelTriclops PitStorage CavernMonitor TunnelMonitor StationTransport Tunnel ATransport to Phendrana Drifts NorthWarrior ShrineShore TunnelFiery ShoresTransport Tunnel BTransport to Tallon Overworld West

Twin Fires TunnelTwin FiresNorth Core TunnelGeothermal CorePlasma ProcessingSouth Core TunnelMagmoor WorkstationWorkstation TunnelTransport Tunnel CTransport to Phendrana Drifts SouthSave Station Magmoor BTransport to Phazon Mines West

Phendrana Drifts Transport to Magmoor Caverns WestShoreline EntrancePhendrana ShorelinesSave Station BIce Ruins AccessIce Ruins EastPlaza WalkwayRuins EntrywayIce Ruins WestCanyon EntrywayPhendrana CanyonTemple EntrywayChozo Ice TempleChapel TunnelChapel of the Elders

Courtyard EntrywayRuined CourtyardSave Station ASpecimen StorageResearch EntranceMap StationHydra Lab EntrywayResearch Lab HydraObservatory AccessObservatorySave Station DWest Tower EntranceWest TowerControl TowerEast TowerAether Lab EntrywayResearch Lab AetherResearch Core AccessResearch CoreQuarantine AccessNorth Quarantine TunnelQuarantine CaveQuarantine MonitorSouth Quarantine TunnelTransport to Magmoor Caverns South


Transport AccessFrozen PikePike AccessFrost Cave AccessFrost CaveSave Station CUpper Edge TunnelPhendrana's EdgeStorage CaveSecurity CaveLower Edge TunnelHunter CaveLake TunnelGravity ChamberChamber AccessHunter Cave Access

Phazon Mines Transport to Tallon Overworld SouthQuarry AccessMain QuarrySave Station Mines ASecurity Access AMine Security StationSecurity Access BStorage Depot AElite ResearchResearch AccessOre ProcessingElevator Access AElevator AStorage Depot BWaste Disposal

Elite Control AccessElite ControlMaintenance TunnelVentilation ShaftControl RoomOmega ResearchMap Station MinesDynamo AccessCentral DynamoSave Station Mines BQuarantine Access AMetroid Quarantine AElevator Access BElevator B


Fungal Hall AccessFungal Hall APhazon Mining TunnelFungal Hall BMissile Station MinesQuarantine Access BMetroid Quarantine BSave Station Mines CElite Quarters AccessElite QuartersProcessing Center AccessPhazon Processing CenterTransport AccessTransport to Magmoor Caverns South

Impact Crater Crater Entry PointCrater Tunnel APhazon CoreCrater Missile StationCrater Tunnel BPhazon Infusion ChamberSubchamber OneSubchamber TwoSubchamber ThreeSubchamber FourSubchamber FiveMetroid Prime Lair
Unused Engine RoomReactor Room
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