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Wikitroid
This article is about the creature on Zebes and the BOTTLE SHIP. For the creature on the B.S.L. research station, see Geruta.

Skrees are native inhabitants of Zebes and are a type of enemy which have appeared in several games since the original Metroid. Roosting from ceilings, these bat-like creatures will quietly rotate their wings (which are also used as pincers and shovels) around their comparatively small thorax as they wait for prey. Once prey enters the area under its roost, the Skree will proceed to dive-bomb the intruder, resulting in either the Skree exploding into harmful shrapnel (in Metroid or its remake, Zero Mission), or its escaping by drilling into the ground (in Super Metroid or Other M), which will also release shrapnel.

Behavior[]

There are two known varieties: a green variety which appears in the first part of Brinstar, and a blue variety that appears in Brinstar after Samus receives the Varia Suit in Metroid. (The blue variety was recolored grey in Zero Mission.) The blue ones are harder to kill (possibly possessing a thicker exoskeleton), and have a larger blast radius upon self-destruction.

When Skrees are killed in Super Metroid, they will also explode into shrapnel, unlike any other Metroid game. Skrees also do not throw shrapnel upon hitting the ground. This could be due to a change in the population post-Zero Mission.

Skrees in Metroid: Other M no longer burrow themselves into the ground (due to the BOTTLE SHIP's metal floor preventing them from doing so) in an attempt to damage Samus; rather, after missing their target, they will stand on their feet and swoop back to the ceiling. They will keep repeating this process either until she kills them or until they unpredictably self-destruct, harming Samus if she is near the blast radius.

Skrees also appear in the Metroid Manga, where a pair of them unintentionally save Samus and her group from a pair of Space Pirates by instantly killing them via dive-bomb.

In the Metroid Prime games, the creatures known as Shriekbats (and their many strains) play the same role as the Skrees (ceiling hanging dive-bombing enemies). According to the manga, the species do not seem to be related, as Samus explains to Kreatz and Mauk that Skrees are one of many predators found "nowhere else in the galaxy."

Variations[]

Metaree[]

Scree-Family

Skree family described in the Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid: Other M

Metarees are a strain of Skrees encountered only in Super Metroid. This strain has a light brown color and has what appear to be mechanical drills for wings, though it is unknown if this is acquired naturally or artificially, the latter possibly through enhancements made by Space Pirates.

Cyclaw[]

Cyclaws are another variation of Skree. Black in color but still possessing the same basic structure, they appear only in the BOTTLE SHIP from Other M . They attack like an average Skree but have an added attack which consists of latching onto Samus and self-destructing. These differences may be attributed to genetic engineering by the Galactic Federation.

Official data[]

Metroid manual[]

Skree
"They stick to the ceiling and lie in wait for Samus. When he approaches, they spin downwards to attack her[sic]."
Skree
"They use their wings like drills to descend from the ceiling and attack Samus. Be careful of rock splinters when they are digging into the ground."

Victory Techniques for Metroid[]

"When Samus draws near, they will spin and attack. When they burrow into the ground, be careful of the rock fragments."

The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]

SKREE
"It attacks from the ceiling screwing down like a drill. If it pierces the ground, it blows itself up."

Nintendo Power Volume 29[]

ENEMIES OF BRINSTAR AND NORFAIR (pg. 41)
SKREE
"They dive-bomb straight down from the ceiling."
SKREE
"Their spiraling attack from above is easy to foil with your laser."

Super Metroid manual[]

SKREE
"These creatures hang down from ceilings and drop as intruders approach."

Super Metroid Nintendo Player's Guide[]

SKREE

Enemy Data Description
Color HP ATK E BE M SM PB Crateria/Brinstar/Norfair. They will dive-bomb you as you pass underneath. Dash!
Normal 15 10 8 1 33 2 2

Information

Super Metroid Players' Guide[]

"Skrees drop on you as you walk beneath them so run by as quickly as possible."

Zero Mission manual[]

Skrees
"These creatures hang from the ceiling and drop down to attack when Samus passes underneath. They then self-destruct, inflicting damage with shrapnel from their exoskeletons."

Zero Mission Metroid.com[]

SPECIMEN ID# G2-003 "Specimen prefers to hang upside-down from ceilings, diving after prey with razor-sharp wings. Interior analysis shows symmetrical pockets of combustible gases, causing creature to explode on impact. DANGER LEVEL: MODERATE."

  • Curved feet and claws
  • Jagged wings
  • Combustible gas pockets (Head)

Metroid: Other M Premiere Edition[]

Low-Level Enemies (p. 9)
Skrees and Cyclaws
"Skrees and Cyclaws are sneaky creatures that usually hang around unnoticed until they're ready to strike. These bat-like beasts hang in the corridors and wait until you get nearby. When you do, they swoop down from above and drill into you with their wings. Use Search View when entering a new corridor and look to the ceiling. Blast the ambush-happy creatures with Normal Missiles or tear through them with Beam blasts as you traverse the halls."

Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid Other M[]

MetroidFusion Fan
Warning: Fan Translation(s) Ahead

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.

"The Scree series typically can be found hanging from ceilings. As Samus approaches, they will charge. Cyclaws, which appear in the Main Sector, are in the same family as Screes."

Cancelled appearances[]

Metroid Fusion[]

Skree Fusion

Despite being one of the Metroid series' signature enemies, the Skree is absent in Metroid Fusion. However, beta trailers show that an X Parasite mimic of the Skree was originally going to appear in Sector 1 (SRX),[1] but was dropped for unknown reasons.

Sprites were reused from Super Metroid and still remain in the game's data along with AI for the Skree. If a Skree is placed in the game through modding, it can be seen that the Skree no longer dies when it impacts on the ground after its kamikaze attack. It now burrows through the ground and attempts to attack Samus from underneath her position. It will then fly back up to the ceiling and repeat.[2]

Metroid Prime[]

33

Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide

Even though Skrees are replaced by the Shriekbats in this game, there is concept art in Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide that feature what appear to be two variants of a creature identical to the Skrees seen in games outside the Prime series. While one of them has an orange and yellow color, the other possesses the Skree's green color scheme. Their eyes also resemble a Skree's, and are largely different than a Shriekbat's. Both artworks appeared in the Brady Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide on page 119 along with Ripper artwork.

Shinesparkers: During the development of any game there are ideas that don't make it for various reasons. Can you tell us about any concepts or models you came up with for Metroid Prime that didn’t make the final cut and why?

Mike Sneath: The entire first years worth of characters I modelled for the game were cut. At first we were making all the enemies looking just like the old Metroid 2D enemies. Nintendo, later decided that they wanted the enemies to have a new look so we scrapped all of those creatures. These weren’t just models that were scrapped but these were enemies that had a full set of animations and some even had AI programmed. I’m actually very glad Nintendo made that call because I think the newer designs that Jones and Keller came up with was a big improvement over the original 2D designs.

Trivia[]

  • One Skree appears in a microgame based on Metroid: Zero Mission, in WarioWare D.I.Y.
  • Weavel is a Space Pirate that was reconstructed following an incident in Brinstar during Samus's first mission on Zebes. Seeing as the only Pirates present in said area at that time were the pair attacked by Skrees in the manga, Weavel might possibly be one of those two.
  • Two Skrees that have been drained of their energy are found in a room in Tourian in Super Metroid. If shot, their brittle husks crumble to dust.
  • Although Skrees do not appear in the finished game, Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide erroneously refers to another enemy, Geruta, as a Skree.[3] At least one Japanese guidebook misidentifies the fake tank as a Skree.[4]

Gallery[]

Captain N: The Game Master[]

References[]


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