Spider Ball

From Wikitroid, the Metroid wiki

Spider Ball
Samus Aran's Alt-Form climbing a rail in Metroid Prime.
Properties :	Allows Samus to scale walls (events of Metroid II only) and Magnetic Rails in Morph Ball mode. Boost Ball can be used to propel from tracks (since the events of Echoes).
1st Appearance :	Metroid II: The Return of Samus

The Spider Ball is a special power-up for the Morph Ball, featured in Metroid II, Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.

[edit] Description

In Metroid II: Return of Samus, the Spider Ball is one of the most important upgrades to exploration. It allows Samus to cling to walls and ceilings when in Morph Ball form, thus allowing her to reach nearly anywhere in the game.

The Spider Ball is acquired in Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes by defeating a boss, and in a hidden room on Elysia in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. In these games, the Spider Ball allows the Morph Ball to cling to magnetized objects. Usually, it's used to climb special rails called Spider Ball Tracks. If she uses a Morph Ball Bomb, the Morph Ball will make a vertical hop like on regular ground, disconnecting her from the rail for a second. If she uses the Boost Ball (only in the later two Prime games), she will leap in the opposite direction from the track, often with enough power to shatter thick glass.

The Spider Ball is often used to get to hidden areas with a Missile Expansion, Energy Tank, or similar upgrades. Early, simpler upgrades might be a straight shot to the prize, but many require the player to go through complicated puzzles, including the use of Bomb Jumps, Boost Ball leaps, and dropping from one track to another or grabbing onto a side track while falling. There have been a few bosses that required use of the Spider Ball to defeat, notably the Power Bomb Guardian and the Caretaker Class Drone.

[edit] Appearance

In Metroid Prime, the Spider Ball greatly alters Samus's Morph Ball appearance. A large dent covers both sides of the Morph Ball and glows with the same color as the core. Transparent glass covers the dent and retains the Morph Ball's roundness.

In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Samus acquires the upgrade while in the Dark Suit. The only change is that the red orbs on the sides are enlarged. It is unknown how, or if, the Light Suit is affected, as the suit has no similarities to the previous one.

In both Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and Metroid II: Return of Samus the Morph Ball's appearance is not changed.

In the Prime series, a small band of energy connects Samus to the magnetic rail when activated. This bond is easily broken by the Morph Ball Bombs and Boost Ball.

[edit] Gallery

The Spider Ball in Prime.

The Spider Ball in Echoes.

The Spider Ball in Corruption.

The Spider Ball in Return of Samus.

Morph Ball
Morph Ball | Bombs | Power Bombs Spring Ball | Boost Ball | Spider Ball Hyper Ball