Two Zeros in Brinstar in Super Metroid.
A Zero,[1] also known as Zoro in earlier media, is a worm-like creature found on Zebes. Later revealed to be infant Kihunters, they first appeared in Super Metroid, colored green, and were always seen crawling out of dried-up skins, most likely from recent moltings. At first glance, they seem to be completely harmless, until Samus actually makes contact with them, thus harming her with their spiked bodies. Zeros have a 99% chance of dropping a Power Bomb Ammo and 1% chance of dropping an Energy Capsule when killed.
Zero-X
Two Zero-Xs in Sector 2, as pictured in Metroid Fusion.
In Metroid Fusion, all Zeros Samus encounters have been infected and imitated by X Parasites. The X seem to have modified the Zeros, making them slightly larger and adding larger thorns that now cover most of the surface of their bodies. These Zero-X also have unnatural colors (red and blue) that differ greatly from their normal green tint; the blue variant is far more resistant than the weaker red type, and almost always release a Red X when killed. It will also increase in speed as it takes more damage. After defeating Zazabi, all Zeros on board the BSL Station harden their skins to an indestructible state. Soon afterwards, the Zeros enter a pupal stage; their cocoons, which are still indestructible, are visibly progressing towards an insect-like adult stage. Halfway through the game, the cocoons have hatched and Kihunters (also infected by X Parasites) are seen roaming around near the dried-up husks; this sequence of events was the first to reveal that Zeros are actually the infant/larval stage of the Space Pirate allies.
BOTTLE SHIP
Zeros appear in Metroid: Other M in their first 3D appearance. This time, they have a brown color scheme rather than the green, red, and blue seen in Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion. They also feature optical organs not seen in past games. The Zeros are immune to all weapons except for Bombs, Power Bombs, the Plasma Beam, and the Screw Attack. If they are shot by any other weapon repeatedly, they will quickly metamorphose into adult Kihunters within the space of a few seconds accompanied by a spray of a whitish fluid.
The Zeros of Metroid: Other M are first encountered in the Biological Experiment Floor. Looking around, Samus notices several Zeros and attempts to proceed without disturbing them. However, a loud screech caused by Little birdie puts the creatures into a state of stress, and several Kihunters rush in to defend them and attack Samus.
Zeros appear as enemies on the Pyrosphere in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. They fall from the air and move about the stage. Fighters can pick up the Zeros to attack each other or Ridley.
Official data
Super Metroid Nintendo Player's Guide
| Enemy Data | Description | |||||||
| Color | HP | ATK | E | BE | M | SM | PB | Brinstar/Norfair/Meridia. Destroying a Zero usually yields a Power Bomb. |
| Normal | 50 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 99 | |
Information
Super Metroid Players' Guide
"Very slow moving armadillo-like animals, zoros are little more than cannon fodder for your guns."
Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid Other M
Page 159.
"Zeros have thick bodies which are impenetrable by beams and missiles. They can be damaged by Morph Ball bombs. They move very slowly."
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy description
"These arthropods with hard exoskeletons are the larval form of Kihunters, a type of enemy from the Metroid series. In this game, they appear on the Pyrosphere stage, where they fall from above and then move about slowly. Throw them to attack your opponents or Ridley, or keep hold of one to make yourself harder to launch."
Trivia
- While these creatures are indeed the larval stage of Kihunters, it is unknown whether Zeros possess any form of sentience/intelligence like the adults.
- Zeros are curiously located far from any Kihunter in Super Metroid, the game where both creatures made their first appearance.
- They may or may not be spawned from a King Kihunter.
- In Super Metroid, the room directly before Spore Spawn's features both Kihunters and egg-like structures on the ceiling. These may be Kihunter eggs and thus would contain Zeros in development.
- Strangely, Zeros are capable of molting into their adult Kihunter stage in a matter of seconds in Other M, while the infected variants and mimics seen in Fusion require a far longer amount of time. The Zeros on board the BOTTLE SHIP may have been artificially modified/enhanced by the scientists on board in order to allow them to reach their adult stage more quickly, thus making the species into more efficient bioweapons. It is unknown why the X did not alter the Zero's DNA to make the molting faster, as they have been seen to alter DNA with Arachnus, Dessgeegas and others.
- In Metroid Fusion, Zeros will travel noticeably faster as they receive more damage.
- Metroid Fusion: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide refers to red Zeros as "red creatures".
Gallery
References
- ^ Name from Metroid: Other M Premiere Edition