Dark Samus

Dark Samus
Dark Samus' artwork for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Series	Metroid
First Appearance	Metroid Prime
Year Created	2001
Created by	Retro Studios

Dark Samus is a character in the Metroid series who first appeared in Metroid Prime and again in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. She is the reborn form of Metroid Prime and serves as the main antagonist of the Metroid Prime trilogy. Dark Samus is a concentration of Phazon energy that takes on the form of Samus Aran after her Phazon Suit and DNA mix with the remains of Metroid Prime in a pool of Phazon. 

History

Dark Samus was created when Samus Aran destroyed Metroid Prime. As it was dying, Metroid Prime stole the Phazon infected Phazon Suit from Samus as it was absorbing all of the Phazon in the area. If you defeat Metroid Prime with 100% of all the items, you may watch as Dark Samus is born. In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Dark Samus "officially" appears in the Metroid series. Dark Samus cannot survive without Phazon and ravages the Space Pirate base on Aether and all of Dark Aether. It is encountered three times in the game, finally being destroyed on Dark Aether and (as it seems, intentionally or not) removing the Phazon blocking the only Light Portal back to Aether. Then Dark Samus reforms above Aether as Samus leaves the planet.

Dark Samus corrupts all the hunters on planet Norion in their attempts to stop the Leviathan Seed from crashing into the planet. Dark Samus gradually takes over all of Samus Aran's fellow hunters, and finally Samus faces Dark Samus in Phaaze, where after it's defeat, absorbs itself into the Aurora Unit 313. After the Aurora Unit 313 is destroyed, Dark Samus appears for a final time and disappears in a fantastic explosion, supposedly ending it's life.

Abilities

Although Dark Samus does have many moves based on Samus Aran, it has developed a lot of its own moves. In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Dark Samus can turn invisible and regenerate after huge explosions. In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, it shows the ability to fly at the cut-scene in the beginning. In the final battle it can heal, create clones called dark echoes, make phazon crystals fall from the sky, make a tornado with its clones, and shoot some kind of plasma beam. It is also a master of its Phazon Beam.

Log entries

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

Dark Samus 1

"Scans indicate the presence of Phazon and your genetic material within this entity. She wears a version of the Varia Suit, altered and augmented by the Phazon within her. Primary weapons include the Missile Launcher and a scattershot version of the Power Beam. Boost and Jump abilities are superior to yours. The ability to generate Phazon energy shields is also present."

Dark Samus 2

"Tactical scans have identified several new battle systems in the armor of Dark Samus. She now wields a potent variant of your Charge Beam. Her Boost attack has been augmented, and the ability to render herself invisible is present as well. Bioscans suggest that Dark Samus can reform her body short of total atomic disruption. Extreme caution recommended."

Dark Samus 3

"Scans indicate that Dark Samus has absorbed tremendous levels of Phazon into her body: too much, perhaps. She can vent Phazon energy in the form of destructive blasts and protective shields: doing so will help her maintain stability. Exposure to Phazon has rendered her invisible to the Dark Visor. These new abilities, combined with her already formidable arsenal, place Dark Samus at the highest threat level."

Dark Samus 4

"Dark Samus has temporarily become a being of pure yet unstable Phazon energy. She can generate a shield that is invulnerable to all attacks, save one -- blasts of Phazon energy itself. Use your Charge Beam to collect Phazon energy that she expels, then fire it back at her. Direct hits will overload and disrupt her essence."

Appearances

At the conclusion of Metroid Prime Samus defeats the titular Metroid Prime, which absorbs her Phazon Suit and explodes. In a post-credits scene, the hand of Samus's Phazon suit reaches out from inside the creature's remains.

Dark Samus makes its first proper appearance in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, revealed as Metroid Prime having used Phazon energy and the Phazon suit to reconstruct itself into a dark doppelgänger of Samus. Seeking to absorb Phazon and make itself stronger, Dark Samus travels to the planet Aether, where it repeatedly clashes with Samus. Ultimately, Dark Samus is defeated by Samus and destroyed but is revealed to have reformed itself in a post-credits scene.

Dark Samus appears again in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, having forcibly taken control of the Space Pirate forces. With the pirates' help, Dark Samus locates the source of all Phazon, the planet Phaaze, and plans to spread Phazon and use it to control the universe. Dark Samus then infects Samus, her allies, and a stolen supercomputer with Phazon, and begins invading planets and using Phazon to corrupt them. Overcoming her corruption, Samus travels to Phaaze and engages in a final battle with Dark Samus from which she emerges victorious, with Dark Samus exploding into Phazon dust as the planet is destroyed.

In other media

Outside of the ''Metroid'' series, Dark Samus also appears in the Super Smash Bros. series. The character initially appeared as an assist trophy item in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U before being announced as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as an "echo fighter" that uses moves similar to Samus's. Dark Samus is also scheduled to receive its own amiibo figure.

Reception

The character of Dark Samus has received a positive reception. According to ''Super Smash Bros.'' series director Masahiro Sakurai, Dark Samus was included in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' due to the character's popularity with western players. IGN listed Dark Samus as their 88th best video game villain.

Super Smash Bros. Series

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Dark Samus appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In a cooperative event match, there's a silhouette of Samus that's called Dark Samus, though doesn't look like her incarnation from the Metroid Prime series.

Trophy descriptions

Dark Samus' trophy in Brawl.

• "A twin image of Samus, encountered near the beginning of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Dark Samus is identical to Samus in every way but color--she even uses similar attacks. There are many theories on the origin of Dark Samus, but none are proven. Dark Samus uses Phazon for energy and can absorb it to heal damage. Samus encounters Dark Samus a number of times."

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, she is turned into an Assist Trophy. The assist trophy is based on her Corruption incarnation with three main attacks and lots of mobility. She can fire three large Phazon orbs aimed at opponents, a spread of Phazon shots or fires a Phazon shield from the ground surrounding her. She can also be stunned with attacks for a second. Samus also has an alternate costume that is in the same palette as Dark Samus.

Trophy descriptions

Dark Samus' trophy in the Wii U version.

• NA: "This terrifying creature is made of Phazon. Along with regenerative abilities, she can also brainwash her victims and clone herself. Summoned into Smash Bros., she resembles Samus Aran and mimics some of her moves, firing Arm Cannon blasts, launching homing missiles, or even unleashing Phazon."

• EU: "An exceptionally strong and terrifying being made of Phazon. She's able to regenerate, brainwash her victims and even clone herself. When summoned in this game, she'll either fire rapid blasts from her Arm Cannon, launch homing missiles, or unleash Phazon across the surrounding area, depending on where her target is."

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Dark Samus becomes a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate where she is introduced as an Echo Fighter of Samus and use slight variation of her attacks that appears to be based on Phazon aesthetics.