Chozo Memories



Chozo Memories are a new feature in Metroid: Samus Returns. The eleven memories are visual artwork that shed light on the history of the Chozo that inhabited SR388.

Description
Yoshio Sakamoto revealed this feature at Gamescom 2017, and implied that the Chozo Memories would reveal what became of the Chozo. He also said that the memories are acquired by "meeting certain conditions", and they may reveal a "surprising" secret. In-game, each individual memory is split into four parts which make an unlocking noise the first time they are viewed and another sound once all 4 of them are added. These 4 parts are initially monochrome, but gain color and are slightly enlarged once all of them are added. The images are unlocked by collecting the items in each area of the game. A remix of Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior (the same one as in the game's introduction) plays as the memories are viewed.

The memories depict the X Parasites, the Chozo collecting Aeion energy, and the creation of the Metroids. It is implied in one memory that the Metroids were not intended to develop beyond the larval stage.

01
The focus of the shot are three Chozo that have landed from a starship. Behind them are four more Chozo investigating their surroundings. The main trio seem to be talking amongst each other; curiously, the two on the sides have identical attire, yet the middle figure is dressed in a less refined manner. The middle figure holds a glowing orb resembling an Item Sphere.

The foreground features four creatures watching the visitors: on the left, a Chute Leech and a Moto; on the right, two of the hard-shelled Gravitts.

Besides the starship the Chozo landed with, the sky houses three other ships. They have a different design than the main ship, favoring a vertical alignment rather than horizontal. The ever-present aurora is particularly vibrant in the night sky, and a black hole can be seen to the right, partially obscured by the Surface's rough terrain.

One last feature is the trapezoidal pyramid structure in the back-right. These structures are seen primarily throughout the Surface and Area 1, but can also be found in other areas.

02
In the front there is a Chozo collecting an Aeion Orb dropped by a dead Hornoad. Many Gulluggs are seen feasting on other Hornoads, some even lifting them into the air.

On the left, another Chozo is investigating the Aeion Orb in a holographic structure. Similar holographs can be seen around both Chozo's arms.

03
In the front right, three Chozo are present, two of which are analyzing a couple Tsumuri and three unknown insects. Behind them is a large number of the digging robots found throughout the background of Area 3. These robots are marching out of the large complex featured in the area, with Diggernaut sitting at the entrance; the goliath is seeming to be inspected or worked on by two Chozo. Three Halzyns can be seeing flying above the troupe.

Overseeing the marching digger bots is a squad of Chozo in battle armor with the iconic Varia Suit shoulder pads. They bear glowing blue shields, diamond-shaped and as tall as the Chozo themselves.

In the lower part of the caverns, a Chozo watches as some digger bots tear through the earth and uncover a bright yellow substance, possibly Aeion energy, illuminating the underside of the nearby rocks and walls.

04
Three Hornoads are in varying stages of infection from the X Parasites: pre-infection, during the process, and the resulting mimicked variant. The caverns are flooded with the X and some have taken to attack the Chozo; a couple of parasites can be seen splatted against the warriors' shields. The X seem to glow, as seen on the surface of surrounding objects and uninfected Hornoad, but the glow intensifies when the parasite overwhelms its victim.

05
The room is a lab with an opened chamber in the middle that is filled with strands of a green, cohesive substance. The same substance is covering the creature that is the focus of the shot: a Larva Metroid.

Surrounding the released Metroid are Chozo scientists overlooking the creature and equipment. Display monitors feature an X parasite, a Metroid, a planet that's possibly SR388, one with indeterminable text, and a last one with an object that is difficult to identify. In the background, more Larva Metroids can be seen incubating in chambers.

06
The Chozo scientists and warriors can be seen in the background; in front of them are the chambers from the lab, opened. The Larva Metroids are flying out of said chambers and attacking the X and their mimics. There are a couple of Metroids with X inside their tallons and one that is actively draining the energy from a Hornoad-X.

07
Two Chozo stand over ground with cracks that seep yellow light. Behind them are more Chozo that are observing a spherical hologram, possibly SR388. A Chozo warrior watches the Metroids that are floating above with his shield raised, one of which is attacking the sole X parasite. Diggerbots can be seen in the background and Diggernaut looms overhead.

08
Metroids have metamorphosed. The larvae have fallen to the floor and Alpha Metroids are shedding out of them. The recently molted Metroid Husks still laying on the ground are partially covered in a green substance. Once tame around their creators, the creatures have gained severe aggression and are now attacking the Chozo. Two Chozo warriors have fallen to the creatures in this shot, one of which is in an Alpha's jaws and the other knocked off the side of a cliff with an Alpha chasing after them. One warrior wields a spear in defense while two more escort the overseers out of the area.

The yellow light is very prominent in this shot, once again coming up from the ground and illuminating the underside of objects.

09
A Chozo Seal is the focus of the memory, as is the purple, hazardous liquid filling the chamber. Two overseer Chozo are on the podium in front of the seal. Three warriors brandishing spears hold back the invading Gamma Metroid while the room is filled; one looks back towards the overseers.

10
Six Chozo overseers, the center's arms outstretched, are seen communicating with a new Chozo figure. The new figure's attire is simple: an ornate headpiece, draping cloak, and a plating covered arm. Only their left arm is outstretched; the right one is folded up over to the left side. In the back, a battalion of Chozo warriors can be seen at attention.

Above the crowd is a starship with the same design as the one seen in the first memory; however, this ship's thrusters are active. On the right is a large black structure with a blue glow at the top and another can be seen in the far back, behind the batallion.

11
When it's unlocked, the triumphant prologue music comes to an end and a distorted screech sounds. The colors on Memory 10 are replaced by an ominous red tint and the heavy contrast distorts the image. When it refocuses, a new picture (labeled 2d/10 the first time it's viewed) appears that keeps the red and black coloration. An eerie track plays over the scene before the memory fades, but does not play when the image is viewed subsequently.

The six Chozo overseers lie on the ground, dead or dying with smoke rising from their bodies. The Chozo commander is turned towards the battalion, arm outstretched while issuing an order. Their right arm bears an Arm Cannon like Samus', smoking from recently being fired. Further observation also reveals this is the same Chozo that communicated with the others in Memory 10. The warriors continue to stand at attention, unphased by the events before them. The motivations behind this are unknown.

Trivia

 * Memory 11's implications of a malicious group of Chozo is the first to depict the bird-like race in this manner, as they have always been instead described as benevolent and good-intentioned beings throughout the games prior to Metroid: Samus Returns.
 * A non-canon narrative story called Blood of the Chozo released by Nintendo Power focused on attacks by a radical group of Chozo, calling themselves the True Chozo.