Zero Suit Mechanics



The Zero Suit is a form fitting bodysuit of Chozo design worn by Samus Aran in combat. Its main purpose is to materialize and store her Power Suit at will as well as providing minimal protection. It is known to be composed of a highly advanced and flexible material that allows her to move freely and quickly so as not to hinder her acrobatic movements.

Zero Suit Basics
While Samus Aran primarily utilizes her Power Suit on missions she also uses at the same time her Zero Suit since it is usually her only means of accessing the Power Suit's abilities. Although in earlier games she was shown using her Power Suit without it these could also be earlier Zero Suit versions before adopting its official modern appearance. It made its first true debut in Metroid:Zero Mission; where after crash landing back on the planet Zebes due to a Space Pirate ambush, she lost the ability to materialize her Power Suit and was forced to travel across the surface in only her Zero Suit. After facing the Ruins Test Samus regained the ability to summon her Power Suit though in a much stronger form. Since its first appearance it has gone on to appear in every title since, usually in a special ending scene as a reward for completing certain tasks in the game.

Storage and Materialization System
Although the exact nature in which the Zero Suit functions is unknown, its ability to store and construct Samus Aran's Power Suit when she so chooses most likely implies it is a kind of biological supercomputer that is linked to Samus's neurological network. With this she can form her Power Suit from the two Chozo Sygil located on her chest and back that begin to glow before materializing the physical properties of her suit around her body; thus allowing her to switch back and forth at will. These symbols appear to be the most important part of the suit as they seem to act as conduits that allow the energy from within Samus to manifest directly into physical form via her thoughts. Since this process requires utmost concentration mentally, Samus was trained by the Chozo to control her emotions so as to stay perfectly calm as feelings of intense emotion not only cloud her judgement but the ability to concentrate on the immense strain of activating her Power Suit. Being unable to do so results in her Suit immediately dissipating leaving her vulnerable to attack; an event that has only occurred twice, both against her most hated nemesis Ridley.