Boost Ball

Boost Ball
Metroid Prime
Featured in	Metroid Prime Metroid Prime Hunters Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Effect(s)	Propels the Morph Ball at great speeds in chosen direction.
Special uses	To scale Half-pipes, can be used to create kinetic energy to power devices.

The Boost Ball is an upgrade to Samus Aran's Morph Ball seen throughout the Prime Series. While in Morph Ball mode, pressing and holding the B button charges up a "boost", and letting go of the button allows Samus to speed up for a short period of time. The Boost Ball uses kinetic energy to perform its quick movements. It is essential in collecting Dark Torvus Temple Key 1, defeating the Spider Guardian, and shutting down Quad MBs and Dark Quad MBs. It is also able to interface with Spinners, and in Echoes and Corruption, the upgrade gives Samus the ability to Boost Jump off of one Spider Ball Track to another.

The Boost Ball is the only item that allows Samus to traverse large and unnaturally smooth Half-pipes. It can also be used to destroy small enemies or damage larger ones with the boost. It is acquired in Metroid Prime by going to the Phendrana Canyon, after defeating the Boost Guardian in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and after destroying the Defense Drone in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. In Metroid Prime Hunters, Samus has the item by default.

In Corruption, the Options feature Boost Ball Aiming, which enables a reticule so Samus can target a position to boost at or into.

The Boost Ball is charged by pressing the B button in the games, except for Hunters, which is activated by stroking the touch screen or pressing the R button. The ability appears in Hunters despite the lack of any Spinner devices or Spider Ball Tracks.

Dark Samus and her copies are also capable of using the Boost Ball in Echoes and Corruption. However, their variant is seemingly Phazon-based and is far more advanced than the one used by Samus Aran, as it is capable of boosting their Morph Ball forms at high speeds for an incredibly longer amount of time in a single charge (it can be assumed that they are capable of gathering more kinetic energy than Samus's Boost Ball in a short charge). Samus-G in Corruption is also able to use the Boost Ball.

The Boost Ball can be seen as a simple, easy-to-use Ballspark, though with a few setbacks.

Boost Ball is needed to gain a Friend Voucher, Bowling for Bots, in Corruption, where Samus uses the Boost Ball to knock down a group of Tinbots on Elysia (like the sport of Bowling, hence the name).

Official data

Samus using the Boost Ball in Phendrana Canyon.

Official Metroid Prime website

Weapon Effect: N/A

Weapon Range: N/A

Weapon Potential: Non-Lethal

"The Boost Ball is used to increase the Morph Ball's speed for short periods of time, allowing Samus Aran to access previously out-of-reach areas via U-shaped structures known as halfpipes. The Boost Ball also allows Samus to operate complicated machines called Spinner Devices."

Metroid Prime manual

Samus using the Boost Ball in Torvus Plaza.

"The Boost Ball accelerates the Morph Ball. Once Samus finds this power-up, press and hold the B Button to build up speed boost. When you release the B Button, Samus will accelerate in the direction she is rolling. This is especially useful for boosting up the sides of half-pipe areas."

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes manual

"Once Samus finds this power-up, press and hold the B Button to build up a speed boost. Samus will accelerate in whatever direction she is rolling or even boost up halfpipes."

Inventory data

Boost Ball

Metroid Prime Series

Inventory entry

The Boost Ball can be used to increase the Morph Ball's speed for short periods.
Press and hold / to charge, then release / to trigger a quick boost of speed.

Samus's Notes

When charging, the longer you hold /, the longer (and faster) the Boost Charge will be.
Throughout the environment you will encounter U-shaped channels known as half-pipes. Using the Boost Ball in these areas will let you reach higher places.
Build a charge as you descend in the half-pipe, then trigger the Boost as you ascend the other side, This will give you the speed and momentum you need to reach new heights.
You can damage some enemies by "boosting" into them.*

* This sentence is included in Echoes, which otherwise features the same Logbook entry.

Removed Function

Unused content on the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc accessible only through hacking shows that there would potentially be an upgrade or new function for the Boost Ball that allowed it to be used in the air. While locked onto an enemy, morphing in the air will allow Samus to home onto the enemy, similar to the Homing Attack from the Sonic series. In a 2018 interview, Echoes technical lead engineer Jack Mathews revealed that this attack was intended for the game's multiplayer mode. The controls involved locking onto an opponent, jumping and holding the Morph Ball button to initiate the attack. He suggested that it was cut due to difficulty implementing it effectively, or for fear that the transition could be nauseating to players.

Trivia

• In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, this upgrade is one of three that the Luminoth Sub-sentinels never mention or give hints to in-game, the others being the Screw Attack and the Grapple Beam.
• In Metroid: Samus Returns, the Arachnus' rolling attack resembles the Boost Ball.

Gallery

The Mechanics of Samus' Boost Ball. The Boost Ball's item form in Metroid Prime Samus gets the Boost Ball in Metroid Prime. Unused scan images seen in concept art. The Boost Ball's item form in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Samus gets the Boost Ball in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Boost Ball! Boost Guardian The Boost Ball's item form in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Samus using the Boost Ball in Steambot Barracks. Samus attacking Tinbots with the Boost Ball in Junction. Boost Ball Aiming. On-screen icon in Hunters.