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Chozo Ghosts are spectral entities who take the form of the Chozo that lived on Tallon IV.

History[]

In Metroid Prime (NTSC)[]

Eons before the events of Metroid Prime, the Chozo dwelling on Tallon IV had succeeded in their unique mission: discovering the truths of the universe and withdrawing from the illusion of the mortal world. From their dreaming state beyond time and space, they witnessed the impact of Phaaze's Leviathan with Tallon IV and the subsequent contamination of their most sacred planet with Phazon. The event was so violent that it ripped the Chozo from their peaceful transcendence, casting them back to Tallon IV as shadows of the mortal forms they had left behind. Now roaming the ruins of their civilization once more, but trapped and confused in a state of ethereal half-existence by the Phazon, the Chozo Ghosts used what little power they could conjure as specters to build the Cradle and the Cipher in a last-stand attempt to halt any further corruption of their planet.

Yet, for all their extradimensional knowledge and power, the Chozo Ghosts could not protect themselves from the Great Poison's corruption. Slowly, it ate away at their transcended minds, blurring the past, present, and future into a maddening state of dimensional flux. These fallen Chozo - known as the Turned by the declining number of ghosts who still clung to sanity - drifted helplessly across time and space, serving the parasitic will of the Phazon to disrupt the Artifacts that held the Worm at bay. The arrival of the Space Pirates on Tallon IV marked the final hours of the planet's Chozo population, with the last few sane Chozo Ghosts chronicling their demise and hiding the Artifacts from the pirates, before slipping into madness themselves. When the Space Pirates encroached on various Chozo holy sites in their search for the Artifacts, the Chozo Ghosts were swift to respond; few pirates survived these encounters. It is unclear how much dwindling sanity, if any, the Chozo Ghosts retained at this point.

By the time Samus Aran touches down on Tallon IV, it is presumed that all of the Chozo Ghosts have either passed into a merciful-but-unknown transcendental death or have succumbed to incomprehensible lunacy at the hands of Phazon. It is these utterly corrupted, mindless remnants of the once omnipotent Chozo race that Samus eventually does battle with. They are so far gone that they fail to recognize her as their Hatchling, or even as the Defender they so fiercely prophesied would come to save their planet. When Samus enters various sacred locations in their ruins, these remaining Chozo Ghosts lock the doors and materialize into the room, prepared to stop their Newborn at any cost.

It is only after Samus defeats Meta Ridley at the destroyed Artifact Temple when non-hostile Chozo Ghosts first appear, one for each destroyed artifact totem. Together, they complete the process of unlocking the Cipher that blocked access to the Cradle, opening the way for Samus to enter the Impact Crater and fulfill the Chozo prophecy by defeating Metroid Prime. These Chozo Ghosts vanish and are not seen again.

In Metroid Prime (PAL)[]

Instead of discovering the truths of the universe and ascending into trans-dimensional beings, the Chozo of Tallon IV were content to remain living their mortal lives in harmony with the rest of Tallon IV's ecosystem. Some time after the Leviathan impacted the planet and infected Tallon IV with Phazon, the Chozo began to observe apparitions of their likeness appearing - the Chozo Ghosts. While the Chozo still labeled these specters the Turned and noted their instinctive urge to protect the Chozo lands, the chroniclers were unclear on whether or not these doomed souls are actually Chozo. They simply characterized the Chozo Ghosts as entities without hope or solace.

No further information on the Chozo Ghosts exists. Unlike in the original NTSC story line, the Chozo Ghosts have very little significance to the events preceding and occurring in Metroid Prime. Most critically, they are no longer paramount to the total disappearance of Tallon IV's Chozo population before Samus arrives, which is never explained in this revised story line.

The same friendly Chozo Ghosts appear during the cutscene when the Artifact Temple's teleporter to the Impact Crater is fully activated.

In Metroid Prime Trilogy[]

The Chozo Ghosts are entirely absent from Chozo Lore, only being mentioned in the Pirate Data.

In Metroid Prime Remastered[]

The Chozo Ghosts are merely an inexplicable manifestation of the Chozo's will to defeat Phazon.

Samus's Arrival[]

Chozo Ghosts are initially unencountered by Samus until she makes her way to the Hall of the Elders, where the first one attacks. From that point onward, many Chozo Ghosts can be found in culturally significant rooms in the Chozo Ruins, as well as in the Life Grove in the Tallon Overworld. However, Samus can encounter the ones guarding the Artifact of Wild in Sunchamber before visiting the Hall of the Elders.

The Chozo Ghosts are difficult to defeat without the X-Ray Visor, due to their ability to turn invisible. Their charged attacks briefly disrupt Samus's Combat Visor and prevent her from retaliating. They are invulnerable to all weapons except the Power Beam and its beam combo, the Super Missile - which, along with Charge Beam shots, will interrupt their attacks. When defeated, they slowly rise up in the air and wail as they fade from the physical plane of existence. A Chozo Ghost's body can still inflict contact damage to Samus until it fully vanishes.

Despite the violent nature of the Chozo Ghosts that Samus encounters in combat, twelve peaceful Chozo Ghosts appear at the Artifact Temple after the defeat of Meta Ridley and open the gateway to the Impact Crater for Samus. Each one appears in place of the Chozo Artifact pillars destroyed during the battle.

It is unknown what becomes of Chozo Ghosts after the events of Metroid Prime.

Locations[]

Official data[]

Official website[]

"As these entities phase in and out of existence, the only way to track them accurately is with X-ray scanning. Their aggressive and erratic behaviour is most likely due to the corrupting effects of Phazon in the Tallon IV environment. They appear to be drawn to Chozo shrines or temples, where they wreak havoc upon anything that dares to enter the area.

Chozo Ghosts are spectral entities whose partially-phased nature makes them invulnerable to natural energy types, such as fire, ice, and electricity."

Logbook entries[]

Chozo Ghost scanpic - RemasteredChozo Ghost scanpic
Chozo Ghost scanpic 2 - RemasteredChozo Ghost scanpic 2
RemasteredOriginal

Chozo Ghost

Logbook entry

Aberration: Chozo Ghost
Spectral entity. Bioelectric field invulnerable to natural energies.

As these entities phase in and out of existence, the only way to track them accurately is with x-ray scanning. This partially phased nature makes them invulnerable to natural energy types, such as fire, ice, and electricity. Their aggressive and erratic behavior is most likely due to the corrupting effects of Phazon in the Tallon IV environment. They appear to be drawn to Chozo religious sites, where they wreak havoc upon anything that dares enter the area.

[Remastered][Original]

Chozo Ghosts

Logbook entry

Space Pirate encrypted data decoded.

Log 11.664.2

There have been numerous incidents involving spectral entities at Chozo Ruins sites. Several personnel have been assaulted by these Chozo Ghosts; few have survived. Survivors speak of swift attacks from nowhere, brief sightings of the enemy, then nothing, only to be followed by another attack. Science Team believes these attacks are in response to our efforts to recover Chozo relics and artifacts. Somehow, these entities are able to interact with the physical world, and it appears they wish to keep their artifacts to themselves. We will make them pay for such arrogance, for even ghosts can be destroyed.

Exodus

North American release

Logbook entry

Chozo script translated.

We Chozo are departing now, after so many years in peaceful seclusion here on Tallon IV. When we came, this place was a refuge for our spirits, a civilization built from native materials, bereft of the trappings of our technology. We were linked to the land here, kindred to the plants and animals, far away from the machines we had become so dependent on. And so we leave it now, pristine, a testament to the mortal forms we no longer need. We have drawn the veils of time and space aside, and are withdrawing beyond the illusion. But we will never forget this, the most sacred of our homes. And we will remain ever watchful.


! Non-canon warning.
This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.

 

Meteor Strike

North American release

Logbook entry

Chozo script translated.

We have returned to Tallon IV, borne here against our will by a great cataclysm from the reaches of space. A meteor came, casting a dark shadow of debris over the land with the violence of its impact. Though we perceived this from beyond space and time, it was but a curiosity; a brief flare in the infinite march of the universe. But the meteor brought with it corruption. A Great Poison burst forth into the land, clawing at life with such violence that we were ripped from our peaceful state and find ourselves wandering as shadows of the mortal forms we left behind, searching for why we are here.


! Non-canon warning.
This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.

 

Cradle

North American release

Logbook entry

Chozo script translated.

The cries of this dying land pulled us from our dreaming state, and now we Chozo walk as ghosts while the Great Poison sinks into the trees and waters, devouring all life. Some creatures survive, but their forms grow as twisted and evil as the force that fell from the sky. The heart of the planet will succumb soon, and so will we, even in our ghostly states. Already many Chozo have faded and passed into the unknown. The Great Poison is unlike anything we have glimpsed in this or any dimension. It eats relentlessly, worming out life wherever it blooms and corrupting what it cannot kill. It will be our undoing. Our last hope lies in the Cradle, the temple we hope might contain this abomination. It is almost complete, hovering over the impact site, the dark heart of the spreading evil. If we can finish before the last of our kind drifts into madness or death, there is a chance for this world. If we fail, we are doomed with it.


! Non-canon warning.
This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.

 

Contain

North American release

Logbook entry

Chozo script translated.

The world of living things feels strange to us, we who have existed so long on the edges of time and space. It is clear now that we Chozo can never return to our dimension, not while the Great Poison reaches ever further into the planet. It is so powerful, this creeping evil, that our wills are crumbling and our minds beginning to fail. And so, before it is too late, we now make our last stand. We have begun to build a temple to contain this darkness; at its heart we will place a Cipher, a mystical lock powered by twelve Artifacts and filled with as much power as we Chozo can harness in our ethereal states. Even when we are done, it may be too late.


! Non-canon warning.
This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.

 

The Turned

North American release

Logbook entry

Chozo script translated.

Many Chozo have gone beyond now, and this is a mercy. Those of us who remain suffer in dimensional flux, drifting helplessly across time and space, guided by unseen and inexorable currents. The Chozo who cling to sanity fight the tide, but our minds are weakening. Soon we will all be like the Turned, Chozo who have been utterly corrupted by the Great Poison. The Turned still hold to their Chozo forms, but their minds are black with fell intentions. Gone is their respect for life. They honor only destruction, and seek to disrupt the Artifacts holding the Great Poison at bay. All life taunts them, and they do not rest. Before long, they will be all that remain of the Chozo here.


! Non-canon warning.
This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.

 

Newborn

North American release

Logbook entry

Chozo script translated.

The power of our temple has been enough to halt the spread of the poison on Tallon IV, but that which remains thrives and grows more concentrated, gnawing on itself in the dark passages beneath the planet's surface. Whether it can ever be truly destroyed is not for our eyes to see. But there is something else. We Chozo are drifting, tumbling through space and time as the Great Poison eats away at our sanity. We wake in dreams. As the veil of lunacy descends, as past and future blend and shuffle, one image appears and flickers through the landscape, wraithlike. It is the Hatchling, the Newborn, walking the path of corruption, a lone figure shining in the toxic shadows. She comes dressed for war, and her wrath is terrible. Do our eyes look backward, seeing the Hatchling as she once was? Or does she approach even now, arriving in our race's last hour, a savior clothed in machines crafted long ago by Chozo hands? Poisonous clouds drift across our vision.


! Non-canon warning.
This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.

 

Shapeless

Logbook entry

Chozo script translated.

Things bound to earthly shapes are temporal and frail; existing in a single dimension, they are fragile, vulnerable, and ultimately mortal. However, not all things obey this law--shapeless, they wait beyond the realm of perception, emerging only when one arrives who can feel their presence. Such is the will of the Chozo. Our will to defeat the evil seeping into this planet remains; we desire only to see the darkness meet its end. The will of the Chozo has no mind or reasoning of its own, though. This will be the Entrusted One's Trial.

Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide[]

Chozo Ghost
"The spirits have become restless and have begun to defend the ruins from the Space Pirate invasion. Unfortunately, they don't distinguish between friends and enemies, so you'll have to fight them as well. Chozo Ghosts are completely immune to all attacks except for the Power Beam. They also have the ability to become invisible when not shooting at you. Later you'll be able to keep your eyes on them by using the X-ray Visor, but for now you just have to try to target them as they appear."
Chozo Ghost
Found In: Chozo Ruins
Recommended Weapon: Power Beam
"Chozo Ghosts are spectral entities that phase in and out of existence. The only reliable way to track them is with your X-ray Visor. They are invulnerable to most beam weapons, and their erratic nature causes missiles to fly aimlessly. The only way to defeat them is to hit them with your Power Beam. Use charged shots, and constantly dodge to the sides to avoid their attacks. If they hit you, their spectral energy will temporarily interfere with your visor and weapons system. Once you have the X-ray Visor, they're extremely easy to defeat even in large groups."

Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]

CHOZO GHOST
"The Chozo Ghosts are fast, tough and very difficult to spot. The only way to bring them down is with a Power Beam, and the only way to track them accurately is with x-ray vision. Keep moving until you see a ghost, then blast it with a charged Power Beam shot and follow with rapid-fire blasts. Don't stand still for too long, or they'll swarm you."

Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide[]

CHOZO GHOST
MORPHOLOGY
"These supernatural entities' bioelectric field is invulnerable to natural energies. As these entities phase in and out of existence, the only way to track them accurately is with X-ray scanning. They are invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen as a wispy white spirit when they attack."
COMBAT TIPS
"The Chozo Ghosts can only be harmed by the Power Beam. In addition to being virtually invisible, the Chozo Ghosts dart back and forth through the air at high speeds, making it impossible to track them consistently. However, their attack requires them to pause before their attack. Watch for the pause and let them have it."

Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide[]

CHOZO GHOST
"You can't see Chozo Ghosts once they start moving, but they are visible once they stop, at which point they'll start to fire. Keep jumping around until you see them. They're immune to elemental weapons and therefore can only be hit by the normal Charge Beam of the Power Beam--specifically, four fully charged blasts."

Trivia[]

Chozo Ghost gif

Martin L'Heureux animation.

  • The Chozo Ghosts share their battle theme with Tallon Metroids, Elite Pirates, and Phazon Metroids. Their sharing the battle theme with Metroids in particular may have been an indirect reference to the Chozo's ties to the Metroids.
  • Large Chozo Ghosts briefly appear before Meta Ridley's arrival in Metroid Prime Pinball, and wear stylized attire.
  • The Dark Pirate Commandos can also phase out of local timespace in a manner identical to the Chozo Ghosts. This ability is said to be carried over from the Hunter Ing possessing the Commandos.
  • Although Chozo Ghosts do not appear in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, "Chozo Ghost" is listed in data in the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc.
  • Shortly after appearing, Chozo Ghosts are invulnerable to Super Missiles. When Samus fires one at them, it will be deflected, but will home in on the ghost until it hits it or an obstacle.
  • It is sometimes possible to stunlock a Chozo Ghost using small quick Charge shots, due to a Chozo Ghost always receiving knockback from the Charge Beam. If fast enough, a Chozo Ghost can be continuously pushed back before it has a chance to reposition itself. A Chozo Ghost can keep being pushed back until it lands inside a wall, where it will automatically reposition itself back onto a solid surface.
  • Sometimes during a battle, Chozo Ghosts will crouch and claw in the ground, then stand up and wave with both hands, as if they were throwing dust in the air.
  • Whenever Chozo Ghosts are encountered, the room becomes dark, regardless of if it is an outdoor room or indoor room, and becomes slightly hazy.
  • The battle with the first Chozo Ghost is foreshadowed in the previous room via a scan on a holobanner that says "The Great Poison corrupts all, even the Chozo."
  • Chozo Ghosts mark the first appearance of enemy Chozo in the official Metroid series, although they do not oppose Samus out of their own volition due to their Phazon-induced madness. They would later be succeeded by Raven Beak and the X Parasite-infected Mawkin Chozo Soldiers in Metroid Dread.
  • Martin L'Heureux's animation depicts the Chozo Ghost's head moving its head while at the center of the body, similar to some real life birds.
  • They are seen in a Diorama in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.
  • In Metroid Prime Remastered, the flame that appeared during the ghosts' defeat animation is replaced with motes of energy collapsing in on the fading ghost.

Gallery[]

References[]


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