Data Room

Samus downloads the bomb data in Sector 2.

Data Rooms are a type of room found on the Biologic Space Laboratories research station. Samus Aran uses them during the events of Metroid Fusion to download upgrades sent by the Galactic Federation.

The Data Room contains a terminal that Samus steps onto to begin the download. The new ability is digitally transferred to Samus's body armor, and the Fusion Suit uses the data transferred to upgrade itself, much like the Power Suit uses a material upgrade item. While the data is being downloaded, the Fusion Suit is surrounded by glowing white energy waves.

Samus only successfully downloads variations of Missiles and Bombs, all of which are retrieved via Data Rooms, while the rest of her abilities are recovered from the X Parasites. The Varia Suit is also sent to be downloaded, but is intercepted by a Core-X, which downloads the data for itself and transforms into the Barrier Core-X. Eventually, the Federation draws an interest in capturing the X as well as the SA-X; knowing that Samus would interfere, they choose to withhold the Plasma Beam to prevent her from damaging the SA-X, but she recovers it on her own from Nettori. They also want to withhold the newly developed Diffusion Missiles, but have already sent it, and Samus is able to download it after she unlocks the Level 4 security hatches.

Over the course of the game, the X demonstrate their considerable intelligence by either destroying or blocking Samus's paths to most of the Data Rooms in an attempt to prevent her from returning to her full strength.

List of Data Room upgrades

• Missile - Operations Deck
• Bomb - Sector 2 (TRO)
• Super Missile - Sector 3 (PYR)
• Varia Suit - Sector 6 (NOC) (Stolen by Barrier Core-X)
• Ice Missile - Sector 5 (ARC)
• Power Bomb - Sector 5 (ARC)
• Diffusion Missile - Sector 4 (AQA)

Official Data

Metroid Fusion manual

DATA ROOMS

"Come here to download ability data."

DOWNLOADING DATA

"There are two ways for Samus to reclaim her lost abilities. The first is to download data prepared for her by headquarters. This data is sent as it becomes available, and Adam will inform Samus when it arrives."

Metroid Fusion: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide

Data Room

"Samus will recover her lost abilities in Data Rooms, unless a Core-X creature has beaten her to it."

Trivia

• The Navigation Room theme also plays in Data Rooms, in addition to Security Rooms and the Pump Control Unit.
• The Data Room in Sector 5 (ARC) is the largest Data Room, occupying two squares on the map (as shown post-destruction). All other Data Rooms are only one map square sized. Sector 5's Data Room also contains the most doors out of all the Data Rooms available, with four (two unseen doors are destroyed by Nightmare, but their leftovers remain).
• The visible technology of the Fusion Suit suggests that the data is downloaded through three diode-like objects mounted on the Fusion Suit's back, though this is unconfirmed.
• Samus never revisits the Data Room in the Operations Deck, even after Adam Malkovich restores power to both the Main Elevator and the Operations Deck elevator.
  • While never mentioned in any in-game dialogue, this is likely because there is a cyan Geron blocking entry to the Operations Deck elevator. After the Power Bomb data is downloaded, the Federation stops "officially" sending upgrades.
• The only Data Rooms that remain operational at the end of the game are the ones in the Operations Deck, Sector 2 (though the quickest route to it is blocked off), and Sector 4. While the one in Sector 3 is destroyed by the Security Robot B.O.X., it is not clear if the room is actually destroyed, as the robot is seen wrecking the door that led into it.
• The Data Room in Sector 5 is the only one that Samus revisits during the game. She uses it twice, but she enters that room three times at least, as it contains the passage that leads to Nightmare.
• Sector 1 is the only area in the game without a Data Room.
• Metroid.com's Fusion site has several sections. "Data Room" is number five, and it details the Metroid Fusion Connection Bonuses.
• The Data Room in Sector 5 is destroyed by Nightmare, but it is unknown if data for the Gravity Suit was ready and stolen, thus destroying the data terminal much like what Samus witnesses with the Varia Suit data. If the data was ready in Sector 5, that would mean that both upgrades to the Fusion Suit itself were stolen. This is never confirmed, but it is at least plausible as a cause for the explosion in the Data Room that prompts Adam to send Samus to Sector 5.
• Out of all the upgrade data downloaded, stolen, or withheld, there is never data for anything in the Misc. category of the Samus screen. Everything in that category is absorbed from the X. While technically every Beam upgrade is absorbed from the X as well, the Plasma Beam is a withheld data download. Other instances of the Federation withholding data may be possible, but cannot be confirmed outside of their failed attempt to withhold the Diffusion Missile data.
• In destroyed Data Rooms, the base of an undestroyed data terminal is hidden behind the destroyed terminal's (as seen using camera tools via hacking or emulation). It appears the base of a Data Room's terminal is integrated into the floor.
• It is unknown as to what the top portion of Sector 5 (ARC)'s Data Room was initially, as it is only ever seen during Nightmare's rampage. It may have been the power source for the Data Room or simply just an attic hallway connecting to other deeper portions of Sector 5 (ARC).
  • Based on the area's shape (mainly the stairs), it is possible there was another data terminal above the one Samus uses, but ends up being destroyed (along with the other terminal). This may be evident by the Level 4 security hatch leading to there, a hatch Samus is never able to get open and is destroyed by the time she unlocked Level 4 security hatches.

Gallery

Sector 5's data room destroyed by the rampaging Nightmare.