The Dessgeega (デスギーガ) is a crab-like walking and jumping creature that is usually found in extremely hot places, such as volcanoes and/or deep underground.
Description[]
Samus first encountered this enemy on Zebes. This life-form's deadliest attack is to simply jump on its target, but some demonstrate the unusual ability to jump on ceilings. This can cause massive damage, not only because of the weight of the creature, but also the sharp spikes running down the sides of its legs. This creature's natural armor is resilient as well, making it a dangerous enemy.
Dessgeegas are usually known to be stronger than their Brinstar equivalents, the Sidehoppers. It is unknown if either have any relation to the similarly-named Geegas.
In Metroid: Zero Mission, another species related to the Dessgeega was introduced, known as the Barisute. These creatures were stronger than both the Dessgeegas and Sidehoppers in the game. Other M Gallery Mode concept art suggests that Barisutes are an evolution of Dessgeegas, which in turn are an evolution of Sidehoppers.
Appearances[]
Metroid[]
First appearing in Metroid, they are first encountered in Ridley's Lair and attack Samus by jumping towards her while also doing the same on ceilings.
Metroid: Zero Mission[]
In Zero Mission, Samus encounters a Dessgeega in Corridor No. 2 shortly after obtaining the Long Beam. This is the only Dessgeega seen in Brinstar and acts as a sort of mini-boss, since she is not allowed to leave the room until it is killed and it does not respawn afterward. All other Dessgeegas are normal enemies in Ridley's Lair, just as in the original game.
Super Metroid[]
In Super Metroid, Small Dessgeegas[1] can be found in upper Norfair. These smaller Dessgeegas have a 99% chance of leaving behind Power Bomb Ammo when killed.
Normal-sized Dessgeegas are still located in Ridley's Hideout in lower Norfair. These are most likely adult versions and are around twice the size of Small Dessgeegas. These large foes are immune to both uncharged Power Beam shots and uncharged non-stacked Ice Beam shots, requiring heavier firepower to dispatch.
Metroid: Other M[]
A Dessgeega in the Crater Interior, seen in Search View.
Metroid: Other M features the Dessgeegas for the first time in 3D. In this game, all previously mentioned hopping creatures are capable of causing a small shock wave as they land after a large jump. The Dessgeegas and Barisutes have the exclusive ability to spit out a web-like substance that immobilizes Samus for a few seconds, rendering her vulnerable to any other attack the former two might perform. Although famous for their jumping, Other M shows that Dessgeegas are also capable of burrowing, as the first four she encounters jump out of the ground to attack her. One particular room in the Pyrosphere is described as "Dessgeega-infested", although only two are encountered in it.
Samus encounters two Dessgeegas in one room during her first visit to the Cryosphere, but after being destroyed, they will not respawn and Barisutes take their place on subsequent visits. Unlike in any of the other games, Samus can immobilize one with charged blasts of the Ice Beam to damage the Dessgeega and freeze one of its legs, rooting it to the ground. This allows her to finish it off with an Overblast.
Metroid Fusion[]
X-infected Dessgeega.
In Metroid Fusion, the X Parasites have infected and mimicked the Dessgeegas that were held within the B.S.L Station, and the former's ability to manipulate the DNA of their hosts has caused the manifestation of several abnormalities. Instead of encountering them in a volcanic habitat, Samus finds them in Sector 2 (TRO), the tropical sector, where the Dessgeegas now feature a green and purple coloration which somewhat blends in with their environment, their mandibles have an extra inner spike, and the underside of their feet have thrusters that ignite whenever the creatures jump. The most notable addition however can be found on the surface of their legs; not only are they coated with additional thorns, darts will now fly out from the legs' outer sides when the Dessgeegas are struck by weapons.
Despite these enhancements, the X-based Dessgeegas are actually less armored than their normal counterparts from other games as they take fewer shots to die. Unlike the more agile Super Metroid variants, they often remain idle as they twitch their heads while making minor grunts, with an occasional low or high jump. If Samus is near, they tend to make immediate jumps toward her, but their horizontal reach remains far inferior to those from Super Metroid. Additionally, the Dessgeegas from Fusion are never seen hopping on ceilings.
Official data[]
Metroid manual[]
- Dessgeega
- "They jump toward Samus to attack him [sic] and are the second strongest creature in the hideout after the Mini-Boss. It takes several blasts of the normal beam or one missile blast to destroy them."
Victory Techniques for Metroid[]
"Jumps repeatedly, attacking Samus. The miniboss comes after them."
The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]
- DESSGEEGA
- "It attacks bounding like a strong spring. This is the second strongest enemy in Norfair."
Nintendo Power Volume 29[]
- DESSGEEGA
- "It jumps and attacks with awesome strength. Use the Screw Attack if possible, otherwise use missiles."
Super Metroid Nintendo Player's Guide[]
DESSGEEGA
| Enemy Data | Description | |||||||
| Color | HP | ATK | E | BE | M | SM | PB | Norfair. They are quite strong. Stand back and blast them. |
| Normal | 800 | 160 | 31 | 8 | 20 | 2 | 2 | |
Information
SMALL DESSGEEGA
| Enemy Data | Description | |||||||
| Color | HP | ATK | E | BE | M | SM | PB | Norfair. Strong for their size, they hop around erratically. |
| Normal | 120 | 80 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 99 | |
Information
Metroid: Other M Premiere Edition[]
- Mid-Level Enemies (pg. 10)
- Side Hoppers, Dessgeegas and Barisutes
- "These strange bipeds are resilient creatures with one very glaring weakness, their head. Though larger and stronger than you, the Side Hoppers, Dessgeegas, and Barisutes are far slower than you. They stomp around, usually knocking you down or crushing you under their clawed feet, and can chomp at you with their pincers. To destroy them quickly, weaken them with Charge Beam shots and finish them off with Overblast attacks. The Side Hopper is the weakest of the bunch. Dessgeegas are slightly stronger, and Barisutes are the strongest of them all."
Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid Other M[]
This article, section, or file contains text that is unofficially translated by Metroid fans. Some information (such as proper English names) may not be accurate. If an official translation becomes available, the fan translation(s) may be replaced.
Page 158.
"Sidehoppers are somewhat large bipedal creatures. Their forte is their charge attack. In Sector 2 is the Barisute, and Sector 3 is the Dessgeega, which are in the same series."
Development data[]
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The event viewer from Metroid: Zero Mission lists a flag known as 43 DEATHGIGASI, which relates to the Dessgeega. The name listed appears to be the creature's original pronunciation of its known name, with its spelling reflecting the original pronunciation listed. This flag activates whenever Samus destroys the first Dessgegga during her travels on Zebes. When active, this prevents the Desgeega in Brinstar from reappearing.
Trivia[]
- It is interesting to note that in Metroid Fusion, the native habitat of the Dessgeegas has been switched with that of their relatives, the Sidehoppers who instead of dwelling in a tropical area are now in a volcanic-based area known as Sector 3 (PYR). The X are likely behind this change.
- The X-based Dessgeegas' long-range attack is akin to that of the jungle-dwelling Cacatac. Due to the fact that the X can combine the genes of different hosts, there's a possibility that the Dessgeegas' altered colors, their change in habitat and their legs' additional thorns and projectiles are all the result of having their DNA mixed with the Cacatacs'.
- There is a glitch in Other M whereas if a Dessgeega is shot off a platform, the creature will walk back in mid-air as if it were still on the platform, only to fall when the animation is completed. The same applies to the Sidehoppers and the Barisutes.
- Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide erroneously assigns the "Dessgeega" name to different enemies. First, it repeatedly refers to the Reo as a Dessgeega.[2] Later, the guide refers to a Gerubus as a Dessgeega, despite otherwise correctly distinguishing the two species.[3] When referring to an actual Dessgeega, the guide calls it a rocket-powered Side Hopper.[4]
- The non-canonical Nintendo Comics System depicts Dessgeegas as sapient and capable of speech. In the Captain N: The Game Master comic Breakout, a Dessgeega is currently serving a life sentence on RX 338. 'Big Time' Brannigan also appears to be another sapient Dessgeega.
Gallery[]
.png "Fusion Dessgeega sprite (jump).png (1 KB)"){kind=icon}
