The Grapple Lasso is a Power-up that Samus Aran acquires only in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, though Samus can do something similar in the Super Smash Bros. series and Metroid: Other M.
In Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Samus can acquire the Psychic Lasso which is completely identical in function to the Grapple Lasso.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption[]
Samus's left hand with the Lasso equipped.
The Grapple Lasso appears in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and is the second major upgrade that Samus collects in that game. The Grapple Lasso is a variation of the Grapple Beam, that will allow Samus to grapple certain enemies and items. Enemies and items of this nature shimmer. After locking onto a Grapple Point, thrusting the Nunchuk forward will cause Samus to attach the Grapple Lasso to the obstruction. She can then rip it away, which is accomplished by quickly flicking the Nunchuk backward. In addition, by twisting the Nunchuk in various directions, Samus will imitate the motion, adding to the immersion of the game.
Most often, the Grapple Lasso is used to remove obstacles, such as Mounted Blast Shields or dilapidated gates. However, the Grapple Lasso also has offensive applications as well:
- "Dragoon" Battle Drones use special jets to remain in the air; the Grapple Lasso can be used to tear the jets off, causing these drones to crash to the ground.
- Phaz-Ings and Gragnol Adults can be killed using the Grapple Lasso. Pulling on them with the Grapple Lasso produces enough physical stress to kill them.
- Several boss fights (Aurora Unit 313, the Korakk Beast, and the Defense Drone as examples) have some mechanic that requires the Grapple Lasso, most often in the form of a protective covering that must be removed in order to access the boss's weak point.
- Every variety of Pirate Aerotrooper (regular, Armored Aerotrooper, Advanced Aerotrooper, and Assault Aerotrooper) can have their jetpacks torn off. However, to do this, the Aerotrooper must first be ignited (which requires the Plasma Beam or Nova Beam), and Armored Aerotrooper/Advanced Aerotrooper/Assault Aerotrooper must have their armor removed before they can be ignited.
- The reflective energy shields carried by some Space Pirates can be pulled out of their hands, greatly reducing their defenses.
Later in the game, Samus finds the Grapple Voltage, which lets Samus use the Grapple Lasso to absorb energy or channel it into targets. The Grapple Voltage changes the color of the Grapple Lasso from yellow to purple.
At the end of the mission, Samus appears to have discarded the Grapple Lasso, as it is not shown on her hand as she gives a thumbs-up.
Other appearances[]
Super Smash Bros. series[]
Interestingly, Samus is able to use the Grappling Beam (which is expelled from the Arm Cannon) with the Grapple Lasso in the Super Smash Bros. games.
Metroid: Other M[]
During the battle with Vorash, Samus is required to pull it out of the lava using her Grapple Beam. When doing so, she uses the Grapple Beam similarly to the Grapple Lasso.
Metroid: Samus Returns[]
Samus also use the Grapple Beam (expelled from the Arm Cannon) to move Pull Blocks and pull down wall-dwelling and ceiling-dwelling enemies. This indicates that the Grapple Beam obtained in Samus Returns may have the Grapple Lasso already incorporated into it. Pull Blocks resemble Grapple Points, though their Grapple Point is red instead of blue. Some Pull Blocks are destroyed after being pulled while others are simply moved to open paths.
Metroid Dread[]
Samus can use the Grapple Beam to pull Grapple Beam Blocks and Grapple Beam Boxes, as well as open Grapple Beam Doors.
Official data[]
Metroid Prime Trilogy manual[]
- Grapple Lasso
- "Once you have the Grapple Lasso ability, you will be able to latch onto and pull items, like enemy shields and some hatches. When you lock on to a Grapple Point, shake the Nunchuk to shoot the beam. When the beam connects to the target, pull the Nunchuk back."
Inventory data[]
Grapple Lasso
Lock on to a Grapple Point
and cast the Nunchuk forward to fire. Pull the Nunchuk back quickly to grapple.Metroid Prime 3: Corruption acquisition message[]
"Armorsuit upgrade acquired. Grapple Lasso online.
Lock on to Grapple Point [Grapple Icon] and cast Nunchuk forward to fire. Pull Nunchuk back quickly to grapple.
Addition data downloaded to Inventory Screen."
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Premiere Edition[]
- Grapple Lasso
- Location: Norion
- Room: Docking Hub Alpha
- "The Grapple Lasso allows you to pull objects in the environment. Lock on to a Grapple Point and cast the Nunchuk forward the fire. Pull the Nunchuk back quickly to grapple. Objects in the environment that shimmer (with a yellow hue) can also be grappled.
TIP: You can use the Grapple Lasso against some enemies too, but you must be fairly close. The Grapple Lasso can tear away shields, armor, and even thrusters attached to flying enemies."
On-screen tutorial (Hub Access)[]
"Lock on to the Grapple Point with 
.
Cast Nunchuk forward to fire the Grapple Lasso.
Quickly pull Nunchuk backward to pull with Grapple Lasso.
Development notes[]
| “ | With the Wii introducing the motion-controlled gaming system, it opened up a different way of presenting a character's movement. A good example is the grappling hook, which worked perfectly with the Wii’s Nunchuk controllers. | „ |
When developing the Grapple Lasso for Corruption, Retro Studios attempted to implement controls where the left hand (holding a Nunchuk) would be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to emit or siphon electricity from Samus's left hand. This was eventually simplified to pointing and shaking the Nunchuk, to fire and retract the Grapple.[1]
Trivia[]
The "Grapple Lasso" in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
- The shimmering feature of objects that Samus can grapple is shared with Lara Croft's grapple in the Tomb Raider series.
- The ability to use the Grapple Beam offensively in Other M and Samus Returns, as well as its ability to move Pull Blocks in Samus Returns, may have been inspired by the Grapple Lasso from Corruption. A possible in-universe explanation for this is that the Grapple Lasso from Corruption becomes permanently incorporated into Samus's Power Suit in the same way that the Long Beam and Power Grip are.
- One cutscene in Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary, the story mode in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (titled "The Countdown Will Not Stop"), shows Samus using her Grapple Beam like the Grapple Lasso in a fruitless attempt to pry a R.O.B. from a Subspace Bomb.
- If the Grapple Lasso is somehow skipped and obtained after obtaining the PED Suit, after the cutscene Samus will revert to her Varia Suit. (See glitch info here).
Gallery[]
| Grapple systems |
|---|
| Grapple Point • Ship Grapple Point Grapple Beam • Grapple Swing • Grapple Lasso • Grapple Voltage • Hyper Grapple Ship Grapple Beam |
- ^ Totilo, Stephen (September 27, 2007). 'Metroid Prime' Developers Reveal How They Pushed Wii Graphics And That Famous Controller. MTV. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved on October 23, 2022.