The Ice Missile before it is collected in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.
Ice Missiles are a type of Missile used by Samus Aran in the Metroid series. As the name implies, these Missiles strike the enemy with extreme cold, providing a freezing effect when the Ice Beam may not be available.
In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Ice Missiles appear in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, chronologically the first time Samus used them. While they have the ability to slow down and freeze enemies, these Missiles can also be used to create temporary platforms in liquid Fuel Gel and to remove White Blast Shields. Instead of immediately freezing enemies upon contact, the Ice Missiles in Corruption will explode and damage the enemy in a similar way to a normal Missile. During the explosion, ice shards are released, which then compact around the enemy and trap them in an icy 'shell', which impedes their movement or freezes them completely. Notably, if the enemy is killed in the initial explosion, the shards will not vanish.
Samus freezes a Reptilicus
Ice Missiles are particularly effective against Warp Hounds and their masters, the Reptilicus. Phazon Metroids, (despite extensive mutation) retain the species' vulnerability to cold. Strangely, though, these enemies all have a way to avoid the Ice Missile: Warp Hounds and Reptilicus teleport and Phazon Metroids can warp out of local spacetime, which means Samus usually has to find the right opportunity to use them against these creatures.
Samus acquires the Ice Missile after defeating Rundas in the Temple of Bryyo. The power-up was a result of Rundas' cryokenesis.
In Metroid Fusion
Samus attacking with Ice Missiles in Metroid Fusion.
During the events of Metroid Fusion, Samus is infected with X Parasites. A vaccine containing Metroid DNA is administered by the Galactic Federation, and she recovers. On her mission on the BSL research station, the Federation correctly assumes that because Samus now contains Metroid DNA, she has inherited a weakness to cold, and so would not be able to tolerate the use of the Ice Beam in conjunction with the Fusion Suit. The Federation subsequently supplies Ice Missiles instead, so that the use of a freezing effect in combat is still available. This implies that Missiles are not as closely integrated to Samus' body when compared to Beam weapons. The tips of these missiles are colored orange.
In the game, these are later upgraded to Diffusion Missiles, which augment their freezing range with a charge capability, allowing them to freeze targets in an extremely large area. Their appearance and effect resembles a cross between a Power Bomb and a Super Missile.
Official data
Fusion manual
"Use Ice Missiles to freeze enemies for a limited time. Samus can walk on frozen enemies."
Fusion website
"The Ice Missile upgrade allows Samus to freeze certain enemies, but the effect lasts for only a few moments."
Corruption Inventory data
Template:Infobox Inventory
Trivia
- Normally Samus freezes enemies with her beam weapon and shatters them with Missiles. However, in Fusion and Corruption, this is reversed, where Ice Missiles freeze enemies and the beam weapons shatter them.
Gallery
| Missiles |
|---|
| Missile Launcher | Missile | Super Missile | Ice Missile | Diffusion Missile Charge Combo | Seeker Missile | Hyper Missile Ship Missile | Homing Missile | Storm Missile Relentless Missile | Turbo Missile | Missile Key |