The Ice Spreader (アイススプレッダー Aisu Supureddā ) is the Ice Beam Charge Combo in Metroid Prime. It uses a charged Ice Beam shot and 10 Missiles to create a powerful, homing blast of ice that can travel up to 20 meters until reaching a target. When this occurs, the shot explodes and creates a fast-spreading layer of ice over the target and surrounding area. The target and nearby enemies will either shatter or be frozen. It is found in the Shore Tunnel in Magmoor Caverns, under the bridge. A Power Bomb can break the Bendezium-reinforced glass surrounding the tunnel. It is a Single Shot Charge Combo.
It is very useful for freezing or killing large numbers of ground based enemies quickly, but less effective against aerial enemies, being capable of freezing Flying Pirates with ease (possibly due to their size). It is, however very useful when battling Metroids due to its homing capabilities and the Metroids' natural weakness to cold. Another useful trait is that it can freeze most larger and more powerful enemies that both standard and charged Ice Beam shots cannot, such as Elite Pirates. Its spread ability helps with the elimination of small creature swarms or many enemies huddled close together (Space Pirates for example). It should be worth noting that an enemy frozen by the Ice Spreader will be frozen slightly longer than if hit by either the Ice Beam's standard or charged shots.
The Ice Spreader is similar to the Ice Missile of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, as both fire a homing shot with freezing capabilities. It is also similar to the Diffusion Missile upgrade from Metroid Fusion because of its spreading ability.
Official Data[]
Inventory data[]
Ice Spreader
The Ice Spreader is the Ice Charge Combo. It can freeze targets in a wide area.
Ice Spreader is a Single Shot Charge Combo. Each shot costs 10 Missiles.
Ice Spreader is limited against aerial targets.
Metroid Prime acquisition message[]
"Ice Spreader acquired!
This powerful attack uses 10 Missiles! Using the Ice Beam, press and hold [A] to charge, then press [Y]/[Control Pad (Down)] to fire.
Additional data downloaded to Inventory Screen. Press [START]/[2] to access the Inventory Screen."
Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]
- ICE SPREADER
- "For a ridiculously powerful attack, try the Ice Spreader. The charged Ice Beam will shoot a huge wall of ice at anything in its path and can entrap multiple enemies at once. It's like having a snow cone machine at your fingertips."
Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide[]
- ICE SPREADER
- "The Ice Spreader is the Ice Charge Combo. It freezes targets in a wide area. Ice Spreader is a Single Shot Charge Combo. Each shot costs 10 Missiles. The Ice Spreader's effectiveness is limited against aerial targets, although against tightly grouped ground-targets it can be a dominant weapon, freezing multiple enemies and leaving them vulnerable to being shattered by Missile attack."
Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide[]
- ICE SPREADER
- "The Ice Spreader acts as the Beam Combo ability for your Ice Beam. With the Ice Beam activated, charge the weapon, then fire a Missile. Ten Missiles will be used up with every burst, but the end result, a giant formation of ice that spreads outward from the impact site and freezes anything in its way, can result in more creature-destruction in significantly less time than usual."
Development notes[]
Andy O'Neil engineered the Ice Spreader in Prime. It was achieved with spreading triangles in the game's collision system.[1]
Trivia[]
- When used on the Metroid Prime, it freezes the creature's face over and stops it from moving altogether, despite the creature's limbs and body having no trace of ice. This attack deals a great amount of damage.
- If the Ice Spreader is used on a general area where there is small swarms of creatures roaming, the moment a small creature walks on top of the ice before it begins to thaw, the creature will become immediately frozen. The frozen creature will explode once the layer of ice thaws.
- Internal file data refers to this weapon as Ice Combo.
- The Ice Spreader is the only Charge Combo that can be obtained first before obtaining its respective Beam (via Sequence Breaking). This is because the Ice Spreader is not surrounded by any White Doors, requiring only an early Power Bomb Expansion to obtain the weapon.[2]
- Dark Samus uses a Phazon-based Charge Beam with an effect similar to the Ice Spreader, as seen in her second battle with Samus in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, where she fires a large single shot Phazon blast that can encase and damage foes hit with expanding Phazon crystals. While a surface is covered in Phazon, Samus will receive no damage from contact but will be hindered in movement speed while standing or rolling on top of it. Dark Samus can fire this blast while unmorphing, or like her Super Missile (in mid-air).
Gallery[]
References[]
- ^ Kiwi Talkz. "#144 - Jack Mathews Interview - Metroid Prime 20th Anniversary (Crunch, A.I., Fetch Quest, Bosses )". YouTube. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJkxpG5R9PI (starts at 19:33)
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xwaO-HTkUo
Charge Combos |
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Super Missile | Wavebuster | Ice Spreader | Flamethrower Darkburst | Sunburst | Sonic Boom Special Charge Beam Attacks | Phazon Combo (unused) |