Item Sphere

A Chozo Statue holding an Item Sphere in Super Metroid.

Usually found within the firm grasp of a Chozo Statue, an Item Sphere holds a power-up for Samus Aran to equip. She merely needs to shoot the Item Sphere with any beam or missile to reveal the power-up contained within. In Metroid: Samus Returns, Item Spheres are replaced with Big Aeion Orbs after their respective items have been acquired, similar to Aeion Ability Artifacts. Item Cubes act as the item form of Aeion abilities in Metroid Dread, and are not encased in spheres.

Item spheres are generally represented as a dark colored sphere with glowing orange holes around it, possibly representing the core of the sphere or the item shining within. In many cases, the main color of the sphere typically matches that of the Chozo Statue holding the sphere in question.

Glowing orbs

The Diffusion Beam in glowing orb form.

A similar object called a glowing orb (as named on page 61 of Metroid: Other M Premiere Edition) is found twice in Metroid: Other M. While most items are already in Samus's possession and authorized by Adam Malkovich, the Diffusion Beam and Seeker Missiles are still obtained by defeating enemies and collecting the physical items, in the form of these orbs.

If Examined, the words "Details Unknown" will appear in the HUD. Unlike Item Spheres, Samus does not shoot them open, and instead kneels down to touch them. Doing so causes her Power Suit to flash with energy, which also happens when she collects an expansion in the game.

False Item Spheres

Metroid Dread

• The Arachnus fought in Metroid II: Return of Samus and its remake, Metroid: Samus Returns curls itself up to resemble an Item Sphere. The creature jumps out and attacks Samus when she tries to shoot it.
• In the Torizo battles in Super Metroid, the statues will drop Item Spheres that are actually bombs.
• The Elephant Bird in Metroid Fusion holds a fake Item Sphere, which is revealed when Samus shoots it.

Metroid II: Return of Samus manual

Item Sphere

"Usually, the power items (except missile type and energy type items) are hidden in an Item Sphere. Shoot the Item Sphere with a beam to make the item appear, then touch it to equip."

Virtual Console retranslation

Item Sphere

"The ancient civilization that built the Artifactor statues also created these orbs. Fire a beam at one to reveal the item hidden within."

Trivia

• In the Super Metroid manga strip The Chozo Statue, Samus finds a Chozo Statue holding an Item Sphere. Samus admires its roundness before shooting it. It reveals a Missile Tank. Despite her commander's protests, Samus walks away without collecting it, saying, "Eh, it's not round anymore."
• In Samus Returns and Dread, an Item Sphere can be opened with the Melee Counter.
• In Metroid: Zero Mission, the Paralyzer's normal rounds are the only weapon unable to open an Item Sphere (excluding Power Bombs if hacked before obtaining a Power Bomb Expansion). This can be seen if Zero Suit Samus is hacked outside of Chozodia.
• With the use of SMILE, it is possible to place any Power-up or Expansion inside an item sphere. Item Spheres can also be used as a standalone sprite and its properties can be adjusted, such as making them solid or part of a background.
  • If the Morph Ball is placed inside an item sphere, Samus will have the Spring Ball in her inventory instead upon acquisition. This is likely due to programming, where the Morph Ball was likely never intended to be placed inside a sphere or as a hidden object.

Gallery

Odín Fernández render

A Chozo Statue holding an Item Sphere containing the Varia Suit in Metroid: Zero Mission.