Lock-on

Samus locks onto Meta Ridley in Metroid Prime.

The Lock-on ability is a staple of the combat gameplay of the Metroid Prime series (except Metroid Prime Hunters). Used by Samus Aran and the Federation Force, locking-on allows her or them to maintain a continuous aim at enemies whether she or they are still or moving.

Summary

The Lock-on is necessary for Samus to use a Grapple Point. While locked-on, Samus or the Force can strafe around enemies and dash to dodge attacks while maintaining their view of the target. Samus can stay locked-on even if she dives behind a wall (this is not the case with the Federation Force; they immediately lose track of the enemy), but the lock will break if she backs away far enough. When using certain Visors, a meter detailing the amount of distance between Samus and her target can appear. If Samus is locked-onto an enemy and fires a Homing Missile, charged Wave or Annihilator Beam, or Seeker Missiles, the attack will home in on and hit the target most of the time. Certain enemies are able to move out of the path of incoming fire. The Seeker Missile's unique ability to lock-on to five targets enables Samus to examine the environment for other targets rather than locking onto just one.

While mostly used with the Combat Visor active, Samus can lock onto enemies or obstacles while using other Visors. Sometimes this is necessary as the Combat Visor will not be able to see every enemy or obstruction Samus faces. When using the Thermal Visor, for example, Samus can lock onto specific heat signatures, a crucial tactic she uses to destroy Thardus and the core essence of Metroid Prime, or onto Power Conduits to power them with a Wave Beam shot. The X-Ray Visor exposes enemies normally invisible to the naked eye, most notably Chozo Ghosts, and is important during the battle with the Omega Pirate and, again, Metroid Prime. In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, the Echo Visor can track enemies and through echolocation. Samus can only disable Echo Key Beam systems when using this Visor, which enables her to lock onto the keys and shoot them. In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, the X-Ray Visor is used to lock onto weak points in Phazite, such as the armor of Commando Pirates, Metroid Hatchers, Omega Ridley and Berserker Knights. While locked-on to enemies with Phazite armor, the X-Ray Visor will zoom in on these weak points, coloring them red. The weak point can be attacked, and the enemy killed (except Omega Ridley) with a single Nova Beam shot. Finally, the Command Visor enables Samus to lock onto Command Icons, which instruct her Gunship to land, pick up a heavy object or fire missiles. It is not useful for combat without the ship, however.

In Metroid Prime: Federation Force, locking onto an enemy shows its name, which is useful for the Federation Force as they lack Scan Visors.

The Wii versions of the games feature a Lock On/Free Aim option, where Samus can lock-onto an enemy and freely aim at another part of their body. This is useful for hardier enemies that have weakspots which Samus cannot precisely lock onto. Federation Force also has this feature by default.

In Metroid: Other M, Lock-on is also a function in Search View mode. When in third-person mode, Samus auto-aims at enemies to shoot them.

Quadraxis has a lock-on ability with its matter-antimatter blasts.

Metroid Prime Hunters

Lock-on in the 2004 E3 demo of Hunters

While Hunters is the only Prime game to not have a lock-on function in some form, the feature was present when the game was originally shown at E3 2004.

In an interview with Shinesparkers, story designer Richard Vorodi attributed the lack of lock-on to the desire to make a control scheme equivalent to "Space Fight Club" (i.e. closer to that of a first-person shooter on a personal computer), rather than an adventure game like the mainline Prime titles.

Official data

Metroid Prime manual

"Samus has a wealth of weapons and moves at her disposal, and you'll have to practice with all of them if you hope to keep her alive. One of the most important battle tactics is using the L Button to lock onto targets. If you press and hold the L Button without targeting anything, you will be able to strafe side-to-side by tilting the Control Stick.
However, if you press and hold the L Button while targeting an enemy, you will then circle around your lock-on point by tilting the Control Stick. Additionally, you can perform a quick dash move while orbiting a target-simply tap the B Button while locked-on to leap sideways. Once Samus finds the Space Jump Boots, she can perform a double-dash by tapping the B Button twice. Using these moves will be key to surviving battles with the many enemies Samus will face."

Metroid Official Site interview

“	We’ve also intentionally acknowledged the risks in the part where we undertook a new approach method. This game’s lock-on system is very different from other FPS games, and it became easy to handle for any player.	„
—Mark Pacini

Metroid Prime tutorial

"Use and tap to dash while locked on."

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes tutorial

"While locked on, use to Strafe around enemies. Use and tap to dash while locked on."

Metroid Prime Trilogy manual

Locking on

"You can lock on to nearby enemies and focus your field of vision by pressing and holding the Z Button. To cancel the lock-on, let go of the Z Button. Set the Lock On/Free Aim setting to OFF to have your beams and missiles head towards the enemy."

Aiming during Lock-on

"When Lock On/Free Aim is set to ON (the default setting), you'll be able to freely aim the Arm Cannon during lock-on. Beams will then fire wherever you aim, but missiles will still track the target you have locked onto."

Moving during Lock-on

"If you tilt the Control Stick while locked onto an enemy, you can move while still remaining focused on the target of the lock-on. When locked-on, tap the B Button while tilting the Control Stick left or right to perform a quick sidestep."

Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide

LOCK ON

"When you lock on to an enemy, the visor will display a large targeting reticule. Press L to lock on to a foe."

ADVANCED TARGETING AND LOCK-ON TECHNIQUES

LOCKED ON TARGET

"The Combat Visor will bring up a reticule any time an enemy is within weapons range. If you want to lock on to that enemy, press and hold the L Button.
The quick lock-on is a vital strategy. Press the L Button to lock on to a foe, then release it and press it again to target the next enemy in line. Use the technique to eliminate threatening enemies before wounded ones."

AIM FOR THE STARS

"Samus's lock-on targeting works very well, but sometimes you may need to aim on the fly. Press the R Button to move the Arm Cannon manually. If you press the L Button gently while holding the R Button, you'll bring up a small targeting reticule.
Use the R Button to look around areas and get a sense of the action. It's the only way to look up or down without locking on to an enemy. An important technique to master is the look and lock. Look around with the R Button, then press the L Button and release the R Button as soon as an enemy comes into view."

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Premiere Edition

Lock On Indicator

"While the aiming reticle is over an enemy or object, hold down [Z] to lock on. Three red arrows appear around the target once a lock is achieved. Once locked on, you can fire homing missiles capable of tracking the target's movements."

Metroid: Other M manual

Target

"If you aim the pointer near an enemy or certain objects while holding down the B Button, you will target them and bring them to the centre of the field of vision.
Note: Items you can target will appear marked in red. Targets you are locked on to will appear in yellow."

Lock-on Display

"If you point at a target while holding down the B Button, you'll lock on to it.
You can fire missiles by pressing the A Button while locked on."

Metroid: Other M tutorial

"LOCK-ON
Press and hold [B] and point at your target to lock on."

Development notes

Lock-on was added to the Prime series so that players could focus on movement without also having to aim at the same time.

In an early version of Corruption, a reticle appeared over enemies that could be locked onto. When Samus was locked onto an enemy, the reticle expanded and turned red. This changed in the final release version, where the reticle itself turns red, but red arrows and a colorless circle appear over the enemy to show they are being targeted.

Gallery

An enemy highlighted to show they can be locked onto.

Early lock-on in Corruption.

The final version.