The subject of this article is not named in-game.
The current title is from a guide or other published source.
The Namihe[2][3] (ナミヘ)[4] is a tunnel worm found in the deepest parts of the planet Zebes.
Description[]
Super Metroid[]
The Namihe is a stationary enemy found in the extremely hot caverns of Norfair and Ridley's Lair. Its head alone is nearly as large as Samus, and it is the only visible part of the Namihe, due to the rest of its body being hidden within the wall it resides in. Its dark yellow skin and rough texture give the Namihe a mechanical-like appearance. All Namihes are indestructible, but can still be frozen for a shorter duration than other enemies.
In its idle state, the creature is completely immobile with its red eyes partially closed. When approached, the Namihe will open them wide and move its head slightly forward as it continuously spits out blue-hot fireballs directly ahead. The exact manner in which their aggression is triggered differs slightly depending on the region they inhabit: in Ridley's Lair, they begin shooting their projectiles only if Samus is at the same elevation they are at, while those in Norfair will start their attack as soon as they appear onscreen, regardless if Samus is actually in their line of fire.
Namihes are very similar in appearance and behavior to the Funes found within the same game, though the latter lack any visible eyes and their defenses are feebler, allowing them to be killed. Additionally, the Funes present in Norfair spit their blue fireballs at a much slower rate, but those in Ridley's Lair share the same firing speed as all Namihes.
Metroid: Other M[]
Chronologically, Other M is the Namihe's first appearance since the destruction of planet Zebes. At least one specimen is found aboard the BOTTLE SHIP in Sector 1 / Biosphere, alongside one Fune. Unlike the Namihes and Funes on Zebes, which are seemingly passive predators, this particular duo is extremely aggressive and freely travel around their environment rather than remaining nestled within walls, making Other M the only game where their entire wormlike bodies can be seen. These modifications may be due to genetic manipulation conducted by the Galactic Federation to create bioweapons, but their aggressive behavior is more likely the result of either the aggravating cries of the infant Ridley's clone or the telepathic influence of MB.
As Samus explores the Biosphere, a Namihe emerges in the long dirt tunnel and rushes at her. With her SenseMove, she is able to jump over it and watch the Namihe disappear behind her.
Later, Samus fights the Namihe and Fune together as a mini-boss in the Subterranean Control Room, sharing the same attack pattern as one another. Initially, they hide within the walls and ceiling, occasionally emerging to spit electrical projectiles at Samus, reminiscent of their species' previous behavior. Samus must target the Namihe in Search View and stun it with a Missile, forcing it to reveal itself.
At this point, the Namihe is capable of temporarily entering a state in which it absorbs any of Samus's Beam shots; once it has absorbed enough, it uses the energy to strengthen its own projectiles into a single blast that launches a spread of energy bombs. The Namihe also has a grapple attack where it swallows Samus and then spits her out again. After receiving enough damage, a Charge Beam shot leaves it stunned so it can be finished with a Lethal Strike. Missiles can still be used, but they do not stun the creature for a Lethal Strike, so they are less effective. If Samus takes too long to kill the Namihe, it will hide back in the wall.
After either the Namihe or Fune is defeated, the other one becomes more difficult to battle. For example, the remaining creature will have a shorter Lethal Strike vulnerability window, and it will move faster between holes in the wall, so it is harder to hit with a Missile.
Metroid Fusion[]
Two Namihe in Sector 3.
Later, Samus finds Namihes on the Biologic Space Laboratories research station in both Sector 3 (PYR) and one part of the Habitation Deck; these Namihes, however, are either infected by X Parasites or are actually X-mimics. Regardless, they are mostly purple in coloration, while the inner segment of their bodies and undersides are of a lighter shade and pink. The X-infected version of the Namihes have extendable necks and will lunge at Samus when she approaches. They can also spit pink fireballs at an angle whenever their target is out of their lunge attack's reach. These infected Namihes are much less heavily armored than their natural counterparts, as Samus can kill them with Missiles or charged shots.
After Samus stops the scientist mimic from destroying the B.S.L. station, an increase in the Namihe population can be observed throughout Sector 3 while the number of Funes suffer a sharp decline. Taking into account that the additional Namihes are mostly found in the same spaces once occupied by X-infected Funes, it can be interpreted as the Funes having transformed into Namihes. This is supported by a similar situation occurring with the Zeros and Kihunters in the game when the former metamorphose into the latter, leading to Kihunters replacing Zeros throughout the station and therefore establishing that both organisms belong under a single species. While a transformation is never actually seen between Funes and Namihes, the two being part of the same species would mean that Namihes are born as Funes, developing their eyes and stronger defenses as they reach maturity.
Due to the fact that Metroid Fusion was released prior to Other M, the extendable necks seen on both wall-dwelling enemies were the first hint that they possess wormlike bodies.
Official data[]
Super Metroid Nintendo Player's Guide[]
NAMIHE
| Enemy Data | Description | |||||||
| Color | HP | ATK | E | BE | M | SM | PB | Norfair. They spit fast, blue fireballs from their mouths. |
| Normal | 20 | 10 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 2 | 2 | |
Information
Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid Other M[]
This article, section, or file contains text that is unofficially translated by Metroid fans. Some information (such as proper English names) may not be accurate. If an official translation becomes available, the fan translation(s) may be replaced.
- NAMIHE & FUUNE (pg. 161)
- "These massive snake-like creatures attacks by poking out of alternating holes in the wall. Watch out for when their face appears. When it does, launch a missile and finish them off once knocked outside."
Metroid: Other M Premiere Edition[]
- Bosses (pg. 18)
- Namihe and Fune
- "There are Namihe and Fume [sic] worms that live inside the BOTTLE SHIP’S walls. When they come out to attack, they know better than to expose their entire bodies. They peek their heads out, launch electric projectiles, and then retreat back into the walls. Shoot the worms while their heads are exposed and they will eventually wriggle out of their holes. When they rear up to unleash an attack, use your Charge Beam to stun them. When they drop, rush their heads and use Lethal Strikes to kill them."
- Boss Battle - Namihe and Fune (pg. 62)
- "Backtrack the way you came and stop to save your progress at the Navigation Booth just outside the next room. When you enter the next room, two tunnel worms come crashing out of the walls! This time, they don’t pass you by without attacking. They attack you with glowing orbs of energy from their mouths and occasionally come out of their tunnels to bite you!
- Wait for the tunnel worms to pop their heads out of the wall and hit them with missiles. The missiles force them to retreat back into the walls temporarily. Move around the room until they begin to creep out again and continue to shoot them with missiles. If they slither out of the walls completely, run away from them to avoid getting chomped and shoot them from afar when they snake into the air, ready to strike. An alternate attack is to hit them with the Charge Beam while they’re out of the walls, then rush them and finish them off with a Lethal Strike.
- If you cannot get the slimy beasts with a Lethal Strike, finish them off with missiles. The tunnel worms are more vulnerable to missiles while they execute their vortex breath attack. Stand as far away from the vortex as you can and unload as many missiles as you can. Crush both tunnel worms. Then the small square hatch in the corner of the room opens up. Drop into Morph Ball mode and roll in."
Trivia[]
- The Namihe and Fune's appearances, as well as their lunging attack, may be references to the inner jaw of the Xenomorph in the Alien film franchise, a series that Metroid was heavily based on. Their biomechanical appearance in Super Metroid further strenghens this reference.
- Super Metroid features a few instances where Funes are found affixed to thin pillars and walls that possess little to no depth, rendering it clearly impossible for these individuals to possess the wormlike bodies firmly established later on in Other M. It is likely that the game's developers had not envisioned the Fune and its relative, the Namihe, as anything more than mere stationary heads this early on in the Metroid series' history.
- Their lack of a body, along with their behavior solely consisting of shooting projectiles out of their mouth, make them strongly akin to the stationary turret known as a Wallfire.
- The Namihe and Fune's appearance and battle tactics in Other M are very similar to the Bomb Guardian from Metroid Prime 2: Echoes; all three are wormlike creatures that use energy orbs to attack Samus. They are also similar to Botwoon of Super Metroid, as they also will stick their heads out of the ceiling and walls to launch projectiles. Similarly moving creatures also include Serris (in Metroid Fusion) and the Animworm (in Metroid: Samus Returns).
- The Namihe and Fune's battle theme in Other M is shared with the Brug Mass and Nightmare Unmasked battles.
- Fune and Namihe are named after the characters Fune and Namihei Isono from the manga Sazae-san.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ^ "When hunting, they open a gap in the wall to peek outside and attack the moment their prey passes by." (狩りは壁に隙間を開けて外部をうかがい 獲物が前を通りかかった瞬間に襲いかかる) - Gallery Mode notes in Metroid: Other M
- ^ Super Metroid Nintendo Player's Guide pg. 16
- ^ Metroid: Other M Premiere Edition
- ^ Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid Other M