The subject of this article is not named in-game.
The current title is from a guide or other published source.
Samus uses the Lightning Armor to safely pass through a tunnel of these red plants.
Red plants[1] (titled Raiz in the internal data[2]), originally known as bushes[3], are a species of hazardous plants on SR388.
Description[]
Due to the lack of color palette on the original Game Boy, the red plants initially appeared as colorless bushes in Metroid II: Return of Samus. These plants grow in the Metroid-infested caverns of Phase 2 and Phase 3, often serving as an environmental hazard as Samus Aran hunts down and battles these Metroids. The entrance to the Phase 7 ruins is also overgrown with these bushes. They appear as clusters of briar-like growths, and are described in Nintendo Power walkthroughs as having thorns which will damage Samus if she attempts to walk through the plants. Samus Aran can shoot at them to destroy them, allowing her to pass through the area unharmed.
These plants reappear in the official remake Metroid: Samus Returns, where they now appear as purple and red-colored plants that give off a reddish glow. In addition to their original habitat in the depths of Area 1, these red plants are now found in narrow tunnels throughout the planet. These plants often block alternative passages and access to power-ups. Samus can no longer destroy these plants, and no Suit upgrade can negate their damage. The only effective protection against them is the Lightning Armor Aeion ability, which gradually depletes her Aeion Gauge instead of her Energy Meter.
Official data[]
Nintendo Power issue 31[]
- BLAST THE BUSHES
- "The bushes are loaded with damaging thorns. Blast them with your beam if they get in the way and you'll weed whack 'em. The liquid can't be blasted."
Metroid: Samus Returns Official Guide[]
- INHABITANTS & ECO SYSTEM OF SR388 - HAZARDS (p. 24)
- RED PLANTS
- "Red plants are seen frequently along the interior of the planet. They're extremely toxic, damaging you even through the Power Suit. They don't do a lot of damage, but more often than not, if you find a red plant, you can expect a whole slew of them to follow. They typically line narrow passages, which means you have to run through an entire stretch of them to get to the other side. If you're not careful, red plants can catch you off guard."
- WALKTHROUGH - AREA 1 (p. 54)
- POISONOUS PLANT LIFE
- "As you progress through this area, note the clusters of red-glowing plant life. The red glow is a sure sign of danger. Falling into these plants is similar to touching lava or the acidic purple liquid, except that the plants don't slow you down. In other words, touching these plants is a good way to take continuous damage, so avoid whenever possible."
Trivia[]
- The toxic Venom Weeds found on Tallon IV in Metroid Prime and on Aether in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes resemble red plants as they both have a red color and produce a toxic substance that can damage Samus' Power Suit. The only difference is that Venom Weeds will retract into the ground if shot, temporarily allowing Samus to move through the area, while red plants remain and must be bypassed or simply avoided. Interestingly, both plants were found on planets that housed Chozo colonies.
Gallery[]
References and footnotes[]
- ^ Metroid: Samus Returns Official Guide
- ^ It should be noted that the word "raiz" is Spanish for "root".
- ^ Nintendo Power Issue 31