A Reo (リオ rio), known as Rio in earlier media, is an enemy in Metroid, its remake, Super Metroid, and Metroid Fusion.
Description
Reos in earlier appearances stay immobile until they see a threat, at which point they execute rapid, continuous swooping dive attacks with their talons. In later games, starting with Fusion, they fly back and forth until their target is in sight, to which they will dive towards.
Metroid
Rios can take much more damage than most other early-game enemies in the first Metroid, making them one of the first challenging threats that Samus will encounter.
Metroid: Zero Mission
In this remake of the original Metroid, Reos were moved to Kraid's Lair and can no longer be found in upper Brinstar. This may have been done to address the difficulty of encountering them in the early game.
Metroid: Other M
In Metroid: Other M, they can be found in Sector 1 / Biosphere of the BOTTLE SHIP, often emerging from Fly Pods that resemble a giant brown compound. In their first 3D appearance, Reos have a new coloring and a melee attack that involves latching onto Samus. However, these Reos are the weakest variant ever encountered in any Metroid game, as they can killed with a single shot from the Power Beam. An example of it can be seen here: [1]
At the beginning of Metroid: Other M, Samus will encounter a Reo while running through a catwalk in the Main Sector. It will latch onto her and knock her down to the floor. This encounter is unavoidable.
Metroid Fusion
When infected and/or mimicked by X Parasites, Reos have a more gruesome physical appearance than their natural counterparts, due to the X altering their DNA. Along with the color change, they are larger in size and have much larger claws (appearing to be almost armored).
Similar enemies
Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid Other M states that Reos, Mellas, and Himellas are members of the Rio (リオ系 Rio-kei) species. This may also mean that Mellows are related as well, although they are not featured in Other M and therefore are not mentioned in the guide.
The Gerutas of Norfair and Holtz of Ridley's Lair behave exactly the same as the Reo in the 2D games.
Other appearances
Non-canon warning: This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.
Captain N: The Game Master
A Rio in "Gameboy"
In the Captain N: The Game Master season 2 episode "Gameboy", the eponymous Gameboy is reprogrammed by Mother Brain and Dr. Wily to serve as their minion aboard their mobile asteroid base Metroid. To demonstrate his power, Gameboy displays Rio sprites on his screen and then generates an entire swarm of Rios to attack the N Team. After shooting them with his Zapper, Kevin remarks that he has never seen so many Rios traveling in a pack before. One remaining Rio is then dispatched by Simon's whip.
Nintendo Comics System
Rios appear frequently as enemies in the Nintendo Comics System adaptations of Metroid and Captain N. Unlike their animated appearance, they much more closely resemble their original artwork from Metroid, albeit with slightly different coloration: blue faces with yellow eyes, wings, bodies and pincers.
Interestingly, Rios are depicted as sentient in these comics. Deceit Du Jour shows that Rios are capable of speech and wielding firearms, and they take orders directly from Mother Brain and Zoomer. One Rio alerts Mother Brain to Samus infiltrating their Metroid base, prompting Mother Brain to send 'Big Time' Brannigan, Zoomer, and the Rios to apprehend the intruder. Four Rios hold Samus at gunpoint and help Big Time escort her into the Mother Brain Chamber. After Samus escapes Big Time, two Rios lift him by his arms and carry him toward his execution by Metroids.
In the Captain N comics, Rios are often seen alongside other enemies from Metroid, Kid Icarus, and Punch-Out!! as minions of the League of Darkness. In Breakout, a Rio is a prisoner of RX 338 and is currently detained in Metroid Cell Block 1. In A King of Shreds and Patches, Kevin practices his Zapper on a target shaped like a Rio.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
A Reo attacking Samus in Smash Run
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Reos appear as enemies in the Smash Run mode. They are visually based upon their design in Other M, but behave more similarly to their original 2D appearances. They fly in place until a fighter approaches, at which point they quickly swoop down to attack. As revealed in the Tips, they are unable to attack fighters who are directly below them. Like all other Smash Run enemies, Reos also have an unlockable Trophy.
Non-canon warning: Non-canonical information ends here.
Official data
Metroid manual
"These are also pretty strong. They zoom down to attack Samus from the upper walls. The red ones are stronger than the yellow ones."
Victory Techniques for Metroid
This article, section, or file contains text that is unofficially translated by Metroid fans. Some information (such as proper English names of characters or items) may not be accurate. If an official translation becomes available, the fan translation(s) may be replaced.
"Flies from the ceiling toward Samus. The red ones have strong attack power and the yellow ones are weak. Several shots with the normal beam or one Missile will defeat them."
Official Nintendo Player's Guide
"He attacks Samus from the ceiling. His defensive power is high, and he is hard to kill with a normal beam."
Super Metroid manual
"These creatures have sharp claws and can withstand several hits."
Super Metroid Nintendo Player's Guide
| Enemy Data | Description | |||||||
| Color | HP | ATK | E | BE | M | SM | PB | Crateria/Brinstar. They fly in diagonal patterns and look like giant moths. |
| Normal | 45 | 15 | 12 | 31 | 33 | 4 | 4 | |
Information
Super Metroid Players' Guide
"Flying creatures that swoop in quickly to attack. A couple of hits is all that's required to deal with them but you have to be swift as they're very fast."
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 of characters or items) may not be accurate. If an official translation becomes available, the fan translation(s) may be replaced.
"Rios are a series of bug-type flying creatures. In Sector 1 is the Rio, Sector 2 is the ice-attack wielding Himella, and Sector 3 is the fire-attack wielding Mella, making 3 different types of Rio."
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Trophy
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Trophy.
"These clawed, fly-like enemies from Metroid show up in Smash Run, too. They float in midair, then fly in a U shape when you get close. They're predictable, which makes them easy to outsmart, but stay on your toes anyway—their attacks can send you flying. One way to beat them is to grab and throw them when they buzz near you. "
The PAL version of the trophy changes the spelling of "midair" to "mid-air".
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Tips
"These enemies swoop down from above to tackle fighters. However, they can't actually hit you if you're directly below them. Give it a try!"
Trivia
- Grippers are sometimes seen feeding on Reos. Reos can also be found ensnared in Kihunter webbing. This suggests that Reos may be relatively low in the food chain in the Biosphere ecosystem.
- Metroid Fusion: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide refers to Reos as a "buglike beast".
- Rios were displayed with the capability to speak and wield small firearms in Deceit Du Jour, although this is most likely non-canonical.
- Reos have their own battle theme during significant encounters with them in Other M.
- In the Captain N: The Game Master TV series, Kevin uses "Rio" as the plural form of Rio. In the comics, he says "Rios" instead.
Gallery
Captain N: The Game Master
| Food, Nourishment and Sustenance | |
|---|---|
| Plants & Fungi | Blueroot Tree • Fruit • Red Starburst • Sap Sac • Saturnine • Tangle Vine Fruit |
| Species | Geruta • Embers • Kiru Giru • Pirate Militia • Reo • Ripper • Sciser • Scritter • Skree • Space Pirate • Tallon Crab • Torizo • X Parasite • Zoomer |
| Carrion | "Deceased Soldier" • Amok Mommy |
| Liquid | Lava • Phazon |
| Artificial/Misc. | Deca-triticale • Elite Nutrient Mix • Energy • Nutrient-grade biomatter • Synthetic Metroid rations • Wrecked Ship |