Sand

A wall of impenetrable sand that can be broken only by the Shaktool. (Super Metroid)

Sand is a recurring material in the Metroid series. Sometimes, it acts merely as ground, but it will occasionally be a gameplay element. Sand is found in desert and ruins regions that Samus explores, but is only an interactive gameplay element in Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Metroid and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.

In Echoes, sand is a minor obstacle in the Agon Wastes. In one room, Save Station A, there is a constant flow of sand that Samus must go through in her Morph Ball. In another room, Sand Processing, there is a huge mound of sand that blocks a Missile Expansion, and until it is drained serves as a ramp. In Mining Station A, there are also more waterfalls of sand, one of which can be stopped by lowering the D-Chr statue. The rooms Sand Processing, Sand Cache and Sandcanyon, as well as the species Sandbat, Sandfang, Sandgrass and Sandigger, and the substance Sandstone, all relate to sand in some way.

In Return of Samus there will occasionally be walls of sand that Samus must clear away by shooting it. Sometimes she will uncover an enemy (including Metroids and Gravitts) or an item. Sand does not appear as a gameplay element in the remake, Metroid: Samus Returns, but it does appear as the Area 6 environment.

In Super Metroid, there are sand pools in many parts of Maridia that will suck Samus in, if she is not grabbed and pulled in by a Yapping Maw. She will have to jump out slowly, which can be difficult. Sometimes it will take her to another chamber.

Gallery

Sand in Phase 3 (Metroid II: Return of Samus)

A floor of sand in the Chozo Ruins (Metroid Prime)

Sand piles in the Agon Wastes (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)

Sand in the background of the desert region in Sector 3 (PYR) (Metroid Fusion)

Sand in the background of Area 6 (Metroid: Samus Returns)