More official name[]
Darkling Swarm, from the Bonus Disc.
If I am understanding the Bonus Disc's data correctly, there is indeed a name for this type of creature, seen within the Data Network. Unsure if this data remains in the final game but the Darkling Swarm's scan goes unused. According to the Logbook, this seems to match what is seen in the final game with the related creature(s). They are shootable and can harm Samus in some instances, but unscannable. Wondering why the scan went unused, maybe due to being easily missable? There appears to be other names mentioned within the scan, such as Darklings and Ing larva (not to be confused with Ing Larva Swarm, which may have adopted the Ing Larva title). The name Darkling Swarm is used within the Data Network branch.
Reference here, their scan alone mentions a lot of juicy accurate details: Darkling Swarm Logbook (Bonus Disc)
DarkraiShadowXZ (talk) 08:22, 21 April 2023 (UTC)
UPDATE: Boop. I made a sandbox page for Darkling Swarm, pretty much what the current page looks like with updated information and related from both Bonus Disc and Echoes. (all that is missing is whether a text and/or scan file remains in the final game.) This is what the page can look like should the name be validated for inclusion. Thank you. SEE HERE FOR EXAMPLE.
DarkraiShadowXZ (talk) 02:27, 24 April 2023 (UTC)
- I'm hesitant to treat the info from those unused scans as canon. The Bonus Disc is a demo with a bunch of differences from the full game, and the unused status of these scans makes their canonicity even more questionable since the devs evidently didn't want people to see them. The scan for Darkling Swarms in particular claims that they consist of multiple larval Ing, which doesn't have much backing in the full game (for all we know, it could be a single Ing of any age). As things stand, it may be better to put the info exclusive to these scans in a "Development notes" section to make it clear that the game itself doesn't support them, like we do with e.g. unused Logbook entries in Prime 3. Regardless of where the info is placed, we certainly shouldn't move the article to an unused title like Darkling Swarm. CortexCPU242 (talk) 09:27, 24 April 2023 (UTC)
To some extent, the name is still used on a few occasions. The Lore Entry: The Ing Attack mentions "dark swarms" opening rifts and being known as "Darklings" (in which "Darklings" is a name mentioned within the Demo Scan). I was informed that the internal data name within the final files is IngSnatchingSwarm. A missing piece of evidence that would shine more light on the subject (no pun intended) is whether or not a finalized Scan or Text was included in the final game, whether the Swarm was meant to be scanned or not. A friend of mines told me that the missing Text or Scan "might be as an unused STRG file" and that it could be difficult to locate, but I am hoping Bearborg and their powerful knowledge of file reading may be able to help uncover missing details.
DarkraiShadowXZ (talk) 10:29, 24 April 2023 (UTC)
UPDATE: With Bearborg's assistance, we have drawn some conclusions. The Black Fog does indeed appear to be the Darkling Swarm from the Bonus Disc, however for some reason, most of its scan information appears to be butchered in the final. TCRF labels its Data Network hierarchy filename as `.[1] Its Logbook entry from the Bonus Disc appears removed in the final. It seems possible the Developers most likely removed its scan due to how hard it could be to scan one or maybe cause scanning could take time away from actually killing its future hosts on time. I was told that the name "Darkling Swarm" exists in the final as an enemy name but unused. Its internal name "IngSnatchingSwarm" appears to still be used in both Bonus Disc and Echoes final. Likely to not waste a Logbook space, developers appear to have repurposed its placement in the Logbook to instead fill it up with data from a different creature: Ing Larva Swarm.
Three Darkling Swarms attack Samus (to no avail).
CortexCPU did bring up an interesting point concerning if a fog is singular, however further in-game tests reveal that the fog indeed travels in swarms, just as the Bonus Disc data mentions. In the Temple Sanctuary, killing the Alpha Splinter before it becomes a host shows that the Fog that spewed out from a Black Fog Portal is actually a set of three Darkling, hence the name "Darkling Swarm". In-game, all three possess the Alpha Splinter and its scan (vaguely) appears to be under the possession of only one symbiote. This would mean the Bonus Disc Entry still holds true; the Alpha Splinter is seen struggling as multiple Darklings swarm all over its body and viciously fight for control inside the large Splinter's body, until only one Darkling remains to claim full control over its host.
Path of Eyes Darkling Swarm close-up. Multiple red spots (eyes/cores?) are visible.
Darkling Swarm seen from Path of Eyes and Temple Assembly Site can deliver multiple hits from one swarm, meaning two or more can easily rack up damage to Samus if contact is made (I died quickly in Hard, Varia, no E-Tanks in Path of Eyes). Swarm tactics is a common practice throughout the Horde.
As far as I see it (unless other info arises), the only official link to its name in the final game would be the Luminoth Lore stating "dark swarms" and the Lore mentioning Luminoth naming those possessed from the swarm "darklings". I guess the readers can decide if Dark Swarm would be a more official fit, Black Fog can still be used in some cases when typing, but so far the Darkling Swarm's behavior was retained despite its data being chopped in the final game. This was good to research, thank you for the opportunities and thank you Bearborg and Yonder for much great assistance. Appreciated.
DarkraiShadowXZ (talk) 20:06, 20 May 2023 (UTC)