Chapter 3 - Weapons and Equipment

This section describes the weapons and equipment found in Metroid: Zero Mission, reveals their location, and offers tips for implementing each.

Long Beam: Enhances your primary weapon with increased range. The long beam power-up is found in Brinstar.

Charge Beam: Enhances your primary weapon with charged shot ability. Hold down the "B" button to charge and release to fire the more damaging shot. Also provides the charge attack. Charge your primary weapon and jump to damage enemies with the charge attack. The charge beam power-up is found in Brinstar.

Ice Beam: Enhances your primary weapon with the ability to freeze enemies. The ice beam's projectile freezes most enemies. Frozen enemies can be used as makeshift platforms to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. The ice beam power-up is found in Norfair.

Wave Beam: This power-up enhances your primary weapon with the ability to fire through solid objects, such as cavern or stone walls. With the wave beam you can damage and kill enemies before getting close to them. The wave beam power-up is found in Norfair.

Plasma Beam: The plasma beam is the most powerful enhancement for your primary weapon and increases its damage considerably (can damage multiple enemies). The plasma beam is found in SOMEWHERE but can't be used until Samus completes certain tasks in Chozodia.

Missiles: The missiles offer increased damage over your primary weapon but have limited ammunition (but can be replenished by killing enemies or by using a Chozo statue). The maximum number of missiles you can carry depends on how many missile tanks have been found—if all tanks are found, you can hold 250 missiles. The normal missiles unlock the red doors and destroy the missile blocks (red missile symbol).

Super Missiles: Super missiles offer increased damage over regular missiles and are your best option against Metroid: Zero Mission's tough bosses. The maximum number of super missiles you can carry depends on how many super missile tanks have been found—if all tanks are found, you can hold 30 super missiles. The super missiles unlock the green doors and destroy the super missile blocks (green missile symbol).

Bombs: The bombs can inflict damage on enemies and destroy specific blocks (generally the grey blocks with a red circle in its center). To set a bomb, press the "B" button while in morph ball form. The bombs can also be used to "bomb-jump," which means setting numerous bombs to cause Samus to be propelled in morph ball form. The bomb-jump can be used to reach areas that are only accessible later in the game. You have an infinite amount of bombs and can set them very quickly.

Power Bombs: Power bombs inflict increased damage over regular bombs; the power bombs damage all enemies on the screen. The power bombs also destroy particular blocks (the grey power bomb symbol). Another unique feature of the power bomb is to reveal all "unique" blocks on the screen. For instance, if you're looking for a hidden entrance, detonate a power bomb and you will be able to see the unique blocks on the screen, which could indicate the location of the hidden area. The maximum number of power bombs you can carry depends on how many power bomb tanks have been found—if all tanks are found, you can hold 18 power bombs.

Varia Suit: This power-up decreases damage taken from enemies and also shields Samus from acid and heat damage. This will allow you to navigate most orange-colored tunnels on the map. It won't protect you from lava, the darker orange liquid. The Varia Suit is found in Brinstar.

Gravity Suit: The Gravity Suit further decreases damage taken from enemies. It also allows free movement through water and shields Samus from lava damage.

Morph Ball: Transforms Samus into a tight ball to navigate narrow tunnels. Enter morph ball form by double-tapping down on the directional pad. Morph ball form is used to set bombs and power bombs. The morph ball power-up is located in Brinstar.

Power Grip: Allows Samus to grab and hang from ledges and corners. Power grip helps Samus reach higher ledges and corners and even grab hold of ledges while falling nearby. You can shoot enemies or blocks while holding on with power grip. The power grip power-up is found in Crateria.

Speed Booster: The speed booster can temporarily increase Samus' speed. This will allow her to break particular blocks. To activate the boost, you must run uninterrupted in a certain direction until the boost is activated. You can also "charge" the boost by ducking while in boost mode. This provides an extra few seconds. This can be done repeatedly to extend the boost. After the charge you can perform additional boost moves including jump up, left, or right (including in morph ball form) to break certain blocks. You'll use the charged boost maneuver to reach certain hidden items.

Hi-Jump: This power-up enhances Samus' ability to jump with increased height. Combined with power grip, Samus can reach and hang from high ledges. This power-up also allows Samus to jump in morph ball form. The Hi-Jump power-up is located in Norfair.

Screw Attack: This power-up is similar to the "charge attack" provided by the charge beam, though the Screw Attack power-up is required to break certain blocks (those with the throwing star-like symbol). Screw Attack gives Samus the ability to damage enemies while somersaulting. The Screw Attack power-up is located in Norfair.

Space Jump: The Space Jump power-up is found in SOMEWHERE but can only be used once Samus completes a certain task in Chozodia. The power-up provides Samus with the ability to jump repeatedly in the air. While somersaulting in the air, hit the jump button again to continue to somersault. This can be used to reach otherwise inaccessible areas.