SA-X

Last updated
SA-X
Metroid character
SA X Metroid.PNG
SA-X in Metroid Fusion
First appearance Metroid Fusion (2002)
Designed by Yoshio Sakamoto
Katsuya Yamano

The SA-X is the main antagonist of the video game Metroid Fusion . She is a parasite that originally infected the protagonist, Samus Aran, as well as her Power Suit, before Samus was cured by injecting Metroid DNA into her. The SA-X later appears, having replicated her Power Suit, including all of her most powerful weapons from Super Metroid . She is pursuing Samus throughout the game, who is much weaker and thus must avoid her until she is able to fight back against the SA-X.

Contents

The SA-X was designed to mimic Samus' movements and actions, with designer Yoshio Sakamoto identifying such a concept as unsettling. The concept of being chased by the SA-X was reused in the video game Metroid Dread with the antagonists, the EMMI, as Sakamoto wanted to reproduce that tension.

The SA-X has been met with generally positive reception, praised as an iconic character as well as one of the scariest characters in video games. Her power, particularly in contrast with Samus', was met with praise, with critics identifying the chase scenes between the SA-X and Samus as the best moments in Metroid Fusion. She has also been compared to the EMMI in Metroid Dread, which were themselves inspired by the SA-X.

Concept and creation

When designing Metroid Fusion , designer Yoshio Sakamoto aimed to make the SA-X mimic Samus' movements and action, feeling that it was an unpleasant concept to have someone mimic someone. Enemy programmer Katsuya Yamano identified SA-X as the thing he spent most of his time on. [1] [2] [3] The SA-X was also designed to have all of Samus' equipment from Super Metroid , contrasting a defenseless Samus. [4] The video game Metroid Dread features robots called EMMI that hunt down Samus. The concept comes from SA-X, with Sakamoto wanting to recreate the tension SA-X produced in another game. [5] They specifically wanted to feature the chase style of gameplay in a Metroid game with more traditional gameplay than Fusion. [6]

Appearances

The SA-X originally appeared in Metroid Fusion , having developed from an X parasite originally found on the planet SR388. It first infects both the protagonist Samus Aran and her bio-organic Power Suit after Samus killed the creature it was originally inhabiting during a Galactic Federation research mission on the planet. Samus nearly dies but is saved by having Metroid DNA injected into her body, with most of her Power Suit having to be surgically removed. This Metroid DNA ultimately makes her immune to infection, due to Metroids being natural predators of the parasite. [7]

The X parasite residing in her Power Suit remains eventually transforms into a replica of Samus on the BSL Space Station, able to use the arsenal of weapons and upgrades she wielded in Super Metroid , while Samus herself is left relatively weakened and unable to survive the SA-X's ice weapons. [7] [4] The SA-X stalks Samus throughout the game, forcing her to hide or flee for most of it. As the plot develops, the player discovers that there are multiple SA-X, the X virus having replicated itself, and are targeting the station's Metroid breeding facilities, which includes Samus due to her DNA. When Samus learns of the Galactic Federation's intention to capture the SA-X, potentially allowing the parasite to spread across the galaxy, she programs the station to crash into and destroy SR388 to wipe out the X. [8] After Samus has grown powerful enough, she faces off against the SA-X, managing to kill it even after it evolves into a more physically imposing form.

After being defeated, the SA-X flees in its parasite form, reforming later when Samus is facing off against an Omega Metroid. It is ultimately defeated by the Omega Metroid, at which point Samus fuses with it and regains her powers from Super Metroid, allowing her to kill the Omega Metroid and escape from the space station before it collided into SR388, destroying both. [9]

Reception

The SA-X has been generally well-received by critics, considered one of the best new villains of 2002 by Nintendo Power . [10] Retro Gamer staff called her iconic, attributing her icon status to her overwhelming power and intimidation. [11] Retro Gamer writer Darran Jones also noted her first appearance, where she looks straight at the player with her "cold, dead eyes", which they stated still makes their stomach "turn in terror". [12] She has been identified as a particularly frightening encounter in video games, with GamesRadar+ writer Connor Sheridan finding her the "coolest part" of Metroid Fusion. [13] Hardcore Gaming 101 writer Kurt Kalata considered the moments with the SA-X to be the best part of Metroid Fusion, though felt that the boss battle was too basic. [7] GameSpot writer Jordan Ramée commented on SA-X being "[Samus] at her best", and how it reflected how Samus, now infused with Metroid DNA, was being hunted by herself, reflecting how she once hunted the Metroids to extinction. He praised the writers for creating a character so "chillingly horrifying" that they are still memorable years later. [14]

Dual Shockers writer Marcus Jones considered her the scariest Nintendo character, citing her original appearance - where she blows her way through a door and slowly walks - as a "dreadful" moment. That Samus has to evade the SA-X rather than fight her was considered by Jones to be Nintendo's "greatest unorthodox take on survival horror". [8] VG247 writer Fran Ruiz compared SA-X to the titular antagonists of The Thing and The Terminator , as well as Nemesis T-Type from Resident Evil 3: Nemesis , all of whom stalk their respective protagonists. She felt that running and hiding from the SA-X was stressful, but that the final encounter feels "earned and empowering", saying that she is her "personal boogeyman to this day". [15] Yahoo! News staff identified her as the most frightening stalker character in video games, feeling that she is the "real meat of the horror" in Fusion. [16] Nintendo World Report writer James Dawson considered her the standout antagonist in Metroid, saying that encounters with her were among his "most memorable moments in gaming" from his childhood. He noted that it was the first time he felt helpless in a video game. [17]

The SA-X has been compared to other characters in the Metroid series, including the EMMI from Metroid Dread , with the EMMI criticized as being an inconvenience compared to SA-X. [18] Jordan Ramée felt that the EMMI was an evolution of the SA-X concept mechanically, but a step back thematically. He felt that revealing that the EMMI could be killed early in the game took away from its impact, noting that the SA-X being a "terrifying threat" is enhanced by being invulnerable to Samus until the end of the game. [14] Kurt Kalata felt similarly, feeling that EMMI are an improvement mechanically, and while they created "some incredibly tense standoffs", the SA-X were more frightening. [19] Nintendo Life writer Ollie Reynolds felt that Dark Samus lacked impact due to SA-X, feeling SA-X was superior and Dark Samus felt "been there done that". [20]

Related Research Articles

Metroid is an action-adventure game franchise created by Nintendo. The player controls the bounty hunter Samus Aran, who protects the galaxy from Space Pirates and other malevolent forces and their attempts to harness the power of the parasitic Metroid creatures.

<i>Metroid Prime</i> 2002 video game

Metroid Prime is a 2002 action-adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. Metroid Prime is the fifth main Metroid game and the first to use 3D computer graphics and a first-person perspective. It was released in North America in November 2002, and in Japan and Europe the following year. Along with the Game Boy Advance game Metroid Fusion, Prime marked the return of the Metroid series after an eight-year hiatus following Super Metroid (1994).

<i>Metroid II: Return of Samus</i> 1991 video game

Metroid II: Return of Samus is a 1991 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. The first Metroid game for a handheld game console, it was released in North America in November 1991 and in Japan and Europe in 1992. The game follows bounty hunter Samus Aran on her mission to eradicate the Metroids from their home planet, SR388, before the Space Pirates can obtain them. Players must find and exterminate the Metroids to progress.

<i>Super Metroid</i> 1994 video game

Super Metroid is a 1994 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third installment in the Metroid series, following the events of the Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus (1991). Players control bounty hunter Samus Aran, who travels to planet Zebes to retrieve an infant Metroid creature stolen by the Space Pirate leader Ridley.

<i>Metroid Fusion</i> 2002 video game

Metroid Fusion is a 2002 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. It was developed by Nintendo Research & Development 1, which had developed the previous Metroid game, Super Metroid (1994). Fusion is part of the Metroid series, and takes place between the events of Metroid: Other M and Metroid Dread. Players control the bounty hunter Samus Aran, who investigates a space station infected with shapeshifting parasites known as X.

<i>Metroid Prime 2: Echoes</i> 2004 video game

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is a 2004 adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. The sequel to Metroid Prime (2002) and the first Metroid game with a multiplayer feature, Echoes was released in North America, Europe and Australia in 2004 and in Japan under the name Metroid Prime 2: Dark Echoes in May 2005.

<i>Metroid: Zero Mission</i> 2004 video game

Metroid: Zero Mission is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance on February 9, 2004. It is a remake of the original Metroid (1986), and retells the story with updated visuals and gameplay.

Ridley (<i>Metroid</i>) Fictional antagonist of the Metroid franchise

Ridley, also known in-universe by the alias Cunning God of Death, is a major antagonist in the Metroid series. An evil and aggressive draconic extraterrestrial, he became Samus Aran's archnemesis after murdering the latter's parents as he led a Space Pirate raid on her homeworld. Though having been destroyed numerous times by Samus, he is always resurrected, due in equal part to Space Pirate engineering and his natural regenerative ability, which allows him to swiftly recover from what would otherwise be fatal wounds as long as he is able to consume enough biomatter from his fallen adversaries.

<i>Metroid Prime Hunters</i> 2006 video game

Metroid Prime Hunters is a 2006 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo Software Technology and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. It was released in North America in March 2006, with other territories later. The story takes place in between the events of Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Players assume the role of series protagonist Samus Aran, who investigates a mysterious message that originated from the Alimbic Cluster and comes into contact with a legion of bounty hunters.

<i>Metroid Prime 3: Corruption</i> 2007 video game

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is a 2007 action-adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Wii. The seventh main game in the Metroid series, it was released in North America and Europe in 2007 and in Japan in 2008.

<i>Metroid Dread</i> 2021 video game

Metroid Dread is a 2021 action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It was released on October 8, 2021. Set after Metroid Fusion (2002), players control the bounty hunter Samus Aran as she investigates the source of a mysterious transmission on the planet ZDR. It retains the side-scrolling gameplay of previous 2D Metroid games and incorporates stealth elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoshio Sakamoto</span> Japanese video game designer

Yoshio Sakamoto is a Japanese video game designer, director, and producer. He has worked at Nintendo since 1982. He has directed several games in the Metroid series. He is one of the most prominent members of Nintendo's former Research and Development 1 division, along with Gunpei Yokoi and Toru Osawa.

Mercury Steam Entertainment S.L., doing business as MercurySteam, is a Spanish video game developer based in San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid. It was founded by former members of Rebel Act Studios, who had developed Severance: Blade of Darkness in 2001. Dave Cox, a producer at Konami, assisted MercurySteam during the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow trilogy.

Hiroji Kiyotake is a game designer for Nintendo and has been a part of the history of Nintendo since 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samus Aran</span> Video game character

Samus Aran is the protagonist of the video game series Metroid by Nintendo. She was created by the Japanese video game designer Makoto Kano and introduced in the first Metroid (1986) for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

<i>Metroid</i> (video game) 1986 video game

Metroid is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The first installment in the Metroid series, it was originally released in Japan for the Family Computer Disk System in August 1986. North America received a release in August 1987 on the Nintendo Entertainment System in the Game Pak ROM cartridge format, with the European release following in January 1988. Set on the planet Zebes, the story follows Samus Aran as she attempts to retrieve the predatory Metroid organisms that were stolen by Space Pirates, who plan to replicate the Metroids by exposing them to beta rays and then use them as biological weapons to destroy Samus and all who oppose them.

<i>Metroid: Other M</i> 2010 video game

Metroid: Other M is an action-adventure game developed by Tecmo Koei's Team Ninja and Nintendo and published by Nintendo for the Wii on August 31, 2010. It is part of the Metroid series, and takes place between the events of Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion. The player controls intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran, who investigates a derelict space station with a Galactic Federation platoon, including her former commanding officer, Adam Malkovich.

Metroid is a series of nonlinear science fiction action games published by Nintendo, featuring side-scrolling, metroidvania, and first-person shooter elements. The player character and protagonist of the series is Samus Aran, a space-faring bounty hunter who battles Space Pirates and a species called the Metroid.

<i>Metroid: Samus Returns</i> 2017 video game

Metroid: Samus Returns is a 2017 action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. It is a remake of the 1991 Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus. Players control series protagonist Samus Aran, a bounty hunter who is contracted by the Galactic Federation to exterminate the parasitic Metroid species on their home planet of SR388. While the story and structure parallel the original game, Samus Returns features redone graphics, updated controls and user interface, and new gameplay mechanics not seen in previous 2D Metroid titles, such as a melee counterattack and the ability to aim freely at any angle.

References

  1. ↑ Hosokawa, Takehiko; Yamano, Katsuya; Yamane, Tomomi; Hamano, Minako (March 2003). メトロイドフュージョン 制作スタッフ インタビュー. Nintendo Online Magazine (Interview: Transcript) (in Japanese). No. 56. Nintendo. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  2. ↑ Hosokawa, Takehiko; Yamano, Katsuya; Yamane, Tomomi; Hamano, Minako (March 2003). メトロイドフュージョン プレイレポート. Nintendo Online Magazine (Interview: Transcript) (in Japanese). No. 56. Nintendo. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  3. ↑ Hosokawa, Takehiko; Yamano, Katsuya; Yamane, Tomomi; Hamano, Minako (March 2003). 「メトロイド」に託す思い 坂本賀勇インタビュー. Nintendo Online Magazine (Interview: Transcript) (in Japanese). No. 56. Nintendo. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Metroid Fusion – 2003 Developer Interview". Shmuplations. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  5. ↑ Bailey, Kat (June 17, 2021). "Inside Metroid Dread's Development With Producer Yoshio Sakamoto". IGN . Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  6. ↑ Knezevic, Kevin (June 17, 2021). "Metroid Dread Is The Realization Of A 15-Year Vision". GameSpot . Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 Kalata, Kurt (December 27, 2017). "Metroid Fusion". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Jones, Marcus (August 28, 2023). "Metroid's SA-X Is The Scariest Nintendo Character". Dual Shockers. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  9. ↑ Myers, Maddy (October 8, 2021). "Everything you need to know before you play Metroid Dread". Polygon . Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  10. ↑ "2002 Nintendo Power Awards". Nintendo Power . No. 168. Nintendo. May 2003. p. 166.
  11. ↑ "Top 25 Game Boy Advance Games". Retro Gamer - The History of Nintendo. Vol. 3. Future Publishing. 2019. p. 149.
  12. ↑ Jones, Darran. "Metroid Fusion". Retro Gamer . p. 87.
  13. ↑ Sheridan, Connor (April 5, 2017). "Rethinking Metroid should be the next step for Nintendo Switch after Zelda: Breath of the Wild". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Ramée, Jordan (October 9, 2021). "Metroid Dread Still Doesn't Quite Deliver The Horror Experience I Know The Series Can Be". GameSpot . Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  15. ↑ Ruiz, Fran (March 16, 2023). "Metroid Fusion remains the scariest 2D game ever". VG247. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Discussion: what's the scariest game you've ever played?". Yahoo! News . August 17, 2014. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  17. ↑ Dawson, James (August 14, 2011). "Memories of Metroid". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  18. ↑ Donaldson, Alex (October 6, 2021). "Metroid Dread review: a strong adventure that'll delight fans". VG247. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  19. ↑ Kalata, Kurt (April 13, 2023). "Metroid Dread". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  20. ↑ Reynolds, Ollie (January 25, 2023). "Feature: 6 Things We'd Love To See In Metroid Prime 4". Nintendo Life . Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.