Phendrana Drifts: Research Core - Metroid Prime Guide - IGN (2024)

Welcome to a darker place in Phendrana. You will now begin to head into the Research Core. Enter into Specimen Storage, disable the defense turret (easily done if you charge your Wave Beam) and prepare your scan visor. A Shadow Pirate will come hopping out after you. Then press forward into the Research Entrance where you will be spotted. Then out come the Space Pirates. But, before you scan them and blast them to pieces, turn around and look at the door you just entered through. Scan it and you'll see that it is a Locked Door, which can only be opened by defeating all the enemies in the room. It enters into your Log Book, so it's worth examining.

After you've defeated everyone in that room, go back to the bottom floor and you'll see an unopened door. This is the Map Station for Phendrana Drifts. Once it is downloaded, head back up the walkways and exit through the top of the room.

This is the Research Entrance. You'll find the next room, Research Lab Hydra, is also full of Space Pirates. Destroy them all and then get your scan visor ready to scan the area. On the bottom floor you will find three Pirate Data log book entries: Security Breaches, Phazon Analysis, Mining Status. At this point you should have completed 50% of your Log Book, thus unlocking Image Gallery 1, accessible through the main menu. Upstairs there is another set of computer terminals, which also contains the Pirate Data Parasite Larva and Glacial Wastes. Move out through the Wave Beam door on the ceiling. You should end up in the Observatory.

Clear out the Space Pirates and head to the bottom. More Pirate Data is available for downloading: Phazon Program and Contact. Now, scan the center module to activate one of the Morph Ball slots in the room. Bomb it and you will begin to send power to the hub. You will need to bomb the second Morph Ball slot located on the opposite side, however. This will take some large leaps, but you can do it. Once activated, you will trigger power to the Morph Ball spinners below.

Roll down there and Boost Ball spin in all four of them. This will cause the power to flow to the astronomical holographic projector. Be sure to scan the new Research Data floating around: the planets Zebes and Tallon IV. Your goal is to make it to the top by platforming around the edge. There are some very distant jumps to complete, but it is doable. At the top you will find the Super Missile upgrade, resting in the center of the Observatory.

Suit Upgrade: Super Missile

• Location: Phendrana Drifts
• Room: Observatory
• How to get: Restore power to holographic projector, platform to the very top.

Move through the West Tower Entrance and access the Control Tower transport. As soon as you enter the Control Tower, a battle is waiting for you. Clear out the Space Pirates on the ground and then prepare to meet the Flying Pirate, an agile, missile-shooting unit that will require a little more persistence.

Try firing back with your own missiles; they're just as quick and deadly, but be wary of the Flying Pirate when it falls. Like a bottle rocket, it will zoom towards you out of control and explode. You should burn through about four of them before the doors unlock. If you need any health, just shoot the nearby boxes. Then head into the East Tower and activate the transport to the Research Lab Aether.

Inside the lab you will see several things to scan. First check out the two Pirate Data entries Meta Ridley and Metroid Studies. You will also be treated to your first Metroid encounter. Blast it with missiles and your Wave Beam. If it attaches itself to you, just roll into a ball and set a bomb to jolt it loose.

A Space Pirate will jump through a window to attack you. Proceed into that room (defeat the pirates, of course) and check the computer terminals at the top and bottom of the room. You'll find the Pirate Data Phazon Infusion, Metroid Forces, and Metroid Morphology. There are several more stasis containment units in the lab. There is one more Metroid hiding in one of them. Shoot the glass with a missile to free it and dispose of it. Take a closer look at the rest of the stasis units. An Energy Tank is hidden in one that is adjacent to the wall. Blast it open with a missile and power up!

But wait -- there's more. Take the elevator back up to the walkways hanging above. If you look closely at the piping in the room, you'll see there is a Missile Expansion hidden at the end of one. You'll have to jump up there and roll in Morph Ball form to get it. It's tricky too.

From the lower floor, drop down into the Research Core Access. Don't be surprised to see your first Ice Beetle. As you enter into the Research Core, you will be met with some opposition from Space and Flying Pirates. Destroy them and then scan the nearby terminal to disconnect the containment unit below. You will get a quick glimpse via cut-scene of a visor upgrade. Continue downward -- watch and listen for defense turrets -- and access the next terminal, disconnecting yet another power source to the unit below. Finally, when you reach the bottom there is one last terminal to scan, which frees the force field around your new Thermal Visor.

Suit Upgrade

• Location: Phendrana Drifts
• Room: Research Core
• How to get: Cut power to containment unit

Grab it and prepare for a power outage. Accustom tapping down on the D-pad to use it. You're going to need it immediately, as Shadow Pirates will be running around the area causing havoc. Likewise, the Metroids will grow restless. Blast them away with your Super Missiles if you don't want to prolong the battles. Return up to the top where you entered. The door no longer has power. This is where your Thermal Visor comes in handy. On the right side of the door is a power conduit (only visible with the Thermal Visor), which can send power from your Wave Beam to the door. Simply shoot it to continue forward.

On the other side of the door you will find a Sentry Drone waiting for you. They cause major static to your visor, so try blasting them quickly with missiles. Move back through the Research Lab Aether and be wary of more Shadow Pirates. Right now you should just focus on getting back to the save station located in the Observatory. If you make it there all right, you're next check point should be the save station located off of the Ruined Courtyard. You'll need all your energy for the forthcoming boss fight.

In the Ruined Courtyard flip on your Thermal Visor and examine the door straight across from the save point. You'll see a glowing power conduit on the archway above it. It is shielded by cordite, however, so you'll need to use your Super Missiles (Charge Beam+Y) to uncover it. Then send power to the door by shooting it with your Wave Beam. Continue forward and enter into the Quarantine Cave, and prepare for battle.