Phendrana Drifts: Shore - Metroid Prime Guide - IGN (2024)

You have arrived in Tallon IV's icy, snow-packed Phendrana Drifts. This huge world holds many secrets. Be on the lookout for the Sheegoth, the primary predators of this cold place. As you enter through the Shoreline Entrance you're going to have to blast the ice sheet formations out of your way with your Charge Beam. This leads to the beautiful center point of Phendrana, the Phendrana Shorelines.

Head directly across this wide-open winter playground and check in at the save point. Then survey the Phendrana Shorelines for the new creatures; you should see the Flickerbat zooming around in the air and the Crystallite scavenging the icy rock surfaces. There is a electronically secured Blast Shield covering the door above the little river inlet. Scan the gate that blocks the passage to the inlet. It is composed of radion, which can be blasted away with missiles. Proceed down the passage in Morph Ball form and scan the orange terminal. This will unlock the door above, which you should proceed directly to. Ignore the floating platforms and temple. You cannot access them for now.

As you enter into the Ice Ruins Access you will have to blast through another sheet of ice with your Charge Beam. Behind it is a Scatter Bombu. They are attracted to energy sources, so don't charge your beam. Just roll into ball form and move forward, avoiding the energy trails. Then you will enter the Ice Ruins East. Meet the Baby Sheegoth. They are highly aggressive and impervious to gunfire from the front. Lock on to them, blast the shells on their backs away, and then you can take them down.

Find the nearest steps and continue to jump up around the edges of the room. You should find a door that leads to the Plaza Walkway. Be careful of the Ice Burrowers.

Exit on the other side and don't fall down below. You want to hug the left wall where you'll find a door that leads to the Ruins Entryway, which is filled with Pulse Bombus. Once in the Ice Ruins West, the only door you can access is low to the ground and has a Blast Shield on it. Move through it and you should be on your way into Phendrana Canyon. As soon as you enter drop on to the bridge below and spin around. Behind some large crates is more Chozo Lore. Then drop down into the canyon and hug the right wall. It will lead you up to a reticule that can be scanned to activate a set of platforms (which happen to crumble upon impact).

Jump over them quickly and you'll find the Boost Ball waiting for you.

Suit Upgrade

• Location: Phendrana Drifts
• Room: Phendrana Canyon
• How to get: Activate platforms

Use the half-pipe shaped base of the canyon for practice. You'll also need to boost out of it to exit. Your new objective is to return to Tallon Canyon in the Overworld. Begin by taking the Magmoor Caverns West transport. Then head straight across the Monitor Station and into the Shore Tunnel. Once you get into the Fiery Shores you will find a Morph Ball tunnel to roll around the lava lake. Use it to exit across the other side, but before you go blast the crates which block another Morph Ball path and follow it to receive a Missile Expansion hidden above.

Then head through Transport Tunnel B and find your way to the Tallon Overworld West elevator.

You will arrive just outside of the canyon. Walk into Transport Tunnel B (yes, another one) and you will see a small stone bridge with dust and steam pouring out from underneath it. Walk under it and grab yourself a Missile Expansion.

Afterwards, jump up through the Root Cave and find your way into Tallon Canyon. There is a halfpipe by the entrance to Transport Tunnel A. Use your newfound Boost Ball skills to make it to the top ledge.

If you find using the Boost Ball tricky to make it high enough, here are some tips. First, don't use the nunchuck joystick as you're boosting - just press the boost button until you're the right height, then use the joystick to push yourself over to the high ledge. Second, as soon as you've released the boost, hold down the boost button again and start charging as you roll. Let go of the boost button just as you start to roll up the wall. After a few rolls back and forth on the halfpipe you should make it high enough.

Roll across the bridge and bomb into the tunnel. This leads into the Gully. This leads back to the Landing Site for good reason. You are elevated higher than you were before. Keep left and hug the wall.

You will find an entrance to the Alcove where the Space Jump Boots are found.

Suit Upgrade

• Location: Tallon Overworld
• Room: Alcove
• How to get: Access Alcove via Tallon Canyon

After acquired, you'll have to head back to Phendrana Drifts, but first take a stroll back to your space ship to save and replenish your health. While you are here, examine the wall behind your ship. There is a tunnel filled with Tangle Weed. Clear it out with a few blasts and head in there with your Morph Ball to score another Missile Expansion.

Now would also be a good time to explore the story a little. Take the door that is elevated up on the ledge straight across from your ship. Enter into the Temple Hall and try to avoid the needles that the Seedlings shoot at you. Move forward into Temple Security Station where you will be treated with a flyby of the Impact Crater.

This is the focal point of evil on Tallon IV. This first visit will give you a little insight as to what is going on. Scan for more Pirate Data here in the glass walkway. You will eventually enter the top of the Artifact Temple, which ironically looks like you're staring out another version of Samus's visor (or spaceship). Located to the left and right are two new Chozo Lore writings. After reading through them, head down below. There you will find your first of twelve artifacts, the Artifact of truth. Scan it and you will see why these rare items are so important.

Scan the rest of the artifact pillars around you to obtain important clues. You should scan the following: Wild, Strength, Chozo, Elder, Spirit, Lifegiver, and World. Don't worry about them now. You need to learn a lot more before you go searching for the artifacts. You can also consult our Artifact Locations guide for more instructions.

Head for the Magmoor Caverns East transport. Backtrack through some of Magmoor and head into the Monitor Station. Since you can now double-jump with the Space Boots and reach new platforms, head to the very top. There you'll find a Spinner and a computer terminal. Scan them both and then use the Spinner to raise the nearby bridge. This leads to the highest door in the area, leads into the Warrior Shrine; this houses another Artifact: Strength.

Now head through to the Phendrana Drifts North transport. As soon as you arrive, check in at the nearest save point. You're going to need all your health.

Now, search Phendrana Shorelines for floating, jet-powered platforms. With your new Space Jump Boots you can access them, no problem. Follow them over and you should be standing in front of the large temple. If you have any trouble making the jump, there's an advanced technique you can use. Aim your gun down with the R-trigger and then press the L-trigger and hold it to lock it in place. You will then be able to more clearly see below you.

Enter the temple and avoid the Pulse Bombus that are in the way. Eventually you will step into the Chozo Ice Temple. A Baby Sheegoth will be waiting for you, but by now you should have no problem disposing of him. Afterwards, turn on your scanner and look for the Ice Parasite.

Scorpion-like in shape, they are slightly faster moving than the Crystallite. You'll need to jump up the series of platforms, so just use your missiles on them if they get in the way.

You should now be on the upper level of the Chozo Ice Temple. As you walk in you will see four Chozo busts. Scan each of the heads and locate the one that is a shaman. It is composed of brinstone and is weak, ready for missile blasting. It will reveal a Morph Ball slot behind it, which can be bombed to open a door. Through the door is Morph Ball tunnel which leads into a 2D-type maze puzzle. It's pretty simple, just blast through the metal blocks and shorten the pillars by blasting them with bombs as well. You will then arrive in the Chapel of Elders.

Boss: Sheegoth

Straight ahead of you the Wave Beam will be waiting for you. But, it's just bait. As you try to grab it, it will descend into the floor below and Baby Sheegoth will come growling out into the room. Dispose of them one by one (four of them) and when you're finished, mama Sheegoth will break through the back wall. Scan her. Then proceed to lock on to her, side stepping to the right and left. Don't use your Power Beam, Sheegoth will absorb it and use the power to shoot energy blasts back at you. Instead, get close enough to her so she'll let an ice blast go, and once she does let go of the lock, quickly aim at her neck or mouth (from either side of her), and shoot missles.Only use missiles. If you hit the crystals on her back (which you probably will if you don't let go of the lock on), you'll just charge her up. Shooting her legs won't damage her either. Aim for her neck and mouth, and if she flashes red you'll know you've hit successfully. You need to stay somewhat close to her or she'll stop shooting ice blasts at you, and you won't be able to hit her.Once you've dealt enough damage this way, she'll fall over dead.

Suit Upgrade

Location: Phendrana DriftsRoom: Chapel of EldersHow to get: Beat Sheegoth

Once the beast falls at your feet, the Wave Beam will reappear. Grab it and proceed out of the room. The door you entered through, which is purple, can only be opened with the Wave Beam. Get used to switching weapon types with your C-stick. Proceed back to the save point in Phendrana Shorelines. As you exit the temple, you'll notice a larger Bombu presence. This is to show you they can be disposed of with your handy new Wave Beam. After saving, head for the Ice Ruins West. As soon as you enter, move directly to the right. In a series of tight corridors and platforms, you should see new Chozo Lore. Keep moving up to the top. You should be standing smack-dab in front of a cracked Stalactite. Scan it.

As you cross, continue jumping across the top of the structures and watch for Ice Shriekbats.

As you platform across, you may see a sheet of ice covering a hole in the ground. Ignore it and make a mental note. You'll have to return later to get the goodie that awaits you there. If you headed in the right direction, you should see a Wave Beam door that leads to the Courtyard Entryway.

Walk into the Ruined Courtyard and survey the ground. You'll find two Morph Ball spinners. Use them to activate a Morph Ball slot located above on a ledge. Then proceed to the slot and bomb it. This will fill the area with water, while also raising floating ice platforms with it.

Platform directly across, do not stop in the center. You will arrive at a Morph Ball tunnel that angles downward. Roll into it to receive an Energy Tank.

After you get the tank, you will need to roll back down to the bottom and repeat the same process by activating the slot again. This time jump to the center platform and work your way to the very top. Use your missiles to shatter the door with the Blast Shield and save your progress. Then return to the center of the Courtyard and proceed through the Wave Beam door that lies ahead.