Power Suit
In the different games, Samus is usually able to find a different suit to upgrade to. In most games there is a level of variety between the suits she can find and equip.
Power Suit
After Samus had reached adulthood, the Chozos crafted a customized Power Suit specifically for her use. The Chozo Battle Suit itself, while not incredibly powerful, was extremely versatile. The basic suit itself was standard space armor fare, except the right arm was replaced with an arm cannon capable of firing beams and stored missiles. The suit itself was also designed in such a way as to allow free movement, excellent jumping abilities, a life support system, and a integrated computer system.
The suit itself is able to integrate upgrades, such as the Varia Suit, Gravity Suit, Phazon Suit, Dark Suit, and Light Suit. Only the first two variations are of Chozo design. The Varia suit is designed to withstand extreme heat. The Gravity suit was designed to allow free movement in liquid enviroment, as well as an increased tolerance for extreme conditions. The Phazon suit was an accidental contamination that allows the suit to be immune to most forms of phazon. The Dark suit was found on Dark Aether and lessened the effects of Dark Aether's radiation. The Light Suit was a fusion of Luminoth and Chozo technology that protected from most dark energy and allowed Samus to ride the beams of light from the energy controller. Another suit, the Fusion Suit, was the result of the X infestation, the stripping of Samus's power suit, and the Metroid vaccine.
Power Suit Functions
Arm Cannon
The central weapon system on the Power Suit. It is capable of firing beam attacks based on whatever types are installed. It is also capable of firing missiles and super missiles as available. Additional functions include the grapple beam, which functions as a weak weapon, but mostly as a tool. The arm cannon is capable of interfacing with most computer systems, either for recharges, downloading information, or other purposes.
Visor
The standard (Combat) visor allows for normal vision in most environments, in space, normal air, or underwater. The suit itself has an integrated Scan Visor allows the computer to scan an object or creature. For this it will it will make conclusions on the object or creature based on the suit's computer. It can also scan computer logs and different scripts, though the computer is limited to available encyrption and language functions. Additions visors that have been integrated are the X-Ray Visor, Thermal Visor, Dark Visor, and Echo Visor. All of these Visors allows Samus to see things the Combat Visor (and other Visors) are unable to see.
Legs
The legs of the suit are already capable of reasonable speed and jumping. The Hi-Jump boots doubles the height of Samus's jumping abilities. The Space Jump further augments this by allowing continuous jumping (although some variations allow only a double jump). The Speed Booster increases Samus's speed to such an extend that she can destroy objects and creatures with the speef of her movement.
Morph Ball
The Morph Ball is a powerful feature of the Chozo Power Suit that has not yet been replicated. Samus Aran did not originally have this ability, but had to gain the power by finding a Chozo powerup on Zebes (and other locations later on). The Morph Ball has proved to be a great asset to her on many ocassions. Although the Morph Ball's key feature is becoming small enough to fit in other areas, it has also been useful in combination with other upgrades.
The most basic function is the ability to drop bombs. These small explosives are mainly useful for destroying walls, but also have been a useful tool for attacking enemies while in Morph Ball mode (and particularily useful for escaping Metroids). Although these bombs are unlimited, the more destructive Power Bombs come in limited supply. Although the Morph Ball is usually limited to ground movement, the Spring Ball allows Samus to jump while in ball form (although other games combine the Spring Ball ability with jump increasing items).
Other useful powerups have been the Spider Ball, which allowed Samus to climb walls or cling to magnetic railings while in Morph Ball mode. The Boost Ball upgrade allowed Samus to achieve maximum height on Half Pipes and to activate spinners. In "Metroid Prime 2", the Screw Attack worked only in Morph Ball mode and was not as versatile as a normal Morph Ball.
In "Metroid Prime Pinball", most of the game features Samus in Morph Ball form. Aside from ramming objects, she retains her bomb laying powers (and Power Bombs when unlocked). She was also able to transform into two 'Phazon Balls' as well as receive two extra clones.
Other Functions
The suit had additional features that do not apply to the above. The Power Grip function allows the left hand to grab onto ledges so that Samus can pull herself up. The suit is capable of storing Energy Tanks, which allow the suit to take more damage that it is otherwise capable of. Reserve Tanks can also be integrated to form backups of the Energy Tanks. The Screw Attack transforms the spinning jump into a devestating attack that is often one of Samus's most powerful.
Other Suits
Varia Suit
The Varia Suit is the most basic Power Suit upgrade and is one Samus Aran is most typically known for being seen in. The Varia Suit inherits the abilities of all the Power Suit and upgrades, but also allows for increased resilience to extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold. As such, this typically allows Samus to enter areas she previously could not. The Metroid Fusion 'Power Suit' allowed her to also absorb frozen X Parasites, which previously would freeze her. It also increases the defenses of the suit, allowing for more damage to be taken.
In "Zero Mission", Samus aquired the Varia Suit in Brinstar. In "Metroid Prime", Samus found the Varia Suit after defeating Flaahgra. Afterwards she was able to retain the suit in both "Hunters" and "Metroid Prime 2" without losing it. In "Metroid 2", it was hidden among several other fake orbs. In "Super Metroid", Samus aquired the Varia Suit shortly after defeating Kraid. In "Metroid Fusion", an Orb-X absorbed the Varia Suit through a computer terminal, but Samus was able to claim the Varia Suit after absorbing the X.
- Entire Series
Gravity Suit
The Gravity Suit is a powerful upgrade for the Power Suit. The Gravity Suit inherits the abilities of all the Power Suit (and Varia Suit) and upgrades, and allows for free movement in a liquid environment. With the Gravity Suit, Samus is able to make complete jumps underwater, allowing for easier exploration of underwater environments. It also increases the defenses of the suit, allowing for more damage to be taken.
In "Zero Mission", Samus had lost her Power Suit completely. She then defeated a boss deep in Chozodia, granting her the Gravity Suit. In "Metroid Prime", Samus found the Gravity Suit in the Gravity Chamber in the Phendrana region. In "Super Metroid", Samus found the Varia Suite guarded by the Golden Torizo in Norfair. In "Metroid Fusion", it was found in the possession of Nightmare, which had received the upgrade via Samus's contaminated suit parts.
Phazon Suit
The Phazon Suit is a contamination of the Power Suit. After Samus Aran defeated the Phazon-powered Omega Pirate, it collapsed on top of her and disintegrated. The effects of this altered her Gravity Suit and made her suit immune to Phazon radiation. In addition, it allowed the armo cannon to absorb concentrated Phazon and fire a 'Phazon Beam', a powerful attack that could eliminate most foes. Like most Suit upgres, the Phazon Suit also decreased damage taken.
The Phazon Suit was crucial in surviving the Phazon enriched Impact Crater. It also was instrumental in defeating the core of Metroid Prime. Using pools of Phazon, Samus was able to fire a concentrated Phazon Beam directly into the core. However, the effects of the Phazon Suit were stripped away when one of Metroid Prime's tentacles latched on to Samus. This resulted in the creation of Dark Samus.
Dark Suit
The Dark Suit is a Luminoth designed upgrade that is compatible with the Chozo Power Suit. Samus obtained the "Dark Suit" after beating Amorbis in Dark Aether's Torvus Temple. The suit itself was inside of a large sphere that the three Amorbis creatures gained energy from and may have possibly been the source of the sphere's power. With the Dark Suit, Samus had an increased resilience to Dark Aether's radiation, but still was not impervious to it. Like most Power Suit upgrades, the Dark Suit also decreased damage taken.
Light Suit
The Light Suit is a Power Suit upgrade that is a fusion of Chozo and Luminoth technology. U-Mos provided Samus with this upgrade after she had restored all the Energy Controllers in Torvus, Agon, and Sanctuary. The Light Suit was unaffected by Dark Aether's radiation. It also nullified the acidic effects of the dark water in Dark Aether as well. The Light Suit also had a special ability to 'ride' the energy beams from the Energy Controller, allowing Samus to warp instantly to any other controller. Like most Power Suit upgrades, the Light Suit also decreased damage taken.
Fusion Suit
The 'Fusion Suit' is an alteration of Samus Aran's default Power Suit. While she was on SR388 assisting in research for BioLogic Space Labs, she was infected with the X Parasite. Most of her suit had to be surgically removed. In order to cure her, she was injected with a Metroid vaccine. As a result, the Fusion Suit is capable of absorbing X Parasites for energy and missiles. However, it also iherited the Metroid weakness to frigid temperatures. This flaw was compensated for by upgrading to the Varia Suit. After Samus Aran absorbed the Core-X of the SA-X, the Fusion Suit reverted to its original Power Suit form.
- By beating "Metroid Fusion" and connecting to "Metroid Prime", the Fusion Suit can be unlocked and activated in the options menu. The Fusion Suit itself has no special abilities and inherits the abilities of whatever suit Samus really has. Given that the game is in first person mode, you only see the Fusion Suit during cutscenes.