@darth_wayne: Here's my opener!
The SA-X is a creature imitating Samus at full power. Combined with its infectious abilities, it may be one of the most powerful entities Samus had to defeat in her career.
4:49 The SA-X is imitating Samus at full power and has her equipment like the power bombs, which caused the entire B.S.L. station to shake, and the ice beam, which can freeze Samus. In addition:
5:27 The SA-X is a threat to the entire Metroid universe, possessing Samus's strongest abilities from Super Metroid.
Firepower:
Besides the previously mentioned power bomb and ice beam, the SA-X possesses other devastating weapons that Samus has.
Its super missiles can destroy the B.S.L. station's walls and hatches with ease, even causing electrical interference with the elevators:
2:21
However, the SA-X's beam seems to be its primary offensive tool in battle. ITs beam is a combination of the plasma, ice, and wave beams, granting it the properties to freeze opponents, bypass organic material, and fire through walls and armor, like here:
18:39 for the beam, 34:20 shows the power bomb.
Furthermore, the SA-X has the screw attack for use in close combat. By somersaulting, it becomes coated in a destructive field of energy which can also deflect attacks, like here:
1:16 is when the SA-X uses the screw attack as an attack, 1:52 for defense.
The Super Metroid instruction booklet describes these weapons, as well as other abilities the SA-X should have, as this:
"Super missiles are much more powerful than standard missiles."
"Power Bombs
Method of use: Fire Button in a rolled up state,
The blast of these powerful bombs can hit everything on the screen."
"The Ice Beam freezes enemies for a short time. You can use frozen enemies as platforms."
"The Wave Beam sends out a charge in a wavy pattern and pierces some obstacles."
"Plasma
The most powerful of all the beams can destroy several targets at once."
"Screw Attack
This most powerful item turns Samus' suit into a weapon. When the Screw Attack is activated, Samus can somersault into enemies and blast them out of the air."
Thus, the SA-X bosts a formidable arsenal.
Durability:
The SA-X has Samus's suit, which include the Varia and Gravity suits as protection. The instruction booklet describes these as:
"Varia Suit
This suit cuts the damage from enemy attacks in half and allows you to explore in high-temperature zones.
Gravity Suit
This suit reduces the damage from enemy attacks to one fourth and allows you to move freely in water-filled areas"
In addition to these descriptions, the Computer that assists Samus in Metroid Fusion tells her a startling piece of information:
6:26 Samus, who at the time had super missiles, a speed booster, and bombs, was unable to even damage the SA-X. She was forced to use the plasma beam to bypass the SA-X's defenses, though Samus's own screw attack could also deal minor damage.
The SA-X's armor, then, grants a high degree of protection from conventional force.
Maneuverability:
To keep up in a moving battle, the SA-X has other items at its disposal. As the instruction booklet describes:
"With the Space Jump Boots, Samus can jump continuously in the air and fly through open areas."
"Speed Booster
These boots allow Samus to run at a super high speed and makes her invincible as she runs through enemies."
1:14 is an example of the space jump. In addition, the SA-X's damaged forms have other means of transport. 2:34 is her mutated form leaping high, 3:10 is her shelled form flying. 3:23 is her true form fleeing through a wall while appearing somewhat intangible.
These abilities allow the SA-X to keep up with her foes so as to not be constantly out of range.
Infectious Abilities:
The SA-X is an X imitating Samus; it retained its infectious and transforming capabilities.
1:46 shows it infecting Samus through her suit, as well as how its amorphous structure allows it to avoid damage. Thus, it could infect your characters through the mech, should it get the chance.
It can also release infectious forms when it is reduced to its shelled form, like here:
1:34
In addition, 3:37 shows the SA-X regenerating after its defeat by Samus, only to be beaten by the Omega Metroid and have its life energy absorbed by Samus.
As the Metroid Fusion Instruction Booklet explains:
“Properties of X-Parasites
X infect other creatures and grow in the nervous systems of these host organisms. Even more worrisome is their ability to control and assume the appearance and behavior of other life-forms through mimesis, a process of infection and replication. The X must somehow be capable of assuming the memories and genetic information of their hosts.”
Thus, even if the SA-X's armor is destroyed, it is still very much a threat.
Conclusion:
The SA-X has incredible firepower, with freezing, concussive, and piercing weapons at its disposal.
The copy also has powerful armor that can ignore most of Samus's arsenal, despite her missiles destroying metal hatches easily.
Abilities like the space jump let the SA-X get to where it needs to go.
Infectious capabilities make it an even greater threat.
Log in to comment