The Long Beam (ロングビーム Rongu Bīmu) is an upgrade that appears in Metroid and Metroid: Zero Mission.
Description[]
In these games, Samus' basic Power Beam normally dissipates after a short distance. With the Long Beam equipped, however, her shots are capable of traveling much farther. This upgrade also slightly increases the strength of the Power Beam.
In Metroid, Samus can simply bypass the beam entirely, and in Zero Mission, it is possible to skip the acquisition of the Long Beam through an alternate, hidden route.
In other Metroid games, the Long Beam appears to have been completely merged with the Power Beam, as all shots are capable of travelling great lengths without the need for an upgrade. It is listed in the internal files of Super Metroid, but is not found in-game.[1]
Official data[]
Metroid manual[]
- Long Beam
- "It lengthens the attacking range of your beam. It can also boost the range of the ice beam and the wave beam. Useful for attacking enemies from a distance."
Metroid Virtual Console manual[]
- Long Beam
- "Increases the range of your beam. This can also supplement the Ice Beam and Wave Beam."
Nintendo Power Volume 29[]
- LONG BEAM
- "The Long Beam increases the range of your attack. It is one of the essential weapons that you should collect early."
Victory Techniques for Metroid[]
This article, section, or file contains text that is unofficially translated by Metroid fans. Some information (such as proper English names) may not be accurate. If an official translation becomes available, the fan translation(s) may be replaced.
"When you get this, your beam's range extends. You can combine it with the Ice Beam and Wave Beam."
The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]
- LONG BEAM
- "The range of the gun’s beam gets longer. You can destroy an enemy far away, as well as destroy enemies which come from the ceiling. Also, it is great in destroying walls and ceilings."
Metroid Zero Mission manual[]
- Long
- "Obtaining this power-up increases the range of Samus' beam weapon, including the Ice and Wave Beams. This power-up allows Samus to destroy enemies from a safe distance."
Metroid: Zero Mission: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]
- Long Beam
- "The Long Beam upgrade doubles the duration of the standard beam, allowing you to target enemies, blocks and hatches across the width of the screen."
Zero Mission Samus Screen data[]
"Fire long-distance shots with this beam. Press L+B to fire diagonally."
Beta Zero Mission acquisition text[]
"Long Beam"
"A range is extended."
Trivia[]
- In Metroid: Zero Mission, the Samus Screen tutorial prompt informs players how to fire diagonally upon acquiring the Long Beam. Despite this, Samus can fire diagonally as soon as the game is started and does not need to possess the Long Beam in order to have this ability.
- Also in Zero Mission, the Long Beam powers up the overall effectiveness of the Arm Cannon, notified by a few effects when equipped.
- Firepower is increased to inflict 1.4 times the amount of damage from any Beam shot. Charge Beam shots gain an additional 1.4 damage added to shots.
- When both the Long Beam and the Charge Beam are equipped, the charging sound for any beam is slightly higher pitched.
- Samus gains a slightly more noticeable and brightly colored aura when firing any beam.
- In the Metroid: Samus Returns Artbook included with the Legacy Edition of the same game, in the Metroid II section of the book, there is a Beam upgrade item with an 'L' on the orb, depicted alongside the Ice, Wave, and Spazer Beam upgrades rather than the Plasma Beam that actually debuts in the game. The creature depicted in the item artwork is near-identical to other artwork of the Plasma Beam from Metroid II, implying that the Long Beam may have been intended for Metroid II and retooled into the Plasma Beam due to the Game Boy's screen size. This earlier version of the artwork, in addition to the 'L' on the orb with a brighter blue color, includes a darker orange stomach area, a warmer shade of purple for the body, and a red segmented beak.
- Earlier screenshots of Zero Mission show the Long Beam's item form being a red creature with a green sphere, mimicking its original sprite design from Metroid.
Gallery[]
References[]
| Beams | |
|---|---|
| Armaments | Arm Cannon • Paralyzer |
| Weapons | Power Beam • Wave Beam • Ice Beam • Plasma Beam • Grapple Beam Hyper Beam: (MD/MP3/SM) • Phazon Beam • Dark Beam • Light Beam Annihilator Beam • Nova Beam • Zero Laser |
| Enhancements | Beam Burst • Charge Beam • Diffusion Beam • Long Beam • Phazon bullets • Spazer Beam • Tractor beam • Wide Beam • Omega Cannon (Dread) |
| Affinity Weapons | Volt Driver • Battlehammer • Magmaul • Shock Coil • Judicator • Imperialist • Omega Cannon (Hunters) • Electro Lob |