Samus's Gunship

"Starship" redirects here. For the theme, see Star Ship.

Samus's Gunship^[1][2][3] refers to the multiple Gunships and Starships (スターシップ^?) piloted by Samus Aran throughout the Metroid series. While they vary from game to game, they have all been designed for roughly the same purpose and are mostly of the "Hunter" class.

Overview[]

Although Samus's ship was never portrayed in the original Metroid, the first of Samus' ships that has ever been shown was the Cosmo Liner in Victory Techniques for Metroid. Her first canonical in-game ship was the Star Ship debuting in Metroid II: Return of Samus, and every Metroid game since has featured at least one of Samus's ships.

Samus's Gunship (in any of its various incarnations) is primarily used for rapid transport and as a base camp for Samus' ground-based missions. Its versatile cockpit features both a mobile energy recharge system and microfactories for the production of ammunition. It is built with a sophisticated computer which stores mission data. When Samus enters the Gunship, she can save her progress and restore her Power Suit's energy and ammunition. These ships are frequently designed from Chozo and/or Galactic Federation technology.

Aside from Galactic Pinball, the Gunship was never directed by the player in-game until Metroid Prime Hunters was released, allowing selective flight between worlds. This function was expanded upon for Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, where Samus could fly her Hunter-Class Gunship to different sections on individual planets as a means of fast travel. Interviews state that there were going to be portions of Hunters where Samus would control the Hunter Gunship, but they were dropped because they broke up the pace of the gameplay.

Samus's ship sets a flight path for the coordinates 78.67.863 in Echoes, though Landing Beacons are present to designate specific landing sites in Corruption.

All of Samus' gunships have a similar design on the front that somewhat resembles her helmet.

Samus's personal ships[]

Introduced in Metroid: Zero Mission[]

Main article: Starship (Zero Mission)

Games: Metroid: Zero Mission

Chronologically, this Starship is Samus's first personal ship featured in the Metroid timeline. It was used during her Zero Mission to planet Zebes. After escaping the destruction of Tourian, the Starship was shot down by Space Pirate vessels.

The Cosmo Liner in Victory Techniques for Metroid and Samus's small spaceship in Metroid: Zebes Invasion Order can both be considered early precursors to the canonical Starship.

Introduced in Metroid Prime[]

Main article: Gunship (Metroid Prime)

Games: Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime Pinball, Metroid Prime: Hunters

Following the destruction of Samus's original Starship, she uses a new Hunter-Class Gunship during her missions to Tallon IV and the Alimbic Cluster. The Metroid Prime website originally asserted that this Gunship was the same ship used in her mission to Zebes; following the release of Zero Mission, it is unconfirmed whether it is rebuilt from the Starship, or if this information has since been retconned as non-canonical.

Introduced in Metroid II: Return of Samus[]

Main article: Gunship (Return of Samus)

Games: Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Metroid: Other M, Metroid: Samus Returns

Samus's most iconic Gunship, which originally debuted in Metroid II: Return of Samus as the first ship in any Metroid game, makes its first chronological appearance in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and replaces the earlier Hunter Gunship. She uses this ship during her missions to Aether, SR388, and the BOTTLE SHIP, as well as her second mission to Zebes. It was ultimately destroyed when it crashed into the asteroid belt after Samus was infected by an X Parasite.

As her most recognizable ship, this Gunship frequently appears in other media, including cameos in other games such as Galactic Pinball, Nintendo Land, and the Super Smash Bros. series. It is also featured in various Metroid manga, including Samus & Joey and Metroid Prime: Episode of Aether.

Introduced in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption[]

Main article: Gunship (Corruption)

Games: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Metroid Prime: Federation Force, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Although her classic Gunship appears in Echoes, later entries in the Metroid Prime series feature a new Gunship, which was custom-built as a combination of Chozo and Galactic Federation technology. Samus uses this Hunter-Class Gunship during her missions in the Federation Solar System and the Bermuda System, notably using it to fly between planets and make use of its Ship Grapple Beam and Ship Missile capabilities.

Introduced in Metroid Fusion[]

Main article: Starship (Metroid Fusion)

Games: Metroid Fusion, Metroid Dread

After Samus's iconic Gunship was destroyed, the Galactic Federation issues a new Starship for Samus's use. This Starship's onboard computer is an artificial intelligence, eventually revealed to be the uploaded personality of Commander Adam Malkovich. Samus uses this Starship during her missions to the Biologic Space Laboratories research station and ZDR.

Other ships[]

Federation ships[]

In her early years as an officer, portrayed in the Magazine Z manga Samus hijacked a Galactic Federation ship.

Samus is shown piloting a Galactic Federation ship in the early Nintendo Comics System story The Coming of a Hero when she abandons the Federation for the bounty hunting life.

Escape Ship[]

Main article: Escape Ship

In Metroid: Zero Mission, Samus hijacks a Space Pirate Escape Ship while fleeing the Self-Destruct System of the Space Pirate Mother Ship.

A small Space Pirate spacecraft in Zebes Invasion Order plays a similar role.

Nintendo Comics System[]

"What's the matter? All I said was that Komaytos look like little Metr-"

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Non-canon warning: This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo.

Although earlier ships had appeared in Japanese media, Samus's first personal starship seen in any English media was the Hunter IV, which debuted in the Captain N: The Game Master comics. This ship is by far the largest ship known to be owned by Samus. Like the Cosmo Liner, it may be considered an early non-canonical precursor to the Starship from Zero Mission.

In Money Changes Everything, Samus and Kevin Keene hijack a space shuttle loaded with Zeebetite headed to Metroid. Samus lists "a new space shuttle" among her spoils from that mission, indicating that she intends to keep it. Coincidentally, the shuttle's design somewhat resembles the Starship from Metroid Fusion.

In When Friends Fall Out, Samus Aran is shown to have many other aircraft and spacecraft (along with tanks and piles of other weapons) that she had collected and stored in The Locker.

Trivia[]

• Japanese media consistently refers Samus's ship as her Starship (スターシップ^?), while English media tends to alternate between calling it a Starship (or Star Ship) and Gunship. "Starship" is more commonly used in earlier media, while "Gunship" has seen greater traction since its first use in Metroid Prime.

References[]