Dark Samus: Difference between revisions

'''Dark Samus''' ({{ja|ダークサムス|Dāku Samusu}}, ''Dark Samus'') is a character from the {{uv|Metroid}} series. Originally appearing as a [[metroidwiki:Metroid Prime (specimen)|gigantic, heavily mutated Metroid]] that plagued {{s|metroidwiki|Tallon IV}} alongside the very toxic mutagen called {{s|metroidwiki|Phazon}}, Dark Samus is the primary antagonist of the [[metroidwiki:Metroid Prime: Trilogy|''Metroid Prime'' trilogy]] and one of [[Samus Aran]]'s greatest foes alongside [[Ridley]] and [[Mother Brain]].

After making cameos as a [[trophy]] and [[sticker]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', and as a trophy and [[Assist Trophy]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', Dark Samus transitioned into a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.

[[metroidwiki:Metroid Prime (specimen)|Metroid Prime]], the titular creature and final boss of the game ''Metroid Prime'', was defeated by [[Samus Aran]] within the {{s|metroidwiki|Impact Crater}}. It lashed out at Samus and stole her {{s|metroidwiki|Phazon Suit}} upgrade before dissolving into a pool of Phazon. While Samus evacuated the collapsing crater, Metroid Prime had, unbeknownst to her, survived the battle. In a post-credits stinger scene, an armored hand emerged from the same Phazon pool, signaling the rebirth of Metroid Prime as a Phazon-based cyborg: Dark Samus. This hybrid acquired all of Samus' abilities, as well as a human-like sapience. However, she was also obsessed with consuming Phazon, a trait retained from her time as Metroid Prime.

Dark Samus, as she would come to be known by the Space Pirates, is mentioned by the Pirate Logs in ''Metroid Prime 2: Echoes''. They initially assume she is Samus wearing a new suit, but are disturbed as she only cares about absorbing the Phazon mined on {{s|metroidwiki|Aether}}. Her meddling results in the Pirates' operation being discovered by the Galactic Federation, leading to Samus' arrival. Dark Samus attacks Samus on sight, and the two fight multiple times across Aether. Once Samus defeats the {{s|metroidwiki|Ing}} and triggers the dimensional collapse of Dark Aether, Dark Samus interrupts her escape. Overloaded by Phazon, she holds her own against Samus despite the latter's powerful {{s|metroidwiki|Light Suit}}, but is ultimately bested again. She then disintegrates after failing to steal Samus' Light Suit, and appears to perish in Dark Aether.

Following this defeat, ''Metroid Prime 3: Corruption'' opens with Dark Samus' remains being unknowingly collected by the Space Pirates, allowing her to reconstitute in one of their Phazon transports. She absorbs all Phazon aboard the ship, which further develops her sapience alongside streamlining her physical body. Thanks to this sapience, Dark Samus brainwashes the Pirates with Phazon and initiates a new goal: galactic conquest via the spread of Phazon. Leading the brainwashed Pirates, including a revived [[Ridley|Meta Ridley]], Dark Samus begins by capturing {{s|metroidwiki|Aurora Unit 313}}, a Federation supercomputer, and implants it into {{s|metroidwiki|Phaaze}}, the sentient planet that is the source of all Phazon. Through this conduit, Dark Samus controls the spread of Phazon by launching Phaaze's {{s|metroidwiki|Leviathan}}s, living Phazon asteroids that corrupt the planets they strike into Phazon wastelands. She targets key Federation planets to cripple their galactic defenses.