Dark Visor

The Dark Visor is a Visor upgrade in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Designed by the Luminoth during the war, it was used by the Champion of Aether, A-Kul, to penetrate Dark Aether's haze in battle against the Ing. However, at some point it was stolen from the Luminoth by the enemy, possibly taken after her death, and placed in the Dark Torvus Temple. Samus Aran reclaimed the Dark Visor after defeating the guardian of Dark Torvus's temple, Chykka.
The Dark Visor allows Samus to see interdimensionally between Aether and Dark Aether, letting her see objects such as platforms which are in a state of dimensional flux between the two worlds. The Dark Visor adds a noticeable amount of static to Samus' visor and gives her a black and white view of the world, with the exception of transdimensional objects and most living creatures or robots. It also reveals Seeker Launcher pods which are normally hidden from Samus' view. The Dark Visor doubles as a combat Visor, so Samus is able to use her weapons while the visor is active. Forms of Ing which cannot normally be locked onto, such as the Warrior Ing's liquid-form and the Hunter Ing's gaseous state, can now be targeted. Most of these improvements in sight and targeting only apply if the target is in the Dark Visor's special Sight Window; everything remains black and white with no targeting improvements if viewed outside that window, though invisible objects are still seen. When an enemy receives damage, it flashes a bright pink/white temporarily. Visor Opacity affects the red outlines on and around the Dark Visor. If Visor Opacity is lowered to 00, these red outlines will vanish.
As normal, the Dark Visor displays the Missile count and Ammo supplies on the right, and Danger levels on the left. It turns the Targeting Reticule orange when not targeting an enemy and red when an enemy is being targeted. The blue outlines around the inside of the helmet's visor also change to red when in use. A faint humming can be heard when using the Dark Visor, but it is usually drowned out by other sounds in the game.Visor Test (00 Opacity)
==Official data==
===Metroid Prime 2: Echoes manual===
;DARK VISOR
:"Once Samus finds the Dark Visor, she can better see through Dark Aether's poisonous haze and identify invisible and interdimensional objects and creatures. This visor will show the weak points of certain enemies or objects, and is a huge help in total darkness or poor weather."
===Metroid Prime Trilogy manual===
;Dark Visor
:"This visor will allow you to see objects and creatures that exist in the dimensional rift that can't be seen with the naked eye. Targets, such as creatures, will be displayed in red."
===Metroid Prime 2: Echoes acquisition message===
"Dark Visor acquired!Press [Control Pad (Right)] to activate Visor./Press [-] then point left to activate Visor.Additional data downloaded to Inventory Screen. Press [START]/[2] to access the Inventory Screen."
===Inventory data===
===Metroid Prime 2: Echoes: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;DARK VISOR
:"The Dark Visor has the same heads-up display as the Combat Visor, but it makes the world appear in a haze of static. Living creatures will be bright red when viewed through the Dark Visor. You can also use the visor to see cloaked enemies or items."
==Development notes==
Michael Kelbaugh disliked Jack Mathews' initial Dark Visor, which included "trails" that looked to Kelbaugh like it was 16-bit.Kiwi Talkz. "#116 - Jack Mathews Interview (Metroid Prime Trilogy, Prototypes, Business, Armature Studios etc.)". YouTube. November 26, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2022. (starts at 23:16)
An unused Logbook entry exists for the Dark Visor within the data of the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc. Its entry is significantly different from the final's. In fact, the Bonus Disc entry is near identical to the Thermal Visor entry from Metroid Prime, to which the Dark Visor is based off of. The Dark Visor can be hacked in-game during demo play, where it appears near identical to the final. Interestingly, the Dark Visor will impair Samus's vision if she views a Safe Zone with this Visor on. It isn't clear if this fact is intentionally stated in the Bonus Disc Logbook entry. This weakness was most likely removed in the final due to the over-abundance of Safe Zones, as this may have impaired gameplay (an example could be the need for the Dark Visor & Seeker Missile combo on Dark Aether). Despite removing the Visor's weakness to Safe Zones in the final, one such Safe Zone located in the Undertemple can still impair the Dark Visor's vision. This detail may have been overlooked by developers.
==Trivia==
*The Dark Visor bears a close resemblance in function to the X-Ray and Thermal Visors in Metroid Prime in that it allows Samus to see objects and enemies invisible to the naked eye, as well as allowing her to see easier in darkness or locations with poor weather.
*Non-hardened forms of Phazon are transparent when viewed through the Dark Visor. This allows Samus to get a slightly better view of rooms containing the substance, but it has the consequence of making Dark Samus's particles (one of the main signs of her presence) invisible to the Dark Visor.
*The Dark Visor does not highlight certain living targets such as U-Mos and maintenance units because they pose no threat to Samus. However, it does highlight moths, birds, fish, and Serenity Class Drones, despite them not being hostile either.
*If Samus encounters a Kralee, and if the Kralee phases out of dimension, Samus cannot harm it, even if she fires a beam or missile in the location it is in. However, if it phases out of dimension, and Samus has her Dark Visor active, the Kralee can be killed.
*The Dark Visor is the only Visor that moves the boss health bar when used during combat with bosses, in this case to the bottom of the visor.
==Gallery==
Dark_visor.png|Samus uses the Dark Visor to see invisible platforms, which she can use to escape the Dark Torvus Temple.
Dark Visor 2.png|Acquiring the Dark Visor.
Amorbis Dark Visor (Gamecube).png|A temple Guardian being locked-on to with the Dark Visor.
Dark Visor No Visor & Helmet Opacity.png|The Dark Visor without both Helmet and Visor Opacity. A low Visor Opacity removes the red outlines from and around the sight window.
Dark Visor Dark Visor.png|The Dark Visor highlighted by the Dark Visor (via hacking).
Bonus Disc Dark Visor Logbook.png|The Dark Visor's Logbook entry in the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc.
Dark Visor Bonus Disc.png|The Dark Visor used in Bonus Disc (via hacking). Has slightly brighter lighting and less static effect compared to the final version's.
==References==
ru:Забрало Тьмы
Category:Dark Torvus Bog
Category:Luminoth Technology
Category:Visors
Category:Dimensional