Parasite

:This article is about the creature in the Metroid Prime series. For other uses, see Parasite (Disambiguation).
The ParasiteMetroid Prime Logbook entryMetroid Prime PinballMetroid Prime: Federation Force or Parasite LarvaMetroid Prime Pirate Data (PAL version only)Biohazard Containment Scan is a hardy species native to Tallon IV.
==Description==
Parasites are able to adapt to any environment within three generations.Ice Parasite Logbook entry Parasites were selected for Phazon mutation by the Space Pirates for its species' resilience. Although they are repeatedly stated to be indigenous to Tallon IV, the normal variant is never found once Samus Aran makes planetfall in Metroid Prime; only the Plated Parasite and Ice Parasite strains are encountered instead.
Parasites hatch from eggs, presumably laid from the tail orifice of females. The Space Pirates used Phazon to genetically modify some female Parasite specimens into the largest known variant called Parasite Queens, which are seen on Frigate Orpheon in Metroid Prime and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Similar-looking corpses can be seen on Elysia's Xenoresearch Labs, suggesting that the Pirates were still attempting to make use of them after the Frigate Orpheon incident, although ordinary Parasites are not seen on Elysia.
Parasites do almost no damage. At the beginning of Metroid Prime, they are encountered in swarms, and explode upon contact, splattering their green blood on Samus's visor. They can impede vision because of this, but little else.
Parasites also appear in Metroid Prime Pinball, where they appear on the Tallon Overworld pinball stage along with the mini-game Parasite Purge. In this game, they appear with a very different design that more closely resembles a Grizby. The manual refers to this creature as new strain of the Parasites.
Although they are native to Tallon IV, Parasites are also classified as interstellar vermin. This is demonstrated in Metroid Prime: Federation Force, in which Parasites are present on Talvania during the first part of M06: Infiltration, and within the Excelcion Federation mining outpost in M15: Mother Lode. In the latter mission, they spawn from a destructible hive.
==Locations==
*Air Lock (deceased)
*Emergency Evacuation Area
*Cargo Freight Lift to Deck Gamma
*Map Facility
*Biohazard Containment (deceased)
*Subventilation Shaft Section A
*Subventilation Shaft Section B
*Main Ventilation Shaft Section A
*Main Ventilation Shaft Section C
==Official data==
===Logbook entry===
===Pirate Data===
===Biohazard Containment===
===Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide===
;Parasites
:"Parasites aren't very dangerous unless they are swarming. When in tunnels, they swarm in a spiraling pattern and must be taken out as quickly as possible. A couple hits from these creatures isn't fatal, but a few hundred hits can be."
;Parasite
:Found In: Space Pirate Frigate
:Recommended Weapon: Any
:"Parasites travel in swarms and are found in tunnels and corridors. A few of them aren't dangerous, but a few hundred can be fatal. Shoot as many as possible from a distance. The Power Beam is quick enough for you to destroy most of them before they reach you. Parasites are suicidal in nature. They hurl themselves at you when you draw near. In most cases, it's best to just enter Morph Ball mode and run through them quickly. You shouldn't take more than a couple of points of damage in this manner." 
===Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;PARASITE
:"Parasites are common creatures. They are harmless alone but can be a nuisance in numbers. Once you reach the surface of Tallon IV, you'll discover many different breeds of Parasite--some of which are quite difficult to take down. For the moment, just blast them with the Power Beam."
===Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide===
;PARASITE
:MORPHOLOGY
:"The Parasite is an interstellar vermin that travels in swarms and is indigenous to Tallon IV. A single Parasite is harmless to larger life forms. However, they tend to travel in large groups, swarming over potential prey."
:COMBAT TIPS
:"Parasite swarms are generally not a major threat, although if Samus' energy is low and she gets caught in the middle of a swarm they may be able to overwhelm her. Use auto-targeting and the Power Beam to take out the majority of the Parasite Swarms encountered. Turning into a Morph Ball and rolling past them is an effective way to getting past a Parasite swarm."
===Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide===
;PARASITE
:"These small creatures like to feed on dead Space Pirates, but scurry as you approach. They will later travel in swarms. Encountering them in either circumstance is no cause for alarm--they do very little damage, and die with one Power Beam blast."
===Metroid Prime Pinball manual===
thumb|Metroid Prime Pinball variant
"A new strain of parasitic creature that are dangerous in numbers"
==Development notes==
The Parasite was called Parasitic larva in the beta demo and early press materials.:File:IGN Unplugged Issue 15 2002-08 IGN.com US 0007.jpg
According to Jack Mathews, the tech lead for Prime, it was notably challenging to render large swarms of Parasites on the GameCube without impacting performance. This may have been the reason why the regular Parasites were only found on the Orpheon despite it being made clear they were indigenous to Tallon IV.
Three Parasites appear under the floor in Deck Alpha Access Hall. Internally, they are named Larry, Curly and Moe, after the Three Stooges.Shinesparkers. "Top Facts You Didn't Know About Metroid". December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
==Trivia==
*The deceased Parasite specimens encountered in stasis on the Frigate Orpheon are noticeably larger than the escaped living ones.
*The Parasites aboard the Frigate Orpheon are what allow Samus to escape the ship with her life. Parasite swarms that had infested the ventilation shafts prior to Samus' arrival cause the ventilation caps to overheat and finally blow off while Samus is evacuating. This opens a new route through the ventilation shafts that must be taken since the old route is inaccessible.
*Although Parasites onboard the Frigate do possess a heat signature (seen with the Thermal Visor via hacking), the large swarms of Parasites inside the Ventilation Shafts do not.
==Gallery==
Metroid prime image5.jpg|Parasites in a beta version of Prime.
Air Lock.jpg|Floating Parasite corpses in the Air Lock.
NPC!_MP_Screen_3.png|A swarm of Parasites.
Xtra parasite.jpg|Metroid Prime commercial
Parasite placeholder image.png|Placeholder images viewable in a glitch.
Parasite placeholder image 2.png|Placeholder images
ParasiteScan3.png|Placeholder images
Parasite.png|Parasite model from Metroid Prime
OrangeParasite.png|Unused orange variant present in the game's data.
BetaParasite.png|Corpse model seen in Biohazard Containment, which has only 4 eyes and a much fleshier body than standard Parasites.
Parasite Thermal.png|Parasites seen through the Thermal Visor (via hacking).
Parasite Stasis Thermal.png|A Parasite contained from the Biohazard Containment. Viewed from the Thermal Visor (via hacking).
Parasite Swarm Frozen.png|Swarm of Parasites frozen by the Ice Spreader (via hacking).
ONM Metroid, War Wasp and Parasite magnets.jpg|Official Nintendo Magazine magnet.
MPR Parasites.png|Parasites in Metroid Prime Remastered
Dead Parasite in Air Lock (MPR).png|A dead Parasite in the Air Lock, Remastered.
Character Gallery - Parasites.png|Metroid Prime Remastered Character Gallery
Biology - Remastered 25.png|Metroid Prime Remastered artwork
==References==
ru:Паразит
Category:Frigate Orpheon
Category:Offspring
Category:Parasite Family
Category:Recurring Species
Category:Species
Category:Swarms
Category:Tallon IV
Category:Tallon Overworld
Category:Talvania
Category:Excelcion