Ice Missile

Ice Missiles (アイスミサイル Aisu Misairu) are a type of Missile used by Samus Aran in the Metroid series. As the name implies, these Missiles strike the enemy with extreme cold, providing a freezing effect when the Ice Beam may not be available.
In all three of its current appearances, the Ice Missile is a direct upgrade that completely replaces the previous Missile type.
==Description==
=== In Metroid Fusion===
Due to the Metroid DNA vaccine that Samus is injected with in Metroid Fusion, the Galactic Federation correctly assumes that Samus inherits the creatures' weakness to cold and thus she cannot use the Ice Beam. As a workaround, the Federation synthesizes and supplies Ice Missiles for her mission on the BSL research station, so that the use of a freezing effect in combat is still available. This implies that Missiles are not as closely integrated to Samus' body as Beam weapons are. These missiles deal 33% more damage than Super Missiles (from 30 to 40 damage), or four times as much damage as regular Missiles. Their tips are colored orange.
In the game, these are later upgraded to Diffusion Missiles, which augment their freezing range with a charge capability, allowing them to freeze targets in an very large area. Their appearance and effect resembles a cross between a Power Bomb and a Super Missile.
=== In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption===
Ice Missiles appear in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, chronologically the first time Samus used them. In addition to the ability to slow down and freeze enemies, they can now be used to create temporary platforms in liquid Fuel Gel and to remove White Blast Shields. Instead of immediately freezing enemies upon contact, the Ice Missiles in Corruption will explode and damage the enemy in a similar way to a normal Missile. During the explosion, ice shards are released, which then compact around the enemy and trap it in an icy 'shell'. This shell impedes their movement or freezes them completely. If the target is not entirely frozen, its movements will slow to a crawl; a second Ice Missile will then freeze the enemy completely. Notably, if the enemy is killed in the initial explosion, the ice shards will not vanish.
Ice Missiles are particularly effective against Warp Hounds and their masters, the Reptilicus. Phazon Metroids, despite extensive mutation, retain the species' vulnerability to cold. These enemies all have a way to avoid the Ice Missile however: Warp Hounds and Reptilicus teleport and Phazon Metroids can warp out of local spacetime, which means Samus usually has to find the right opportunity to use them against these creatures.
Samus acquires the Ice Missile after defeating Rundas in the Temple of Bryyo. The power-up was a result of Rundas's cryokinesis.
===In Metroid Dread===
Ice Missiles return in Metroid Dread, as first revealed by Volume 6 of the Metroid Dread Report. They are acquired by destroying E.M.M.I.-05IM in Ghavoran.
Ice Missiles deal ~33% more damage than Super Missiles. In addition to their typical use on enemies, they are required to destroy the fiery Enky. Larger enemies require multiple Ice Missile hits before fully freezing. The Ice Missile can freeze certain platform plants in Ghavoran to keep them from retracting, but most frozen enemy creatures can no longer be used as midair platforms; in a departure from previous Metroid games, Samus will simply take damage on contact as if the enemies were not frozen. Some wall-based enemies such as the Sunnap are an exception and can still be stood on when frozen by an Ice Missile. Hitting a fully-frozen enemy with the Melee Counter will instantly kill it like in Metroid: Samus Returns; this combat method has now been dubbed an Ice Breaker. Firing an Ice Missile out of lava while submerged in it will negate its ice properties, reducing it to a regular Super Missile.NintenDoge. "Metroid Dread has amazing detail" YouTube. October 24, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021. Firing within lava causes the Ice Missile to melt.Looygi Bros. "20 Cool Details in Metroid Dread" YouTube. November 26, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
==Official data==
===Metroid Fusion manual===
;ICE
:"Use Ice Missiles to freeze enemies for a limited time. Samus can walk on frozen enemies."
===Metroid Fusion website ===
"The Ice Missile upgrade allows Samus to freeze certain enemies, but the effect lasts for only a few moments."
===Metroid Fusion in-game acquisition message===
"Ice effect added to Missiles.Use it to freeze enemies." 
===Metroid Fusion: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;ICE MISSILE
:"You can use some enemies as stepping-stones to reach out-of-the-way areas. Before you can step onto them, you must freeze them with an Ice Missile. A single Ice Missile shot will stop an enemy in its tracks for several seconds. Hit the creature, jump onto it while it's frozen, then move before it thaws out.An Ice Missile detonation freezes most enemies momentarily. That's your cue to use them for a boost.Location - Sector 5"
===Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide===
;Ice Missile
:Location - Sector 5 
:Acquired By - Data download
:Controls - Hold [R] and tap [B]
:"This unique upgrade allows you to freeze any regular enemy (except bosses). You can even freeze the SA-X for a short time. However, it is most useful for freezing dangerous plants, so you can climb on them, or for shooting Rippers as they move back and forth across a room. A frozen Ripper makes a perfect stepping stone. Even a mighty Fune can be frozen when it is fully extended from a wall. While a creature is frozen, another Ice Missile will usually destroy it. If you don't fire again, the enemy will eventually thaw out and return to normal, so don't take too long to execute your maneuver." 
===Metroid Prime Trilogy manual===
;Ice Missile
:"If you have the Ice Missile, when it hits some enemies whose life energy is down, you will be able to freeze them."
=== Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Inventory data===
===Metroid Prime 3: Corruption acquisition message===
"Armorsuit upgrade acquired. Ice Missile online.Press [Control Pad (Down)] to fire. Capable of freezing enemies or liquids for short periods of time.Additional data downloaded to Inventory Screen."
===Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Premiere Edition===
;Ice Missile
:Location: Bryyo, Fiery
:Room: Temple of Bryyo
:"The Ice Missile enhances your current missiles and freezes enemies and certain liquids. Press [Control Pad (Down)] to fire an Ice Missile. Target and lock on with [Z] to fire a homing Ice Missile. Enemies struck by an Ice Missile are enveloped in shards of ice for a few moments, slowing their movement. Enemies who have been weakened in combat may freeze entirely and be unable to move or attack. Liquids such as fuel gel are highly susceptible to cold and will freeze when shot. Gel remains frozen for a short time before shattering.TIP: To freeze an enemy with an Ice Missile, hit it a few times with your beam weapon first. Once it's taken some damage, hit it with the Ice Missile. If the enemy sustained enough damage earlier or is vulnerable to ice attacks, the Ice Missile should freeze it upon contact. Finish it off with a charged shot, reducing it to ice shards."
===Metroid Dread Report Volume 6===
"A missile that has a freezing effect. Samus can easily destroy frozen enemies with follow-up attacks. Some enemies can even be used as platforms."
===Nintendo tweets===
; Nintendo of America
:"Additional Arm Cannon upgrades Samus can discover in #MetroidDread:
:🥶 Ice Missile: Freeze enemies in their tracks, destroying them with a follow-up or even using some as platforms.
:🎯 Storm Missile: Lock on up to five targets unleashing multiple small missiles in succession.Nintendo of America (NintendoAmerica). 31 August 2021 3:00 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1432780250312814594
;Nintendo of Europe/UK
:"Additional Arm Cannon upgrades available to Samus in #MetroidDread include Ice Missiles that freeze enemies in their tracks, and Storm Missiles which can lock onto five different targets at once (or one enemy five times!)."Nintendo of Europe (NintendoEurope). 2 September 2021 1:00 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/1433474847275986946 https://twitter.com/NintendoUK/status/1433474869295996940
===Metroid Dread Samus Screen===
==Development notes==
Ice Missiles were intended as a unique ability of Samus's in Metroid Tactics, an unrealized spinoff pitched by Paul Tozour while at Retro Studios. They would have frozen non-boss enemies for several turns.
==Trivia==
*Normally Samus freezes enemies with her beam weapon and shatters them with Missiles. However, in Fusion and Corruption, this is reversed, where Ice Missiles freeze enemies and the beam weapons shatter them.
**It is possible to shatter some frozen enemies in Metroid Prime using a charged Power Beam shot, but given the length of time it takes to freeze an enemy, switch beams and charge a Power Beam shot all before the enemy thaws out completely, this is rarely done.
*If Samus freezes a Reptilicus while it is throwing a chakram, the chakram will destroy the Reptilicus when it returns. This will earn Samus a Friend Voucher, "Icy Reptilicide."
* Page 43 of Nintendo Power issue #162 describes the Ice Missiles as having a "Freon-charged payload". In the real world, Freon is a trademark registered by Chemours, an American company that manufactures chemicals.
== Gallery ==
Ice Missile MP3.png|An Ice Missile fired in Corruption.
Gel refinery 5.png|Samus fires an Ice Missile at the target.
Gel refinery 7.png|The target is surrounded by shards of ice.
Gel refinery 6.png|The shards compress around the target, impeding movement or freezing it entirely.
Frozen Pirate.jpg|The effects of an Ice Missile on a Space Pirate.
Mp3 ice missile upgrade.png|Inventory model.
Metroid Dread Report Vol. 6 screenshot 15.jpg|Samus fires an Ice Missile at a Takumaku, Metroid Dread.
Metroid Dread Report Vol. 6 screenshot 16.jpg|The Takumaku is partially frozen.
==References==
ru:Ледяная Ракета
Category:Missiles
Category:Bryyo Fire
Category:Sector 5
Category:Ghavoran
Category:Ice weaponry
Category:Recurring Items
Category:Concussive weaponry
Category:Rundas
Category:Galactic Federation technology