Save Station

:This article refers to the device. For other uses, see Save Station (Disambiguation).
Save Stations (called Save Points in Metroid II: Return of Samus or occasionally Save Rooms) are a recurring feature and type of room in the Metroid series. Save Stations allow Samus to save her progress (sometimes referred to in-game as a "data backup") during missions.
==Description==
Save Stations first debuted in Metroid II: Return of Samus and have appeared in every Metroid game since then, making the original Metroid, Metroid Prime Hunters, and Metroid Prime: Federation Force the only games without Save Stations (instead, Metroid uses Passwords; in Hunters, Samus can save at her Hunter Gunship; in Federation Force, progress is automatically saved between missions). In the games in which it is present, Samus's Gunship also functions as a Save Station that also refills health and ammunition, with the exception of Metroid II, where the Star Ship only serves to restore health and ammo, and Metroid Dread, where the Gunship is inaccessible until the very end of the game.
In the Prime series, Save Stations also act as Energy Charges, allowing Samus to recover all her health even if she chooses not to save her progress. Federation Troopers in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption also refer to Save Stations as Recharge Stations, although they do not replenish ammo like other Recharge Stations.
In Metroid: Other M, Save Stations are replaced by Navigation Booths, which act as Save Stations and also allow Samus to download map data. It is implied that the other soldiers in the 07th Platoon use them to communicate when separated.
==Design==
Save Stations vary in design throughout the series. The original save station from Metroid II: Return of Samus is nothing more than an ornate pole with a glowing top. Super Metroid features a capsule-like design, but in Metroid Fusion and Metroid: Zero Mission save points are weight-sensitive platforms. Metroid Prime's (designed by Don Hogan (dead link)) and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes's have several "working fingers" that project beams of light which seem to restore Samus' suit energy. In Prime these are constantly extended, but in Echoes they descend for saving and ascend when the process has completed. In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption they appear revamped, with a more simplistic and sleek design which functions almost exactly the same as in Fusion. Metroid: Other M's Navigation Booths are also simplistic touch-sensitive platforms, which restore energy in a similar way to the ones seen in Corruption. The varying designs can probably be attributed to the different planets they appear on, and the cultures of the races that made them.
In Metroid Dread, Save Rooms feature Chozo statuary, a further sign of their presence on ZDR. They are shown to be holding something on their shoulders. Their pose references the ancient Greek Titan Atlas, who was condemned to hold the heavens on his shoulders for all of eternity.
==Official data==
===Metroid II: Return of Samus manual===
;About Saving The Game
:"You may only save the game when you reach a SAVE POINT. These will appear during game play.When Samus stands on the SAVE POINT, the message "SAVE...PRESS START" will appear at the bottom of the screen.Press the START Button and your progress will be saved. When "SAVE...COMPLETED" appears, you may continue playing the game, or you may turn the power switch to "OFF" so that you may resume your game later.There are several SAVE POINTS in the game. The last save made will be the point at which Samus' status will be recorded.This game has battery back up, so saved data will be stored even if the GAME BOY is turned off."
===Metroid II: Return of Samus Virtual Console manual===
;Saving Data
:"Press [START] while standing on top of a save point to save your game to the slot you selected at the title screen. Save data records your current location and condition. There are multiple save points located throughout the game."
===Super Metroid manual===
;DATA SAVE UNITS
:"Data save units are found in each area. If you bring Samus into one of these, you will be prompted to save the game data.To save the game data, select YES and press the A button.You can start the game over from where it was last saved."
===Super Metroid Nintendo Player's Guide===
;SAVE POINT
:"When she steps into one of these pods, Samus has the option of saving her progress in the mission. With notable exceptions in Tourian, it's a good idea to Save your progress often."
===Super Metroid Players' Guide===
Save Stations are referred to as data save units in this guide. The name is also present in every version of the manual.
;Terminals (page 8)
:"These are fairly liberally spread across the levels. It's usually wise to use them as you find them because this is where you will restart should you get killed. To save a game, simply stand inside the unit and a message will pop up asking whether or not you wish to save. Select yes and saving will occur. Location: All areas."
Saving Data: "Data save units are found in each area. If you bring Samus into one of these, you will be prompted to save the game data. Select YES to do so. You'll then be able to start the game over from where it was last saved."
;Data Copy Mode
:"Select the data that you wish to copy, press the A button, then select the file you wish to copy the data to and press A again. Select yes to confirm your choice."
;Data Clear Mode
:"Select the data you wish to clear, press the A button and select yes to confirm."
===Nintendo Power Volume 95===
;SAVE POINTS
:"Save your progress at these stations. Save your lowest time on one file."
===Logbook entries===
===Inventory data (Ship Save Station)===
===Metroid Prime 2: Echoes scan===
"Save StationStep into these stations to save your game and fully restore your energy."
===Metroid Fusion manual===
;SAVING
:"After saving, the game will continue from the last Save Room. Don't forget that the only way to save a game is by accessing a Save Room."
;SAVING GAME DATA
:"When you access a Save Station in a Save Room, the game will ask if you want to save.Select YES with the +Control Pad, and press the A Button to confirm. A message will display confirming save completion.*If the power is turned OFF during game play, the game will continue from the last saved point." 
;SAVE STATIONS
:"Save current game data in these areas."
===Metroid Fusion: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;Save Room
:"You can save mission data in Save Rooms. If you lose all energy reserves, you'll start over at the last Save Room."
===Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;SAVE STATION
:"The Save Station is a lifesaver, no matter where you are in the game. Each time you encounter one, you'll want to save your game. Even if you haven't made significant progress, the room will restore any energy you might have lost."
===Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide===
;SAVE STATIONS
:"Save Stations are key locations because they allow you to save your progress. If you run out of energy, you'll be able to return only to the last save location visited. Save Stations are also very handy because they completely replenish Samus's energy and ammunition!"
:Replenishment Point
:"The Save Station at Samus's ship at the landing site can be used for replenishing energy and ammunition. Other Save Stations can be used to replenish energy, without saving if you wish. It can sometimes be beneficial to replenish energy without saving, in these cases, select 'No' when asked if you want to save the game. The energy and ammunition refill then happen automatically."
===Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide===
;Stations
:"A SAVE STATION will allow you to save your game (when you restart you'll begin from that particular room), while fully replenishing all of your Energy Tanks."
===Metroid: Zero Mission manual===
;SAVING THE GAMESaving Game Data
:"When you save the game, you can turn it OFF and resume playing from where you last saved--either in a Save Room or at Samus's spaceship. These are the only places the game can be saved, and it will only be saved if you choose to do so.Enter a Save Room and stand on the Save Unit to access the option to save game data.Use the +Control Pad to choose "Yes" and press the A Button to confirm. When "Save Complete" appears, your game has been successfully saved.NOTE!If you turn the power OFF while playing without saving the game, you will have to restart from the last place you saved. If you've never saved, you'll have to restart from the beginning."
;Save Rooms
:"You can save your game progress in these rooms."
===Metroid Prime 3: Corruption manual===
;CONTINUING/SAVING
:"WHENEVER YOU FIND A SAVE STATION OR ENTER SAMUS'S SHIP, YOU WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF SAVING YOUR GAME. WHEN YOU SELECT AN ACTIVE FILE FROM THE MAIN MENU, YOU WILL CONTINUE FROM THE SPOT YOU LAST SAVED. SAVE STATIONS COMPLETELY REPLENISH SAMUS'S ENERGY, AND HER SHIP ALSO REPLENISHES HER WEAPONS."
===Metroid Prime Trilogy manual===
;Save Stations
:"Save Stations are installed in many locations. In addition to being able to save your status, you can also restore your energy, so try to save as often as possible."
===Metroid Prime Series notification===
"Game has been saved. Energy fully replenished."
===Metroid: Samus Returns website===
Note: This is a general description for all stations in the game, including Energy, Ammo, Save and Teleport Stations.
;Stations
:"These mysterious machines let you recharge your energy or ammo, save your progress, or travel quickly between areas—but you must locate them first!"
===Metroid: Samus Returns manual===
;Save Station
:"Stand on the plate to save."
===Metroid: Samus Returns Official Guide===
;WALKTHROUGH - SURFACE (p. 36)
:SAVE STATIONS
:"To save your progress before you turn off the game, use one of the plentiful Save Stations scattered throughout SR388. In addition to Save Stations, the game provides a checkpoint every time you pick up a new suit upgrade, transition between areas, and before and after you encounter a boss, but nowhere else. This means that if you've collected a bunch of upgrades but haven't saved or encountered a boss in a while and your perish, you're sent back to your previous checkpoint and lose all upgrades and progress you've gained afterward. Save Stations help bridge the gap between checkpoints, so make use of them whenever you notice you haven't faced a boss in some time. You'll be glad you did."
===Metroid.nintendo.com===
"Manually save your progress. (Whew.)"
==Development notes==
In Fusion, there is an unused alternate save platform, which is thin and pink in color, and appears to be energy-based rather than mechanical.biospark. Metroid Fusion - Unused Sprite Animations. YouTube. June 21, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGnwul2oWMc (starts at 3:08)
Mike Wikan said regarding the Save Stations in Prime:
Clark Wen hid an Easter egg in the sound heard when Samus uses or resumes from a Save Station in Prime. The sound was inspired by a beeping fanfare from the 1971 film Walkabout, during the scene where the children protagonists survive their first night in the Australian outback.DidYouKnowGaming? "Metroid Prime Devs Share Secrets (EXCLUSIVE)". YouTube. April 17, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022. (starts at 8:26)
According to Kynan Pearson, Retro Studios designers designed "pickup rooms" in Echoes, including Save Stations and small optional rooms with expansions, in a single day.Kiwi Talkz. "#114 - Kynan Pearson Interview (Metroid Prime 2, Donkey Kong, Level Design, Management etc.)". YouTube. November 12, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2022. (starts at 6:25)
Metroid Prime Hunters features no Save Stations other than the Hunter Gunship. However, unused text "SAVE STATIONwould you like to save your progress?" suggests Save Stations were planned but scrapped.
==Trivia==
thumb|right|Metroid Prime concept art.
*During Echoes, Samus' shoulder pads "relax" when saving, adopting a lower position closer to the shoulders. They do the opposite when saving is completed, returning to their original higher position.
*In Zero Mission, all the Save Stations aboard the Space Pirate Mother Ship and in the Chozo Ruins in Chozodia restore health and weapons, while no others (except for Samus's Starship) do anything more than save the game. This may be because Zebesians do not drop Energy Capsules when killed.
*In Metroid Prime, if Samus loads the game at a Save Station previously visited, Samus can skip the scene. There is a glitch that makes the Save Station room "music" play throughout the area after she's done this, and exits the room quickly (excluding boss battles).
*In Metroid Prime and Echoes, Save Station rooms feature a unique ambience, shared with Map Stations in the former game. In Zero Mission, the classic Silence theme plays in Save Rooms, and the Save Rooms in Dread use another unique theme.
*In Super Smash Bros., Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, Samus makes her appearance by emerging out of a Super Metroid-style Save Station.
*In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, green light is seen flashing through her Gunship's windshield while she recharges.
*In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Samus Aran's Appearance Fanfare does not play when starting a game or respawning unlike in Prime or Echoes. It does, however, play when Samus lands on a planet or other location.
*Some of the more recent Metroid games have featured checkpoints in addition to Save Stations, although the checkpoint is lost if the game is turned off.
==Gallery==
SMSave.PNG|Artwork of Samus in a Save Station, Super Metroid
SaveMII.png|Samus begins from a Save Point in Metroid II: Return of Samus.
Super_Metroid_00141.png|The very first Save Station in Crateria in Super Metroid.
MF_savepoint.png|Samus at a Save Station in Metroid Fusion.
SaveMZM.png|Zero Suit Samus uses the first Save Station on board the Space Pirate Mother Ship in Metroid: Zero Mission.
Save_Station_Primr.png|Samus uses a Save Station in Metroid Prime.
Samus_Save_Station_Power_Suit.jpg|Samus replenishes her Energy in a Save Station, Metroid Prime.
Save_Station_Echoes.png|Samus uses a Save Station in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
Samussave.gif|Animation.
Varia_suit_save.png|Samus begins from a Save Station in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.
Mp3 ship missile upgrade.png|Ship Save Station Inventory model (Corruption).
Save Station rip.png|Prime Save Station rip.
MSR Needler or Tsumuri.png|Metroid: Samus Returns
Odin-fernandez-moreno-chozo-assets-low-1.jpg|Odín Fernández render
Odin-fernandez-moreno-chozo-assets-2.jpg
Metroid Dread Save Room.png|Metroid Dread
Dread NSO icons.jpg|Nintendo Switch Online icon.
==References==
ru:Станция Сохранения
 
Category:Stations
Category:Zebes
Category:Tallon IV
Category:Aether
Category:GFS Olympus
Category:Bryyo
Category:Elysia
Category:Pirate Homeworld
Category:SR388
Category:BSL
Category:ZDR
Category:Research
Category:Don Hogan
Category:Chozo technology
Category:BOTTLE SHIP