Dark Suit

The Dark Suit is the first suit upgrade Samus Aran receives in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
==Background==
The Dark Suit was created by the Luminoth to better defend themselves against Dark Aether's atmosphere, and was once worn by A-Kul. Samus acquires the Dark Suit after defeating the Dark Agon Wastes' energy guardians, the Amorbis, which ruptures the Dark Sphere and causes it to explode, revealing the Dark Suit encased within.
The Dark Suit protects against dark vapor excreted by Ingclaws and filters out 80% of the corrosive effects of Dark Aether's atmosphere, so that Samus only loses 1.2 units of energy per second, as opposed to 6 per second with the Varia Suit.
==Appearance==
Visually, the suit is arguably the first dramatic departure from Samus' traditional Suit appearance since the addition of the Varia's shoulderpads in Metroid II: Return of Samus. Most noticeably it features darker, more muted colors than previous upgrades, and replaces the traditional spherical features on her shoulders with rounded wheel- or disc-like protrusions.
Two pointed struts protrude from the back, but these seem to be meant to support the Gravity Boost once acquired. Upon acquisition of the Gravity Boost, the Dark Suit's bulk increases slightly at the rear of the torso.
At this point the suit rather resembles a Luminoth, with a near-spherical torso, minimal neck showing, and various red orbs dotting the exterior. It is also worth noting that these red orbs, prior to the acquisition of the Gravity Boost, are featured on her back in a triad closely resembling the Dark Amorbis' eyes; this is also similar to the three diodes on the back of the Fusion Suit, which is said to resemble Metroid nuclei. It also resembles the various visual aspects of Ing possession, especially possessed technology such as Quadraxis and the Ingsmashers. The visor's shape is also closer in appearance to Dark Samus's visor. The item form design is the Screw Attack logo, with a dark brown coloring between the S and outer silver ring, and three glowing red circles on each side of the S.
==Official data==
===Metroid Prime 2: Echoes manual===
;DARK SUIT
:"Once Samus finds the Dark Suit, she will be able to resist the poisonous atmosphere of Dark Aether to a certain extent. Dark matter attacks and extreme toxins will still injure her."
===Metroid Prime 2: Echoes acquisition message===
"Dark Suit acquired!The damaging effects of Dark Aether will do less damage to you.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 Suit
:"The Dark Suit will decrease the amount of damage you take in the Dark World, but it won't negate it completely. It also lets you see the world with a slight reddish tint."
===Super Smash Bros. Brawl Trophy===
"A Power Suit that reduces damage taken from the atmosphere of Dark Aether. It is obtained after defeating Amorbis in the Dark Torvus Temple [sic]. With its increased protection, it greatly widens the range of exploration available in the toxic atmosphere. This suit was developed by the Luminoth, the native race of Aether."
GCN Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
===Sticker===
*Dark Suit Samus - Metroid Prime 2: Echoes [Throwing] Attack +16 (All)
===Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Trophy===
"No, not what you might wear to a formal party - this is one of the Power Suit types in Samus's arsenal. The Varia Suit might have the most iconic look, but its defensive capabilities are sadly lacking. On Dark Aether, this suit will be much more useful. The Luminoth created it to mitigate the deadly substances in the planet's air."
==Super Smash Bros. series==
One of the alternate costumes Samus can wear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and subsequent games has the color scheme of the Dark Suit, although it retains the shape of the Varia Suit.
In Brawl, the Dark Suit is available as a sticker. The Dark Suit is also a trophy in Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Dark Suit is a Primary Spirit that can be purchased from Sheldon's Place, costing 1000 SP. It is an Advanced class spirit with the Shield type, giving it an advantage over Attack types but vulnerability to Grab types. When it reaches level 99, the Dark Suit can be enhanced, transforming it into the Legend class Light Suit; this mimics Samus's acquisition of the two suits in Echoes.
SSBBDarkSuit.jpg|Samus wearing the Dark Suit colors on Norfair in Super Smash Bros Brawl.
BrawlTrophy11.jpg|The Dark Suit's appearance as a trophy in Brawl.
Dark Suit Trophy.jpg|The trophy without text.
SSB4 Samus Alt 4.jpeg|Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U
Samus SSB4 palette swaps 1-4.png|The Dark Suit costume in Wii U (far left)
SSBU Samus Alt. Costume - Dark Suit.png|Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
==Development notes==
Mike Wikan said in a Facebook comment that the Dark Suit was his favorite design.Michael Wikan: "And the Dark Suit is still my favorite suit design." September 26, 2020 4:12 p.m. https://www.facebook.com/shinesparkers/posts/5064736973552418?__tn__=-R
Android Jones said he had much more freedom to experiment with the designs of the Dark and Light Suits in Echoes, compared to the Varia Suit in Metroid Prime. The duality of the Luminoth and Ing served as an inspiration for Jones.Murphy, L.D. The Story Of Retro Studios' Secret Weapon In The Development Of Metroid Prime. Time Extension. November 18, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022. https://www.timeextension.com/features/the-story-of-retro-studios-secret-weapon-in-the-development-of-metroid-prime
Within the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc, Inventory data for the Dark Suit can be found inside the Data Network. There is minor changes in text from the final; dark matter was changed to dark energy, and extreme toxins was removed. It is unclear if the latter refers to Ingclaw toxins, which the Suit protects against in the final. It is important to note that in the final, the suit didn't protect against all toxic substances found on Dark Aether, and Samus still receives damage from its atmosphere, but at a lower rate. Curious to note is that the final game's manual uses rearranged text from the Demo's Inventory scan. The suit's full ingame effects in the demo are currently unknown. Attempting to load the Dark Suit twists Samus's model irregularly during certain instances such as elevator cutscenes, due to the suit being applied to Samus's Metroid Prime assets. Applying the suit will turn the Morph Ball's core and energy trail emerald.
==Trivia==
*It is possible to avoid the Dark Suit altogether via Sequence Breaking, thus making the game harder and more challenging for the player as Dark Aether will damage the Varia Suit quicker than the Dark Suit.
**If this is done, when Samus obtains the Light Suit, the cutscene will temporarily display the Dark Suit before returning to the Light Suit at the end of the cutscene. A similar glitch occurs when the Gravity Suit is skipped in Metroid Prime.
*The Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy of the Dark Suit incorrectly states that the Dark Suit was obtained in the Dark Torvus Temple, but it was actually obtained in the Dark Agon Temple.
*There appears to be a similarity between the Dark Suit and PED Suit in regards to the kneepads, which both bear a cross-like formation.
*Some enemies within Echoes bear a distinct black with orange color resembling the Dark Suit. In most cases, it is possible the creatures themselves once possessed similar armor for protection against Dark Aether's atmosphere.
**A Luminoth seen at the Portal Terminal during an E3 demo wore textures of similar color. Because the final game mentions that the Dark Suit was of Luminoth origin, there is a possibility that this Luminoth could have been wearing Dark Suit armor.
**Within the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc, an Ingsmasher possess colors identical to the Dark Suit. This could have been Dark Suit armor for when the mechanoid battles within Dark Aether. In the final game, these Dark Suit colors are absent.
**The Dark Pirate Commandos possess colors resembling the Dark Suit. Within the Bonus Disc, these Dark Commandos were stated to be normal Commando Pirates. This brings up the possibility that they wore a Dark Suit armor for protection during Dark Aether travels. This is further evidenced by the creature's model; Dark Commandos are more fully covered around the entire body than normal Commandos are, with the former possessing an orange visor shielding their normally visible eyes. Full body covering would make more sense against Dark Aether's toxic atmosphere.
**The Amorbis possesses an armored dark body with orange highlights resembling the Dark Suit's colors. This coloration is due to the creature harnessing the power of the Dark Sphere.
==Gallery==
Ingsmasher.png|Dark Suit and Ingsmasher
Amorbisdk concept1.png|Early concept art.
Darksuit Artwork.jpg|Artwork
Echoes Dark Suit Item Form.png|The Dark Suit's item form, rotating in place where the Dark Sphere once stood.
Prime Trilogy Promotional Dark Suit acquired.jpg|Samus acquires the Dark Suit.
Dark Ball.jpg|The Dark Suit's Morph Ball.
Elevator Echoes 2.png|The Dark Suit when descending down an elevator.
Dark Suit Torvus.png|The Dark Suit after obtaining the Gravity Boost.
Chykka.png|Samus faces the Chykka in her Dark Suit.
Dark_Suit.jpg|The Dark Suit in Agon Wastes.
Echoes Dark Suit Great Temple Close-up.png|Close-up at the Main Energy Controller.
Dark Suit in Trilogy.png|The Dark Suit in the Metroid Prime Trilogy.
Samus Dark Suit.png|Rip of the model in Echoes.
Dark_Suit_rip.png|Arm Cannon-less rip.
M2 B VSBossB ad.jpg|Samus battling Quadraxis while wearing the Dark Suit
Morph Ball Concept.png|Concept art demonstrating the different designs for the Morph Ball of each Suit Samus acquires. The middle row displays the Dark Suit Morph Ball.
Bonus Disc Dark Suit Twisted.png|The Dark Suit (with incomplete model application) seen in the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc. 
==References==
ru:Энергокостюм Тьмы
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