Chozo Archives

Chozo Archives are an unlockable feature in Metroid Dread. Succeeding the Chozo Memories of Metroid: Samus Returns, the nine archives are visual artwork that shed light on the history of the Mawkin Chozo and various bosses fought in Dread.
==Description==
As stated, the nine archives shed light on the Mawkin, the tribe of Chozo that inhabited ZDR, and events prior to Dread. This is similar to the Chozo Lore in Metroid Prime, which was written by the Chozo who lived on Tallon IV, and the Chozo Memories in Samus Returns, which depicted the Thoha tribe on SR388 and featured the Mawkin.
As with the Chozo Memories, the Chozo Archives are unlocked gradually as expansions and items are collected on the save file. The Archives can be accessed from each save file by selecting the "Extras" option, and then the Gallery. When unlocked, each image flashes onscreen with a sound, and are highlighted in green borders. When all Archives are unlocked, a bonus image is unlocked as well, depicting Samus Aran and characters from across the Metroid series.
Unlike the Chozo Memories, the Chozo Archives do not appear to be in chronological order. For example, image 01 depicts an E.M.M.I., which could not have occurred before the X Parasite outbreak depicted in image 06. This makes the exact timeline of the Chozo Archives difficult to determine. Instead, each image appears to be set within the location where it is unlocked.
==List of Archives==
===01===
E.M.M.I.-01P is seen heavily damaged and on the ground, with part of its left arm missing and smoke rising from its body. Raven Beak stands over it with his Arm Cannon smoking, holding the destroyed E.M.M.I.'s arm in its left hand. This archive shows that Raven Beak was responsible for the first E.M.M.I.'s severe damage. It is implied that he learned how to reprogram the E.M.M.I. to target Samus by studying the first unit. The setting appears to be the facility in Artaria where Samus later encounters and destroys 01P.
===02===
Six Mawkin Chozo Soldiers are restraining a roaring Kraid in his room in Cataris. All but one of them are brandishing spears. Two soldiers are present in the foreground: one in red armor looking behind them while pointing at Kraid, the second in silver armor and holding a shield. Three soldiers are positioned on Kraid's upper body, with two of them pointing their spears at his face, and a third positioned on his arm, pointing at his shoulder. A fourth soldier has apparently fallen off of Kraid's arm and is plummeting toward the lava below.
Quiet Robe's exposition presents an unclear timeline for this image, since all Mawkin soldiers were infected by X Parasites and quarantined in Elun while Samus Aran exterminated the Metroids on SR388. Therefore, this image could suggest that this Kraid may not be the same Space Pirate depicted in previous games, and could instead be a separate specimen captured at an earlier time by the Mawkin tribe. Alternatively, this image could suggest that ZDR's X pandemic had not been resolved until after the raid on Planet Zebes, potentially explaining how these apparently-uninfected Chozo Soldiers would have captured Kraid.
===03===
Quiet Robe stands in front of a group of four holographic screens, which are positioned in front of a large stasis tank holding Experiment No. Z-57. The tank is filled with a pink liquid. Quiet Robe's right finger is positioned over a round module on one of the screens, which may represent a button. Z-57 stares at Quiet Robe with its mouth open. The setting for this image appears to be Dairon, given that the creature's body is found there before the X reanimates it.
===04===
This image is set in Burenia. Raven Beak, perched on a high ledge, oversees what appears to be an execution of three Chozo. The condemned Chozo stand before a round pool, with large jaws rising above the surface; it appears that the Chozo are being fed to the creature. These sentenced Chozo were stripped of their armor and clothing, aside from a simple loincloth, with their hands tied behind their backs before being prodded by loyal Chozo Soldiers into the creature's waiting jaws. One of the condemned Chozo hangs its head, perhaps in defeat; the second holds its head up high; the third is looking at Raven Beak with its mouth open, perhaps afraid to die, and is being pushed into the water by a Chozo Soldier behind them, pointing a spear at their back. Another soldier is positioned to the left of the defeated Chozo, while four more stand at attention to either side.
===05===
This image is set in Ghavoran. Corpius is shown lying on the ground, apparently defeated. An unarmored Chozo Soldier, dressed in more primitive apparel with a loincloth and necklace, is standing atop the beast while holding a spear, while three armored Chozo Soldiers look on. Five Rods fly above the party, unbothered by the events below them. Corpius is not encountered in Ghavoran but Artaria in-game; it is unclear if this image depicts the same specimen or another member of its species.
===06===
This image is set in Elun, and likely depicts the Mawkin after their return from SR388. The Chozo Soldier that has been infected by an X Parasite reveals its infection to Raven Beak, who looks on with a stoic appearance. Another Chozo Soldier is in front of Raven Beak with a hunched posture, and numerous other soldiers stand behind Raven Beak. Black ooze encircles the infected soldier.
===07===
This image is set in Ferenia. Quiet Robe stands in the background with Raven Beak in the foreground, crossing his arms. Raven Beak studies a projected holographic image of an E.M.M.I., which he is commanding to target Samus Aran in order to extract her Metroid DNA. Quiet Robe appears to be regretful in this scene. Beside the E.M.M.I. are images of the Federation mark, Samus's face and side profile, a strand of DNA (likely hers), and the logo of the Exelion Star Corporation.
===08===
This image is set in Hanubia, where a lightning storm is occurring as it does ingame. The Elite Chozo Soldier, holding a spear and a long flag with what appears to be the Mawkin insignia, stands atop a round platform before an army of Chozo Soldiers. Two other Elite Chozo Soldiers stand behind and below the banner-waving Chozo. Three ships fly through the sky behind the Elite Chozo Soldier, with pink trails behind them. A cloaked figure with a spear and Arm Cannonu/AkiWar on Reddit (image available here) stands farther away atop a building in the background.
===09===
The final image. Samus Aran is displayed most prominently, wearing her Varia Suit as it appeared in Metroid: Samus Returns, assuming her iconic crouching pose from the cover of Metroid II: Return of Samus and Samus Returns. The image features ZDR in the background and a score of other characters from the Metroid series. This includes the baby above Samus; the human Commander Adam Malkovich to her right; and Quiet Robe, E.M.M.I.-02SM, four Zebesians, Mother Brain, Ridley, Kraid, the Queen Metroid, and fourteen Metroids to her left. Raven Beak appears in the top left corner, with his cape stretching across the screen.
A variation of this ending, where Zero Suit Samus replaces the Varia Suit-clad Samus, is the final Ending Reward.
==References==
Category:ZDR
Category:Chozo
Category:History
Category:Extras