Serris

Metroid Prime & Fusion Original Soundtracks is the third boss Samus Aran faces aboard the Biologic Space Laboratories research station in Metroid Fusion.
==Biography==
Serris' habitat is located in Sector 4 (AQA). Serris is a long, aquatic, serpent-like creature. Adam describes it as a "very large creature" that is "capable of moving and attacking at ultra-high speed". Considerable damage was done to Sector 4 before Samus arrives; while the damage that was done to the sector that was seemingly coordinated and deliberate was likely committed by the SA-X, the more wide-spread and senseless damage is believed to have been done by Serris. There is a breeding tank in the sector which Serris often returns to; Samus is directed to reach it in order to terminate Serris, despite it being a "valuable specimen".
Once Samus reaches the tank, she finds Serris's skeleton. She proceeds to the next few rooms and fights an X Parasite mimic of Serris, which is the true cause of the damage in Sector 4.
==Battle==
left|frame|Serris using an ability similar to Samus' Speed Booster.
Serris' only attack is ramming Samus. Serris will jump out of the water and across the various platforms in the room; it occasionally jumps from one side of the room to the other. It will also undulate between the platforms. There are railings on the ceiling which Samus can hold onto to avoid the serpent. For the entire battle, Serris follows an attack pattern. For example, after undulating through the platforms, Serris will leap across the room and try to ram into Samus while she is on the railing. However, if Samus stays at the highest point of the ladder on the right, Serris will almost never hit her. Serris will simply rush by, narrowly missing Samus unless it jumps up from beneath at a certain angle. This relatively safe spot allows Samus to charge her beam and wait for Serris to jump in her direction so she can shoot.
In order to beat Serris, Samus must shoot its head, the only vulnerable part of its body, with Missiles or charged shots. Upon impact, Serris glows and begins moving much faster, temporarily rendering itself invincible. After a few seconds, it returns to its normal form.
After firing five Missiles or two charged shots (including the flare), Serris's head will separate itself from its body and then spin around rapidly in agonized screams before transforming into a Core-X, which now requires 5 missiles to shatter its shell rather than the usual three. It is important to remember that its movement is not hindered by water, but the basic Fusion Suit is highly sluggish when submerged. Accidentally falling to the bottom of the pool may prove to be fatal. Once the Core-X's membrane is destroyed, Samus can absorb it to regain her Speed Booster ability, which was demonstrated by Serris during the battle.
==Development notes==
Serris has multiple unused sprites showing its body angled either toward the screen, or looking directly at it. This implies it might have been able to launch toward the screen at one point in development. There are also sprites and animations for a smaller Serris, which may represent a second specimen, or imply that Serris would have shrunk as it took damage.biospark. Metroid Fusion - Unused Sprite Animations. YouTube. June 21, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGnwul2oWMc (starts at 12:14)
===Etymology===
In Latin, serris is the dative and ablative plural form of serra, meaning "saw" or "sawfish".serra in A Latin Dictionary, by Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (Clarendon Press, 1879).
Serris' Japanese name, , comes from the Mesopotamian East Semitic goddess of fertility, love, war, sex, and power.
==Trivia==
*Like many of the boss creatures featured in Metroid Fusion, the X-mimicked Serris had an ability which greatly resembled one of Samus' Chozo items (in this case, the Speed Booster). According to Adam, the ability to move at incredible speeds was a natural characteristic that the original Serris had prior to its death by X infection. This would imply that Samus absorbed this natural aspect of the creature to reactivate or replace her own Speed Booster as she touched the Core-X.
*Serris (along with the rest of its species) and Dachoras are the only known species to possess a natural ability similar to the Speed Booster besides the Chozo.
*The battle with Serris is similar to Botwoon in Super Metroid, and the Acid Worm in Metroid: Zero Mission, as both have hiding techniques, and their weak spot(s) are on or near the head. The Vorash in Metroid: Other M likewise has a habit of leaping out of liquid over the platforms Samus stands on during its battle. The Sawkens from Metroid Prime Federation Force are also similar, right down to jumping out of water at high speed during their fights.
*On Easy mode in the Japanese version of the game, Serris will speed boost for half as long upon taking damage.
*Serris' brain is visible underneath a clear plating on its head. This may be another reference to the Alien franchise, from which the Metroid series has drawn significant inspiration, as some Xenomorphs are depicted with the plating on the top of their head being transparent and thus having a visible brain.
*Sector 4 contains a breeding tank for Serris, which may suggest that there may have been at least one or two of its kind onboard.
*Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide refers to Serris as "the snake" in several instances on page 102.
*Serris shares its boss music with Yakuza.
==Gallery==
MF Sector 4 Serris.gif|Serris leaping out of the water
Serris.png|Serris's graying appearance when low on health
AQA Speed Booster.gif|Serris's exposed Core-X
Serris .gif|Sprite animation of Serris.
Serris's unused turn around sprite.png|Unused turning around sprite.
Serris's unused frontal face sprite.png|Unused frontal face sprite; Serris's brain is visible through its transparent skull.
Serris's bone.png|Sprite of Serris's bones.
Core-X Speed Booster.gif|Serris's Core-X containing the Speed Booster upgrade.
==References==
es:Serris
ru:Серрис
Category:Species
Category:Bosses
Category:BSL
Category:Sector 4
Category:X
Category:Sealife
Category:Giants
Category:Deceased
Category:Core-X Bosses