Mother Brain Mother Brain as she appeared inMetroid: Zero Mission

Game(s) Metroid Metroid: Zero Mission Super Metroid Metroid: Other M Off-Game Appearance(s) Metroid (manga) Home Planet Zebes Gender Gender-neutral, female persona Race Unique

Mother is the greatest being in existence and does everything perfectly.[1]

— Gray Voice

Mother Brain (occasionally referred to asMother) is a recurring character in theMetroid series. It^[2] is featured inMetroid,Metroid: Zero Mission,Super Metroid andMetroid: Other M and most importantly in theMetroid manga.^[3] According to Metroid director and co-creatorYoshio Sakamoto, Mother Brain was an indispensable artificial intelligence that served as the center of the advanced Chozo civilization. However, as an extremely superior standalone intelligence, it sprouted dangerous thoughts eventually going berserk.^[4]

When theSpace Pirates later took overZebes, where the Chozo kept Mother Brain, it became the leader of the entire Space Pirate organization, using its telepathic abilities. Mother Brain is responsible for the spread ofMetroids.

Appearances[edit |edit source]

Metroid Manga[edit |edit source]

Mother Brain, introduced as a benevolent supercomputer, was created by the Chozo to oversee planetZebes and to bring species of theMilky Way to harmony.^[2][3] As revealed in theIono Feria incident and during the approach of the Space Pirates, Mother Brain assesses dangers and suggests resolutions, and is capable of detecting threats in orbit.^[5][6]

When the Chozo first reveal an infantSamus to Mother Brain, it assesses that her human body will not be able to withstand the harsh environment of Zebes for more than a few days,^[7] and so the Chozo infuse Samus with their DNA.^[8] Later, Mother Brain modified the Chozo battlesuit technology to create Samus'sPower Suit.^[9]

Mother Brain was also involved in overseeing the development of theMetroids, created to defeat theX infestation threatening the galaxy. It regularly gave the Chozo reports concerning the progress of the X extermination onSR388.^[10] Upon revealing the completed Metroids to other Chozo, however,Space Pirates attacked Zebes and subsequently expelled the Chozo from the planet. Mother Brain assumed control of the Space Pirates, who it realized were genetically predisposed to following the orders of a powerful leader.^[11][12]

The supercomputer's purpose, to unify the species of the galaxy, had backfired. Mother Brain now sought to bring order to the universe itself, through whatever means was necessary.^[13] Thus, the Chozo staged an elaborate deception in whichGray Voice seemed to side with Mother Brain and her army of Space Pirates. When the moment was right, he betrayed them and caused significant damage before being killed by Ridley. Meanwhile, Samus and the other Chozo escaped.

Years later, Samus returns to Zebes. The geography and ecosystem of the planet had changed significantly, all to further Mother Brain's plans for universal domination.^[14] After fighting her way toTourian, defeatingKraid andRidley along the way, Samus finds Mother Brain surrounded by Metroids. The manga ends with the battle ensuing, in which Samus will be victorious and Mother Brain will rebuild itself as depicted inSuper Metroid.

Metroid[edit |edit source]

InMetroid and its remake, Mother Brain is the main antagonist of the game. It is located inTourian, and controls all Space Pirate actions on the planet, includingKraid andRidley. Mother Brain's room is protected by turrets andRinkas.Samus makes her way into Tourian, and manages to destroy Mother Brain, activating a time bomb which destroys the facility. Mother Brain is protected by a glass made ofZebetite that is resistant to Samus's Power Beam.^[15] Samus, however, can break it by usingMissiles. Once it breaks, Samus can attack Mother Brain freely until it is destroyed.

Metroid: Zero Mission[edit |edit source]

Mother Brain'sZero Mission appearance is identical to her appearance inMetroid. The room is still full with turrets and Rinkas and there is still a classic setup with Mother Brain at the left of the room in her Zebetite shield. Samus can now break the shield with Missiles orSuper Missiles. There is additionally a lot of lava around the floor and a much larger area around. There are three platforms which Samus can use to stand on and attack Mother Brain from. Mother Brain can also attack herself by closing her eye, rendering her temporarily invincible, glowing, and firing out a large purple blast. Once Mother Brain is destroyed, Samus must escape to hergunship in time. UnlikeMetroid, Samus can return to Mother Brain's chamber after receiving theLegendary Power Suit. Even with Samus's Gravity Suit, the strongest suit available in the game, Samus still receives damage if she touches residual acid left behind in Mother Brain's chamber. The only reason to return to Tourian after acquiring the Legendary Power Suit is to find a couple of additionalSuit Expansions.

Super Metroid[edit |edit source]

InSuper Metroid, Mother Brain first appears identical to its previous incarnation. After destroying the Zebetite shield and delivering significant damage, Mother Brain transforms into an extremely powerful bipedal being. In this form, Mother Brain also possesses a potentHyper Beam that drains massive amounts of energy and ammunition and leaves Samus paralyzed. If Samus manages to survive the onslaught, theinfant Metroid will appear and attack Mother Brain, draining its energy and returning it to Samus. The hatchling attempts to protect Samus from further damage but is destroyed by Mother Brain. The hatchling's destruction bestows the power of the Hyper Beam to Samus, who then uses it to destroy Mother Brain.

It is actually impossible forSamus to defeat Mother Brain; only the appearance of theinfant Metroid allows Samus to emerge victorious.

Metroid: Other M[edit |edit source]

Main article:MB

Mother Brain appears in one of Samus's many flashbacks. In this specific flashback, Samus is reliving her climactic encounter with Mother on her second mission to Zebes. The Metroid Hatchling heals Samus and then is destroyed by a Hyper Beam above her head.

During the events ofOther M, Galactic Federation scientists develop a program based on Mother's artificial intelligence and create an android known asMB. MB develops Mother's consciousness and becomes violent, stirring the creatures aboard theBottle Ship into a frenzy, which forcesMadeline Bergman to send out the distress signal that leads Samus to the facility, a much different version of events than is told by MB, who assumes Bergman's identity upon meeting Samus. MB is eventually killed through the combined efforts of Bergman and Galactic Federation troops.

Data[edit |edit source]

Trophy Info[edit |edit source]

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[edit |edit source]

Tips Info[edit |edit source]

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS[edit |edit source]

"Mother Brain will fire ring-shaped projectiles called Rinkas from off-screen. These are energy based, so they can be absorbed or reflected."

"It's totally fine to use Mother Brain to shield yourself from the attacks of your rivals."

"Attack Mother Brain to defeat her! The glass around her will shatter after she fires lasers—that's your chance to strike!"

"Mother Brain will send colorful lasers shooting up and down the screen. They can't be absorbed or reflected, so you'll have to just avoid them!"

Gallery[edit |edit source]

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  Metroid artwork

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  Zero Mission artwork

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  Super Metroid artwork

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  Super Metroid artwork

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  Mother Brain recruits Samus

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  The ending slide of theMetroid manga

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  Appearance inMetroid

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  Mother Brain spying onSamus's progress

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  Mother Brain inZero Mission

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  Mother'sZebetite shield and mechanical attachments

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  Mother Brain's initial appearance inSuper Metroid

Trivia[edit |edit source]

• TheAurora Units are based on Mother Brain; this is shown inCorruption previews. Aside from being physically similar, Aurora Units and Mother Brain both serve the function of maintaining the planet on which they reside—serving as nerve centers of their respective planets. It is possible that theGalactic Federation took inspiration from theChozo's creation of Mother Brain.

References

• Characters
• Chozo Technology
• Metroid Bosses
• Metroid: Zero Mission Bosses
• Super Metroid Bosses