100% Completion Guide
Achieving 100% completion in Metroid: Other M requires diligent exploration and a keen eye for hidden items. This guide will walk you through collecting every Missile Tank, Energy Tank, and Accel Charge, ensuring you leave no stone unturned on your journey through the Bottle Ship.
General Strategies for Item Hunting
- Revisit Areas: Many items are inaccessible until you acquire specific abilities later in the game. Don't be afraid to backtrack!
- Scan Everything: Use your Scan Visor frequently. It can reveal hidden passages, destructible blocks, and item locations that are otherwise invisible.
- Look for Environmental Clues: Cracks in walls, discolored sections of the floor, or unusual ledges often indicate a hidden path or a destructible surface.
- Use Power Bombs Liberally: Power Bombs are your best friend for uncovering secret rooms and destroying large sections of scenery.
- Consult Your Map: The map screen will highlight rooms with uncollected items. Pay close attention to these indicators.
Sector 1: Biosphere Items
Sector 1 is your first major area, and it's packed with upgrades. Focus on these after acquiring the Plasma Beam and Power Bomb for maximum efficiency.
Main Cavern
- Missile Tank (1/100): After defeating the first large enemy in the Main Cavern, look for a small alcove high up on the wall. Use your Space Jump to reach it.
- Energy Tank (1/10): In the lower section of the Main Cavern, there's a destructible floor panel. Use a Power Bomb to reveal a hidden path leading to the tank.
Exam Center
- Accel Charge (1/10): Once you gain the Diffusion Beam, return to the Exam Center. There's a section of the ceiling that can be destroyed with a charged Diffusion Beam shot, revealing the Accel Charge.
- Missile Tank (2/100): In the room directly after the Exam Center, look for a series of platforms. A hidden passage behind a waterfall (use Scan Visor) leads to this tank.
Sector 2: Geothermal Items
The scorching temperatures of Sector 2 hide many valuable upgrades. Ensure you have the Varia Suit before attempting to collect everything here.
Pyrosphere Entrance
- Missile Tank (3/100): Immediately upon entering the Pyrosphere, look to your left. There's a small vent that can be destroyed with a Missile, revealing a crawlspace leading to the tank.
Volcano Core
- Energy Tank (2/10): In the central chamber of the Volcano Core, after the lava subsides, use your Grapple Beam to swing across to a high ledge. The Energy Tank is waiting there.
- Accel Charge (2/10): Near the boss arena in the Volcano Core, there's a wall with a faint outline. Use a Power Bomb to break through and find the Accel Charge.
Sector 3: Cryosphere Items
The frozen wastes of Sector 3 demand careful navigation and the Gravity Suit for full access.
Ice Cave
- Missile Tank (4/100): In the large Ice Cave with the frozen enemies, look for a section of ice that appears slightly different. Use a Plasma Beam shot to melt it, revealing a hidden alcove.
Research Lab
- Energy Tank (3/10): After acquiring the Screw Attack, return to the Research Lab. There's a series of blocks that can only be destroyed with the Screw Attack, leading to this tank.
The Bottle Ship's Hidden Secrets
Beyond the main sectors, the Bottle Ship itself holds several well-hidden upgrades. These often require a keen eye and the full suite of Samus's abilities.
Main Deck
- Accel Charge (3/10): In the main hangar bay, after the events of the game, a hidden panel on the ceiling can be revealed with a Power Bomb. Use Space Jump to reach it.
Observation Room
- Missile Tank (5/100): After the final boss, return to the Observation Room. A small, seemingly decorative panel on the wall can be destroyed with a Super Missile, revealing a secret passage.
This guide provides a starting point for your 100% completion journey. Remember to explore every nook and cranny, and don't be afraid to experiment with your abilities to uncover all of the Bottle Ship's secrets!