Secrets and tips

Learn about hidden unlockables, easter eggs, and special techniques.

Bonus Unlockables

Tied to your save game file, numerous unlockables reside within the Extras menu. All of them require a certain number of credits to unlock, each of which can be obtained while playing through the game's three difficulty settings and accomplishing a variety of tasks. Read more information about credits at the Credits Guide.

See below for charts detailing all of the unlockable items and their requirements. Also note that as you fill up your Logbook, new items will become available to unlock.

Concept Gallery
Samus Package Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(3 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Creature Package 1 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 1 Gold)
Creature Package 2 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 2 Blue, 2 Gold, 1 Green)
World Package 1 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 1 Gold 1)
Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 1 Blue, 1 Gold 2)
World Package 2 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 2 Blue, 2 Gold, 1 Green)
Storyboard Package 1 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(3 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Storyboard Package 2 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 2 Blue, 2 Gold, 1 Green)

1. Original NTSC / Metroid Prime Trilogy versions
2. Original PAL version
Bonus Gallery
Ship Bumper Stickers Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 3 Gold, 2 Green)
Screen-Shot Tool Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 3 Gold, 2 Green 1)
Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit Green Credit Orange Credit Purple Credit Purple Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 3 Gold, 2 Green, 1 Orange, 2 Purple 2)
Mii Bobblehead Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 3 Gold, 2 Green 1)
Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit Green Credit
(4 Red, 1 Blue, 3 Gold, 2 Green 2)
Diorama 1 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 3 Gold, 1 Green)
Diorama 2 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 3 Gold, 1 Green)
Diorama 3 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 3 Gold, 1 Green)
Diorama 4 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 3 Gold, 1 Green)
Diorama 5 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 3 Gold, 1 Green)
Diorama 6 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Gold Credit Green Credit
(3 Red, 1 Blue, 3 Gold, 1 Green)

1. Original version
2. Metroid Prime Trilogy version
Soundtrack Gallery (Original version)*
MP3 Title Music Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
In The Cockpit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
GF Battle Theme Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Bryyo Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Bryyo Thorn Jungle Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
The Corruption Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
SkyTown Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Steamlord Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Valhalla Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Metroid Battle Theme Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Helios Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Pirate Homeworld Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Gandrayda Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Omega Ridley Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Phaaze Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Soundtrack Gallery (Metroid Prime Trilogy version)*
MP3: Corruption Theme Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
In The Cockpit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
GF Battle Theme Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Berserker Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Bryyo Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
The Corruption Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
SkyTown Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Steamlord Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Valhalla Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Helios Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Pirate Homeworld Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Gandrayda Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Omega Ridley Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Phaaze Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)
Aurora Unit 313 Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Red Credit Blue Credit Blue Credit Gold Credit
(4 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Gold)

*Soundtrack pieces will become available for purchase as players gradually work through the game.

Unlocking Hypermode

Simply beat the game on Normal or Veteran mode to unlock the ultra challenging Hypermode difficulty.

Double Bomb Jump

This time around Samus will have access to the Spring Ball ability throughout the game (flick the remote vertically while in Morph Ball mode), but the good old double bomb jump trick will still come in handy throughout the worlds she visits.

Perform the bomb jump exactly as you would have in the first two Prime titles: set a bomb and time laying your second bomb just before the first detonates. As Samus is propelled into the air, lay your third at the apex of the jump. As you land you'll strike the second bomb while it detonates, pushing you further up to the third bomb just in time for it to send Samus even higher.

That's how to do it the good old-fashioned style. But thanks to the Spring Ball you can also simply jump up, lay a single bomb, then jump up to it again as it detonates to propel Samus up to the same height as a double bomb jump would achieve.

Hidden gunship messages

Have you ever wandered if the radio communicator in Samus' gunship has any other purpose than simply to enter the GF command code to dock with the GFS Olympus? After all, with all those symbols you've got 1680 potential combinations (most produce garbled static).

Well, a few nifty easter eggs await in those symbols - see below for the combinations to hear special messages from the Japanese Nintendo staff! They're all completely in Japanese, and I wouldn't have a clue what they're saying. But very special thanks to the Metroid Database for the translations :)

Metroid Prime Trilogy note: In the original version of the game, a chamber in Norion houses two GF Lore terminals (Data Storage B) which also contains a third inactive terminal. In the Metroid Prime Trilogy version of the game, this terminal can be scanned. Scanning the terminal yields the following message:

SPECIAL ACCESS CODES:
28413 73636 55184 14758

Rearrange those codes atop each other, read vertically downward and you've got the symbol sequences of each hidden message:

2 8 4 1 3
7 3 6 3 6
5 5 1 8 4
1 4 7 5 8

Nice! Strange that they didn't include that in the original release of the game...

Click for larger view

Message from Satoru Iwata

Input the following symbol sequence: second, seventh, fifth, first.

Satoru Iwata hidden message

Hello, this is Iwata from Nintendo.
A president has to take things really seriously, even if it doesn't seem like it.
It's understandable if you lose weight from stress... But I get fatter instead.
Nobody thinks I'm taking it seriously.
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Message from Shigeru Miyamoto

Input the following symbol sequence: eighth, third, fifth, fourth.

Shigeru Miyamoto hidden message

Ah, can you hear me? This is Miyamoto.
All of you playing Metroid, can you hear me?
It's fun, isn't it?
I've also worked on many (Metroid) games, but this one is the best yet, don't you think?
Make sure to play it all the way to the end.
See you!
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Message from Yoshio Sakamoto

Input the following symbol sequence: fourth, sixth, first, seventh.

Yoshio Sakamoto hidden message

Hello everyone. This is Sakamoto from Nintendo. Did you enjoy Metroid Prime 3?
Samus's mission is not over with these missions but will continue to go on.
Please look forward to waiting for the next one! METOROIDO OMOROIDO! (Metroid is fun!)
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Message from Kensuke Tanabe

Input the following symbol sequence: first, third, eighth, fifth.

Kensuke Tanabe hidden message

Hello everyone, this is the Prime series's producer Tanabe.
The Metroid Prime series is over but I am going to do my best for the next series!
Click for larger view

Message (and music) from Kenji Yamamoto

Input the following symbol sequence: third, sixth, fourth, eighth.

Kenji Yamamoto hidden message

Hello to everyone who is playing Metroid Prime 3! This is Kenji Yamamoto.
If you listen carefully to the music, you might notice that some parts of the soundtrack in Metroid Prime 3 are the same as those in older Metroids.
That's what I expect and why I want to arrange the music.

Other interesting quirks

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Armored Pirate at SkyTown

This strange sighting occurs upon your first trip to the Concourse area in SkyTown East. As you enter the main chamber you'll be greeted by an Armored Pirate Trooper and a Pirate Militia, but the third target to appear is the one in question. It looks very much like an Armored Pirate Militia, but scanning it will reveal it as an "Armored Pirate".

The Logbook entry is unique, and yet if you view the character model it looks very much like an Armored Pirate Trooper. However, the entry will not appear in the Logbook listing of Space Pirate creatures. Scanning this oddity also amazingly gives you a red credit, allowing you to tally up 109 (NTSC) / 110 (PAL) total credits instead of the usual 108 / 109.

I've observed this on every visit to the Concourse on each difficulty setting for the PAL version of the game, but can only guess if he turns up in the NTSC version too - can anyone with an NTSC copy of the game confirm this for me?

Metroid Prime Trilogy note: The Armored Pirate also appears in the Metroid Prime Trilogy version of the game sporting the look of an Armored Pirate Militia. However, scanning the target will register them as an Armored Pirate Trooper and you won't receive the bonus normally-extraneous red credit. This is currently confirmed to occur in the PAL version of the compilation.
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Subtle reference to Metroid Dread?

The next long rumoured Metroid title for the Nintendo DS - dubbed "Metroid Dread" - may very well have a subtle reference in the Metroid Processing chamber on the Pirate Homeworld. Scan the computer terminal up beside the white blast shielded-door for this message:

"Experiment status report update. Metroid project "Dread" is nearing the final stages of completion."

Retro have long since debunked the reference as coincidental and Nintendo have since claimed that "no 2D Metroid game for the DS is in development", so only time will tell if the game ever surfaces.
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The Great Wall of Ship Missile Expansions

The Ancient Courtyard region (near the Thorn Jungle Airdock) at Bryyo normally can't be passed until you upgrade Samus' gunship with Ship Missiles to dismantle the massive gate blocking the path.

The game seems to present a subtle hint of how to remove the gate which can be easily missed. Take a closer look at the gate itself - see those small shrapnel-like objects embedded throughout the gate? They look suspiciously like the fins/wings of a Ship Missile Expansion item... so this gate is riddled with the very thing you need to open it up.

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