Chapter 14: Uncovering Bryyo's Secrets

Returning to Bryyo.
Returning to Bryyo.

Summon your good-as-new gunship and climb aboard. Save your game and bring up your regular map of Bryyo landing sites. Searching through your recorded maps of Bryyo reveals a few undiscovered locations over in the Bryyo Fire region. So let's depart the beautiful SkyTown for now and head for the Fiery Airdock on Bryyo. Now remember, you're free to return to any other region of Bryyo or Norion and hunt for extra expansions, but for now we'll stay on target.

Touch down beside Rundas still-frozen gunship and head for the Imperial Hall chamber. Step through the statue-lined corridor (watch out for roosting Shelbugs) and move up through to the Gel Refinery Site. Show the loitering Reptilicus target your new Plasma Beam, but hold back before heading for the nearby Main Lift chamber (remember that tunnel in there covered in ice you once came across many moons ago? That's our ultimate target).

See the small ice formations covering the southern wall? Break them all free to clear access to all the narrow tunnels lining the walls. With all obstructions cleared, climb into the tunnels and work your way along the network, laying bombs at the fuel jets to propel yourself along. Eventually after passing by two hazardous flame release valves, you'll find yourself launched up beside a tall cracked pillar. Lay a bomb to knock the pillar aside, creating a short sled pointing towards the opposite wall.

Discover what lies beyond this frozen maw.
Discover what lies beyond this frozen maw.

Roll back down to the nearest flame jet and lay a bomb to shoot yourself through the fallen pillar, right into the north-western cozy alcove housing an exit covered in frozen ice. Break the ice apart with your Plasma Beam and step inside the Refinery Access chamber.

Watch out for a trio of Shelbugs roosting on the walls throughout the region, and don't forget to open up the Bryyo lore security panel and scan the Prophecy entry for your Logbook (in this one, the Lord of Science recounts his recruitment of a young Primal prophetess to help carry on his work - I guess the Primals can't all be that bad after all. The prophetess has seen a vision of the future - an extra-terrestrial object arriving to bring doom to the planet. Luckily for them that bridge has well and truly been crossed by now).

Step through the chamber and exit on the far side to find yourself on the upper floor of the elongated Imperial Hall. Step around the corner and be sure to scan the ancient stone carvings of Bryyo's former leaders along the way to learn more of their almost impossible-to-pronounce names. A gnarled branch covers the view down to the ground floor below, so look for a narrow tunnel running along the southern wall.

Find the way forward with this Spinner.
Find the way forward with this Spinner.

Roll through and stand up in the small alcove beyond. Face the northern wall - see the two large walls panels? Scan one to reveal that a simple bolt system holds each to the wall, so simply grapple each to lower them down and create a handy set of platforms. Jump atop the platforms and look right - see Missile Expansion BR.11 resting within an alcove high above the short-cut tunnel? Leap across to easily reach your prize.

With this Missile secure we'll head back inside the Gel Refinery Site. Deal with the respawning Reptilicus before climbing up to the Main Lift chamber in the corner. Once inside, roll into the cavern where the swarm of Snatchers live, and gather up enough of the critters to send Samus floating skyward. Stop off at the first ledge up above and roll through the long tunnel to find yourself facing the tunnel fashioned in the shape of a lizard's head, completely riddled with ice. Blast the ice with your Plasma Beam, easily breaking the frozen obstacles apart.

Roll through the now-accessible tunnel to find yourself in a small chamber flanked by prison cages either side. Both cells still possess the remains of Reptilicus prisoners - these guys certainly weren't civil. You'll also no doubt spot the odd anomaly of actual snow filling part of the chamber - Rundas certainly wasn't responsible for it. Scan the orange door for your Logbook before stepping through to Warp Site Alpha.

Hold your breath and step inside...
Hold your breath and step inside...

Step further into the round chamber to find yourself surrounded by a huge wall of horns. A lone Golem resides here, along with a massive frozen object hanging from the ceiling. Notice the big arrow pointing north on the map? That location lies right beyond the intricate gong set on the northern wall, so we'll need to find some way of breaking through.

Scan the giant frozen object in the ceiling to learn that a few shots from your Plasma Beam ought to do the trick. Melt the ice to reveal the object as a giant battering ram - one far too heavy for Samus to lift unaided. That's where your friendly Golem comes into play. Scan the device to learn that's still functional. Hop into the Bomb Slot and lay a bomb to power up the Golem. Watch as the big fella stands up before grasping the battering ram and slamming into the gong.

The long drawn-out tone emitting from the gong summons a Spinner device in the floor, hop in and use the Boost Ball to rotate the ringed wall section. Once the open section passes by the north wall, lay a bomb to eject from the Spinner and lock the wall in place. Scan the visibly cracked wall to learn that deterioration over time has weakened the structure. One final task - simply energize the Golem once more with a bomb to command the robot to slam the battering ram into the wall, instantly breaching through to a smaller chamber beyond.

Climb into the chamber to find it filled almost completely with ice - very curious indeed. Scan the platform below the glowing blue device housed here to learn that it's an active teleporter, and we're about to visit a very special - and well hidden - region of Bryyo. Step into the teleporter and watch as Samus' surroundings turn brilliantly white before she lands safely... in a massive ancient hall completely filled with ice.

...To find yourself whisked away to an ice world.
...To find yourself whisked away to an ice world.

Even the music sets the scene perfectly - you've just discovered an ancient region of Bryyo locked in an everlasting winter. Granting you a bonus Friend Voucher upon arriving, you'll be forgiven if the sights and sounds fool you into thinking Samus has somehow found herself back in the Phendrana Drifts of Tallon IV (ah, good memories).

Step ahead through the Warp Site Bravo chamber, using the Plasma Beam to blow out the ancient ice formations filling the path. Exit the grand hallway to discover an enclosed cave bearing a green shimmering wall on the opposite side. See the frozen ice covering the ground ahead? Breach it and a couple more ice sheets below with the Plasma Beam and fall down through the open shaft. You'll land at the base of the region, with a grand open view of light streaming in from the north.

Green shimmering wall panels cover the shafts leading back skyward, so you can probably guess by now what's waiting not too far away. Be sure to scan the lore entry on the nearby wall as well, Our Plea is the final chronological entry from the Last Lord of Science, documenting his and the prophetess' last stand against the Primals and a plea to rid Bryyo of the starborne terror (oddly enough you won't read this entry until after that mission is well and truly completed).

Gargantuan monuments silently rest among the snow.
Gargantuan monuments silently rest among the snow.

Exit the cavern via the nearby door to discover another icy hallway as tall as it is deep. By now you may receive a transmission from Aurora 242, except only garbled static emits from the speaker... Step towards the far end of the Imperial Crypt chamber to find a Blast Shield locking the door there shut. Instead, fire at the icy floor to break it open, revealing a huge plunge down below. Fall down the chasm (don't worry) to find yourself landing one floor further down.

An inactive Kinetic Orb Cannon lives here, feel free to power it back up so you've got a way to return to the floor above. Take a deep breath and step through the door beside the cannon for a truly awesome sight. You're now standing in the Hall of Remembrance, a massive open-air canyon home to a pair of equally gigantic statues. This massive monument was built to honour the Bryyonians first contact with the Chozo - scan each statue to learn that one represents a Chozo delegate, while the other represents the Bryyonians receiving technological gifts from the bird-like race.

This Screw Attack upgrade has been waiting very patiently.
This Screw Attack upgrade has been waiting very patiently.

The best part about this monument? The Bryyo statue is actually holding something in its outstretched palm. Climb aboard the thin platforms rising from the abyss and step towards the glowing blue item. Sure enough, something is definitely waiting for you. Scan the item to reveal it as the Screw Attack! Step forward to claim your prize, granting Samus the ability to soar over long horizontal distances and climb up shimmering green wall panels.

Right after securing your latest upgrade, the platforms linking the statue with either side of the canyon collapse into the abyss, leaving you stranded in the middle. So let's use the Screw Attack right away to escape. Look over at the eastern wall and Space Jump forward over the abyss. Press B a third time to initiate the Screw Attack. Keep pressing B with proper timing to keep Samus moving through the air, with around three jumps you should land safely on the ledge.

Once safely across, head inside to discover a tall shaft beyond, aptly named Tower. A network of Spider Ball tracks wind up the shaft - take note of them for now. We'll be using the Screw Attack to ascend the shaft, but be sure to scan the Wall Jump surface first for your Logbook. Once ready, Screw Attack into the wall to initiate the climb, then continuously press B to keep Samus bouncing back and forth up the shaft.

Learn the art of wall-jumping.
Learn the art of wall-jumping.

Upon landing safely at the top, exit the chamber to find yourself higher up in the Hall of Remembrance. Another garbled transmission comes through - surely 242's getting worried by now. See the Chozo statue's open palm facing you from far ahead? Scan the hand to learn that a well-aimed Missile could possible rotate the hand to allow traversal. So lock onto the blue gem in the palm of the hand and send a Missile into it. Sure enough, watch as the hand rotates flat.

But you won't have much time before the hand returns to its neutral position. Quickly Screw Attack across the chasm and safely land atop the hand. Before leaping to the west side of the canyon, spin around and face the Bryyo statue's head. Spot Ship Missile Expansion BR.02 resting atop the head? Leap up there and grab it before leaving. Hop back down atop the hand and be sure to take in the gorgeous scenery from up here.

Screw Attack across the gap to reach the safety of the western ledge. Remember that sealed door you found earlier? You're now on the opposite side of it, and a nearby lever is just what you need to unlock it. Grapple the lever to unlock the door, then step inside the Imperial Crypt and Screw Attack across the chasm to reach the far door (getting the hang of it?).

Find a way back to Bryyo Fire.
Find a way back to Bryyo Fire.

Enter the Imperial Caverns and search for the first visible Wall Jump surface. Leap over and use the Screw Attack to begin your ascent up the region. Climb up and return to the Warp Site Bravo corridor, saying goodbye to this serene region and returning to Bryyo Fire via the orange teleporter. Head back to the Main Lift and climb back down to the main entrance. Step through to the Gel Refinery Site and deal with the lone Reptilicus patrolling there.

By now you should receive another communication from Aurora 242, this time the signal clearly streams through. After inquiring as to Samus' recent whereabouts (not telling!), 242 informs you that a remote probe has discovered the location (and what's left of) the GFS Valhalla, the Federation flagship the Pirates attacked and crippled soon after the liberation of Aether.

242 asks Samus to investigate, so Skytown will have to wait for now. Head back to your ship and and climb aboard (don't forget to save). Press the central helm control to summon your map, and zoom out of Bryyo to spot a new location positioned between Norion and Elysia. Select the Gaflar System and watch as a nebulous display appears with the remains of the Valhalla centered. Select the single location and watch as Samus heads for the lost vessel.

Next Chapter: Ghost Ship