Obstacles Guide

Blue Hatches

These possess the lowest-level security. Open them with any of Samus' weapons from beams to bombs.

Red Hatches

You'll need to blow these red hatches open with a single Missile to open them. Once they're open they'll revert to a normal blue hatch.

Green Hatches

Open these hatches with a single Super Missile. Like the red hatches they become blue hatches once opened.

Yellow Hatches

Blow these hatches open with a single Power Bomb.

Grey Hatches

These hatches will only open once you've completed a certain requirement within the room.

Monster Doors

Some doors have large eyeball creatures living on them, usually you'll find these outside the room of a nasty boss waiting inside. Simply shoot the eye with Missiles when it opens to destroy the creature but watch out for any projectiles it fires back.

Damaged Blocks

Blocks with visible cracks can usually be destroyed with any beam weapon or bombs, and some blocks are mere illusions - you can pass straight through them. These fake blocks will be tough to find as you can't reveal them with bombs and there's no X-Ray Scope in this game to help you out.

Crumbling Blocks

Watch out for these common blocks as when Samus steps on them they'll collapse. Once Samus falls below they'll reappear and you can't break through them from below. Some will pause for a second before crumbling so you'll have a chance to jump off quickly.

Bomb Blocks

Lay a bomb beside these blocks to break them open. There's also another weapon which can break through these, but I'll keep it under wraps for now to avoid major spoilers. It also seems that some Bomb Blocks can be broken with the Screw Attack, but not all.

Power Bomb Blocks

You'll usually find a large cluster of these blocks packed together, and the only way to decimate them is with a single Power Bomb.

Missile Blocks

The only way you'll break blocks with a small missile printed on them is with Samus' Missiles.

Super Missile Blocks

Destroy these blocks with a single Super Missile.

Speed Booster Blocks

Blocks with arrows printed on them can only be broken through by charging up the Speed Booster and running or jumping through them. These blocks can be tricky customers, they're usually positioned in such a way that you'll need to use shinespark moves to break through.

Screw Attack Blocks

These blocks can only be shredded by somersault jumping into them upon recovering the Screw Attack.

Zip Lines

You'll discover a range of Zip Lines (rail systems lined in the ceiling) throughout Kraid's area. Before you can use them though you'll need to find the main power station and activate the system. You'll find it up in the north-eastern section of Kraid's area, for precise directions check the walkthrough. Once powered up, Samus can grab hold of the clamp at one end of the Zip Line to be taken across to the other side.

If you shoot one of the red buttons near either end of the line you'll summon the clamp over to Samus. Be aware that Samus can also attach to the clamp while in Morph Ball mode - it's necessary for you to do so when the Zip Line leads through narrow tunnels.

Morph Ball Launchers

Throughout Zebes you'll find elaborate statues with a small socket in the center just big enough for Samus to stand within. Activate the machine by switching on the Morph Ball while standing inside it and laying a bomb.

The machine will then promptly charge up energy around Samus and launch her into the air in a Shinespark fashion. Any enemies or Speed Booster blocks in line with Samus' trajectory are history. Usually you'll find Speed Booster blocks up above somewhere so you'll know there's bound to be a secret passageway above these launchers.

Itemless Chozo Statues

Often you'll come across Chozo Statues (usually standing) without any items in their outstretched arms. If you activate the Morph Ball while standing on the statue's hands, the statue will glow before showing you a map of the current area.

A glowing dot will hover over to where the next item you should seek is located. Mainly to help beginner players navigate their way around Zebes, these statues also restore your health and ammo, so be sure to stock up every time you find one. If you bypass one and pick up the item it pinpoints, the statue will automatically sit down and revert to a health/ammo restoring station.