Chapter 5: A Broken World ravaged by War

Upon arriving at Bryyo, take in the spectacular scene of the planet - a glowing orb of orange and gold hues bearing massive tendrils of dust and debris streaking out into space on either side. As Samus glides in for a landing you'll spot the massive Leviathan protected by a powerful blue energy field. An alien creature watches her incoming and promptly vanishes. Upon touching down you'll find a sight completely alien to those on Norion and aboard the Olympus.

Two huge statues adorn either side of the canyon ahead. Look down off the edge of the ship's platform, from here you're atop a cliffside bluff overlooking a massive open canyon below. Strange colossal orbs float suspended in the air above your position; tethered to the ground by enormous chains. Small orange foliage dots the deep canyon, while the glowing orange skyline completes the alien picture.

Step down off the landing platform and scan the ancient objects scattered around. Stone ruins once used to welcome travelers lie among the dirt, while the gargantuan statues within the canyon walls turn out to be robotic stone Golems long since powered down. Scan the ancient structures as you step of the landing platform to learn more about this alien world.

Aurora 242 chimes in right away to give you the latest: that energy shield protecting the Leviathan can't be breached for now. Instead, apparently a downed Federation frigate lies nearby with an intact satellite system; this should give you enough details to get started. Scan the Mature Kashh plant on the canyon wall for your Logbook, and try to scan one of the Nightbarbs swarming out from within the huge thorny foliage. Kashh plants usually contain health and Missile refills, so don't hesitate to blow them open if need be.

Step forward through the thorns and look atop a stone structure ahead; see the reptile leering down at you? Quickly scan it before it leaps off to reveal it as a Reptilicus Hunter - these locals are certainly not going to be friendly anytime soon. Once the target disappears step over to the ornate door ahead and move through (scan the Small Kashh plant on the wall nearby first and the door itself).

Beyond you'll discover an unusual sight, ahead in the Kashh plant-lined corridor rests a Bryyo native encased in solid ice. Now there's only one character we know who could possibly do that... Step through the corridor and around the corner to find another hapless victim encased in ice. Beyond here lies an awesome sight: a huge bridge of solid ice spanning a chasm over to an enormous structure. Watch out for the rogue group of Gragnol fliers, be sure to scan one for your Logbook before clearing them out.

Scan the huge bulbous structures hanging at either side of the bridge, these Hopper Nests are home to some nasty critters, but they won't bother you yet. See if you can spot another Reptilicus Hunter watching you from atop the huge structure's wall. Also scan one of the two pillars beside the entrance on the far side of the bridge, these monuments stand as a reminder of the folly of war - you'll soon discover that Phazon is far from the only suffering this planet's endured.

Step inside the huge structure and scan the Large Bryyo Coffer and Small Bryyo Coffer resting on the ground for your Logbook. Spin around, see that the ledge you just leaped down from is too high to climb back up? Lock onto the lower of the two stacked objects and grapple it back to create a handy stepping stone for the return trip. Move through the nearby door to reach the Gateway - a massive lobby serving as the main entrance to this region of Bryyo.

Watch as the camera pans around the intricate chamber, eventually it'll rest upon a large sealed door adorned with a green and orange lock. Further exploration reveals that you'll need to move through that door, so let's look for a way to unlock it. Scan the huge floating structure in the center of the region to learn that it allows access to both security lock nodes (look directly up, there's a security node directly above you).

Turn right and scan the huge panel blocking your path. With that object in the way, turn left and leap across to the nearby ledge. Climb around to the opposite side of the chamber to discover a very rickety and ruined bridge leading up to the sealed door. Nearby you'll discover a door leading out of this region - if you follow it through you'll discover the remains of the huge Federation frigate, but have no means of reaching it (see the Grapple Point?).

Back in the Gateway region, step across the narrow bridge up to the locked door (don't worry, it'll just barely hold). Scan the door to learn that a manual security override is needed, so let's climb up to the central floating structure.

Beside the locked door rests another ledge, use it to reach the central structure where a narrow tunnel resides. Use the Morph Ball and roll down through the tunnel, eventually finding yourself snugly inside the yellow-orange security node. Lay a bomb to release the node and unseal the yellow lock. As you do so a pair of platforms will also lower down high above your position.

Watch out as you fall from the security node - you've now got company. Stand up and quickly scan the swarm of Phazon Nightbarbs for your Logbook (I thought these fliers only existed on Dark Aether?). You can't simply lock on and fire at these beings, instead wait for them to begin flying around in a circular fashion. As they do, a bolt of energy will charge up among them before they discharge a number of rounds right at you. Stop them by simply releasing a Charge Beam blast straight into their energy vortex.

With the Nightbarbs gone let's go deal with the green lock. Climb back up to the now half-sealed door and spin around, looking for a shimmering wall section opposite the chasm. See the two lowered platforms up on the wall? You can head over to the door leading to the crashed Frigate and climb up from there, or create a shortcut by locking onto the shimmering wall panel and grappling it down. The only catch is that you'll lose the rickety bridge leading up to the locked door, all this movement will destabilise the bridge and send it plummeting into the chasm below.

Either way, climb up to the lowered platforms and use them to reach the top of the floating central structure (watch out for reappearing Nightbarb swarms). Enter the narrow green tunnel and roll down to the green security node. Lay a bomb to release the lock and finally open up the ancient door. As you do, the original ledge you used to cross the Gateway chasm will become inaccessible, while the other one's security panel will rise. As it does a pair of small red creatures float out from hiding, scan one to reveal them as Gel Puffers.

Clear the Puffers before crossing back over to the now-unsealed door. Step inside the chamber to discover an ornate tunnel system etched into the walls. But before you can roll through there's an odd object blocking the right tunnel's path. Use the Grapple Lasso to pull the blockage along the tunnel and out of the way. Use the Morph Ball to enter the tunnels and roll down the right side.

Once back outside you'll discover an exit up ahead, but are promptly ambushed by a pair of small creatures on spindly legs. Scan one to reveal them as Hoppers. Simply open up on the targets and dash-strafe when they expel juices at you. With both targets clear, look for a frozen Bryyo native blocking access to a tunnel further outside - remember this area for later on. Enter the chamber the Hoppers guarded to discover a handy item: Energy Tank BR.01. Before leaving be sure to grapple the panel off the wall high above and scan the Golden Age lore entry. This entry mentions a prosperous time for Bryyo before its eventual downfall - without even mentioning Phazon.

Return to the Gateway and travel down the left side of the tunnel network. Here you'll discover a chamber with a single door guarded by a trio of Shriekbats - try to scan one before they dive-bomb you but don't worry if you miss. Dismantle the red blast shield on the door ahead with a Missile and exit the Gateway chamber to discover the Grand Court Path - a narrow twisting corridor filled with a number of small blue bugs. Scan one of the bugs for your Logbook, these Shelbugs will expel small spines your way if you travel too close, so dispatch them safely from afar.

Move on through the corridor to eventually find your path blocked by a huge group of grotesque spiky blue vines. Scan the gross vegetation to learn that only Phazon-based weaponry can harm the growths on the vines, so fire up Hypermode and blast all the growth pods to clear the path. Now before you head on through, backtrack down the corridor and look for a Fuel Gel statue high up in a small alcove. Destroy the statue with a Missile, then climb up and follow the path around to eventually locate Missile Expansion BR.01 hiding in an alcove.

Drop down and pass through the now-cleared corridor. Watch out for another pair of Hoppers giving you grief, keep away to avoid their sharp talons. Clear the hostiles and exit this area to discover the Grand Court - a massive open-air canyon home to a lifeless stone Golem. We're heading for the exit on the far western side, so climb down into the canyon and move through.

As you step towards the Golem's body however, a pair of Reptilicus Hunters appear and block your exit up ahead with a stone statue. These natives certainly aren't friendly, and Phazon corruption hasn't helped either. Scan one for your Logbook, then keep yourself moving and watch out for offensive attacks. Lock onto a target and keep your distance to avoid their whips, and dash-strafe if one flings its chakram your way. Suppressive fire and the odd Missile will help, but with such a small arsenal you'll find that using Hypermode will make very short work of the pair, just don't use it too much and accidentally leave yourself with barely any health left.

Conquer both natives and watch as the stone statue retracts, granting you access to the region beyond. Turn left as you enter the small cave - see the large metal panel adorning the wall? Fire at the center red circle and watch as three smaller circles appear in sequence across the panel. Fire at each in the order they appeared to unlock the stone plates and reveal a lore entry hidden beneath.

Scan the Age of Science lore entry for your Logbook before moving on. This one details the Bryyonian's first contact with the Chozo and Luminoth, but unlike our other favourite alien races, many on Bryyo refused to let their pride and tradition go so easily... Exit the Grand Court to discover the Hillside Vista beyond. This pleasant outlook is home to a number of hostile creatures.

Clear the trio of Gragnols flying about before taking a look at the wall across the short chasm (but feel free to take in the sights as well, of course). See the small bugs crawling about inside narrow tunnels etched in the wall? Scan them to learn that these Snatchers gather food for that larger creature hanging around on the ceiling directly above. Scan this Korba for your Logbook as well.

Now to find a way to cross the chasm. Return to the small cliff where you entered this region via and look for a weakened section on the rock wall. Your Scan Visor will inform you that unusually high amounts of Talloric alloy are present - you know what that means. Lay a bomb beside the rock to blow it clear and roll through the open tunnel.

Once landing down among the Snatchers, roll around among them and watch as they leech onto Samus. Luckily they won't hurt you, instead after a sufficient number attach themselves to Samus she'll begin floating up toward the hungry Korba. Don't let yourself suffer damage, hold left and float up the tunnel on the left side to find yourself at Missile Expansion BR.02's location. Lay a bomb to break free of the Snatchers and pick up your prize before moving on.

Upon reaching the other side of the chasm, simply tear the cover off the Fuel Gel statue there with the Grapple Lasso and use a Missile to dismantle it. Enter the now-accessible chamber beyond for a welcoming sight - the Grapple Swing. With this upgrade in hand you can finally make use of all those Grapple Points throughout the environments (this being the equivalent of the Grapple Beam from the first two Prime titles).

Exit the chamber to find a C-icon now present under the Grapple Point back in the Hillside Vista. Scan the object for your Logbook before locking on and deploying the Grapple Swing. Sweep across and land safely on the opposite side (notice you can still fire your weaponry while in flight). Climb up the short cliff and return to the Grand Court.

Once there, look for a cave opening near the Golem's feet. Climb up through the twisting cave to find yourself facing the exit far across the canyon. Before swinging across thanks to the Grapple Swing, clear out the visible Gel Puffers. As you swing across you may notice a white blast-shielded door on the right side of the area, but without sub-zero projectiles you can't break through it.

Land on the platform ahead to find the wall covered in shimmering panels. Simply use the Grapple Lasso to rip them all off, revealing a network of narrow tunnels inside the wall.

Roll through and climb up to reach the door you originally entered this region via. Travel through to the Grand Court Path and backtrack to the Gateway region. As you do you'll spot another hostile native, except this one is far more common than the pair you faced earlier.

Scan it to reveal it as a regular Reptilicus, but don't underestimate its threat level. These ones boast the same attack patterns as the Reptilicus Hunters, so keep your distance and take it out from afar (use Hypermode to speed things up).

Next Chapter: The Deadly Phazon Threat

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