This guide is intended to help one achieve a 100% item collection rate in Metroid Prime 1, in a mostly efficient manner. It should work for all versions of the game: GameCube, Wii, and Wii U. Scans / logbook entries are not covered. This guide was originally created as something for me to refer back to when I replay the game; I'm hoping it can be useful to you as well. It's best if you're already familiar with the game, as I won't go into too much detail on where to go, just some hints here and there. Generally speaking, I'll provide a direction to head towards, then cover item collection for each of the rooms leading up to that point. If no specific direction is given, the way forward is usually obvious.
The guide is laid out in the order that you traverse the world. Each item will have a checkbox next to it, in case you prefer to check things off as you go (I know I do). I provide a count of how many of a certain power up you should have at each point. Emphasis is used for room names.
Now that the preamble is out of the way, let's get started.
The first third of the game is all about rapidly gaining upgrades to restore our power while progressing through new areas.
Nothing to collect here. Proceed through the intro level; defeat the Parasite Queen and chase after Meta-Ridley in your daring escape.
Nothing to collect here (yet). Head west then north towards the elevator leading to Chozo Ruins West.
Head towards the northwest corner of the map to start.
- Missile [
005] : Hive Totem - Defeat the Hive Mecha miniboss to earn the Missile Launcher and your first missile pack.
On harder difficulties, Flaahgra might be a little more challenging than normal, because we skip two energy tanks until after defeating Flaahgra. To help with that, you can grab the energy tank right behind Hive Mecha.
Head back to Main Plaza and break open the missile door on the ground floor.
- Morph Ball : Ruined Shrine - Defeat the plated beetle "miniboss" to gain access to this classic power up.
Head back to Main Plaza and traverse up the path along the north wall. Once inside Ruined Fountain Access, keep heading left.
-
Missile [
010] : Watery Hall Access - On your way to the charge beam, break open the wall on your left with a missile. -
Charge Beam : Watery Hall - Activate the four runes in this room to gain access to another classic power up.
Head back to Gathering Hall and climb up the room.
-
Bombs : Burn Dome - Defeat the Incinerator Drone miniboss to gain another classic power up.
-
Missile [
015] : Burn Dome - Use your newly acquired bombs to break open the suspicious looking wall at the end of the morph ball track.
Head back to Arboretum and traverse up the room; on your way back, complete the morph ball puzzle to drain the water and unlock the door in Energy Core, but don't proceed through it just yet. If you're having trouble with Flaahgra, you should go through the door and go into the lower part of Furnace to grab the energy tank there.
- Varia Suit : Sunchamber - Defeat Flaahgra to gain this classic suit.
After Flaahgra, elect to take the south door from the elevator room so we can collect some goodies. Head back towards Hive Totem.
-
Missile [
020] : Vault - Use the double bomp jump technique to unlock the missile pack in this room. -
Energy Tank [
01] : Main Plaza - On the ledge when re-entering this room from Plaza Access. -
Missile [
025] : Ruined Nursery - Traverse the morph ball maze in this room. -
Missile [
030] : Ruined Gallery - Take the morph ball tunnel in this room. -
Missile [
035] : Ruined Gallery - Break open the wall on your right after exiting the morph ball tunnel from the previous missile pack. -
Energy Tank [
02] : Transport Access North - Open the door behind Hive Mecha to grab this.
Continue past the energy tank. You'll come back to the elevator room we skipped a few minutes ago; proceed to take the elevator to Magmoor Caverns North.
Proceed south and east through Magmoor Caverns until you reach Monitor Station. Traverse up to the middle of the room to take the west exit.
- Energy Tank [
03] : Transport Tunnel A - Use the double bomb jump three times to reach this.
Take the elevator to Phendrana Drifts North.
The second third of the game is characterized by backtracking a lot to gain one or two new abilities that allow us to progress in our previous direction.
Roll through the tunnel to the west in Phendrana Shorelines to unlock the door above. Proceed through the door towards Ice Ruins West, then take the path to the southwest.
- Boost Ball : Phendrana Canyon - Traverse the platforming puzzle to gain this new power up.
Backtrack towards the elevator to Magmoor Caverns West.
Take the east door from Monitor Station. Proceed towards the elevator to Tallon Overworld West.
- Missile [
040] : Transport Tunnel B - Check under the footpath in this room.
Use the half pipe in Tallon Canyon to get to the upper east exit.
-
Space Jump Boots : Alcove - In the previously unreachable room behind your gunship.
-
Missile [
045] : Landing Site - Behind your gunship there is a morph ball tunnel with tangle weeds containing this.
Backtrack towards the elevator to Magmoor Caverns East.
Go back the way you came towards Phendrana Drifts.
- Missile [
050] : Fiery Shores - At the halfway point in this room, break the crates that are blocking a morph ball platform. Proceed carefully on the catwalks to gain this.
Take the elevator to Phendrana Drifts North.
Climb up to the platform leading to Ice Ruins West, then turn around and space jump up over to the northwest exit in Phendrana Shorelines.
- Wave Beam : Chapel of the Elders - Defeat the Sheegoth miniboss to gain access to this classic power up.
With the wave beam we can take the southeast exit from Ice Ruins West.
If you are having trouble mitigating damage, grab the energy tank in Ruined Courtyard early. While doing the spinner puzzle, take the morph ball tunnel from the platform on the west wall. You'll have to re-do the spinner puzzle to get back up to the top.
-
Super Missile : Observatory - Complete the boost ball puzzle to gain this new take on a classic power up.
-
Thermal Visor : Research Core - Scan the computers to unlock this as you traverse down to the bottom of this room.
Backtrack through the labs to Ruined Courtyard.
-
Missile [
055] : Research Lab Aether - Look for a catwalk above the middle platform in this room, where you can use your morph ball to reach this. -
Energy Tank [
04] : Research Lab Aether - Break the glass cylinder on the ground floor with a missile. -
Missile [
060] : Research Lab Hydra - Break open the suspicious cylinder with a super missile as you backtrack through this room.
Use the wave beam to power the door to the east in Ruined Courtyard.
- Spider Ball : Quarantine Cave - Defeat Thardus to gain this classic power up.
Using the spider ball, take the south exit from this room and then take the elevator to Magmoor Caverns South.
- Energy Tank [
05] : Magmoor Workstation - Complete the morph ball puzzle in this room to gain this.
Proceed north from Magmoor Workstation until you reach the elevator to Tallon Overworld West again.
Take the elevator to Chozo Ruins West.
Head back towards Energy Core to take the previously unlocked door to Furnace.
-
Missile [
065] : Main Plaza - Use the boost ball to reach this. -
Missile [
070] : Main Plaza - Break the knot on the large tree with a super missile. -
Missile [
075] : Ruined Fountain - Morph into a ball in the fountain and use the spider ball to gain this. -
Missile [
080] : Gathering Hall - Space jump up another level at the top of this room. -
Energy Tank [
06] : Furnace - Take the morph ball tunnel next to the spider ball track in this room.
Take the spider ball track in Furnace.
-
Missile [
085] : Crossway - Break the wall plating with a super missile on the east side of the room, then complete the boost ball puzzle. -
Ice Beam : Antechamber - Break the plating in Reflecting Pool, then use the boost ball to reach the east exit on the upper floor.
Take the west exit out of Reflecting Pool, then take the elevator to Tallon Overworld East.
Proceed south then west towards the elevator to Magmoor Caverns East.
- Missile [
090] : Overgrown Cavern - Entangled in the red tangle weeds in this room.
Take the elevator to Magmoor Caverns East.
Proceed south towards and take the elevator to Phendrana Drifts South.
Proceed through the back half of Phendrana Drifts. Eventually you'll reach the...
- Gravity Suit : Gravity Chamber - Hidden in a small alcove in the north part of the room.
Backtrack towards and take the elevator to Magmoor Caverns South.
Backtrack towards and take the elevator to Tallon Overworld West.
Go east past your gunship towards the Frigate Crash Site.
- Missile [
095] : Frigate Crash Site - In a small alcove within the tree roots underwater.
Climb up the ledges leading to a morph ball tunnel, then proceed through the east door into the wreckage of the Space Pirate Frigate.
-
Energy Tank [
07] : Cargo Freight Lift to Deck Gamma - Break the glass door of the elevator at the bottom of this room. -
Missile [
100] : Biohazard Containment - Look for a door on the bottom floor that can be broken with a super missile. -
Energy Tank [
08] : Hydro Access Tunnel - Use your double bomb jump skills underwater to reach this.
Once you exit the frigate, you'll be in Great Tree Hall. Take the ice beam door to the south and proceed towards the elevator to Phazon Mines East.
Proceed through this area; the path is mostly straightforward.
-
Missile [
105] : Main Quarry - Take the stairs at the western wall, proceed upwards to the scaffolding. Power the control room with the wave beam, and use the spider ball track to get to this. -
Missile [
110] : Elite Research - Use the boost ball to aim the beam cannon due west. Scan the computer to fire the beam. -
Missile [
115] : Elite Control Access - Shoot the explodable barrel to reveal this in the alcove. -
Power Bomb [
4] : Central Dynamo - Complete the morph ball puzzle to gain this awesome power up.
You can't proceed any further right now, so backtrack all the way to the elevator to Tallon Overworld South. After the grapple beam you can take a shortcut with the mid level door to the south.
-
Energy Tank [
09] : Ventilation Shaft - Use a power bomb to break the grating and access this. -
Grapple Beam : Storage Depot B - Use a power bomb to destroy the rubble at the top of Ore Processing.
Take the elevator to Tallon Overworld South.
Start climbing Great Tree Hall, until you can take the upper south exit.
-
Missile [
120] : Life Grove Tunnel - Boost up to the top of the rock formation, then use a bomb to reach this. -
X-Ray Visor : Life Grove - In front of you.
-
Artifact (CHOZO) : Life Grove - Lay a power bomb where you got the x-ray visor, then locate a metal plating in the water. Use a bomb to drain the water, then use the spinner to lift the artifact out.
-
Missile [
125] : Great Tree Chamber - Climb to the top of Great Tree Hall, then locate an invisible platform with the x-ray visor to reach this.
Head north out of Great Tree Hall and take the elevator to Chozo Ruins South.
Take the elevator to Tallon Overworld East.
Proceed towards and take the elevator to Magmoor Caverns East.
Backtrack south towards the elevator to Phendrana Drifts South.
- Plasma Beam : Plasma Processing - Complete the involved puzzle in Geothermal Core to gain this awesome power up.
Take the elevator to Phendrana Drifts South.
Once we get the plasma beam, we have all the tools to get every item. Now we'll tour the planet of Tallon IV on our way to the finish line.
Head south from the elevator towards the back half of Phendrana.
- Energy Tank [
10] : Transport Access - Use the plasma beam to melt the ice and nab this energy tank.
Take the west door out of Frozen Pike, to re-enter the Space Pirate labs from the back. Proceed to the Control Tower.
- Artifact (ELDER) : Control Tower - Shoot the red balloons from the window above the East Tower. Go through the newly created tunnel to find this.
Return to Frozen Pike, then take the south exit towards Frost Cave.
-
Missile [
130] : Frost Cave - Use the grapple beam to get to the other side, and shoot the stalactite high above to reveal this in the water below. -
Artifact (SPIRIT) : Storage Cave - Locate a hidden plasma beam door using the x-ray visor as you climb to the top of Phendrana's Edge and use a power bomb to access it.
-
Power Bomb [
5] : Security Cave - Climb to the top of Phendrana's Edge and grapple over.
Return towards Gravity Chamber.
- Missile [
135] : Gravity Chamber - Melt the ice in the ceiling to reveal this.
Return towards Quarantine Monitor.
- Missile [
140] : Quarantine Monitor - Use the grapple beam to reach the east side of Quarantine Cave.
Backtrack towards Phendrana Shorelines with the intention of re-entering the Chozo Ice Temple.
-
Energy Tank [
11] : Ruined Courtyard - Use the morph ball tunnel from the middle platform. -
Power Bomb [
6] : Ice Ruins West - Use the plasma beam to melt the ice in the northeast and reach this. -
Missile [
145] : Ice Ruins East - Use the plasma beam to melt the ice in the southwest. -
Missile [
150] : Ice Ruins East - Use the spider ball track in the northeast to reach this. -
Missile [
155] : Phendrana Shorelines - Use the plasma beam to melt the ice in southwest. -
Missile [
160] : Phendrana Shorelines - Break the wall plating in the northwest with a super missile to reach this. -
Artifact (SUN) : Chozo Ice Temple - Melt the ice from the Chozo statue's hands at the top.
Backtrack towards the elevator to Magmoor Caverns West.
Backtrack towards the elevator to Chozo Ruins North.
-
Artifact (STRENGTH) : Warrior Shrine - Climb to the top of Monitor Station, and activate the bridge using the spinner.
-
Power Bomb [
7] : Warrior Shrine - Use a power bomb at the base of the statue to reveal a path. -
Ice Spreader : Shore Tunnel - Double back towards Monitor Station; use a power bomb in the glass tunnel, and find this underneath.
-
Missile [
165] : Triclops Pit - Use the x-ray visor to locate invisible platforms that lead to a fake pillar, break it with a missile to claim this. -
Missile [
170] : Storage Cavern - Enter the pit and get to the room in the southwest. -
Artifact (NATURE) : Lava Lake - Shoot the pillar with 2 missiles to reveal this.
Take the elevator to Chozo Ruins North.
Head east from the elevator room and climb up Sun Tower towards Flaahgra's room.
- Artifact (WILD) : Sunchamber - Defeat the Chozo Ghosts.
Backtrack towards Ruined Fountain and take the south exit.
-
Power Bomb [
8] : Magma Pool - Grapple across this room to reach the final power bomb expansion. -
Missile [
175] : Training Chamber Access - Right before leaving this room, roll underneath the tree to the west. -
Energy Tank [
12] : Training Chamber - Solve the morph ball puzzle. -
Missile [
180] : Main Plaza - Grapple across this room when accessing from Piston Tunnel.
Return to where you got the morph ball.
-
Missile [
185] : Ruined Shrine - Use the boost ball to reach a small room on the south side. -
Missile [
190] : Ruined Shrine - Use the same half pipe to reach the north side, and get the missile in the morph ball tunnel.
Take the spider ball track and proceed through the wave beam door at the top of Ruined Shrine.
-
Wavebuster : Tower of Light - Complete the platforming puzzle to reach this at the top.
-
Artifact (LIFEGIVER) : Tower of Light - At the bottom of this room, look for the path to the south.
Backtrack to where you acquired the charge beam.
-
Missile [
195] : Dynamo - Next to the charge beam is a path to this room. Break open the grating with a missile. -
Missile [
200] : Dynamo - Use the spider ball track to reach this. -
Missile [
205] : Watery Hall - Underwater on the north side of this room. -
Missile [
210] : Furnace - Use a power bomb to reveal a half pipe, then reach this at the top.
Take the east ice beam door to Hall of the Elders.
-
Energy Tank [
13] : Hall of the Elders - Use the ice beam to activate this path. -
Artifact (WORLD) : Hall of the Elders - Use the plasma beam to activate this path.
Continue south and take the elevator to Tallon Overworld South.
Proceed south and take the elevator to Phazon Mines East.
Go back to where we got the power bombs.
-
Missile [
215] : Security Access A - Use a power bomb to reveal this. -
Flamethrower : Storage Depot A - Use a power bomb at the top of Mine Security Station to reveal the control panel that unlocks the door to this.
-
Artifact (WARRIOR) : Elite Research - Use a power bomb to break the pod containing Phazon Elite and defeat it.
Head north to continue into the area we had to turn away from before.
-
Missile [
220] : Metroid Quarantine A - Once you reach the platform with the spider ball track, use 2 power bombs to reveal hidden paths to reach this. -
Missile [
225] : Fungal Hall Access - Roll underneath the big mushroom at the bottom. Take care not to dwell too long down there. -
Missile [
230] : Metroid Quarantine B - Use a super missile on the suspicious storage cylinder to reveal this. -
Phazon Suit : Elite Quarters - Defeat Omega Pirate.
Backtrack towards Phazon Mining Tunnel.
-
Missile [
235] : Fungal Hall B - Use a bomb to reveal this below the south plasma beam door. -
Artifact (NEWBORN) : Phazon Mining Tunnel - Use bombs in the morph ball tunnel to reach this.
Return to Elite Quarters.
-
Energy Tank [
14] : Processing Center Access - The last energy tank is right past Elite Quarters. -
Missile [
240] : Phazon Processing Center - Climb midway up the room, locate it using the x-ray visor, then use a power bomb to reveal this on the east wall.
Continue climbing up and take the elevator to Magmoor Caverns South.
Proceed north towards the elevator to Tallon Overworld West.
-
Missile [
245] : Root Cave - Use the x-ray visor to locate hidden platforms and a hidden wall as you climb up. -
Missile [
250] : Arbor Chamber - The west exit at the top of Root Cave contains the final missile pack.
Proceed east towards your gunship, then take the path south towards Artifact Temple.
- Artifact (TRUTH) : Artifact Temple - The last artifact is waiting for you in the open.
Picking up the final artifact triggers the boss fight with Meta-Ridley. From there, it's a short jaunt to the final boss, Metroid Prime.