The Metalion Space Fighter N322, or simply Metalion (メタリオン in Japanese), the main protagonist of the 1987 MSX game Nemesis 2 and its 1993 remake Nemesis '90 Kai. It was created by Dr. Venom and flown by James Burton. In many aspects, it is nearly identical to the Vic Viper, both physically and performance wise, but features new weaponry.
History
In preparation for a future attack by the Bacterian Empire, a new temporal space fighter was developed as a successor to the Vic Viper.
Developed by Dr. Venom, who was then Director General of the Space Science Agency under the appointment of Emperor Lars XVII. The new craft, dubbed the "Metalion Space Fighter N322", featured a never-before tested technology called the Hyperdrive System 11 psychic, also known as the Wreek power propulsion engine, which would improve the energy efficiency of the fighter. The first test flight however proved to be a failure, as the Hyperdrive System 11 was deemed to be unstable. During this time, Dr. Venom was under the investigation by the Gradius Empire following suspicion around his appointment to the Space Agency, leaving to a growing conflict that ultimately led to an attempted coup by Venom and 9 of his followers the following year, leading them to be exiled to Planet Sard. They would later be involved in the assassination of the Emperor Lars and escape the planet they were exiled to.
Amidst the political turmoil, the remaining members of the Space Agency that were still loyal to the Gradius Empire refined the Metalion and corrected many of its flaws, eventually achieving successful flight tests, but problems continued to appear with its Hyperdrive system. These improvements were completed just in time, as a resurrected Dr. Venom, in a joint alliance with the Bacterians had invaded seven of the neo-space plants, with Gradius next in their path.
Despite the risks to the Hyperdrive's instability, the Gradius Empire launched the Metalion, piloted by former Vic Viper pilot James Burton in order to suppress the invasion. The Metalion travels to each of the neo-space plants, located on seven different planets with different environments and hazards, defeating each of Dr. Venom's followers, before having to reverse course on Planet Sin and returning to Gradius in order to infiltrate Venom's Mothership, where it confronts and destroys Venom. The fact that Dr. Venom was destroyed by (though he would resurrect later) his own creation was extremely ironic.
Specification
| Wingspan | 11.78 m (38.65 ft) |
| Length | 18.23 m (59.81 ft) |
| Height | 3.84 m (12.6 ft) |
| Weight | 13.2 t |
| Crew | 1 |
| Maximum Speed | 40 warp |
| Drive | Hyperdrive II Engine |
Weapons
The Metalion's stock weapons are virtually identical to those used by the Vic Viper. However, unlike its predecessor it can obtain unique upgrades that allow it to use more powerful alternatives. Some power-ups that are obtained have a limited amount of time for their use.
- Impulse Rail Gun - fires a single, semi-automatic bolt that can destroy smaller Bacterians easily.
- Missile - fires a single missile downwards at a 45 degree angle. Once the missile makes contact with the ground, it will travel along the ground until it hits an enemy or an obstacle such as the environment. If it comes in contact with a hatch, it will destroy it instantly.
- Napalm Missile - a more powerful version of the normal missile, this variant creates a much larger explosion upon when it hits an enemy. In Nemesis '90 Kai, it instead behaves like the Spread Bomb, as it fires a single bomb at a 45 degree angle downwards, upon making contact with any surface or enemy, it will explode, creating a medium-size explosion. The explosion will damage or destroy any Bacterians unfortunate enough to travel within the radius.
- Double - fires an additional shot at a 45 degree angle upwards, allowing the Metalion to clear Bacterians located on surfaces that can't normally be reached with the standard cannon or missiles.
- Up Laser - fires a wide laser beam that travels vertically up from the Metalion. This weapon is more powerful than the standard Double, and can be fired alongside the Laser.
- Down Laser - fires a wide laser beam that travels vertically down from the Metalion. Though powerful, it is not as effective as the Up Laser and the Missile, both of which it replaces when active.
- Reflex Ring - fires a ring-shaped projectile which travels a certain distance before returning back to the Metalion, essentially acting like a boomerang.
- Back Beam/Tail Gun - fires a single shot behind the Metalion, making it useful for taking out enemies located behind the craft.
- Fire Blaster - fires a powerful flamethrower that has a much more limited range than the Laser. In Nemesis 2 a glitch renders this weapon nearly useless, but in Nemesis '90 Kai, it is fixed.
- Laser - fires a standard beam that can penetrate most smaller Bacterians.
- Extend Laser - fires a much longer and more powerful version of the normal Laser.
- Vector Laser - fires a wide laser that is slow moving, but very powerful for a limited time.
- Options - the standard variant of the option will follow the exact path of the Metalion from behind. In Nemesis 2, only two can be equipped, but in Nemesis '90 Kai, a total of four can be equipped.
- Option Warriors - when this power-up is obtained, it will cause the options to rotate around the Metalion for a limited time.
- Shield - creates a pair of hexagonal gear-shaped shields that protect the Metalion. In Nemesis 2, they grant full protection, but in Nemesis '90 Kai, they only protect the craft from the front, leaving the other sides exposed, and shrink with every hit they take until they are depleted.
- E. Slow - when this power-up is obtained, it will slow down everything for a limited time, allowing the Metalion to dodge enemies and projectiles more easily.
- Rotary Drill - when this power-up is obtained, it will cause the Metalion to spin rapidly like a drill, destroying anything it comes in contact with, rendering the craft temporarily invincibile for its duration.
Gallery
External links
- Metalion at the Gradius Wiki
 Heroism
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