First 4 Figures have done very good things with the Metroid license, from the classic Varia Suit to the sexy Zero Suit Samus, but their latest creation leaves their previous efforts in the dark. Phazon Suit Samus. Being infected with a glowing mutagen has never looked so good!

The statue is crafted entirely in transparent resin, with over 25 LED lights incorporated to give it the unhealthy Phazon glow, and the who thing is mounted on a mirror base that ties the whole effect together. Standing at 11 inches tall, Phazon Suit Samus is very pretty, but also pretty rare at only 1,500 pieces worldwide, and pretty expensive at $224.99. If you've got the funds and are so inclined, hit up the order page immediately to make sure you get yours when they are released in early 2009. Hit the jump for two more pictures of this spectacular piece.

Samus, Unreal Tournament III's Newest Contender

After transplanting Master Chief from his warm, green home on the Xbox 360 to the PlayStation 3, it was hard to imagine a greater iconoclastic modder offense...but one may have just happened. The newest entrant to the UTIII unlicensed mods club is this Samus Aran skin. Play Metroid, kinda, on your PS3!

As Microsoft explained before, there's nothing illegal about creating or downloading such mods. But that doesn't mean Epic will pay you $1,000,000 for one. Their Make Something Unreal Contest bans the use of "third party intellectual property, including, but not limited to software, images, characters, logos, names and trademarks." Still, some pranks are so good, they're worth the free work.

Character - Samus Aran [UT3Mod via PS3Fanboy]

Sure, we've seen stuff like this before, that doesn't mean we're sick of Nintendo character evolution charts. Never! This time around we're tracking the progression that the brawlers from Super Smash Bros. Brawl have undergone. Hit the jump for a look at Samus, Kirby and non-Nintendo character but Wii-favorite Sonic.

Kotakuite the-hypnotoad toiled for months on this truly incredible 16 bit Samus painting. It is approximately three feet tall and stands watch over his desk. I've seen quite a few pixel paintings in my time and none of them comes even close to this. No decals here folk, that's all hand painted. Amazing work, the-hypnotoad! Make the jump to check out a nice close-up of the work.

Most cosplay fails from either poor costume construction or the revealing of too much unruly flesh. Few want to see Tifa reimagined as a heroine whose shorts are bursting at the seams with layers of manifested laziness, one reason why the generally slender cosplayers in Japan are held in high regard in such circles. Thankfully, this Metroid Prime-style Samus Aran cosplay, as performing by Swedish student Jenni Källberg hits all the right marks. Good outfit, adequate wig, excellent details and a distinct lack of body sloppiness. Many more photos at the link below.

Final score: A-.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Samus Aran Cosplay [Pixelninja]

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Impressions

I spent quite a bit of time playing Metroid Prime 3 at last year's E3, so this year I only had two goals in mind: Confirm no one had fucked it up and check out this new free-aiming lock-on dealio. I am happy to report that the game still plays quite well and is a bit more of what it was at last year's E3.

The free-aiming, where you can lock onto a target and then roam around it, and still have to aim with your controller, seems to work quite well. I liked that it afforded me the ability to easily walk around a baddie without too much button jockeying, but that it still required a modicum of skill to actually aim and shoot.

It felt like it was the perfect balance for a light shooter, something that would go over well with both the hardcore and those new to the system and the idea of shooting things for fun.

The chunk of level I played through had a bit more of a puzzle element to it and worked quite well, it also showed off a bit of graphic flair (I particularly like seeing Samus' face reflected in her visor), but let's face it, the Wii will never be the PS3 or the Xbox 360 and, fortunately, Nintendo knows that, so it doesn't even try.

Metroid Prime 3 remains on my list of games I must get for the console when it hits, but isn't quite up there with such titles as Mario Kart (for it's addictive racing) and Super Smash Bros (because, I believe, I'm required to want this game).

Metroid Prime 3 Corruption Box Art With Samus, Samus and Samus

Dojo Dump: Samus! Fox! Crates!

Link And The Lamp

Master Chief Denied By Samus

Clip: Haloid - Fan Service Evolved

Clip: Japanese Super Metroid Commercial

Incredible Metroid Fan Art

Clip: Japanese Metroid II Commerical

Zero Suit Samus Statue Unveiled

Best Game Tattoo Ever