Metroid Database Bestiary

The first miniboss of Super Metroid. The Torizo is a creature disguised as a normal Chozo statue, which usually hold powerups for Samus to collect. This Torizo is the holder of the Bomb powerup. After Samus collects it, the Torizo awakens, and breaks out of its stone shell. The history behind the Torizo is largely undocumented; however, many theories about their existence have been proposed. Some believe that the Torizo is nothing more than a mindless security robot, created by the Chozo to guard the powerup it is given. Others think the Torizo is an organic, living creature the Chozo reprogrammed to do their bidding. While no one is certain of its overall intentions, the Torizo is a hostile miniboss and will attack Samus relentlessly.

There is a 5-Missile door to open the Torizo’s room. Open the door first, and then use the Mellows in the room to farm missile pickups before entering. Once engaged, the Gray Torizo is fairly easy to defeat. Its main attack pattern consists of walking back and forth and stopping to either shoot wide yellow beams that move horizontally across the screen or swiping its arms rapidly and creating small explosions in its wake. Sometimes it will open its mouth and spit exploding projectiles that resemble item container orbs. You can shoot these projectiles (aim diagonally up) to receive more missiles and health during battle. The Torizo’s chest will eventually blow off, and later its head, which it will then begin to pace around quickly, but only be able to attack with its swipe move. This is an indicator that it is almost defeated. A few more missiles should finish the job.

There are actually three Torizos in Super Metroid, not two. The third one is encountered in Tourian, but is already dead upon arrival. It turns to sand after being touched, suggesting it was killed by the Super Metroid. The Japanese word "Torizo" means "Bird Statue" and uses the exact same characters as “Chozo”.