How to reach Ice Belt in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond is a return to form for the beloved first-person Metroidvania franchise from Nintendo, with the same non-linear gameplay that made it a hit since the sub-series debuted on the Nintendo GameCube. As you explore the planet Viewros, you will encounter various biomes, including the snowy world of the Ice Belt.

To do so, you must obtain the Fire Shot arm cannon upgrade in the game. This guide explains all there is to do in order to unlock this region in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond. Here are the details.

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How to unlock the Fire Shot to reach the Ice Belt in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond

After setting up a base in Fury Green, the first major region on Viewros, Samus will make her way to the second area, Volt Forge, where she acquires the Vi-O-la bike. Following this, the Ice Belt will be the next destination. Unfortunately, the path to it through Sol Valley is blocked by an icy door, so Samus must obtain the Fire Shot upgrade to progress.

This is located in the Flare Pool, a zone in the south-east of the Sol Valley. Once inside, make your way through the tunnels until you reach the main area with the title card for the Flare Pool zone. Before that, take note of the sealed door located right before, as shown in the image below.

This door in the Flame Pool area leads to the Fire Shot upgrade in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond (Image via Nintendo/YouTube: @BearBear)

Out in the main area, open up the drawbridge ahead and make your way across, after which a cutscene will play where the bridge falls apart, forcing Samus to backtrack. Return to the locked door shown above, which will now open up following a brief cutscene that shows enemies exiting from it. Dispatch them and head through the now-unlocked door.

Head through to find a Lamorn Plasma Torch up ahead with a red glowing item in it: the Fire Shot upgrade. Get off the bike and make your way to the area behind the machine and climb atop the platforms, then jump onto the machine. Use the Morph Ball to enter the vent of the machine and place a bomb at the very end of it to knock down the Fire Shot upgrade.

Get inside this device to knock down the upgrade (Image via Nintendo/YouTube: @BearBear)

Roll back out and collect the upgrade. Now, return to the base camp in Fury Green and talk to Mackenzie to install the Fire Shot. This will allow you to melt the ice blocking the path to the Ice Belt. Return to Sol Valley to watch another cutscene where the desert is awash with green rain (similar in colour to green crystals) falling from the sky, which empowers the foes encountered in the area here onwards.

Make your way to the north-west corner of the desert to get to the Ice Belt entrance facility and use Fire Shot on the door reached via the psychic stairs to enter this new zone.

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