The Cipher is a device crafted by the Chozo that inhabited Tallon IV. After the coming of the meteor, the Worm, and the Great Poison, the Artifact Temple was constructed over top of all three to contain them, and the Cipher was placed as an extra precaution.

To break the seal, twelve Chozo Artifacts are required, and they will power corresponding Chozo Totems, which will power the Cipher and break the containment field. A rippling blue portal of some sort will appear under the Cipher and sections of the central totem pole will rise up, with blue light being fired up into the sky, opening the crater for the Entrusted One to enter and destroy all three threats.

However, as the seal is opening in Metroid Prime, Meta Ridley flies in and drops Meson Bombs on the temple, destroying most of the Chozo Totems and the Cipher, seemingly ruining the chance for Tallon to be saved. After his defeat, non-violent Chozo Ghosts appear, causing the rippling portal (which is unscannable) to appear once again, and allow access to the crater.

Official data

Chozo Lore

Trivia

• An early version of the Chozo Lore entry Binding shows that the Cipher was originally going to have been destroyed prior to Samus Aran's arrival on Tallon IV. Rather than attempting to use the Chozo Artifacts to break the Cipher and enter the Impact Crater, Samus would have been attempting to reactivate the Cipher and seal the Impact Crater away.

Gallery

The Chozo Ghosts that inhabit the Totems restore the broken statues.

The Cipher's seal is broken.