So you’ve made it through Volt Forge, activated the power generator, and now you’re standing around wondering “okay, what’s next?” The game doesn’t exactly spell it out for you, and that Manufacturing Floor room with all those robotic arms can be a bit confusing if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
Don’t worry — the solution is actually pretty clever once you realize what the game wants you to do. This guide will walk you through exactly where to go after powering up the generator and how to progress through this section of the Volt Forge “dungeon” to unlock your sweet new ride, the Vi-O-La motorcycle.
For more essential upgrades and abilities, check out our explosive force Missile Launcher guide and our complete Metroid Prime 4 Beyond gameplay guide.
Your Goal in Volt Forge
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s quickly recap what you’re working toward in the Volt Forge area. Your main objective here is to restore power to the facility so you can eventually unlock the Vi-O-La — Samus’ incredibly cool motorcycle suit upgrade. Getting the generator running is just the first step. Once power is restored, you need to navigate back through the facility and use the Manufacturing Floor to progress.
Getting Back to the Manufacturing Floor in Metroid Prime 4
After you’ve successfully turned on the generator outside Volt Forge, you’ll need to backtrack to the Manufacturing Floor room. This is the area where you’ll see various automated machines assembling components of the Vi-O-La motorcycle. Here’s the route back:
Step 1: Re-enter Through the Morph Ball Passage
- Find the Morph Ball hole that you originally used to exit after activating the generator
- Roll back through in Morph Ball mode
Step 2: Navigate the 2D Electrical Section
- Head left through the 2D side-scrolling Morph Ball section
- Watch out for electrical sparks along the path — they’ll damage Samus if you roll into them
- Time your movements to avoid the electricity and conserve your energy
- The path is mostly linear, so just keep rolling forward
Step 3: Drop Back to Manufacturing Floor
- Continue through the electrified passage until you eventually fall back down onto the Manufacturing Floor
- You should now be back in the room with all the robotic assembly arms
What to Do on the Manufacturing Floor in Volt Forge
Now comes the part where some players get stuck. The solution is actually pretty intuitive once you notice what’s being manufactured, but it’s easy to overlook if you’re not paying close attention.
Activate the Manufacturing Line
First things first:
- Locate the terminal on the opposite side of the room from where you entered
- Scan the terminal using your Scan Visor
- Interact with the terminal after scanning (this is important — scanning alone won’t do it!)
- This will power up all component printers and initialize the full manufacturing sequence
Watch the Assembly Process
Once the manufacturing line is active, take a moment to observe what’s happening:
- Multiple mechanical arms will spring to life
- They’re working on assembling various pieces of the Vi-O-La motorcycle
- Pay special attention to one particular station
The Morph Ball Trick
Here’s where the clever puzzle comes in. Look closely at the assembly stations:
- One of the mechanical arms is specifically working on motorcycle tires
- Notice anything familiar about those tires? They’re almost exactly the same size and shape as Samus’ Morph Ball
- This is your hint!
What to do:
- Transform into Morph Ball mode
- Roll onto the tire assembly spot where the mechanical arm is working
- Wait patiently — don’t move or try to do anything
- The robotic arm will mistake you for a tire component and grab Samus
- The arm will lift you to the floor above
It’s a really creative use of Samus’ Morph Ball form, and honestly pretty funny if you think about the automation just going “yep, that’s definitely a tire.”
What’s Waiting Above the Manufacturing Floor
Once the mechanical arm deposits you on the upper level, you’ll have access to:
Progress Forward
- A door leading to the Volt Forge elevator — this allows you to continue progressing toward your Vi-O-La motorcycle upgrade
- Head through this door to advance the story
Unlock a Shortcut
- An elevator/lift mechanism that connects the upper floor back down to the Manufacturing Floor
- Activate this lift before moving on
- This creates a permanent shortcut so you don’t need to use the tire assembly trick again
- You can now travel between floors freely
This shortcut is a nice quality-of-life feature that saves you from having to repeat the whole sequence if you need to backtrack later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens if I move while the mechanical arm is trying to grab me in Manufacturing Floor?
A: If you roll away or exit Morph Ball mode while the arm is approaching, it will reset and continue working on actual tire components. Just roll back onto the designated spot and wait again — the arm will eventually cycle back and grab you. The key is patience; stay still in Morph Ball form and let the automation do its thing.
Q: Do I need to turn on the power generator in Volt Forge before I can access the Manufacturing Floor?
A: Yes, the Manufacturing Floor’s assembly line won’t be functional until you’ve restored power to the facility. You need to complete the generator activation sequence first, then return to the Manufacturing Floor to initialize the manufacturing line via the terminal.
Q: Can I return to the Manufacturing Floor in Volt Forge later in the game?
A: Absolutely! Once you’ve activated the lift/elevator connecting the upper and lower sections of the Manufacturing Floor, you can freely travel between levels whenever you return to Volt Forge. This is helpful if you’re backtracking to collect upgrades you couldn’t reach earlier or if you’re working on completing your scans and pickups for 100% completion.
Q: Is the Vi-O-La motorcycle upgrade mandatory in Metroid Prime 4?
A: Yes, the Vi-O-La is a core story upgrade that you’ll need to progress through certain areas of the game. It’s not optional — Volt Forge and the Manufacturing Floor sequence are part of the main story path. The motorcycle allows Samus to traverse certain terrain types and access new areas that would otherwise be unreachable, similar to how other Metroid upgrades gate progression.
And that’s everything you need to know about the Manufacturing Floor in Volt Forge! The mechanical arm puzzle is one of those classic Metroid moments where the solution is hiding in plain sight once you know what to look for. Now get back to exploring Metroid Prime 4 Beyond and claim that awesome motorcycle upgrade!
