MREA (File Format)

The .MREA file format is used to define areas in Metroid Prime and Donkey Kong Country Returns. MREA files are broken up into many sections, and each section serves a specific purpose. However for the sake of brevity this article will only cover each revision of the MREA header.

=Universal Header=

This header is shared between Metroid Prime and Donkey Kong Country, and is fairly straight forward.

=Metroid Prime 3 & Donkey Kong Header=

Metroid Prime 3 and Donkey Kong Country Returns share the same header, also Metroid Prime 2 contains the Compressed Block Count present in this header as well.

=Section Numbers=

Metroid Prime 1 and 2
In metroid Prime 1 and 2 Immediately following the header each section in an MREA is given it's own number, the following is the order in which they appear:

Metroid Prime 3 and Donkey Kong Country Returns
Metroid Prime 3 and Donkey Kong Country Returns does it differently, and it is also preceded by the compressed blocks, each section is designated in the following:

Repeat  times, one for each section, and the sections sections are associated with the following FourCC values: