Metroid: Other M
- Metroid – Other M takes the best elements of 1st-person and 3rd-person gaming to create a seamless blend between game play, story-telling and dynamic cinematography, that feels like a movie you can control; you can hold the Wii Remote controller sideways while navigating and battling in 3rd-person; however, at any moment, you can switch immediately to Wii Remote pointer controls to examine and explore the environments in 1st-person perspective
- Metroid fans know more about Samus’ suits and weapons than they do about what drives her; that’s about to change, the story begins immediately following the events of Super Metroid, when a baby Metroid gave its life to protect Samus, with voice acting and a rich story, you will learn the engaging back-story of Samus as she weaves through an action-packed adventure aboard the Bottle Ship, a decommissioned space facility; as she hurtles into this new adventure, Samus will encounter her first men
- The development of Metroid – Other M is an exciting collaboration between Nintendo’s Yoshio Sakamoto and Team Ninja; Sakamoto was the director of Super Metroid in 1994; Team Ninja is the renowned action developer of Ninja Gaiden. Metroid – Other M pairs Sakamoto’s expert level design and exploratory focus of the classic Metroid series with Team Ninja’s signature stylish, no-holds-barred action
Metroid Franchise’s Heroine Gets Personal. For decades, Samus Aran has been known as one of the first female protagonists in video games and one of the most enigmatic. Having traded her haunted past for the solitary life of a bounty hunter, Samus finally tells her own tale in this revealing, personal story of her failings, her flaws and ultimately her motivation. Metroid: Other M is an unprecedented collaboration that blends the slick, action-packed production of the world-renowned Team Ninja
Rating: 
(out of 23 reviews)
List Price: $ 49.99
Price: Too low to display
Metroid: Other M
Rating:
Objective Part of review:
A. Controls
Controlled by holding the Wii mote sideways (same as New Super Mario Bros). Using the D-Pad you control Samus’ movement in a 3D realm. Although ideally a control stick would have worked more smoothly, surprisingly movement is not rough or game breaking. The game uses an auto lock on feature: If Samus is pointing at an enemy, she will automatically target that enemy when firing. However, if the enemy is behind you, and Smaus is looking the other way, the only thing you will be shooting is the wall. 3rd person combat is roughly worked around a dodge/shoot mechanic. A player taps the control pad before an enemy attacks, Samus dodges, which leaves the player in a prime opportunity to follow up with a beam attack (dodging is very forgiving). Samus’ also has the ability to use melee attacks. With a charge beam, Samus can finish off enemies by either jumping on them, or quickly approaching them.
To execute some of Samus’ abilities it is required to point the Wii remote at the screen. When you point at the screen you will be in the perspective of Samus’ visor: first person mode. Whichever direction Samus is pointing is where you will be looking upon entering the mode. The transition can be seamless, but sometimes their will be a jump in cursor movements depending on how vigorously you are playing. In first person mode you are able to target enemies with a missile or beam shot, which is usually required to take down bosses or solve puzzles. However, in first person mode you are not able to move around. Don’t expect to gun down all enemies in first person mode, you would only be making the game harder than it needs to be. A play style of combining 3rd person combat, and first person mode would be ideal, and beneficial for the player.
Note: The controls won’t come natural, but the more you play the more fluid they can become. There is also a tutorial in the beginning of the game to help players understand the play mechanics.
*Dodging also can be done in first person mode, just flick the cursor off the screen before an enemy attack hits you.
B. Gameplay
The classic Metroid formula is still intact. Work your way through various environments by using Samus’ abilities: Morph ball, and Grapple Beam to name a few. Defeat bosses and solve often times simple, but sometimes difficult, platform puzzles.
Note: It is important to listen when abilities are granted to Samus. This will help you understand new abilities effects, and make solving puzzles and defeating enemies easier. Some players have noted that this Metroid game is very linear.
Subjective Part of Review:
A. Graphics
Very beautiful and moody atmosphere. The color palette is saturated, which harkens back to side-scrolling Metroid games. Sometimes textures can be plain, but everything else looks high production. Enemy design varies wonderfully, and fans will get a kick out of seeing old baddies again. Samus’ and enemy movements are fluid during battle. Sometimes character movements, during cutscenes, look a little awkward, but supposedly real actors were used for motion capture.
Note: This is of course a Wii game. Compared to games on other systems, Other M may appear lack luster.
B. Sound
Music is vacant for the less climatic parts of the game, but the scores pick up when tensions rise. This helps with the mood of the game, and can be compared to a hollywood movie. Fans will enjoy a classic Metroid soundtrack.
The voice acting is not half bad. This might not be a pixar movie filled with experienced voice actors, but the cast does a good job with conveying emotion and character. Some fans may complain about Samus’ actor, but she does a good job voicing the often times stoic Samus.
Beam explosions, enemies roaring, and metal echoing. Not ground breaking, but it helps with the atmosphere.
C. Story
Nintendo’s first go at modern cinematic story telling, and a good game for someone who hasn’t played a Metroid game. The story can occasionally get confusing, even for some Metroid fans, but the basic plot is fun and engaging. Is it recommended that you are familiar with the series? No, but for those who are, have a nice treat awaiting them.
Some fans may complain about the direction of Other M, especially how Samus’ is portrayed. Western audiences in particular might be put off by typical Japanese story/character elements. Some of the lines can be a little cheesy, like most video game scripts.
Metroid Fan:
I’m a full on Metroid fan. I’ve played all the games, I’ve read the Metroid manga (fan translated, if interested, google it), and I complete speed runs just for fun. If you are like me, then this game will not disappoint.
Metroid: Other M
Rating:
The METROID franchise was slowly going astray, falling “victim” to innovations that mostly worked yet, at the same time, were turning METROID games into a typical space shooter. Don’t get me wrong, I greatly enjoyed the Metroid Trilogy – it just did not give off the sense of a classic METROID game. Well, NINTENDO made sure to take care of that.
THE OTHER M is an old-school platform shooter, only equipped with the latest innovations that enhance rather than hinder the true character of the game. Samus Aran can now move in 3D (and not only in a sidescrolling manner), yet this is and feels like a classic platform game. There is some puzzle-solving and expect to spend quite some time in the form of a morphing ball, zipping through pipes, bypassing obstacles, unlocking security doors and finding powerups; and the FirstPerson perspective is still available to deliver devastating missile shots (while keeping Samus stationary and vulnerable to enemy attacks, one cannot play the game as an FPS). Nevertheless, this is an pure action-shooter game that is greatly enjoyable.
Visually this must be the best game I ever played on Wii, with beautiful and distinct environments than never get boring and never interfere with the gameplay. And, following the tradition of the classic Metroid games, the THE OTHER M experience is enhanced by great orchestral music. Nothing epic, but it sure fits the mood of the scene it accompanies.
THE OTHER M is a tad story-heavier than I would have liked and the cinematic sequences are unskipable(?) whereas, annoyingly, the story at times throws Samus in the midst of her enemies with minimal firepower and often without her Varia suit. Other than those minor complains (and it being a bit short), this is one of the best games I have ever played on a console.
I dare say, this is a title that is comparable to the monumental Super Metroid.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Metroid: Other M
Rating:
Q: I am a diehard fan of Metroid but I’ve heard some negative things about this game should I still get it?
A: Metriod Other M may disappoint some of the series more diehard fans. The game is much more linear than previous titles and opts instead to pack in rather sappy cutscenes. Long time fans will find that the main protagonist feels rather out of character and as such it was possible that the inclusion of many of the cutscenes can be considered a poor choice by the developers.
Q: If one can look past the above mentioned shifts where does the game stand?
A: On its own merits the game is quite good, the action is intense and the level design is both beautiful and interesting. The controls may take some getting used to and the game itself can be rather challenging or overly easy depending on how good you are with them. The game adds some very cool take down moves which makes the player feel like a futuristic ninja which may not come as a surprise considering the developers are from the same company as the ones that made Ninja Gaiden.
Q: So what’s the bottom line?
A: Over all the game is very exciting and a worthwhile play even is it doesn’t feel like a metroid game.
Metroid: Other M
Rating:
Let me start off by saying that, while I enjoy the Prime series for what they are (FPS games), I have always loved the 2D side scrollers, Super Metroid being my absolute favorite (next to GBA’s Metroid Zero). I have been so excited by what I have seen in the videos-immediate switches from 3rd to 1st person, the odd melee moves Samus has been armed with (thank you much, Team Ninja), and of course, the side-scrolling!
I am 3 hours into the actual game, and wanted to list for you potential buyers (or those on the fence) what has been working for me and what hasn’t so far:
Pros
Great Graphics. Very polished and well handled. Few instances of slow down or graphical glitches. Continues graphical quality established in Prime series with the added power of the Wii’s processor. No complaints at all. Cut scenes look fairly crisp, and, via my HDTV/component cable combo, looks great!
Varied Area Design. Some areas you will be fairly side-scrolling the whole way, with a little bit of room for up and down movement-hallways and the like. Other areas are fairly sprawling, with multi-direction controls really giving you the sense of Samus moving whereever the heck she wants to. Also, some areas have you use the First Person mode to search, others to target. I find it best to get some distance from hard enemies and lock on in 1st person to missile them to death.
Speed. Samus moves so fast, very reminiscent of Super Metroid Samus. You can literally outrun all your enemies, wall jump to another area, and drop back in to finish off the baddies in approximately 3-7 seconds. Very fast Samus this go round-in Prime she seemed to glide around like some kind of weird ghost.
Moves. Thanks again to Team Ninja for giving Samus some cool dodge moves, takedowns, and alternate attack modes. Just a neat feature overall. All of these moves involve charging up the arm cannon and jumping or maneuvering in certain ways around the baddies. It is so satisfying to jump on a badguy’s head and blast them in the face with a charged arm cannon. Too bad you can’t do it to all the enemies-certain attacks only work with certain kinds of enemies.
Cons
Controls. I am still adjusting to how to control Samus, switching between 1st and 3rd person causes me some trouble when things get chaotic-boss fights, etc. As I keep at it, it seems to be getting easier to handle, but it is still a bit jarring at times.
Story. I am bored by what another reviewer called Samus’ “daddy issues.” Really, I want to like her backstory, and her work with the Federation, but I honestly don’t care. I think this may be the only part of the game I just roll my eyes at. Truly, Samus is a bounty hunter, and she is taking orders about when to use her missiles?! Really? I have to kind of pretend I am not really seeing that. I feel like they are reducing her to Kara “Starbuck” Thrace from Battlestar Galactica. It really makes the icon of Samus Aran just a bit less glossy. Oh well, what can you do? Some people really like this story-it’s just not for me. The games other merits really lessens the impact of this glaring negative. I can forgive.
Overall, I very much enjoy this game. There are a couple of issues-the controls, the story-but the overall experience is great fun. If you want to play Metroid and maybe didn’t like Prime, this would be for you. If you liked Prime and just miss the old days of Metroid, this is also for you. If you just bought a Wii and are wondering what to get, this is for you, too. Good stuff. Thanks for your time, I am going back to my game!
Metroid: Other M
Don’t listen to those who have a problem with this different kind of Metroid and try it for yourself. People have been skeptical at the new direction of this franchise, but if these companies don’t take chances we will keep seeing rehashes of the same old games. No, this type of game isn’t new, but it brings with it enough depth and Nintendo charm to warrant a purchase especially from Ninty-faithfuls.
Rating:
Wow. That pretty much describes my Metroid: Other M experience. I came into it knowing it would be a great experience, but with no preconceived notion. I didnt expect a return to Samus’ 2D roots because I knew that isn’t what this was, and you shouldn’t, either. I’m sure Nintendo has that one cooking. However, Nintendo’s collaboration with Team Ninja has made a heart-pounding 3rd person action/adventure that fleshes out Samus’ story and character, all the while reminding you that yes, she kicks ass lol. The graphical presentation here is great, to be expected since this is one of the company’s pride-and-joy properties. It’s complete with a typical “metroid” score which is fast-paced when the action gets heavy and mellow for those moody moments of solitary exploration. Maybe there have been complaints about the use of Samus’ weaponry and gear haviing to be authorized before use, but is this any less believable than Samus landing on foreign planets and JUST HAPPENING to stumple on weapons and gear that are conveniently and completely compatible with her suit?