Metroid: Other M - Worst Metroid Ever?

[MrPopo]

I don't feel like digging out the quote, but I liked the story elements in Fusion and Other M. Did it cause it to be more linear than Super? Of course, that's what happens when you add story. But this is a character I have played through three games already and it's nice to get to know her better. Fusion introduced Malkovich and some hints at a backstory, but I wanted to know more. This game gave me more, and I was glad for it.

Also, I'd like to take a moment to address the whole "omg linear" thing that comes out. The original Metroid was the most non-linear of the bunch. To beat the game all you need is bombs and enough missiles and energy tanks. Everything else is completely optional. You can beat both Ridley and Kraid with just those items and make it through Tourian without the ice beam (though it is a bitch). So this is the big non-linear game.

Next is Metroid II, which was divided into discrete areas. You need to clear out each previous area to get to the next. Each area was kinda open-world, but you also started to see needing certain items in order to clear an area. But it's ok, Super to the rescue, right? Except when you think about it, the game actually is pretty damn linear. You land, go left, go all the way down, morph ball and missiles, then go up, bombs, then go left and go to Brinstair jungle. Go to the bottom and get the charge beam if you're not suicidal, then go up and fight Spore Spawn. Get Super Missiles. Then continue a process of going through, get the next power up which opens a new piece of the main path. Sure, you can massively backtrack for certain powerups, but it was always just a few extra missiles (which the game throws an overabundance of to you if you just go along the path). Super really wasn't non-linear unless you include moves the devs never anticipated, such as the mock ball or the fancier infinite bomb jumps. And I honestly am not sure if they realized that people could pull off some of the precision wall jumps that let you skip things like high jump or grapple beam. The big thing Super had that the other games didn't was a large quantity of optional powerups that require you to do interesting things. Again, I'm talking about the intentional game design. Another example; early builds of Prime let you get the space jump the second you land. Certainly not intended, and it was patched out of later releases.

Nintendo got lucky with Super in that the physics were written in such a way that even after you finish the awesome game there are more possibilities for ways to make it through the world, most of them unintended. Asking developers to be able to intentionally design something like that is a monumental task. It has been shown time and time again that the playerbase will always figure out things that developers did not. The law of large numbers makes it true.

[vash23n]

It isn't so much that I want to keep playing the same games over and over again -- far from it. However when I pick up a Metroid title, I'm expecting a deep level of exploration regardless of the outer coat of paint. There are plenty of ways to bring in new gameplay ideas to keep things fresh while retaining the spirit of the series -- and Other M basically does away with all that. (In addition to superimposing an awful CG story on it all.)

Maybe that explains it a little better. :p

Edit: Zelda, for all the iterations and love/hate for particular games, has always kept the same adventuring/puzzle solving spirit that makes it Zelda. It's explored in different ways, but it's that core that makes it a "Zelda" game.

I am totally sorry that I quoted you as an introduction to my argument. I originally meant to reply to something you said specifically (almost agreeing with you) and went on a tangent. It wasn't my intention to call you out specifically. I just went on a tangent...

[Bradtemple87]

Wow...I have played every metroid game except for this one and I dont own a wii anymore. This may have to be a pass :/

[vash23n]

I don't feel like digging out the quote, but I liked the story elements in Fusion and Other M. Did it cause it to be more linear than Super? Of course, that's what happens when you add story. But this is a character I have played through three games already and it's nice to get to know her better. Fusion introduced Malkovich and some hints at a backstory, but I wanted to know more. This game gave me more, and I was glad for it.

Also, I'd like to take a moment to address the whole "omg linear" thing that comes out. The original Metroid was the most non-linear of the bunch. To beat the game all you need is bombs and enough missiles and energy tanks. Everything else is completely optional. You can beat both Ridley and Kraid with just those items and make it through Tourian without the ice beam (though it is a bitch). So this is the big non-linear game.

Next is Metroid II, which was divided into discrete areas. You need to clear out each previous area to get to the next. Each area was kinda open-world, but you also started to see needing certain items in order to clear an area. But it's ok, Super to the rescue, right? Except when you think about it, the game actually is pretty damn linear. You land, go left, go all the way down, morph ball and missiles, then go up, bombs, then go left and go to Brinstair jungle. Go to the bottom and get the charge beam if you're not suicidal, then go up and fight Spore Spawn. Get Super Missiles. Then continue a process of going through, get the next power up which opens a new piece of the main path. Sure, you can massively backtrack for certain powerups, but it was always just a few extra missiles (which the game throws an overabundance of to you if you just go along the path). Super really wasn't non-linear unless you include moves the devs never anticipated, such as the mock ball or the fancier infinite bomb jumps. And I honestly am not sure if they realized that people could pull off some of the precision wall jumps that let you skip things like high jump or grapple beam. The big thing Super had that the other games didn't was a large quantity of optional powerups that require you to do interesting things. Again, I'm talking about the intentional game design. Another example; early builds of Prime let you get the space jump the second you land. Certainly not intended, and it was patched out of later releases.

Nintendo got lucky with Super in that the physics were written in such a way that even after you finish the awesome game there are more possibilities for ways to make it through the world, most of them unintended. Asking developers to be able to intentionally design something like that is a monumental task. It has been shown time and time again that the playerbase will always figure out things that developers did not. The law of large numbers makes it true.

End the thread, this response somehow satisfies all.

EDIT: Not sarcasm, I read this and was like HELL YEAH! Then, I reread it and thought of how this post could satisfy all...

[RadarScope1]

From everything I've heard on podcasts and read in previews, it sounds horrible. I haven't played it, and it might be good, but nothing I've seen or heard makes me want to play it.

[Ivo]

I think hunters and pinball are worse than other m

I like i but way too easy

I liked Pinball

I liked Pinball as well. It is a very good videogame Pinball with some Metroid stuff thrown in.

Ivo.

[2002120141]

I post very seldom in this forum, but I have to speak out regarding Other M.

Metroid Other M is the evolution of 2d Metroid games. Of course, there are glaring flaws to Other M, but it forgivable as this is after all the first time Metroid went 2d again in a very long time. While Super Metroid is still by far THE 2d Metroidvania game, when it comes down to it, it will fall under the Metroidvanina genre and will forever stay there. Other M on the other hand revamps the 2d formula and mixes it up a bit to keep it fresh and very enjoyable to play. It is no longer exactly 2d anymore, as it somewhat mimics the 2.5d perspective the old school beat em ups had. But the controls execute the added dimension perfectly. Sure, you might be thinking that it couldn't work without an analog stick (as the game after all only uses the wii remote) and it shouldn't work, but Team Ninja really did a great job concerning the planar controls. The combat is pure eyecandy, and it's easy to pull off so many things due to the simplified controls. The gameplay is just that strong in this game, hence why I will again reiterate that this is the evolution of the Metroid Franchise and they should move onwards with this game's design as a blueprint, well most of it.

Now for the flaws. The cinematics isn't god-awful as most people say but it isn't an award winner either. Still, I like the Samus here. She isn't a generic badass, she's human, she's a... she. She has emotions, though sometime's, it's too much though (problem 1) as she often makes things over dramatics and what not. I like a Samus that's human, a woman who can be vulnerable but this game overdid it. Then there's the power-ups. You already have everything in your arsenal. You just can't use them, because you're not authorized too (problem 2). Sure locking out a few things here and there is good and all when you don't need it, but locking out the varia suit in a volcanic environment and still not getting the authorization to use it? yeah, this game design shouldn't ever be on a Metroid game ever again. The last flaw (read, problem 3) for me was the evade/sense move aka, the invinciblity cheat. To evade enemies/projectiles, all you have to do is repeatedly tap the d-pad. That's it. no timing required or anything. As long as you do that, you can evade mostly anything. Sure the B button is used for firing missiles, but it was never used when the wii remote was sideways. Would've been nice if they used the button instead of putting samus in a constant state of epilepsy just to evade things.

Sorry for the long text. well, that's it really. All in all, Other M is a weak entry but it ultimately pushes the Metroid Franchise in the right direction, in my humble opinion. I just hope this game doesn't kill it before it could spawn a new and revised adventure for Samus.

[lisalover1]

Well it seems like the reviews are a lot worse off (I haven't played it)
I've read a lot of annoyances... and I happened to love Fusion, but I don't really feel like giving Other M much of a try

Wait a minute; you haven't even played it, and you're calling it the worst game in the series? Man, then Panzer Dragoon Saga must be terrible, because it has so much more story than the previous games! Anyway, I have been playong Other M, and absolutely loving it. It is incredibly rare for a known franchise to take such a drastic leap of faith in game design, and it has paid off.

[Ivo]

Well it seems like the reviews are a lot worse off (I haven't played it)
I've read a lot of annoyances... and I happened to love Fusion, but I don't really feel like giving Other M much of a try

Wait a minute; you haven't even played it, and you're calling it the worst game in the series?

As far as I can tell, he was asking if it was, not calling it - probably because he was wondering whether he should buy it despite the reviews.

Ivo.

[AppleQueso]

I know one thing's for sure: Team Ninja won't be making another Metroid game.