Metroid: Other M - Worst Metroid Ever?

[D.D.D.]

I still don't get all the hate over this game. It plays really well, gfx & sfx are great, and the story is no better nor worse than any other Japanese-made game with theatrics.

Are you familiar with the Metroid series?

Well I have played M1, M2, SM, M:ZM, and M:F at least 5 times through each and a slight play at M:P a while ago but am going to play P1~3 on the trilogy disc sometime soon (it's a trilogy so why not all together). And I dorked around with the pinball title too but I'm not really into video pinball; the real thing is way better. So I may know the series to an extent and can empathize with your reasons.

I would say that Other M is an OK game based on its own merit, but a terrible Metroid.

With the action, new play-style attacks, the hidden items, story, and atmosphere, I can't feign a hint of agreement. Yeah, this is a streamlined Metroid and not the M1~SM style that you seem to crave it to be.

Nothing about this screamed mediocre nor poorly made to me in respect to it as a generic 2D game or as part of the Metroid series. I in fact liked the story sequences because it did tie the events between SM and M:F and shockingly a female that showed "female" emotion. It's different from all the other games to make it refreshing too.

If this is merely an OK game based on your criticisms of the title, sure that's fine, but to claim that it's terrible as a Metroid title... well then perhaps you should write the creators and let someone know involved of your gripes as it doesn't matter here. Games change and characters evolve. And seeing how the co-creator of the series made it, I don't know what to tell ya... Go play a Metroid game you like?

[D.D.D.]

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

What makes you say that? Based on the reviews/feedback? If that's so then the co-creator should be kicked out of the drivers seat. Team Ninja just programmed it; Sakamoto directed it. It's his baby~

[AppleQueso]

Oh god and Sakamoto wrote the thing too. What the hell

You know, one of the things I thought was especially praiseworthy about Metroid Prime (that few people ever seem to acknowledge) is how it was a big budget title in 2003 that pushed story and narrative way into the background. EVERYTHING about the story was optional and non-intrusive. That wasn't very common for a game that came out after the success of Final Fantasy 7 and Metal Gear Solid, and really it's not very common now. Metroid Prime was proof that a modern game can be well received and sell well without cramming shitloads of cutscenes down our throats.

My point is that Metroid can be, and very much is, a franchise that can survive soley on its gameplay alone. Gameplay wise, Other M doesn't look too bad. It's got some neat ideas, some gorgeous graphics. Sure it might end up being kind of on-rails feeling, but Fusion was like that too, and I really didn't have too many issues with that game.

That story is just a disaster though. Everything I've read and seen about it makes me want to stay as far away from it as possible. If the story is "no better nor worse than any other Japanese-made game with theatrics", then that simply says a lot about the standards of stories in japanese games. Everything about this story is blunt, overdone, and takes itself way more seriously than it has any right to. It feels like a bad sci-fi anime, so I guess you're right there.

Can I commend them for taking a risk? Maybe, but it hardly seems like a risk when you're falling back on the same cutscene > gameplay > cutscene > gameplay formula that has plagued story-driven action games for at least the past 2 and a half generations, if not longer.

Maybe a rental or bargain bin purchase someday.

EDIT: wrong date

[D.D.D.]

http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/metr ... -interview

Yay~

[SpaceBooger]

Here is a little bit from my review at my site:

The story is what everyone is seeming to complain about. I don’t get the complaint about this new game heavily focused on story, I know that there are a lot of cut-scenes in this game and the voice acting is not the best, but the Metroid series has always relied heavily on story. I don’t get the complaints.

Most importantly, this new Metroid game has the same eerie atmosphere that all the games before it had. Samus may not start the game out alone, but as the game progresses this changes (I don’t want to give away spoilers) and Samus is stranded in a world where every living thing is trying to kill her before she kills it.

The only real complaint that I had was that the cover art for the US version Metroid: Other M wasn’t as cool as the Japanese one. I decided to remedy that by mashing the two covers together:

Its different, and before I get blasted back story has always been important it just never interrupted gameplay like it does in Other M.

Anyway, like other said before me I would recommend renting it before buying it. Once you play it you will probably like it. I personally think that most of the negative reviews were mainly because the game wasn't Super Metroid: Other M.

[AppleQueso]

A backstory that doesn't interrupt gameplay =/= heavy focus on story.

[Flake]

I personally think that most of the negative reviews were mainly because the game wasn't Super Metroid: Other M.

But a man can dream, can't he?

[YoshiEgg25]

I think hunters and pinball are worse than other m

I like i but way too easy

I liked Pinball

And I love Hunters, probably my favorite game in the series (though I haven't played many).

[irixith]

Its different, and before I get blasted back story has always been important it just never interrupted gameplay like it does in Other M.

Anyway, like other said before me I would recommend renting it before buying it. Once you play it you will probably like it. I personally think that most of the negative reviews were mainly because the game wasn't Super Metroid: Other M.

You'll have to show me the Metroid game that isn't Other M that has a heavy focus on story. I don't believe I've played that one!

I'd agree with you that a lot of people were expecting a modern day Super Metroid. However, the hallmarks of the series (exploration, finding upgrades to progress, etc) have all been removed in favour of a [remarkably bad] story and a heavy emphasis on styled combat. Change is sometimes hard to accept, but ripping out all the things that make Metroid what it is in favour of things that it isn't..

..well, I think the internet has spoken on that.

[SpaceBooger]

You'll have to show me the Metroid game that isn't Other M that has a heavy focus on story. I don't believe I've played that one!

I would say that it started with the ending of Metroid II and the role of the baby Metroid. The baby played a large role in Super along with the rescued creature. Of the 2D games Fusion is very story driven with cut-scenes and all. Zero Mission even added extra levels to explain Samus' back story.

So yes the games are very story driven, but like I said they didn't interrupt gameplay like it does in Other M.

Also if you scan everything in the Prime trilogy there is also a strong storyline.
Nintendo acknowledges the story and has even commissioned comics to tell it.

I do agree with you on the exploration stuff, it took a huge hit in Other M.
I am not saying this game is Hall of Fame worthy I just think that many of the complaints are for aspects that seem like an (possibly unneeded) evolution of the series.