Sign up for the FREE Tell Membership and receive benefits that include the digital edition of Tell Magazine sent straight to your inbox, product giveaways, coupons and much more!
Sign up for the FREE Tell Membership and receive benefits that include the digital edition of Tell Magazine sent straight to your inbox, product giveaways, coupons and much more!
This is simultaneously the same yet a new type of Metroid game.
On the “same” side you have all the familiarities that come with Samus Aran and her Zero Suit including the Morph ball, Mother Brain, bat-like annoyances, lava, doors that unlock by missile (?), long and twisty maps, hidden crevices, backtracking (!) and upgradeable weapons.
On the “new type” side there is a melodramatic story, a mix of first-person shooter-puzzler-platforming-action elements, the series’ first-ever physical combat and a rather unique Wii control scheme.
It pretty much all works pretty well together although there are a few elements that might frustrate a few gamers.
Nice Suit
The latest installment in the Metroid franchise is a lot more story-driven than previous games (if you can believe that). Here, in a game set somewhere between Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion, we get to learn about how Samus became a bounty hunter and her military career (which, naturally, she has to join forces with). That means a bit more exposition than Metroid fans might be used to, many more cut scenes and missions with purpose. You also get to see Samus out of uniform, a lot, a going from cute sassy pants to long-haired spandex-wearin’ hottie.
All of the 3D and first-person shooter elements from the more recent Metorid games return here although the MiiWmote controls are used in a rather unique way. You play much of the game with the WiiMote sideways and the action is like a third-person platforming 3D-sidescroller. But, at any point, you can flip the WiiMote nose toward the sensor bar and go into first-person view where you can then lock onto a target to investigate, launch missiles or simply zap opponents.
Opponents are the familiar alien-ish creatures that range from little bat-like pests to sneaky plants popping up from the ground behind you. Bosses are incredibly huge and nasty and each, of course, has a weak spot you can exploit with the correct type of well-timed attack.
You leap ledges, roll around tight spaces, blast stuff, solve puzzles and, in true Metroid fashion, eventually have to back track until your thumb bleed to find that one crevice you missed earlier in the game. This time they at least give you a little visual hint as to where the hidden goodies are buried (a glowy blue orb on the map) to give you a sporting, if not supremely teasing chance.
Samus also now has a Dodge move to, well, dodge attacks or engage a Counter Attack move, constituting the series’ first ever physical attacks.
Lady Does Not Look Like a Dude
Other M includes so much of the old school games that you cannot help but feel a heaping help of nostalgia while you play. Opponents, while 3D and looking rather mighty, are all throwbacks to the early bit-counted games and even the maps have ye olde twisty, elaborate paths and gated points.
The game’s major departures are both a blessing and a frustration. The heavy concentration on Samus, her background and her comrades is an impressive and immersive touch. Samus’ monotone monologues (the voice actress could use a little more caffeine at time) just barely begin to drone by the time the developers demonstrate that even this action franchise can have a well-told background. However, pulling out the uber curvy heroine imagery of Samus sans power suit almost seems cliche. I suppose that it was meant to contrast her younger, grittier and especially spunky self but it is a bit of a departure from her otherwise gruff self in previous games.
Much like the Metroid Prime games, this is another great example of the Wii’s ability to show some rather decent graphics and DVD-quality videos. The cut scenes are are all impressive with plenty of particle effects. In-game graphics are so well executed that, like the cut scenes, you forget that the Wii cannot do HD.
As for the new additions, the new combat elements are welcome additions. Why not give Samus a few physical moves (even if they are just counter attacks and finishing moves)? She’s not all blasters and morph ball bombs. The shooting is, as usual, fun and the Counter moves are useful and entertaining.
Backtracking makes a somewhat pesky re-emergence in this game with little puzzles and hidden paths that, later in the game, keep you from following the straight and simple path.
The game’s most innovative feature is also one of the most annoying. Flipping the controller from side to straight seems great on paper but, in practice, is a wrist twisting frustration. Several boss battles require that you hit them with missiles – WiiMote front facing with one hand – and then quickly dodge attacks – WiiMote sideways with two hands – and try to get into a decent position for the next attack. It’s almost impossible to perfect as your fingers and both hands cannot quite get back into the right spots as you go from old controller to TV remote positions. You’ll find yourself trying to use one orientation or the other to take out bosses but, ultimately, that is futile. Plan to die a lot and be forced to retry even some seemingly easy areas (luckily you can).
Bag or Tag?
If you are a Metroid fan at any level and have not yet bought this, go for it. Despite my control scheme gripe, Metroid: Other M is a fun and innovative game. The graphics are impressive, the story is engaging and the action is a good combination of nostalgic nods and modern game play.
However, if you do not like long cut scenes and the idea of juggling your controller mid-game is not appealing to you, you will likely be too frustrated too early in the game to get much out of it.
Photo Gallery [Metroid: Other M Screen Shots & Art @ Gamertell] Site [Metroid: Other M]
Related Posts