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Metroid: Other M review


Demoli

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Metroid-Other-M-logo.jpg

 

Metroid Other M is one of those titles that will be discussed for quite some time. Nintendo really took a big chance with this game, and Team Ninja is also a conceited developer, but they have nothing in common, at least how they develop the games.

 

M: OM is kind of a mixed bag, it expertly suceeds in certain aspects and feels short in othe areas. I wil explain each section with more detail further into the review.

 

But before anything else:

 

SPOILER WARNING

In order to properly review the game, I will have to spoil the bigger twists in the game. If you wish to not know these, fast forward to the bottom,

 

Grafics and Presentation

 

Metroid: Other M is a beautiful game. The in-game grafics fit the Metroid series theme and the cutscenes are nothing short of amazing. As for voice acting... It's less stellar. The dialogues between the team are acceptable, Samus' monologue is just awefull. No emotion, no change in tone, just a single tone. If they stately said she was reading for a diary, it was bareable, but since they didn't the vioce acting is just an inch above of terrible.

 

13722.jpg

 

This game's grafics are way different form the otehr Wii Metroid, Prime 3 Corruption. And in my opinion, Metroid other M is kind of a step backwards. In Coruption, or all the prime series for that matter, the environments had a story, and it was fun getting all the scans. The locations also had some artist merit, and were truly original. In other M, you have the snow, lava and jungle worlds, ending with the cybernetic fortress. In that way, it succeeds in simulating a classic metroid experience. In particular metroid fusion, since all the sectors are completely sperated frmo each other, instead of interconnected like in Super Metroid. It conveys the classic feeling, but not completely.

 

Also, if you want spectacle, you should avoid other M. As good as the grafics are, they convey no feeling of grandness like the Prime series.

 

Grafics: 8.5

 

 

 

Gameplay

 

This is where Other M really shines. Metroid Other M plays WONDERFULLY. The D-Pad works better than expected, and even if sometimes it gets hard on the platforming, it's because you simply weren't close enough. The combat works even better. While the auto aim gives the game this feeling of autopilot, that's only in the early stages, as it gets progressivly harder as you plunge further in. The dodge move is overpowered though, since it can be easily exploited to keep your beam completely charged. Morph ball is increadibly nerfed from the Metroid Prime series, who featured amazing challenges with the little sphere.

 

First person itn't as perfect, but it works. It's much more pwoerfull than 3rd person mode thanks to missiles and super missiles, but you can't move, so it's a good trade. The problem is, you will find 1st person situational, since 3rd is also very powerfull and can fully charge in seconds. I used it only at bosses, partly because some were required, part because Super Missiles are awesome.

 

800px-ridley15.png

 

As for power ups, it's a disapointment. There are NO NEW POWER UPS. Every single featured power up already existed in a previous metroid games. That doesn't mean there aren't good power ups, Diffusion, screw attack and power bombs are absolutely amazing. But something new would be nice.

 

Gameplay: 9.5/10

 

 

Story

 

The story is... peculiar. It resembles metroid fusion a lot, but with a few differences. First and foremost, the adition of the Galactic Federation team. They won't be in your way much, and apart from Anthony and Adam, they don't have any development, and when they Die they also won't effect you.

 

The plot starts a few months after Super Metroid, as Samus was returning to space, she intercepted a stress signal. As she arrives at the station she discovers the Team and joins them. Adam restricts her to use any power up. Now, i can understand weapons, and all thos Neo Feminism talks are an inch above [developmentally delayed]ed, sicne it's the federation at all (and she needs to obey them), but deactivatin stuff like the Varia suit and grapple beam is just stupid. They could have come up with stuff like deactivation on impact or soemthing like that, so the suit need time to repair. Hell, samus was almost cooked alive before using the Varia Suit.

 

The plot takes a while to take off, but about 3 hours in it gets from zero to absolutely amazing. Theres a secret metroid breeding program, a mad scientist in the loose and a traitor is in the team. The plot really thickens out of the blue, and it gets really interesting.

 

20100225004551!Metroid_Other_M_Anthony_Higgs.jpg

 

Before going on, i must say the way they introduced ridley was nothing short of brilliant. You will never see him coming, and since it's one of the biggest twists i will not spoil it. One thing i must say is how samus freaked out by just seeing him. She has already faced him 6 TIMES. 6 [bleep]ING TIMES. And she freaks out? Okay, maybe i'm over reacting, since it's kind of understanding, as she Killed Ridley in Super Metroid, and now he appears just as good as new. Still, it was.... awkward to say the least. Samus carachterization isn't bad, it's just badly implemented imo.

 

As the game nears the end, samus finds more and more dead Galactic Federation troopers killed (Ridley threw Anthony Higgs (MBD)into lava). The last one left was Adam, and Samus follows a trooper, ending up meeting with the Scientist, Madleine Bergman (or w/e), which informs Samus of Metroids and a Mother Brain Clone, MB. Samus leaves for Sector Zero, the suposed origin of said metroids, only to be stopped by Adam, which sets off to Sector Zero to activate the self destruc sequence.

 

Samus escapes the sector and proceeds to the Biologic weapon research, finds another dead trooper and explores the sector. Traps resembling the ones in Taurian appear. Eventually you find another scientist, who releases a certain monster: A FREAKING QUEEN METROID. HOLY [cabbage]. I really wasn't expecting this, and the boss was quite a challenge at first, since the spawn metroids were pretty [bleep]ish at times. But after they are dead the queen is prety easy, since due to her size you can safely place yourself on her side so you can charge super missiles.

 

After you defeat it, the scientist speaks with you and reveals she is Madeline Bergman, and the scientist you when earlier was MB, who appears to kill medeline [insert massive, yet interesting backstory here]. The galactic federation appears and a big all out war between MB and Galactic federation ensues! Andd can eb ended by just aiming at MB.

 

Then, it just ends. Final. Finito. Done.

 

It really gives you that feeling that the game either ran out of ideas or the developers just said "hey, [bleep] this, it's already good isn't it? Just ship it".

 

Which takes me to another point: It's too short. Really short. Like, 9h long short. This was shaping into a fantastic game, and it just stopped in it's Prime. Sure, after the ending you can go back and fight Phantoon and have another ending, but i can't stress anough how depressing the ending was.

 

Story: 7/10

 

 

 

Sound

 

Metroid series always conveyed a good, claustrophobic experience with their tunes and abience, but other M kinda misses the mark by making you not notice the music. Sure, there are some good orchestrated themes, but ou don't really notice. As always, the boss themes are the highlights. The ridley theme was particulary good, sending chills down my spine. The ridley battle is also one of the best the game has to offer, only beaten by Nightmare and Phantoon.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBMSZpWPvDI

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBbRdWUIZHg&feature=channel

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBVA7qrPbOE&feature=channel

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9I3nZRGBg&feature=channel

 

Sound: 7/10

 

So lets resume this review shall we?

 

The good

 

-Amazing 3rd person controls

-Good 1st person power and balance

-Magnificent boss battles

-A story that gets genuinly interesting

-Compeling Visuals

-Remake of some classic tunes

-Full of action and challenge

-Shinespark and speed bosting are as cool as always.

-Hard mode is a beast

-Filled with fan service

 

The Bad

 

-1st person mode is underused and is situational at best

-The story takes a while to pick up

-Uninteresting and dull monologue

-Feels unfinished

-Lousy ending

-Collectibles are too easy to find

-Isn't as polished as other Nintendo/Metroid Games

 

 

The Veredict

 

Metroid Other M is a fantastic experience and a turning point in the Metroid Franchise. It's noe spectacular like the Prime Series or as perfect as the 2D entries, but it tries a balance between the two and succeeds up to a point. Sure, the collectibles feel kinda easy and the Dodge can feel cheap at times, btu it all adds up to a grreat experience, albeit a short one. For it's nitpicks, M: OM is sure to be a staple of Metroid on the Wii and i hope they make a sequel so they could expand on what came out short the first time.

 

Score: 9.1/10

 

 

Now, should you get it? As i said before, Metroid Other M is short, but sweet. If you are a metroid Fan you should buy it, but for everyone else i would say Rent it. If you can't rent games on your zone, then think more carefully. Games like No more Heroes 2, Red Steel 2, Monster Hunter tri and SMG2 also came out not long ago, provide good fun and are longer. Metroid Other M was the game i had most fun with so far this year, but 50 euros for a 9-15hour long game might be pushing it. It's your call, but my opinion in the matter is:

 

Metroid Fans: Buy it

 

Everyone else: Rent it. If you can't rent it than Buy it.

 

 

This was my full review of Metroid: Other M. Feel free to suggest more reviews in the comments below, or even top 10 ideas for me to later on make a list.

 

~Demoli

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