Metroid: Other M -- Impressions!

[Not Authorised]

I wouldn't necessarily say that.

For one, it's absolutely stupid to argue whether gameplay is 'canon'. It just is.

Secondly, in theater mode, most bosses are killed with a lethal strike.

Watching the cutscenes in tandem with the gameplay of a skilled player does kinda make it look like Samus's capabilities jump up and down the scale erratically from start to finish. I don't mind a little bit of Cutscene Incompetence, but damn!

[Cosake_Solrac]

I wouldn't necessarily say that.

For one, it's absolutely stupid to argue whether gameplay is 'canon'. It just is.

Secondly, in theater mode, most bosses are killed with a lethal strike.

I fully agree w/ you, it's just w/ some people, they're willing to go so far as to say that the gameplay segments never happened (well not exactly, but it's quite implied. Not from anyone in database, for clarification).

But hey, that's just how things went.

[okey]

I'm wrapping up 100% right now, and I've got a few impressions:

The game's alright. It's a lot of fun. It's still got some big problems, and it's not as good as prime, but I would like to see them take another crack at this formula.

However: They really, really need 3 people next time:

1) Someone who can actually write dialogue
2) Someone who really gets level design and pacing
3) Someone who can make catchy tunes

That second one is the most important of the bunch. They give you this character that's really fun to control, but there aren't that many cool rooms to go nuts in. My biggest problem with this game isn't the story, it's the level design and pacing.

Didn't mind the controls (thought they were pretty neat, still needed optional nunchuck support though), game has good graphics (character design is surprisingly good for a Team Ninja game), don't like the ambient soundtrack. I like the garbage time bit after the ending, but really the exploration needs to be integrated into the game instead of being some optional thing.

The story has some really good ideas with some really dodgy execution. Same goes for characterization. Speaking of that:

: You know...despite some really cheesy dialogue and weird moments, I like her a lot more after this game.

She reminds me a lot of Iron Man actually, the comic version. Other M was half "goddamn, you're a professional, you gotta handle things better than this" and half "goddamn, she is awesome". Tony Stark is the only other character I've seen with those kinds of highs and lows. The similarities between the two characters are a little eerie.

Didn't really like the depressed Samus you spent most of the game playing as, but everything about her after the Sector Zero scene is great. I hope that's who we play as from now on.

This is corny, but I like that she was actually a pretty friendly and humble person, at least when she wasn't having a meltdown. Looking back, those two traits make a lot of sense. Didn't like that she was humble to a fault, but thankfully in Fusion she's humble to a point .

: With the way they go on and on about this guy you'd think he'd be Captain America, Optimus Prime and Roy Fokker rolled up into one. He isn't, and that's a big problem with this game's story. A really, really big problem. At worst he's a dick and a control freak for no reason, and at best he's just...there.

Awesome. Metroid really needed a character like this. It's weird how this story fucks up with with Adam in nearly every way, but totally nails this guy.

[Toxsyl]

Gameplay: In 3rd person perfect. In first person I'm getting those awful biohazard control frustrations of being unable to move and shoot.

Story: The story would have been better if it wasn't for the fact a lot of it was predictable do to Fusion's narrations. Also Samus' narration was lack luster.

Sound: The music was not any bit interesting. I guess I'm just spoiled after having my ear caressed sexually by Metroid Prime's sound track. The sound effects and atmosphere was spot on.

Voice Acting: The voice acting was good for all the characters except for Samus. Samus's voice and personality was the complete opposite of what I imagined her to have. I was expecting a cold, proud, but yet humble character. What I got was a girl with a mix of daddy issues, emo persona, and near sleep inducing narration.

[LesserChozo]

Am I the only one who actually enjoys Other M? Granted the whole story is a bit melodramatic, but Samus can't be blamed for all of it. And I find it somewhat disheartening that so many people seem to agree that a woman, or any person for that matter, can't be strong and emotional. I still don't know what her voice has to do with any of that. The fact that Samus is able to overcome her emotions to get the job done is true to her character; people just need to get used to the fact that she does have them. She is human, after all - mostly.


Another thing I've noticed, having watched a lot of Japanese, as well as American, cinema. American audiences seem to require much more explanation in their films. I'm just going to leave that one there.

[RoyboyX]

See my rant on The world needs Metroid 5.

[Zeroº]

Am I the only one who actually enjoys Other M?

I enjoyed it.

[RoyboyX]

I loved it too. Just wished I could go into freaking Sector Zero.

[LesserChozo]

Just wished I could go into freaking Sector Zero.

Ditto.

[Emperor Ing]

There are parts I like, parts I don't like, and parts I really don't like.


I too think the Sector 0 thing was too big of a cock-block, even in a game FULL of cock-blocks, and certainly soured my mood for the next hour or so of playthrough.

[spoiler]Having a cutscene boss be the last boss didn't help!

the endgame and Phantoon KIND of made up for it, but the whole game should have been like the end-game.[/spoiler]

[LesserChozo]

Yeah, the whole epilogue was completely unnecessary.

Hopefully Metroid 5 will bring Samus, and the franchise, back to her roots.

Has anybody figured out exactly what percentage of items require the powerbomb? I'm thinking it's only about 5%, though my guesstimations are typically exaggerated. Even so, any percentage of items that cannot be obtained until after the game is essentially finished is unacceptable.


Also, did Other M completely avoid the Metroid tradition of ending bonuses based on time or achievement? My best time, so far, is under 10 hours at 100%. I still haven't finished Hard Mode, yet, though I hear it doesn't make a difference.

[Toxsyl]

I beat it a 100% under 8 hours.
The game was fun to play, but the linear gameplay did ruin the mood at times.

[YamI]

I beat it a 100% under 8 hours.
The game was fun to play, but the linear gameplay did ruin the mood at times.

8 hours pffthahahah.

100% 6:39, was my time, not the first run, of course. but still under 6:40.

: I loved Other M.

: I wish I was in Other M.

: Well, the game was really amazing when it came to Phantoon, and stuff. I loved having the Plasma beam before Phantoon, and I really don't know why the made him easy.

The only tiring part was dodging every last fire ball. Imagine Dark Samus in this game...

: I would kill you If I was in this game.


Total impression: Loved Other M and wished for an Other M 2.


EDIT: @LesserChozo Hard Mode is much harder, if you don't dodge moves that much. Ridley's attacks kil you in one hit, only 3 don't. Oh, and you don't get any Expansions. No missiles or Energy tanks.

[Toxsyl]

I beat it a 100% under 8 hours.
The game was fun to play, but the linear gameplay did ruin the mood at times.

8 hours pffthahahah.
I did a run today at`100% 5:48.

[LesserChozo]

@LesserChozo Hard Mode is much harder, if you don't dodge moves that much. Ridley's attacks kil you in one hit, only 3 don't. Oh, and you don't get any Expansions. No missiles or Energy tanks.

I've gotten to the freight elevator on hard mode. The damn whatchamacallit before you reach the top keeps killing me; I hate that thing in Normal mode. However, having played through it again on normal mode, I think I've discovered a good strategy for it. I'll get back to it eventually.

Anyway, what I meant by "no difference" is that you don't get any kind of bonus for finishing the game on hard mode. In fact, you get less game; since there is no item collection, there is no epilogue, which just proves my point that the whole epilogue is unnecessary. Though, for the story, I guess it provides some closure with Adam, but I don't think his helmet has anything to do with the AI in Fusion.