A new Metroid game for the Wii.

User Rating: 8.5 | Metroid: Other M WII
The newest installment to the Metroid series, Metroid: Other M, takes the series out of its norm and tries something. Though not all will like the changes in the game, I found it to be a nice game. Though only running at about 15 hours tops, this is a game that any Metroid fan should have a go at for sure.

One of the three biggest differences between this and any other Metroid game is the story. Minus maybe Fusion and Prime 3, this game has more story then all of the other games combine, well that's not true. It's more about cut scenes and stuff like that then the other games. I can say this is a really interesting story, I in fact enjoyed every moment of its suspenseful nature as you dive deep down into Samus' mind for the first time. That's what really made the game for, was getting to know Samus' past and to know there's more to the awesomeness that is Samus Aron.

We start the game off with Samus recalling the fight with Mother Brain in Super Metroid. I won't go into detail just in case you haven't beat Super Metroid, though this is a huge spoiler that the game gives to you if you haven't anyways. She wakes up and gets a nice polish on her suit before she wonders around for a few months. This is about when she gets a distress signal and this sets up our adventure through the BOTTLE SHIP as we run into some of Samus' old Federation friends.

The second the the big three differences would have to be the switching between third-person and first person views. This brings a new field of gameplay as you make your way through the different sectors. You should head into first-person mode when ever you're stuck, but also to look for the number of items that fill the ship. There's anything from missile expansions to energy tanks to a few other surprises. Finding these items will greater your chance of survival in this game. The down side is that these items are not as hidden as they were in past games. This makes for less exploration and more moving from point to point game play as where you need to go is set on a mini-map that is on your screen.

It takes about a second to get use to, but controlling Samus is easy as you play through the game. She moving on a 3D world with the D-pad, so at first it feels a bit weird, but you get use to it. Luckily she'll auto lock on to the closest enemy while you're firing off her Beam Cannon. She also has a few more new moves up her sleeve as she can preform finishing blows that involve more hand to hand combat. These are really fun to pull off and add a bit to the game over all. Switching between third-person and first-person views also takes a second to get use to, but it comes natural to you in no time. Another difference, though not one of my three big differences, is that Samus has everything from the start of the game, she just can't use it till she is told to. Since you're working with some Federation while you're on the BOTTLE SHIP, you have to wait till you're OK to use something. This makes about as much scene as being hit by something and losing all of your powers.

Like past Metroid titles, Other M is full of fun boss battles that through in a bit of challenge while you're running through the game. They can be tough at first, but don't fear, after you get a hand of them, they can be really easy to beat. You don't have to worry about dieing too much because if you are running low on heath you can refill some of your health. The down side to this is that you leave yourself open for attack. If you do end up dieing, no worries, the game will place you at the start of the fight so you don't have to watch a cut scene that might had happened before the fight.

There isn't much replay value as there was in past games. You can beat the game within ten to fifteen minutes if you were really trying, well more so for ten minutes. The game pushes you along more and there's less looking about then there was in the other games. I guess if you want to play through it again you can set it to Hard Mode and run through it if you felt like it (you unlock Hard Mode after you beat the game), but other then that there isn't much to do after you're done.

The game looks great when it comes to graphics. This is one of the high end games in terms of visuals. Cut scenes look amazing and the game itself does too. I don't have any problems with it at all. All of the monsters and enemies are very fitting to their sector. Each of the different sectors are very different from each other, it's almost like you're on a planet till you enter a save station or you find an area that has a bit of damage to it and the sector is glitching. One of the best looking Wii games for sure.

Music is something I've always seemed to like about the Metroid games, and Other M doesn't disappoint. It's full of well composed tracks that anyone who actually listens to game music will love. It's very fitting and makes the point that story is trying to tell you at any given moment. Nice peaceful music to fast paced battle music can be found in this game. Now the last thing that really different then any other Metroid game (and I know everyone knows about it by now) is that Samus talks in this game. At first I thought that is was a bit weird because she never talked in any other game before, but I got use to it as I listened to more of her voice and her story. Over all, the voice acting was OK for the game, nothing too bad. I will say my favorite character, in terms of voice acting (as well as how he added to the story) was Anthony Higgs.

Overall, Metroid: Other M is a great game that just really lacks the more free roaming that was in past games. It brings some new items to the table that, for the better or worse, might stick with the series for a while. If you're a fan of Metroid, pick it up for sure. It's a great Wii game overall.