So...Metroid Other M...why wasn't it more popular than it is?

Alexrose1uk · 9 Oct 2011 at 00:10

I've popped into a few best games on the Wii threads recently; and I noticed this game never seems to appear; in fact it seems to have been struck off a lot of people's "It Existed" list.

What happened?

I've been playing through it the last couple of days, I was a little unsure going in as it's the first Metroid (IIRC) not 100% developed by Nintendo, but turns out I didn't really have to worry, Team Ninja seem to have realised they got hold of an awesome franchise and haven't done millions of things to rock the boat.

It's perhaps a little more linear and a little shorter than a lot of the previous Metroids, but in return it was more story driven, Samus voice sounded perhaps a little 'unused' to speaking, but that makes sense given she's largely a solo artist and doesn't spend much time around other people. The story itself was also nicely connected in with the ethos, and ties almost directly into Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion (Metroid 4). The changed mechanics in regards to missiles was a nice change from having to constantly worry about ammo as well.

In terms of graphics, it was great, one of the best looking titles on the Wii that I've seen, and the CGI was generally well done too.

The only real 'issue' I could see, beyond the linearity is that it was more akin to the older Metroid titles, than the more recent exploration/scanning/thought-heavy Metroid Prime series, which perhaps put newcomers off?

It seems it's actually a little awkward to get hold of now (along with Metroid Prime Collection actually), but just wondered what others had thought; like I say the only real flaws I could see where some linearity and length issues, but overall its still a good game and well worth a play for fans of the Franchise, especially those who've played through the likes of M4.
Just seems strange for it have gone under the rug so much by comparison to how popular and well loved Metroid Prime was a few years ago.

exhashdotdot · 9 Oct 2011 at 00:32

Samus is a whiney pathetic bitch? Exactly the opposite of what people like about her.

RaMDOM · 9 Oct 2011 at 00:56

I also thought it was brilliant. The graphics, the story and the gameplay mechanics were brilliant.

I basically played nothing but this until I had completed it.

Vonhelmet · 9 Oct 2011 at 01:09

Because it was utter crap compared to the Prime trilogy which it had the misfortune to follow.

Alexrose1uk · 9 Oct 2011 at 01:31

exhashdotdot said:
Samus is a whiney pathetic bitch? Exactly the opposite of what people like about her.

Hardly, you just got more internal monologue, her actual current attitude (excluding the younger sections) seemed very similar to the mindset she had in Fusion from the bits I remember, right down to getting slightly emotional about Adam, won't say any more for those who haven't played 4.

I agree it wasn't as good as Prime, but with a game as good as Prime its a hard act to follow, even the two Prime sequels struggled, but its in no way awful, I'd gone in expecting rubbish and found it actually to be quite good.

Personally I'm usually against remakes, but I would mind seeing most of the series done up like this, barring the recent ones.

Vonhelmet · 9 Oct 2011 at 09:10

In terms of more helpful criticism... I did not like the controls at all. Swinging the remote round for first person rockets was rubbish.

Niju Rosu · 9 Oct 2011 at 13:51

It could have been better yes. But I thought it was more Metroid like than the Primes. But the 'COD generation' don't agree.

It was a good start to the gameplay direction I'd like to see the series explore, for the next game I'd like to keep the view, bring back health pickups and scrap that weird system they had in Other M, less in depth story.

I really liked it tho despite its shortcomings, I found the prime games to be pretty dull, but then, I prefer the 2d ones over the 3d.

Syph · 9 Oct 2011 at 22:05

By the time it came out, I'd lost interest in the Wii apart from the top titles like SMG2. The money I'd have spent on Wii titles instead went on PS3 games.

I can't see that I'd enjoy it as much as MP3 (which I think is to date my favourite "FPS" on a console) considering the differences. I'm not hooked on the Metroid universe, only really the Prime games.

Vonhelmet · 9 Oct 2011 at 22:57

Niju Rosu said:
It could have been better yes. But I thought it was more Metroid like than the Primes. But the 'COD generation' don't agree.

It's a bit of a stretch to say that anything in FP is intended to be CoD-gamer friendly. I can't imagine any serious CoD players enjoying the Prime games.

HeX · 10 Oct 2011 at 09:14

exhashdotdot said:
Samus is a whiney pathetic bitch? Exactly the opposite of what people like about her.

This.

They turned an ass-kicking badass into a man-dependent whiny emo.

Also the reason you can't use your weapons. In past games you usually lose your weapons and gear after fighting something epicly hard and getting your butt handed too you (e.g. Ridley).

In Other M you can't use your weapons because? Your old father figure says you can't young lady. Oh OK then, i'll risk life and limb running through an area swarming with hard hitting creatures and an inhospitable 400C atmosphere in my normal suit, because some guy you knew once says you can't use your much more awesome Plasma weaponry and Varia suit. :rolleyes:

It's a travesty of a game compared to the awesome of Super Metroid, and the Prime Trilogy.

Niju Rosu said:
It could have been better yes. But I thought it was more Metroid like than the Primes. But the 'COD generation' don't agree.

Prime couldn't be any less CoD like if it tried. Other than being an FPS it has absolutely nothing else in common...

Oh i've just thought of something else Prime did better than Other M, it had better music, and storyline, and exploration, and level design.