Topic: Metroid Other M

[broodwars]

How does this glitch occur so that I can avoid it?

Just remember that this game doesn't like you backtracking, so don't do it on your first run through the the Lava sector.

[Chozo Ghost]

How does this glitch occur so that I can avoid it?

Just remember that this game doesn't like you backtracking, so don't do it on your first run through the the Lava sector.

Yeah, in order to play Other M you have to unlearn everything you know from all the other Metroid games. All the other games encourage you to explore and uncover secrets and find powerups, but if you try doing that in this game you'll suffer Adam's wrath because he don't authorize exploration.

[Stratos]

The save file exploit was independent of the glitch.

And you don't have to send your SD card to Japan (unless you live in Japan).

Ah, it was? Wasn't sure since I own the Gamecube version so I never followed the glitches, bugs and exploits of the Wii edition.

[Mop it up]

All the other games encourage you to explore and uncover secrets and find powerups, but if you try doing that in this game you'll suffer Adam's wrath because he don't authorize exploration.

Except Fusion. And there are still plenty of secrets to uncover, and from a gameplay perspective the "authorization" isn't really different than finding those powerups in that area.

[KDR_11k]

Except Fusion.

Yeah, that's the problem.

[Mop it up]

Fusion wasn't a problem. I enjoyed it more than Metroid I and II, and possibly even Zero Mission, which was like Super Metroid but not as good. Too many Metroid games are samey, with the Prime series being the worst offender; I didn't even finish Prime 3 because it was just too much of the same old thing. I'm glad this game was so different, that made Metroid interesting and fun again.

[Chozo Ghost]

and from a gameplay perspective the "authorization" isn't really different than finding those powerups in that area.

It is very different. Not being able to do something because you lack the ability to do it is very different than not being able to do something because someone tells you they aren't allowing you to do it (even though you can). In Other M Samus has all of her suit upgrades, so the game doesn't involve players exploring and trying to find those upgrades. Samus has each and every one of them already installed.

The problem is some asshole is forbidding her from using those upgrades at times where they might have saved her life. For example in the Lava area where she is forbidden to use her Varia suit at first and suffers damage the whole time. This makes no sense because she already has that, but some idiot is ordering her not to use it.

Call me old fashioned, but it felt so much better when Samus was alone on an alien world and not taking orders from anyone. She could do whatever she needed to in order to survive without having to call up HQ for permission. It also felt rewarding to discover the ancient statues holding the powerups and knowing you've earned it. In Other M you don't have that satisfying feeling, because you already have it all but you lack the authority to use any of it.

[Mop it up]

It doesn't make much sense from a story or logistical standpoint, but it doesn't change the gameplay. In Super Metroid you travel through a portion of the lava section of the planet before you acquire the Varia Suit. Other M is no different in that sense; you still travel through a portion of the lava sector before you can activate the Varia.

I'm not saying that the whole authorization thing didn't feel incredibly forced and lame, but I didn't get caught up in it because I didn't feel it affected the gameplay for the most part.

[GoldenPhoenix]

After completing the game totally (Loved the FINAL boss), have to say I am ranking this as my 2nd favorite Metroid game, right behind Super Metroid. I enjoyed the story, and yes enjoyed the portrayal of Samus for the most part, it made her more human and I connected more with her. Yeah the authorization story line was lame but like Mop_it_up said it didn't really affect my enjoyment of the game. I have no problem seeing Team Ninja come back for a sequel!

[Chozo Ghost]

It did effect my enjoyment of the game, but I will admit it was something I would have tolerated in and of itself. What ruined the game for me (both literally and otherwise) was that stupid eternally locked door glitch, and that's something that is indirectly caused by Adam's authorization crap. In previous Metroid games you opened doors by shooting them, so there was NEVER doors that were locked per se. Yeah, you had to find the right beam or missile upgrade in order to shoot them open, but once you did you were always good to go... no authorization required. The glitch wouldn't exist if it weren't for the authorization system.

Samus should be able to blast her way through doors on her own, not depend on someone else to do the opening for her. It was this dependence on Adam that resulted in the door being permanently locked, because he wasn't paying attention when I met the pre-requisites for it to be opened.

[GoldenPhoenix]

It did effect my enjoyment of the game, but I will admit it was something I would have tolerated in and of itself. What ruined the game for me (both literally and otherwise) was that stupid eternally locked door glitch, and that's something that is indirectly caused by Adam's authorization crap. In previous Metroid games you opened doors by shooting them, so there was NEVER doors that were locked per se. Yeah, you had to find the right beam or missile upgrade in order to shoot them open, but once you did you were always good to go... no authorization required. The glitch wouldn't exist if it weren't for the authorization system.

Samus should be able to blast her way through doors on her own, not depend on someone else to do the opening for her. It was this dependence on Adam that resulted in the door being permanently locked, because he wasn't paying attention when I met the pre-requisites for it to be opened.

A glitch like that could have occurred even if you shot the door. Seems kind of silly to blame it on the authorization gimmick. Glitches occur all the time in games, sometimes game ending ones, it is just that with Wii it is worse since it isn't patched.

[broodwars]

Fusion wasn't a problem. I enjoyed it more than Metroid I and II, and possibly even Zero Mission, which was like Super Metroid but not as good. Too many Metroid games are samey, with the Prime series being the worst offender; I didn't even finish Prime 3 because it was just too much of the same old thing. I'm glad this game was so different, that made Metroid interesting and fun again.

How are the Prime games the "worst offenders" in being too similar when Zero Mission (as much as I enjoyed it) was Super Metroid v1.10 and Other M (ditto) was Metroid Fusion v1.001?  To each their own, but I felt that each of the Prime games at least tried to add their own unique element to the 1st person Metroid experience:

Prime - bring Metroid into 3D better than anyone could have hoped.
Echoes - add in a dual world mechanic, the screw attack/wall jump, increased difficulty, and all-new bosses never used in previous Metroid games.
Corruption - add in all-new upgrades (including ones where you can finally use your ship), break up the environment into small chunks with easier access, and try to incorporate more NPC interaction and storytelling.

That's not to say that all 3 games were completely successful at what they did (I still find Echoes to be an entirely unpleasant experience), but I don't think you give the games enough credit for how different Retro tried to make them.

As for future Metroid titles, as I have said before I am perfectly happy with Team Ninja being brought back.  Just ditch Sakamoto next time, because his atrocious writing and direction is toxic to the future of the franchise.

[Mop it up]

Metroid Other M has a new perspective (for Metroid), switches between two perspectives, a new dodge mechanic, fancy finishing moves, and a big emphasis on story among other things. I don't see how it's the same as Fusion just because it follows similar progression, it's a pretty unique game. It certainly has more differences than the various Prime games which all share the same controls and game engine. I think that's what makes them feel so similar despite how different the environments are; they all control the same, whereas other Metroid games all have more unique control and physics. The Prime games also have a lot of the same weapons and abilities, whereas in Other M the different perspective made old items like the Speed Booster feel new again.

[KDR_11k]

Fusion wasn't a problem. I enjoyed it more than Metroid I and II, and possibly even Zero Mission, which was like Super Metroid but not as good. Too many Metroid games are samey, with the Prime series being the worst offender; I didn't even finish Prime 3 because it was just too much of the same old thing. I'm glad this game was so different, that made Metroid interesting and fun again.

And that is why you are the cancer that is killing Metroid.

[Sarail]

Fusion wasn't a problem. I enjoyed it more than Metroid I and II, and possibly even Zero Mission, which was like Super Metroid but not as good. Too many Metroid games are samey, with the Prime series being the worst offender; I didn't even finish Prime 3 because it was just too much of the same old thing. I'm glad this game was so different, that made Metroid interesting and fun again.

And that is why you are the cancer that is killing Metroid.

I agree with Mop it up. That's the main reason why Other M was so refreshing -- it was a bit different and changed up the formula. 'Tis why it's my second favorite Metroid title now, too. Great game from beginning to end. I loved it.

[Halbred]

Holy cow, remind me how the Prime games were all the same, again? At the very least, they were all MORE different from each-other than most of the 2D games were to each other. If I could draw a phylogeny tree here, I would, but I can't, so I'll illustrate it in text:

(Metroid Prime Hunters + ((Metroid Prime + Metroid Prime 3) + (Metroid Prime 2))) + (Metroid + (Metroid 2 + (Super Metroid + Zero Mission)) + (Metroid Fusion + Other M).

That is, there is a fundamental dichotemy to the Metroid games: Hunters is an outgroup to an exclusive clade containing the Prime games. In that group (Primidae), Metroid Prime 2 forms an outgroup to Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 3. The second branch of the Metroid (NES) as an outgroup to a large inclusive clade containing Metroid 2 and two other branches. The first branch contains Super Metroid & Zero Mission, and the second branch contains Metroid Fusion and Other M.

Hunters + Primidae is Primoidea
Metroid (NES) + all other 2D games (& other M) is Metroidoiea
Metroid 2 + all other games within Metroidoiea is Supertroididae
Super Metroid + Zero Mission is Supertroidinae
Fusion + Other M is Sakamotidae

I'll draw up a formal tree diagram later, but you get the idea.

[gbuell]

The nerd klaxons are raging.

[Chozo Ghost]

The nerd klaxons are raging.

My Star Trek is bigger than yours!

[Mop it up]

Holy cow, remind me how the Prime games were all the same, again?

I already explained my reasoning, but I don't expect longtime Metroid fans to agree.

[TJ Spyke]

I'm not a long-time Metroid fan, but I disagree with you 100% Mop. Each of the Prime games were different, mostly from others in the series and even from each other. Other M is more like the old Metroid games than the Prime games were.

[Mop it up]

Each of the Prime games uses the same game engine, whereas every other Metroid game has its own unique game engine. That alone makes the Prime games more similar to one another than other Metroid games.

[Halbred]

Minor point of contention: Zero Mission & Fusion run on the same engine.

[Mop it up]

Are you sure? They feel different. Though I haven't spent too much time with Zero Mission.

[Chozo Ghost]

Other M is more like the old Metroid games than the Prime games were.

That depends on how you look at it. Pretty much the only thing Other M has more in common with the originals than the Prime games do is that Other M is in 3rd person (mostly). Other M deviates heavily from the originals in many respects, such as the authorization system and the fact you don't search for your weapon upgrades. In those and many other respects the Prime games are more true to the original Metroid formula.

[KDR_11k]

Yes, Metroid needs new ideas but ripping out the things that make it Metroid and replacing it with F-grade anime drama isn't helping at all. What it needs is new items, not the same old set. New items would prevent the feeling of "oh yeah, this obstacle will require item Y to pass" because players wouldn't know what items were waiting for them. And I don't mean replacing 2-3 of them, I mean replacing practically all. That's why games like Shadow Complex manage to satisfy Metroid fans so much, they're not using any of the Metroid items and give the exploration and progression a completely different feel.