Variety seems to be the model that the Metroid series sticks very closely to. From her side-scrolling NES days to her first-person adventures on more recent consoles, Samus Aran has always been at the forefront of variety. An evolving series, Metroid seemingly takes a different route with every few entries, and the latest game in the series, Metroid: Other M, is no exception. Combining a deep story with engaging first- and third-person gameplay, Team Ninja has crafted a unique experience on the Wii that doesn’t quite reach perfection, but certainly leaves a lasting impression.
Samus sets out to investigate a distress signal referred to as “Baby’s Cry.” The heroine goes to the reported area and finds herself on an abandoned space station known as the Bottle Ship. Here, the lone bounty hunter runs into the Galactic Federation. She meets her old friend, Anthony Higgs, and encounters her former commanding officer, Commander Adam Malkovich, who is also something of a father figure to Samus. Though there is some awkwardness between the two, Samus decides to help the Federation. Malkovich accepts her help, but not before putting down his conditions. Thus begins the journey throughout the Bottle Ship to uncover the source of the distress signal.
The moment you watch the first cut scene in Other M, you immediately realize that this game is a highly cinematic experience. Designer Yoshio Sakamoto wasn’t kidding when he said that Other M would be a “synthesis” of everything he’s learned thus far, both from his own work and from his biggest cinematic inspirations. The whole thing has a dark feel to it, and the various camera angles, manipulation of color, and unique sound all combine to create what can only be called a powerful story-driven experience.