10 Oct 2025

In the world of gaming, few franchises have been as iconic and influential as Metroid. With its deep lore, intense exploration, and iconic protagonist Samus Aran, the Metroid series has earned a dedicated fanbase. The 2000s were particularly fruitful for the franchise, with the release of Metroid Prime, Metroid Fusion, and several other related titles that kept fans on the edge of their seats. However, the release of Metroid: Other M in 2010 stirred up mixed reactions, especially due to its shift in gameplay and character depiction.

In this postgame wrap-up, we’ll dive into the story, the character changes, and the notable shifts in gameplay, offering both a critique and an understanding of the Metroid: Other M remake and what it brings to the franchise. Note that this review contains full spoilers, so if you haven’t experienced the game yet, consider playing it first!

The Setup

At the core of Metroid: Other M lies Samus Aran, our iconic bounty hunter. This time around, Samus finds herself in a Galactic Federation mission, after receiving a distress signal from a mysterious ship called the "Bottle Ship." The game is set after her victory over the Space Pirates and continues her saga of investigating dangerous alien lifeforms and uncovering dark secrets. This adventure presents a drastic shift in both storytelling and gameplay compared to previous titles.

However, as much as the Metroid: Other M remake changes the formula, there’s a deeper focus on Samus's internal conflict and her relationship with the Galactic Federation—specifically her former commanding officer, Adam Malkovich. This personal element becomes a central theme throughout the game. But here’s where things get interesting—Samus’s character in Other M receives a lot of attention, but not in the way fans expected.

The Story & Flashbacks

The game's plot unfolds with flashbacks to Samus’s past during her time with the Galactic Federation. These flashbacks give insight into her early years and her relationship with Adam Malkovich, who becomes more of a father figure to Samus than a mentor. Samus’s emotional struggle regarding a past decision where Adam was involved in the death of his brother is central to understanding her motivation in the game.

The flashback sequences attempt to humanize Samus but result in her being portrayed as more petulant and immature than the powerful, independent warrior fans know her to be. While it’s clear that Samus struggles with her past, the game presents this in a way that, for many, felt out of place. It also led to frustration with the depiction of Samus as someone unable to move on from the past, which overshadowed her strength and independence.

The Galactic Federation and Restrictions

In the present day of the game, Samus arrives at the Bottle Ship and finds herself having to work alongside a Galactic Federation platoon—led by none other than Adam Malkovich. The twist? Samus must agree to follow Adam’s orders, with the added catch that she is prohibited from using her full arsenal of weapons and abilities. This limitation is a major change compared to other Metroid titles where Samus had the freedom to use her suit upgrades from the start.

This restriction on her weapons makes sense narratively within the game world, as the Federation is wary of Samus's power, but it creates a somewhat frustrating experience for players. As the game progresses, players must deal with Samus being handicapped, limiting the gameplay and adding artificial difficulty.

The Metroid Threat

As Samus uncovers the truth behind the Bottle Ship, it’s revealed that the Galactic Federation has been experimenting with alien creatures, including Metroids, which were bred using the remains of the Super Metroid that Samus had encountered in the previous game. The Federation’s experiments ultimately lead to chaos when a rogue Metroid Queen is unleashed. At the same time, Samus faces personal demons, from her difficult history with Adam to confronting the return of Ridley, her most notorious enemy.

Gameplay Mechanics & Challenges

The gameplay in Metroid: Other M sees a shift from the first-person perspective of Metroid Prime to a more 2D action-platformer style. While the game still features some elements of exploration, it places much more emphasis on combat and storytelling, which led to some divided opinions. The combat system uses both Wiimote controls and motion gestures, introducing new features like First-Person View for shooting and scanning.

Though there’s no doubt the game had some innovative elements, the constant shifting between gameplay styles and Samus’s limited power made it a challenging experience. In terms of progression, Samus’s suit upgrades become a key aspect of her power, but as mentioned earlier, the decision to restrict her arsenal early on felt like an artificial barrier, ultimately taking away from the game's flow.

FAQ: Metroid - Other M

1. What’s the story behind Samus’s restrictions in Other M?

In Metroid: Other M, Samus is prohibited from using her full suit capabilities because she’s required to follow orders from her former commanding officer, Adam Malkovich. This leads to an internal conflict for Samus, which affects her abilities and the overall gameplay.

2. Why is Samus depicted so differently in this game?

The game provides insight into Samus’s past, showing her as more vulnerable and emotionally affected by her past decisions. While this attempt to humanize her character was a bold one, many fans felt it clashed with the confident and strong persona they had come to know.

3. How does the Metroid threat unfold in the game?

The Bottle Ship serves as a testing ground for Metroid breeding experiments, and as Samus explores, she discovers that these Metroids are linked to her own history with the creatures. The game culminates in a confrontation with a Metroid Queen, forcing Samus to deal with both the external threat and her inner turmoil.

4. What is the significance of Ridley’s return?

In Other M, Ridley’s return represents not just an enemy encounter, but also Samus’s PTSD from her past. The game portrays her emotional struggle, which contrasts with the way she handled Ridley in previous games, making the encounter feel disconnected from the character development we had seen before.

Closing Thoughts

Metroid: Other M stands as a pivotal entry in the series, for better or worse. It attempted to introduce a new gameplay experience while providing a deeper dive into Samus’s backstory. While the remake of this game might offer new opportunities for storytelling and gameplay, the narrative issues and character inconsistencies may still leave fans with a sense of disappointment.

In the next part of this wrap-up, we will delve into the gameplay mechanics in more detail, offering a deeper look at the control systems, combat style, and how they impact the overall gaming experience. For now, let’s reflect on how Metroid: Other M both succeeds and falters, leaving a unique footprint in the Metroid series.