Samus Teams Up With Her Old Comrades in Metroid: Other M, and the Partnership Mostly Holds Together

Samus Aran is back in Metroid: Other M, and Nintendo is trying something new. The Wii U remake puts Samus in a team setting, and it asks her to work with other people again.

Trailer, via IGN.

A New Setting

The game opens with Samus trapped inside a research station after a crash landing. She is not alone. Other members of the team are nearby, and the game keeps cutting away from her to show what they are doing. This is a bold move, and it mostly pays off. Watching the other characters talk about Samus adds weight to her actions, even when those actions happen off screen.

The Look And Feel

The Wii U version runs at a steady pace, with detailed scenery and smooth character models. Boss fights are tense, and the game leans on quick motion and tight timing to keep them exciting. Samus can still fire her arm cannon and move fast, but she now has to worry about her teammates too. That adds depth, even if it breaks the usual feel of the series.

The game also changes how Samus moves through the world. Some areas ask her to use the team’s tools rather than her own gear, which slows things down at times. Players who want pure exploration might find that frustrating. Those who enjoy the story will likely agree that the trade-off is worth it.

Where It Falls Short

Not every change lands. The pacing drags in some middle chapters, and a few parts feel like filler rather than content. The game’s difficulty rises and falls without warning, which can be jarring for longtime fans used to a steady challenge.

Metroid: Other M is a solid entry in the series, even with its flaws. The team setup gives it a fresh angle that few other Metroid games attempt, and the Wii U version looks sharp while holding onto the original’s core. It is not perfect, but it is worth playing.

game review · Metroid · Nintendo · remake · Wii U