Metroid: Other M Hands-On Preview

Samus can still morph into a ball and drop bombs, but perhaps her most surprising ability is ironically one that players have become accustomed to over recent years. The action can be viewed through her visor at any time, simply by pointing the remote at the screen. In the early stages of the game this is used to scan certain objects and is the only way Samus can fire missiles – this initially seems awkward, particularly during an encounter with a shape-shifting purple guardian, but on a repeat play it becomes an interesting new mechanic that has the potential to lend well to environmental puzzles. It’s not the only perspective shift: some rooms have Samus running into or out of the screen, with the camera zooming and panning where appropriate. It sounds confusing, but in practice it works perfectly – close-ups for combat sequences, and wider viewpoints when wall-jumping between floors.

Leapfrog to the face. Ouch.

The story proper begins with Samus intercepting a distress signal which leads her to an apparently abandoned space station, drifting around the depths of deep space. She’s not alone, though, as a group of soldiers from the Galactic Federation Army show up to lend a hand, including one character who appears to be the bounty hunter’s former squeeze. Voice acting is a little stilted, and Aran doesn’t so much feel like a closed book as an empty vessel, her flat delivery sucking the life out of her words. There’s the slightest hint that her steely exterior may crack as the game progresses, so for now Team Ninja gets the benefit of this doubt.

Though the GFA are on hand to help with the demo’s boss fight, it seems the military presence is merely an excuse to restrict Samus from using all her powers. Missiles are only permitted during this encounter, and power bombs are out altogether. Running around the craft’s barren corridors reveals narrow tunnels under metal covers just waiting to be blown apart, so the series’ traditional layered exploration is present and correct.

I can has ice beam?

Crucially, that all-important Metroid atmosphere remains. Even at this early stage it’s obvious Samus can explore of her own volition, sporadic encounters with her galactic compadres occasionally breaking up the oppressive loneliness. The echoing clank of space boots on metal floors and a typically dark, synth-led score complement the impressive, detailed visuals in a manner that lets you know exactly where you stand.

In short: it’s still Metroid, just not quite as you know it. As such, this could well be one of the Wii’s most interesting releases of 2010.

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