Metroid Database.com

Metroid: Other M's review scores have been posted online through several different sources, and for the most part, the game is mostly receiving mid-8's (including an 8.5 by Nintendo Power, Gamespot, and IGN - as well as the Metroid Database), with one 9 by Worth Playing - though Game Informer gave the game an abysmally low score. 1Up's B- seems poorly weighted at 75% (when's the last time you got a C-grade % for a B score?), but Japanese magazine Famitsu gave the game a very respectable 35/40 (9/9/8/9), which is a very high score for both a Metroid game and any game in general (the title ranked higher than Metroid Prime 3 (33). Other M's average meta-score of about 82% on Gamerankings, though this is likely to fluctuate over the next couple weeks, as the listing is currently incomplete.

Due to the experimental nature of the game and new things Nintendo and Team Ninja tried to implement, Metroid: Other M is more than a little controversial, with some people enjoying it highly and others disliking the changes. Most reviews praise the game's tight action and abilities, classic exploration feel and wonderful environment, but mark the game down for its lumbering story and wordy script (and the expected complaints about the voice acting). There have been more than a few complaints about the first person mode as well, though I personally didn't have any problems with it. Wired praised the game's blend of 2D and 3D action while IGN in particular thought the game could have used the nunchuck. The general consensus seems that the game's graphics look nice (and the FMV sequences are phenomenal), but in-game textures are ultimately not as good as Prime 3, and the audio is either very good (ambient) or disappointing (minimal). Hilariously, Wired also said they hated the male character models.

I'd like to reiterate that a score of 85% isn't that bad for a game (especially when you consider a 75% to be 'average' and an 85% it will get you an Editor's Choice on IGN), but ultimately it isn't quite the level of quality we expected from such a well-respected series. Other M is by no means the worst in the series (it's far better than Metroid Prime 2 and can rival the series' GBA outings in some places), and if the range of reviews is any indication, you may enjoy the game a lot more than some of us have.

Until next time...
Captain Commando