Managing a reboot or find new ideas to bring forward a saga that has over twenty years of success behind is never easy. To be critical, we could say that it is not easy in general, as evidenced by the many "restart" which have suffered many brands in this generation, since only mediocre Alone In the Dark highly contested in the near future and reboot Devil May Cry , through the controversial course changes of Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia or Final Fantasy XIII .
Still, the Metroid series , one of the most prestigious and acclaimed sagas video games of all time, it seemed immune: after sparks and ended the era of 2D Super Metroid, so far the best chapter in the saga and one of the best games of all time, had returned to lay down the law about the year 2000, thanks to the impeccable work of the team Retro Studios (which he did rather outcry at the time) who churn out the three chapters Metroid Prime, which mark the transition of the series to 3D and founded a new genre, that of first-person adventures, blending beautifully the mechanics of first-person shooter with the alienating atmosphere and sublime level design that has always characterized the series came from the pens and minds of Gunpei Yokoi and Yoshio Sakamoto.
After three chapters to Texan by the firm (Prime, Echoes and Corruption) which in the worst cases are only "good" games, Sakamoto has decided to abandon the visual and mechanical characteristics of the trilogy to propose a kind of throwback to the saga: a NES games playable on the Wii, so to speak, without betraying any use of the subjective, as we shall see later. To do this, the father of the series relies on the cooperation of the Team Ninja development team of the most experienced in action games and the most celebrated of the world, despite the departure of its charismatic leader, Tomonobu Itagaki, and all 'extreme simplicity of the wiimote which, when bent 90 degrees, is undeniably identical to the glorious NES pad. This insight comes
Metroid Other M, which, in sharp contrast with the recent past, back in the third person, but this time in a mostly three-dimensional, in a completely new situation for the brand. Beyond that, though, this game also has the courage to break some of the stylistic features typical of the saga: the level design is now less complicated, the action is much faster paced and the plot and wants to be more important for the plant game.
As the result of an experiment so bold, what is the result of collaboration between Nintendo and Team Ninja? The response was rather multifaceted and rarely shared. Other M Metroid, in fact, has literally split into two public criticism and, on the one side who completely crushed this hybrid, considering neither fish nor fowl, with good ideas but poorly developed, and on the other hand those who thought so diametrically opposite, considering this chapter, even with its flaws, the foundation stone on which to build the future of the franchise. I see myself lined up between them, but proceed in order.
One of the tenets underlying the work of Team Ninja and Nintendo (and Image, D-Rockets ... scrolling through the credits, the list is impressive houses in the development of even marginally involved in the project) is that the plot was to have a much stronger role in the economy work, and should have the characteristics that make it less cloudy the past (and the more extreme the character) Samus Aran, the bounty hunter to play golf in Metroid. Without anticipating nothing narrative about the contents of the plot (except that our heroine will to investigate unusual events that disrupt the development of scientific Ark station in the company of soldiers of the Galactic Federation, Samus body abandoned at a young age), I can say that it reveals surprisingly touching moments, which generate high empathy between player and character on screen, and sheds new light on the blonde Samus, who until now had always been a performer of the cold that were assigned missions, while Other M takes more human contours and is not short of showing their feelings and say what he thinks. As rightly noted by many reviewers, if the first Aran was a woman in armor with, now is a woman around with armor, diametrically opposite view. Critics have spoken of "manga involution" of the character, as they say Samus seems to have become the heroine of any Seinen. I do not I agree, I find it is good that the new nature much more feminine and more emotional Samus, as it offers a nice comparison between the 'human' and "professional", showing how the two roles often generate conflict.
In terms of level design and game structure are concentrated the most bitter debates between supporters and detractors. I believe that to speak of these matters should be noted that, compared to the near and distant past, Metroid Other M tip predominantly on action and fighting-backed review of the new character animations, now faster, more agile and responsive - and that work was the Team Ninja, acclaimed for the skills shown in the series (as it happens, action) of Ninja Gaiden . If we take account of this and we see this game as should be seen in a perspective that is different than a Super Metroid any, Other M convincing and fully justifies the linearity of the levels (which, to be fair, here are more elaborate than a God Of War Bayonetta or at random). Despite the continuing the typical syndrome of Samus "(the character at a time can enjoy all of the initial power-up, which is lost suddenly and repurchased during the adventure), which seems to have been emulated-someone said Assassin's Creed ? - the gameplay, in its simplicity (with a button one with a stick, turning the wiimote at the screen are targeted missiles, features easier to do than to say), is a bomb, and will certainly enhance the player, especially considering that the stamina bar is always quite short and the enemies are very aggressive and does not forgive any mistake or hesitation. Taking a small digression on the final stage of the "syndrome" mentioned above, the powers to be honest you do not win in the classic way, ie retrieving objects (the only recoverable thereby increasing the number of rockets sparabili the arm cannon) or defeating boss but waiting for the head of the contingent of the federation to give its blessing to use them. A feature that did turn up more than a nose, but that is very simply explained, since, being subjected to Samus's mission, it is logical to act according to the will of the commander. I agree with those who criticize the lack of elegance of the thing, but the explanation line.
After debate on the most objectionable features of the game, you just have to deal with the graphics and sound, as well as say a few words to the longevity of the product, the artistic value and the final considerations.
Technically, Other M Metroid is certainly a nice effect. While not reaching the graphical beauty of Super Mario Galaxy 2 , the engine is without doubt excellent and always the update of the action on screen without slowdown or drops in frame rate. Sure, some rooms are quite bare and repetitive as it is logical that both spacecraft, but overall the impact is more than good.
Speaking of sound, you have to say that it is much less invasive and epic than ever before: assuming the ambient noise or the verses of the monsters are well kept and varied, the soundtrack relies mostly on minimalist music, electronic and ambient, rarely one comes across Orchestra compositions worthy of note. This also affects the atmosphere, if you did a comparison between the OST Metroid Prime 3 and that of Other M , no doubt it would get out of it with broken bones. In my opinion, this is a very big flaw for a game that peak today as yesterday, the dive into a world which is essentially solitary and alien Metroid .
From point out, regarding the cosmetic appearance, they are finally movies, which is entrusted with the explanation and the unfolding of events and that at the end of the game will be collected in a sort of "film" lasting about two hours and a half and can be seen as a real movie. Visually very beautiful, made with a computer graphics with a highly respected director careful to emphasize the dramatic hours, now the epic. Not an addition that radically changes the opinion on this game, but a graft very well done.
Speaking of artistic quality of the product, there is nothing else to say except that the character design was in line with tradition, presenting a bestiary that seems a hybrid between reptiles, dinosaurs, plants and creatures that are the envy of the beasts Avatar , very nice and well placed in context. Perhaps a few more enemy would not have failed, but overall the result is very satisfactory. The character is undoubtedly the most reworked of Samus Aran, now much more slender and shapely, as is traditional for all the characters women's "Made in Team Ninja." By putting some soldiers of the Federation, too stereotyped (see the double of David Beckham).
As for longevity, but it turns out in the media, because you can finish the adventure on board the ark in less than twelve, intense, hours.
conclusion, Other M is a brave project, which seeks in every way to bring new products and to identify new lines of development for the saga. Of course not everything is sanded to perfection, but I think we are faced with very solid foundations for the future of Metroid
[ 8.5 ]
