Earlier today, I met up with Nintendo representatives to play some Metroid: Other M. This game takes place after the events in Super Metroid, where a baby Metroid gives it's life to save Samus.
After running through the tutorial, I launched into the first mission which took place on the Bottle Ship. Samus picks up a distress beacon, lands her ship and runs into some old friends from the Galactic Federation, including Anthony Hicks and Adam Malcovich. However they run off and leave you alone to fend for yourself. The whole story is not yet known, but apparently Samus used to fight along side these soldiers and left for unexplained reasons. As a result, Adam seems very uneasy and upset about this run-in with Samus. It is clear from the start that storyline plays a major role in the game and I have a feeling we will learn a lot more about Samus and her past than we have in previous games.
Traversing the world is done in third person by holding your remote sideways and any time you want to view the world in first person, just aim your remote at the TV and you will automatically switch views. Hold B while in first person view to look around the world. Realize that you cannot walk around in this mode, but it is the only way you can use your missiles.
Team Ninja has done a great job implementing an auto target feature when in a fight. It really makes fighting in third person mode easier and more fluid. Everything you know and love from classic Metroid games with also be available in Other M, as well (just not at first, obviously). You'll have power bombs, morph ball, missiles, and more. The game also has a lot of backtracking, which has become signature of the Metroid series. So expect to return to areas you've already been through to unlock new areas using your new weapons.
The first mini boss I played was fairly easy and short, but still enjoyable. Try to imagine an octopus creature with two arms and one giant eye. By this point, you've met back up with the Galactic Federation. So you need to work with them to beat the boss. I won't spoil the rest of the battle for everyone.
The game looks really impressive in the cutscenes and pretty slick in-game as well. I didn't know what to expect walking in, but I came out wanting to play more. I'd like to see some games to start focusing more on story (without sacrificing gameplay, of course) and Metroid: Other M is doing just that. The game is a thrill to play and I cannot wait to pick up my copy on June 27th.
