Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun, retro-style game with some fantasy violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Metroid: Other M
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 18 kid reviews
Kids say the game is a mixed bag, featuring both highly graphic content that may not be suitable for children and some positive aspects like engaging gameplay and character development. While some reviewers appreciate the cinematic elements and character depth, others criticize its linear design and the portrayal of its main character, leading to a polarizing reception within the gaming community.
- graphic content
- gameplay experience
- character portrayal
- mixed reception
- linear design
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
Samus Aran, the intergalactic bounty hunter, is back for more in METROID: OTHER M, a clever collaborative effort between Nintendo's Yoshio Sakamoto (who directed 1994's Super Metroid) and Team Ninja (of Ninja Gaiden fame). As such, this Nintendo Wii exclusive fuses multiple play styles and camera perspectives into a unique retro romp with a modern spin. This single-player sequel to Super Metroid continues where its predecessor left off -- where the baby Metroid gives its life to protect Aran in an epic battle with Mother Brain -- but the story sequence is now fully realized with stunning computer animation. Metroid: Other M takes place aboard the Bottle Ship, a decommissioned space facility, and it doesn't take long for Aran to run into her old gang of Galactic Federation Army comrades while investigating strange happenings on the spacecraft.
Is It Any Good?
Metroid: Other M is defnitely a good game, but gamers who enjoy the first-person view found in other Metroid games for the Wii might be disappointed with this hybrid approach. That is, while Aran and the environments are rendered in 3D, the game looks and feels like a 2D side-scroller. You will, however, occasionally change to a first-person view by pointing the Wii Remote towards the screen to blast enemies, scan items or solve puzzles. When in tighter corridors, the screen shifts to an over-the-shoulder view of Aran. As with past games, our space heroine can roam through corridors to blast away alien critters (using blasters, bombs, and missiles); turn into a ball to access hard-to-reach areas; and find ways into locked areas, be it with brute force or by scanning a nearby computer. Whether you're a faithful Nintendo fan or simply looking for some old school action on your Wii, Metroid: Other M proves to be a blast from the past with refreshed graphics, sound, and story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether shooting games like this – although set in a fictional space universe – are appropriate for a (largely) family-friendly console like the Nintendo Wii. Should Nintendo stick to its "E"-rated franchises, such as the various Mario and Donkey Kong titles, or is it okay for them to publish "T"-rated titles?
Families can also discuss the game's strong female protagonist. Is Samus Aran a good example of a heroine? Is her character one that teen girls can look up to? Or do her violent methods make her an unacceptable role model?
Game Details
- Platform : Nintendo Wii
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Nintendo
- Release date : August 31, 2010
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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