History VideoGame / MetroidOtherM

* BackToBackBadasses: Samus and Anthony in one of the trailers and [[http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/0733650001276663901.jpg this artwork.]]

* BackToBackBadasses: Samus and Anthony in one of the trailers and [[http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/0733650001276663901.jpg this artwork]].

* InSpaceEveryoneCanSeeYourFace: Samus is able to adjust the opaqueness of her visor. It's solid yellow-green by default, but she makes it transparent whenever she's talking to people.

** Yoshio Sakamoto stated that Samus' depiction in the game is the "true Samus", effectively contradicting many of her other canon and non-canon depictions. The first scene changes the ending to ''Videogame/SuperMetroid'' compared to ''Super Metroid'''s treatment of the prior to games. The gravity suit no longer exists because it was deemed too strange for Samus to be colored purple, in defiance of Nintendo's official specification. The so called "zero suit" was given high heel like wedges, despite the design notes from ''Videogame/MetroidZeroMission'' specifically telling the sprite artists not to add such a thing. Samus is noticeably shorter and slimmer than many other soldiers, especially unarmored, where previously she had been on par or noticeably larger than all but a few bounty hunters, and was fairly bulky even unarmored in some ''Super Metroid'' and ''Metroid Zero Mission''-''Metroid Fusion'' [[OldSaveBonus linked]] ending pictures. The very first game's manual described health and ammo pickups as a function of her suit, where such pickups could be scanned in ''Videogame/MetroidPrime'' and adapting to circumstance in ''Videogame/MetroidPrime3'', but are totally absent here in favor of a crystal flash like recovery that isn't fueled by ammunition but "concentration". The biggest nonvisual/gameplay alterations are Samus's personality as compared to the original manga and her personal history. Her time as a police officer in an {{interservice rivalry}} with the military she personally provoked, as well as her up bringing with the Chozo, is excised and ignored, respectively. Samus also lacks ShroudedInMyth status she had in the first game's manual, that was expanded upon in ''Videogame/MetroidPrime2Echoes''.

* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: The Federation Troopers use machine guns. ZigZagged with Anthony's BFG EnergyWeapon and the [[FreezeRay ice guns]] that appear to be a standard-issue secondary weapon for all Fed troops. They use them almost as much as their [=SMGs.=] Unfortunately, these machine guns are shown to be pretty ineffective against the creatures on the Bottle Ship.

* ArtisticLicenseMilitary: Defied, FrontLinesGeneral aside- Samus is essentially working with Adam's unit as a private military contractor. Once she agreed to work with them, she followed Adam's orders and adheres to the mission parameters, like any other military contractor would be required to do.

** Yoshio Sakamoto stated that Samus' depiction in the game is the "true Samus", effectively contradicting many of her other canon and non-canon depictions. The first scene changes the ending to ''Videogame/SuperMetroid'' compared to ''Super Metroid'''s treatment of the prior to games. The gravity suit no longer exists because it was deemed too strange for Samus to be colored purple, in defiance of Nintendo's official specification. The so called "zero suit" was given high heel like wedges, despite the design notes from ''Videogame/MetroidZeroMission'' specifically telling the sprite artists not to add such a thing. The very first game's manual described health and ammo pickups as a function of her suit, with such pickups being scannable in ''Videogame/MetroidPrime'' and adapting to circumstance in ''Videogame/MetroidPrime3'', but are totally absent here in favor of a crystal flash like recovery that isn't fueled by ammunition but "concentration". The biggest nonvisual/gameplay alterations are Samus's personality as compared to the original manga and her personal history. Her time as a police officer in an {{interservice rivalry}} with the military she personally provoked, as well as her up bringing with the Chozo, is excised and ignored, respectively. Samus also lacks ShroudedInMyth status she had in the first game's manual, that was expanded upon in ''Videogame/MetroidPrime2Echoes''.

%%* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: One that is somewhat PlayedForLaughs: the '''S'''eriously '''S'''ophisticated '''S'''ecurity '''S'''ystem.

%%* ArmedWithCanon: Yoshio Sakamoto stated that Samus' depiction in the game is the "true Samus", effectively contradicting many of her other canon and non-canon depictions.

* ArtisticLicenseMilitary: Defied - Samus is essentially working with Adam's unit as a private military contractor. Once she agreed to work with them, she followed Adam's orders and adheres to the mission parameters, like any other military contractor would be required to do.

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* EleventhHourSuperPower: The Power Bomb is only usable during the tutorial, [[spoiler:the battle with the Queen Metroid and the epilogue]], but is by far the most destructive weapon in Samus' arsenal.

* EleventhHourSuperPower: The Power Bomb is only usable during the tutorial, [[spoiler:the battle with the Queen Metroid and the epilogue]], but is by far the most destructive weapon in Samus' arsenal.

* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: Did you really think [[spoiler:Nightmare]] was down for the count?
** Also, in the ExtendedGameplay, did you really think it would be a Metroid game without [[spoiler:a self-destruct countdown]]?

** This is a running theme in just about every ''Metroid'' game. When you find a save point after going a long time without one, saving (and healing) is a really good idea.

* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler:Phantoon]] is at least five times larger than last time.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Not by much because it's a dark series, but the fact that [[spoiler:a soldier is killing his own teammates in order to hide a government conspiracy, and thus makes it hard to trust ANYBODY]] pushes it in this direction. It's a situation that would have most people paranoid.

* DeathGlare: The KillerRabbit mentioned below gives Samus one when you first meet it. [[spoiler:Given [[TheReveal who he is]], it would be OutOfCharacter to do anything less]].
* DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist: If you die and continue, you'll usually respawn a few rooms away from where you died with as much health/missiles as you reached the checkpoint with. [[NintendoHard Considering how hard it is to regain health in this game, this is quite a blessing]].

* EleventhHourSuperPower:
** The Screw Attack may well be even more lethal than ever before.
** The [[spoiler:Power Bomb, which is only usable during the battle with the Queen Metroid and the epilogue]], would also apply.

** [[spoiler:[[Franchise/MortalKombat Ridley. Queen Metroid. FIGHT! Queen Metroid wins. Flawless Victory]].]]
** Also, there are several hints that [[spoiler:James is the Deleter. He's killed by MB.]]

** In a fashion, [[spoiler:Melissa Bergman, as her boss fight consists of shooting the Desbrachians out of the way in order to aim at her]].

** [[spoiler:There's a reason that scientist at the beginning of the game seems like a total douche]].
** [[spoiler:James Pierce is the Communications man of the squad and he was trained by the Federation Central Information Agency, aka the CIA. As the game progresses, a mysterious traitor starts killing off members of the squad...]][[spoiler:This may also explain why radio communications were severed throughout the entire story; perhaps James, a communications specialist, was carrying a device jamming radio signals.]]

** A rather interesting one that only the Japanese could get. [[spoiler:In Japan, the official explanation for Phantoon was that he was the manifestation of Mother Brain's consciousness. This fact, as well as the rather eerie feeling of the Bottle Ship, particularly in the postgame, might have raised some eyebrows over there, and is the best explanation for his reappearance.]]
** If you look at Melissa, [[spoiler: her barrette is shaped suspiciously like a Metroid's tri-nucleus]].

* FreudianExcuse: Those who defend Samus' emotional problems point to her backstory: her biological parents mercilessly killed in front of her (and the monster that killed them [[JokerImmunity keeps coming back]]), her adopted Chozo parents disappeared, she had a falling out of some kind with father figure number three, and the baby Metroid she had some kind of maternal feelings for was ''just'' horribly killed protecting her.
** Not to mention the fact that she is now under the command of said third father figure, so she's feeling a little uneasy (if you had a large fight with your parents and haven't patched things up, you'd feel pretty awkward around them too.) This can be seen as the largest contributing factor as she mentions that she feels a lot calmer [[spoiler:when Adam dies. Although this could also be the fact that they "technically" patched things up.]]
* FreezeRay: Samus always has one, that's not unusual. But you didn't expect the Army to have them as a secondary weapon.

* GameBreakingBug: Several people have reported an issue where a door in Sector 3 (that you have to go through) will not open, no matter what you do. Nintendo had to accept [[http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/wii/en_na/ts/metroid-other-m.jsp mail-ins for cards with save files.]] They claim the cause of the bug is picking up the Ice Beam, going into the following room, killing all the enemies to open that room's next door, and then immediately backtracking into the Ice Beam room before continuing on into the room you just opened at least once. Prior to this, the fandom assumed the bug had to do with the Rhedogian boss (going back down the lift after beating the boss the first time and then saving, or going back and saving after the third fight with it).
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: According to [[http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/metroid-other-m/vol1_page4.jsp this Iwata Asks interview]], a large focus during development was averting this. For example, in cutscenes, Samus retains her current health and missile count and even views things the same as the player does in first-person mode. She does still pull off some kick-ass moves the player can't do, however.

* GenreBlind: Adam sends Samus to a lava area without authorizing her Varia Suit (a suit that protects Samus from deadly heat and convection). Hardened ''Metroid'' players will automatically know that's virtually suicide. Only partially justified as, until the appropriate boss fight, he wouldn't expect her to do lengthy combat in that area. Made worse in that the justification for the authorization system was that it was a rescue mission so strong weapons are to be restricted to avoid collateral damage... which says nothing as to why DEFENSIVE gear needs to be restricted.
** Samus, you are in a space station with EverythingTryingToKillYou, the [[KillerRabbit cute furry thing]] just gave you a DeathGlare, and you are obviously freaked out by it and you experienced things like this before so... KILL IT NOW!
** The Federation does not seem to realize that [[spoiler:breeding Metroids and getting on the wrong side of Samus Aran have not done Space Pirates much good in the past.]]

* GravityMaster: [[spoiler:Nightmare. Doesn't do much on the second boss fight against it though, as the Gravity Feature is activated by this point.]]

** Why yes, you DO have to use [[spoiler:a power bomb]] on the [[spoiler:Queen Metroid.]] No, the game does not make you aware of the fact that they are unlocked at that point. The only reason you'd attempt this is either because its the only option left or [[spoiler: you played ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus'' and recall that using bombs is the best method to beat THAT Queen Metroid. Even then, Metroid II had you using normal bombs, not power bombs, so it still requires some extra thinking. And considering how [[OddballInTheSeries overlooked that game is]][[labelnote:*]]or was, considering the [[VideoGame/AnotherMetroid2Remake fan]] and [[VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns official]] remakes that released years after ''Other M''[[/labelnote]] by even rabid fans...]]

** Neither in the manual nor the game itself does it tell you that you can use the Sense Move while in first-person view, aside from a green border around the screen before the attack connects.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Adam, as implied back in ''Fusion''. He sacrifices his life in order to destroy the Bottle Ship's Metroid hatchery.]]
** [[spoiler:Anthony's apparent death. While it turned out to be a DisneyDeath, it did save Samus' life.]]
* HijackedByGanon: [[spoiler:It turns out Mother Brain was recreated with a more humanoid appearance and became the BigBad.]]

* InformedAbility: Adam is described as being "a father figure", and yet none of the scenes shown in-game support this statement. On the contrary, a lot of scenes that he shows up in seem to give off the impression that he really dislikes Samus.
** He's also described in Fusion as being a military genius, with Samus using the phrase "perfect military mind" in her ending monologue in Fusion. The man we see in this game appears somewhat oblivious to things going on around him and [[HollywoodTactics makes some very questionable tactical decisions]] during the story, as well as [[spoiler:losing all but one of his squad, including himself]].

* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: One that is somewhat PlayedForLaughs: the '''S'''eriously '''S'''ophisticated '''S'''ecurity '''S'''ystem.

* AntiClimax: Are you pumped to [[spoiler:charge into Sector Zero and kill some Metroids]]? Too bad. [[spoiler:Adam steals it.]] Are you ready to find out who the Deleter is, and bring him to justice? Too bad. [[spoiler:MB steals that one.]] Are you looking forward to a potentially awesome final battle with [[spoiler:MB]]? Too bad. [[spoiler:TheCavalry takes that one away.]] Want to [[spoiler:defeat Ridley once and for all and avenge Anthony's death]]? Too bad. [[spoiler:The Queen Metroid steals it. Also, Anthony didn't really die.]]
* ArbitraryMissionRestriction: Played painfully straight with a paper-thin {{justifi|edTrope}}cation. In most ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' games, Samus finds new items throughout the game which she uses to power up her suit and then has for the rest of the game. In this game, Samus has ALL her powers from the beginning, but depending on the point in the story or section of the game, she can only use the power-ups her commanding officer Adam Malkovitch allows her to use.

* ArmedWithCanon: [[{{Pun}} No, not]] [[ArmCannon that kind]]. Yoshio Sakamoto stated that Samus' depiction in the game is the "true Samus", effectively contradicting many of her other canon and non-canon depictions.

* AutomaticNewGame: You are given you the option to turn on the subtitles, then you're thrown straight into the intro. Bypassing even the title screen!

** Say what anyone will, but in a very, very odd light... "Little Birdie", was this, especially considering this KillerRabbit grows up ''fast'' to become [[spoiler:Ridley]]. The hard fact that he would have eaten any who tried aside, it almost makes him huggable... ''Almost''.

* BigBadEnsemble: To some extent. [[spoiler:Though MB is the FinalBoss and the catalyst of the main plot, the Deleter and Ridley both play major roles in the plot and confront Samus throughout the story... Although its not made clear whether Ridley is acting on his own or under MB's control.]]

* BittersweetEnding: Samus, [[spoiler: Anthony, and the scientist]] are alive, have put a stop to the dangerous threats on the Bottle Ship, [[spoiler: and the military's attempts to cover their experiments up]]. Samus has also achieved a measure of closure with her past, her relationship with Adam, and her fear of Ridley. However, [[spoiler: countless innocent people and brave soldiers are dead, victims of a pointless and avoidable conflict, and Samus's mentor and father-figure died shortly after they made peace]].

* BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler:MB/Melissa is a cutie who gets very, ''very'' broken, and [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds ends up very dangerous]] as a result]].

* CallForward: Being the prequel to ''Metroid Fusion'', there are a number of plot points in ''Fusion'' that are set up in this game, such as [[spoiler:Nightmare]], ThatOneBoss in ''Fusion'', being a boss here (with his body [[{{Foreshadowing}} mysteriously vanishing after the main storyline ends]]). Also, the frozen husk of [[spoiler:Ridley]] in ''Fusion'' is given a backstory here as [[spoiler:the Queen Metroid sucks Ridley dry]].
** [[VideoGame/MetroidFusion Adam totally does sit in his cozy control room and order Samus to die.]]

* CaptainObvious: Samus. Much of her dialogue has her restating what she'd just been told or stating something that the player has just seen.
** She even manages to do it ''twice'' about the exact same thing in one of the first scenes in the game: Samus and company enter a room, and see a dead body on the floor. Her internal narration talks about how she could sense this place was dangerous. ''Then'' she tells Adam that this place is dangerous.
* ChekhovsGun: The Power Bombs. Adam forbids Samus from using them outright at the beginning of the game, citing their extreme destructive power. You can't use them until the very end of the game, but it's oh-so-satisfying to [[spoiler:vaporize the Queen Metroid with them]]. That is, if you realize you need to use them. The sequence [[spoiler:in which you jump down the Queen Metroid's throat]] is the first time you can use them, and the game [[GuideDangIt certainly doesn't go out of its way to tell you that.]]
* ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve: The "Concentration" mechanic, but it can only be used in a NearDeathExperience, so it doubles as a PressXToNotDie.
* ClippedWingAngel: Meta-Example. [[spoiler:The KillerRabbit throughout the game is actually a regenerating Ridley. You never fight him in this stage -- he fully recovers and goes back to being a space dragon -- but he's somewhat less scary, DeathGlare aside.]]

* TheComputerIsALyingBastard: At the beginning of the game, new upgrades receive either an inventory screen blurb, an appropriate dialog, or both, regardless of whether they're obtained or authorized. Trying to use them before they're unlocked, in the case of chargeable weapons, simply prevents the charge meter from completely filling, restricting you to the lesser weapon. At times, [[spoiler:Samus will self-authorize, such as with the Space Jump/Screw Attack]], but with the same indications; however, while fighting [[spoiler:Queen Metroid]], a later stage in the fight requires you to use the [[spoiler:Power Bomb]] to survive -- however, the usual indication that this weapon is available for use doesn't come until ''after the ending credits!''

** The fate of [[spoiler:Ridley]] in Other M sets up his appearance in the next game in the timeline, ''Fusion''.
** Similarly, [[spoiler:Nightmare]] makes an early appearance, and its disembodied head remains on the ground after killing it. [[spoiler:It's gone when Samus returns to the ship after the credits]].
** [[spoiler:The final boss in the main story is the Queen Metroid from Metroid II. You even finish it off in a similar but even more awesome way]].

* ContinuitySnarl: So when Samus is rendered unconscious her suit disappears? ''[[VideoGame/MetroidFusion Fusion]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption Corruption]]'' would like to disagree with you. It's even ContinuitySnarl within the game itself, as Samus's suit is cleaned near the beginning of the game while she's unconscious. [[spoiler:This becomes a ''very significant'' plot point.]]

* {{Cutscene}}: One hour's worth, and all replayable in theater mode when you beat the game.
** Theater mode even adds sections of gameplay between the cutscenes, effectively making it TheMovie of The Game.
* CutsceneBoss: [[spoiler:Melissa Bergman]] is one, although you do have to first [[spoiler:knock her Desbrachians out of the way so she can be targeted.]]

* PornStache: James Pierce, [[spoiler:which is probably a hint as to his true identity as the Deleter]].

* AttackItsWeakPoint: Many of the bosses as per tradition of the series, [[spoiler:except Ridley]].

* AlreadyDoneForYou: Rather unfortunately, [[spoiler:Sector Zero.]] And a lot of other points in the game - see the trope below.

%%* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: Seriously Sophisticated Security System.

%%* AlreadyDoneForYou: [[spoiler:Sector Zero.]]

%%* AttackItsWeakPoint: Many of the bosses.

%%* CallBack: The sheer ''volume'' of call backs to classic Metroid games (and in a couple cases, a CallForward to ''Fusion'') will stun any long-time ''Metroid'' fan.

%%* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Samus, for most of the game.

%%* PornStache: James Pierce.

* BonusBoss: [[spoiler:Phantoon takes over the Bottle Ship in the epilogue and attacks Samus when she goes to retrieve Adam's helmet]].

* MisaimedRealism: The attempt to avoid BagOfSpilling with the authorization mechanic is all well and good until Samus is forced to go through a hot area and denied protection she could easily use with the press of a button..

* HeroicBSOD: Samus, [[spoiler:upon confronting a very much alive Ridley]]. This is probably the most controversial part of the entire game, as [[spoiler:she had faced him multiple times before without breaking down]]. [[InternetBackdraft Bring it up at your own risk]]. She also happens to be going through a less severe one involving the death of the baby Metroid from ''Super'' throughout this game.

* {{Retcon}}: A minor one, but still interesting to note. Samus describes Adam as ''"the only father-figure I ever had"''. This ignores Samus' backstory with Old Bird and the Chozo in general as her foster family. [[RunningGag Again]], ''[[InternetBackdraft touchy subject]]''.

* ForceFieldDoor: Hilariously averted! Admit it, if you're a Metroid veteran, [[DamnYouMuscleMemory you tried to shoot the door to make it open]]!

* LoadBearingBoss: Averted. ''In a Metroid game!!'' Crazy huh? [[spoiler:Not that you didn't have to escape an exploding Bottle Ship in the epilogue, if you didn't the game would be ruined!]]
** [[spoiler:Not completely averted. The escape sequence is right after the Phantoon battle, making him an example in gameplay, but not story.]]

* ShowDontTell: Averted in the scene where [[spoiler:Adam dies.]] Samus is told that the [[spoiler:Metroids in Sector Zero are unfreezable,]] but we never see them, thanks to [[spoiler:Adam's HeroicSacrifice.]] The only two times that we ''do'' see them, they [[spoiler:''are'' freezable,]] for a different reason the [[NoControlGroup second]] [[AvertedTrope time]] than the first.

* SpaceMarines: Averted. Adam and his squad are from the Federation ''' Army''' which explains the different armor design from the Prime Series. Still, Platoon 07 is just as [[BadassArmy Badass]] if not more so than the Marines. [[spoiler:Too bad they had a [[TheMole Mole]].]]

* ActionCommands: Samus's dodge-roll maneuver. In some cases it even becomes ''literally'' PressXToNotDie.
* ActionGirl: Samus, of course.
* ActionizedSequel: One of the many criticisms this game has suffered is that it is a full-blown action game, with heavy emphasis on combat. Almost all the exploration elements the Metroid series is known for were saved for the PlayableEpilogue, when Samus' actions are no longer being restricted by the MissionControl.

* AIIsACrapshoot: [[spoiler:MB sure didn't end up quite like her creators intended]].
* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: Seriously Sophisticated Security System.

* AlreadyDoneForYou: [[spoiler:Sector Zero.]]

* AttackItsWeakPoint: Many of the bosses.

* {{BFG}}: What Anthony Higgs has on his back.
* BigBad: [[spoiler:Melissa Bergman, otherwise known as MB, being an AI based on Mother Brain.]]

* BigDamnHeroes: Samus does this a few times over the course of the game. [[spoiler:Anthony does a less action-packed but still awesome one in the end]].

* BonusBoss: [[spoiler:Phantoon, again]].

* BrownNote: [[spoiler:Little Birdie's cry]] seems to throw tougher enemies into a frenzy.
* TheBusCameBack: Adam, [[spoiler:Nightmare, a new Queen Metroid, a rebuilt Mother Brain, and Phantoon.]]

* CombatStilettos: Samus' Zero Suit.

* DisneyDeath:
** [[spoiler:Anthony Higgs.]]
** Also, possibly set up in a previous game unintentionally that takes effect in this game, [[spoiler:Phantoon.]]

* DroppedABridgeOnHim: The Deleter, to the point that his identity is never explicitly revealed, although it can be pieced together from the clues.

* FailureHero: Samus resolves none of the issues in the whole game.

* FetalPositionRebirth: Samus, during the opening cinematic of the game.
* FingerlessGloves: Samus' military uniform.

** [[spoiler:The Queen Metroid.]]
** In a fashion, [[spoiler:Melissa Bergman.]]

* {{Futureshadowing}}: Lots of it for ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion''.

* GhostShip: The setting.
* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: The bonus boss [[spoiler:Phantoon]].

** [[spoiler:The Queen Metroid's appearance brings up far more questions than answers, and make little to no sense when you encounter it.]]
* GlassCannon: Most bosses, who usually don't take many hits to go down, but can kill Samus with just a few of their own. Samus herself too.

* InnerMonologue: A large portion of Samus' lines are this.

* IronicEcho: [[spoiler:Anthony]]'s thumbs-down in the ending.
** [[spoiler:"Any objections, Adam?"]]

* JokerImmunity: Not just [[spoiler:Clone!Ridley]], but some of the other enemies in the game just won't stay down. [[spoiler:And considering the Ridley clone's doomed thanks to ''Fusion'', Phantoon's appearance may be hinting that he'll be replacing Ridley.]]

* MeaningfulEcho: [[TearJerker "No objections, right, Lady?"]]
** Also, Samus's "thumbs-down" in the above scene.

* TheMole: Also known as "The Deleter."

* OneHundredPercentCompletion: Unlocks hard mode. Or rather, ''harder'' mode.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Samus, for most of the game.

* PornStache: James Pierce.
* PoweredArmor: Samus, definitely; the Army, maybe, maybe not.
* PreMortemOneLiner: "Mother! Time to go..."

* RedShirtArmy: Surprisingly inverted in a way; [[spoiler:Most of the named soldiers die, we see none of the nameless ones die]].
** Played straight with regular enemies.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler:After the fight with Ridley, he's so scared of Samus he flies face-first through a wall trying to get away]].

* [[ShowDontTell Show, Don't Tell]]: Averted in the scene where [[spoiler:Adam dies.]] Samus is told that the [[spoiler:Metroids in Sector Zero are unfreezable,]] but we never see them, thanks to [[spoiler:Adam's HeroicSacrifice.]] The only two times that we ''do'' see them, they [[spoiler:''are'' freezable,]] for a different reason the [[NoControlGroup second]] [[AvertedTrope time]] than the first.
** There is a lot of exposition in this game.

* SoleSurvivor: [[spoiler:Anthony and Phantoon both qualify.]]
* StoryDifficultySetting: The unlockable "movie" mode, which shows the entire story without any gameplay.

* TransformationSequence: When Samus first puts on her power suit.

* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Poor Lyle Smithsonian hates bugs. Guess what has seemingly invaded the Bottle Ship?

* TheWormThatWalks: The first boss.

* [[WidgetSeries Widget Game]]: In comparison to other games in the Metroid series, with it's more anime-esque plot and Samus as a weaker, submissive character.

%%* CallBack: The sheer ''volume'' of call backs to classic Metroid games (and in a couple cases, a CallForward to ''Fusion'') will stun any long-time Metroid fan.

* SexSells: The [[http://media.tumblr.com/59ac4558d4dd14fbfca68ae558dd7ae9/tumblr_inline_mx95i96ZCK1r5618z.jpg redesign of the Zero Suit]] for Other M, which includes adding high heels that were [[http://media.tumblr.com/91f44318b45126781a6af76b0bf85a5d/tumblr_inline_mx95epDqug1r5618z.png specifically pointed out as impractical]] in the Zero Mission designs. Also, the removal of Samus' muscles.

** Many people have interpreted this as this game's version of Samus having an [[FreudianExcuse Electra Complex]]. A surprisingly large number of people both old and new fans still refer to Adam as being "Samus's ex boyfriend," [[CowboyBebopAtHisComputer even in reviews]].