Bounty hunter Samus Aran secretly runs across boundaries, beams a ray-gun, and once again protects the world from lawless villains seeking the powers of the Metroids.
Bounty hunter Samus Aran secretly runs across boundaries, beams a ray-gun, and once again protects the world from lawless villains seeking the powers of the Metroids.
This is undeniably the usual for game-players who have grown up side-by-side with the twelve Metroid games in the Nintendo series.
With the August release of Metroid: Other M, Nintendo proves the non-linear sequel has continued the series’ success. As one of the first games to feature a female hero, the game is a must-have for Wii players who are looking to enjoy a great story and plot. Since its beginning in 1986, Metroid is widely known for its sci-fi scenery and straightforwardness when it comes to killing strong enemies. As Metroid games were released throughout the years, major changes occurred with them. Metroid: The Other M is no exception.
Typically, Samus Aran was not talkative in any of the previous games. Running solo was the usual up until now. But in Metroid: the other M, Samus groups up with other characters to accomplish her missions. It is no longer the duty of one person, but a collective victory. This difference has left me with mixed feelings about my gaming experience because I was accustomed to Samus’s solo performances in previous games.
Another difference in this game is when Samus begins to show personality while revealing her history. For some game players, this may have changed their whole perception of Metroid, in which Samus never talked and did her missions independently. She was a mystery masked by her suit, which many players may have found more appealing. Though the vast changes behind Samus and her background were placed throughout the game, I found the background of characters more intriguing and therefore kept me playing the game. By understanding the motives behind Samus’s actions the ten hours of expected gameplay was more understandable for me in the long run.
Besides the story and concepts of the game, another issue at hand was the use of controls. The Wii itself forces game developers to adapt different remote control settings unlike other consoles. Because of this, Metroid: The Other M does face obstacles when shooting targets due to aiming the remote and the positioning the players need to be in. Usually Wii gamers use the nunchuk along with the main control, but the nunchuks are left out of the game, limiting some actions gamers have.
Regardless of the major differences between the installments in the Metroid series, the subtle traces of the preceding games were kept intact. The common music and somewhat gloomy scenery are still present throughout. In general, The Other M is an satisfactory game; it never lacks in entertainment.
Metroid is comparable with a whole host of other classics such as the Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Brothers. Outlasting most games, the transition from regular 2-D gameplay all the way to 3-D Wii-controlled interactions demonstrates the game has definitely progressed. Even though I found the story to be just acceptable in contrast to the whole Metroid series, the game is not by any means superb. From my perspective, the control aspects of the game were lacking. But in spite of that, the traditional aspects of the game were left intact and players have a fun game to look forward to.
Grade: B
Franklin Innovation Challenge returns: second annual contest
The Franklin Innovation Challenge, a contest for F&M students with innovative ideas, is preparing for its second annual competition.
Shadek stadium
Laurence Shadek ’72 and the Shadek Family Foundation will donate $5 million to the College to help build a new multi-purpose stadium that will be located on the north end of campus.
Sixers might actually be for real
It was many and many a year ago,
Wrestling focuses on youth, conditioning
This past Friday, the wrestling team fell to Columbia University, 32-12, at home at the Mayser Center.
Jon Salandra loves winning, dunking
“I love dunking,” said Salandra. “I’m not gonna lie. Dunking and winning.”
Squash teams on hot streak
As the days of January wind down, the victories for F&M’s women’s squash team keep on coming.
Swimming makes good use of break
Both the men’s and women’s swim teams have put in a lot of work for the rest of their 2011-2012 seasons.
Women's Basketball wins third straight
Triumph and success are the words to describe the women’s basketball team during the month of December, as teams like McDaniel, Gettysburg, Haverford, Randolph-Macon, and Scranton all lost to F&M.
Occupy Needs to Disperse, Reevaluate Objectives
It’s a scene straight out of Baghdad, Afghanistan, or Pakistan: The American flag, engulfed in flames, surrounded by angry protestors defaming the United States. For those who truly love this country, those images hurt a little.
To Flee From or Find Fruitfulness in Fly-By Fridays
Quite an interesting epidemic is sweeping our campus.
Hertsgaard Talks on Generation Hot
In the presentation of his book, HOT: Living Through the Next Fifty Years on Earth in the Bonchek Common Room on Wednesday, journalist Mark Hertsgaard discussed the current climate crisis, its future impacts, what he sees as the good news, and what actions we can take to combat its effects.
Crown Fried Chicken Provides Southern Comfort
People say that Pennsylvania consists of Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and Alabama in between. If that’s the case, and we are living in the otherwise called “Pennsyltucky,” then where’s the fried chicken?
Feminism in a Modern Context
The first Women’s Center Discussion of the semester took place last Friday. The topic was “I’m not a feminist, but...” and the participants reflected upon the various meanings associated with being a feminist.
Forni Discusses Civility on Campus
Dr. P.M. Forni, professor of Italian literature and co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project, spoke about the importance of good manners and respect during Common Hour, entitled “Choosing Civility on Campus and in Life.”
The Descendants Transcends Book
As January draws to a close, the buzz about who will take home the Oscars this year increases.
Five Movies to See This Semester
Five must see movies to see this semester:
Samson’s Provincial Offers Bright Side to Dark Winter
John K. Samson’s sophomore full-length Provincial perfectly suits this mild winter: soft yet up-beat, somber but hopeful—bright notes stick out in these melodies like blades of grass in melting snow (please refrain from envisioning brown grass for the sake of your figurative viewing pleasure).
Die Hard Should Be News to Noone
If you haven’t seen Die Hard by now you should say three Hail Marys and then rush to Netflix. It’s simply inexcusable. It’s one of those movies that forces you to describe other movies as being “Die Hard on a boat” or “Die Hard on a plane.” Directed by John McTiernan, it combines everything you’ve ever liked about an action film into 133 minutes of edge-of-your-seat thrills. If you like the action genre even a little bit then Die Hard is definitely a classic, and maybe even your favorite movie.Bruce Willis plays John McClane, an NYPD police officer traveling to Los Angeles to stay with his two little girls for Christmas Eve and hopefully patch up a rough spot in his marriage with his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia). McClane is too dedicated a cop to leave his city behind and start a new life with Holly after her major promotion sends her to L.A., but he makes the trip anyway to surprise her at her office, which is on the thirtieth floor of a massive state-of-the-art sky scraper. Unfortunately, he is not the only surprise, and, while washing up in the bathroom, he misses a group of machine-gun-toting German terrorists take everybody, including his wife, hostage. The shoeless hero takes to the air vents with a gun and his bad boy New York attitude to pick off the Fabio-looking thieves one by one while he attempts to crack the mystery behind the takeover.While the terrorists, led by Hans (Alan Rickman), try to break the computer codes to get into a vault holding six million dollars in bonds, McClane is able to get his hands on a radio transmitter and contact the outside world and, more importantly, desk-cop Al, played by Reginald Veljohnson. Unfortunately, the terrorists also have radio transmitters. This opens up a confession-like dialogue between hero McClane, head terrorist Hans, and former cop-in-the-field Al. This radio correspondence gives the viewer a sense of McClane’s humanity and vulnerability, but it also gives insight into Al’s crippling past–and most importantly Hans’ rapidly weakening plan. The fun is heightened because none of the characters know what the good guy or the bad guy looks like.People who see Die Hard for the first time now will say the same things: “Those were high-tech computers!?” “Look at the old-fashioned hair styles,” and “Isn’t that Snape?” Once you get used to the vintage 90s look and the fact that the good cop is Winslow from Family Matters, you’ll settle down and strap yourself in for the ride. Yes, the catchphrases might be a little cheesy, but they make each quick kill more fun and enjoyable. Plus, everything you want to happen will always happen. Machine guns rarely run out of ammo, the hero is always giving away his location and confronting terrorists, things go boom, tanks explode and people jump off skyscrapers tied to makeshift fire hose bungee cords. Die Hard is an essential action film, unlike the sequels that follow (Die Hard 2, Die Hard With a Vengeance, and Live Free or Die Hard). There are some anti-climactic cut-aways, but for the most part the movie packs punch after satisfying punch. If you call yourself a fan of the action genre then you have to see this movie. There are plenty of die-hard Die Hard fans out there who love watching it over and over again, quoting every line.
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Rick Santorum, 21st Century Puritan
If you’re one of the millions who have viewed the third Google hit under the search term “Rick Santorum,” you’ve probably laughed, sighed, or clicked the “like” button linked to Facebook. But whether or not you like him, Rick Santorum is still a contender in the Republican Presidential Primary.
Two New Restaurants in Pandini's
When students returned from winter break, they quickly discovered changes to the dining location in Steinman College Center.
New Cardio Equipment in the ASFC Contains Interactive Features
Over winter break the Athletic Department replaced the cardio equipment in the Alumni Sports and Fitness Center (ASFC) with new bikes, treadmills and ellipticals from the manufacturers Precor and Expresso.
Dining Options Fall Short
The first week of freshman year, the number of dining options so readily available seemed overwhelming.
Supreme Court Conservatism
“For a reporter covering the Supreme Court, this is not just a good year, it is a great year, a fabulous year, a genuinely historic year, but funny, it is not,” said National Public Radio’s legal affairs correspondent, Nina Totenberg, during Common Hour.
Weis House Implements New Recycling Program
Weis College House has new plans for “going green” and changing the recycling habits of its students this semester.
College chooses First Class of STEM Posse Scholars
Ten students from Miami have been chosen to take part in the College’s first Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Posse program, which is an extension of the Posse Scholarship.
Say Nope-A to SOPA
In the meantime of searching for the name of that song from the latest Twilight movie or Facebook stalking that guy or gal you recognize from class but can’t quite put your finger on from where, you might have found that suddenly—oh no, what is this?
Surviving Syllabus Week
As the first week of classes comes to a close, I find I am still scrambling for classes.
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette probably never said “Let them eat cake,” since the infamous jest, which is actually taken from Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions, was published when the disgraced Queen of France and Navarre was the nine-year-old Archduchess of Austria.
Romney's the Man
The 2012 Presidential election is in full swing.
Contraband Lacks Thrills
This January thriller doesn’t aim for the stars and neither did Baltasar Kormakur, director of Contraband.
