https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/lb_i.php?lb_id=13373815860B43920100&p=10
Author: Cut to Samus in an elevator. Samus monologues about how Adam stopped talking to her. Then she says... this: "From the Deleter's point of view, Adam would represent the largest threat."
I'll assume you know why that's stupid and move on.
Because Adam has the rank and legal pull to expose what the Ringleaders are doing?
Remember at the end? The Colonel could easily disregard Samus because she doesn't have any official status on her own. Adam on the other hand, is a General (which out ranks a Colonel).
So getting rid of Adam would be top priority.
Author: She introduces herself as "Madeline Bergman." Yes, for only in true hack writing would the only person to survive the destruction of a facility be its director.
Firstly, this isn't Madeline, it's MB posing as Madeline (why bring up something that clearly gets answered later?)
Secondly, MB was the one who was attacking the BOTTLE SHIP. Why would MB kill Madeline?
Author: Samus says some more obvious stuff, then wonders that Madeline set the facility to self destruct. Wait, when the hell did that happen? Did I miss a scene somewhere? What in the hell is she talking about? No, I didn't; I've seen the game all the way through several times, and never once does this happen.
She's referring to the Exam Center. Remember, it blew up earlier likely do to James killing Lyle to take his explosives. Lyle was the demolitions expert and he was sent to go to the Sector 1 first (where the Exam Center is), yet somehow James made it to the Exam Center first.
James was tampering with the computer when Samus showed up (which is why Maurice had to try and recover the data). James likely killed Lyle (to get his explosives) and left his body. Then Little Birdie started to eat Lyle which is why it looked like he was "a pile of rags" (earlier, Samus even said "some creatures use the powers of others to capture their prey." when she saw "Little Birdie" eating on the remains of the Kihunter hive that she destroyed. This was supposed to be set up for Lyle ALREADY being dead). We even see Little Birdie's husk next to Lyle, with a blood trail coming from his corpse (implying that Little Birdie ate enough to evolve into his lizard form).
Author: And this Ridley is a clone, without the knowledge of the previous one.
Firstly, "Ridley" wouldn't necessarily need the knowledge of the original to be a force that the Space Pirates could rally behind. Secondly, it's likely that Clone Ridley retains at least some sort of awareness from the original Ridley. This "Ridley" was seen to be fixated on Samus, following her around as Little Birdie, ignoring the other GF members to attack Samus in it's "Lizard" form (Mystery Creature), and finally, viscously attacking Samus as "Ridley".
Plus later, Smash 4's trophy description of the Mystery Creature, said this:
"What once was a cute little bird has changed into a lizard-like creature. It still has some white feathers from its previous form, but that's where the similarities end. Is there something in its blood that drives it to confront Samus whenever possible? Her parents were Ridley's victims, after all."
Author: Then Samus says that a "malicious force" would be needed, otherwise the Zebesians would just "follow their instincts." Wow. So, all this time, the Space Pirates have been nothing but mindless drones under the command of some "malicious force?"
The manga explained this first:
https://metroid.retropixel.net/features/comics/metroidmanga/chapter7/metroid_v1_ch7_05.jpg
Samus is saying that a "malicious force", such as Mother Brain, unifies the Space Pirates. Basically with guidance, they go from a bunch of bandits to a military force.
Also, in Prime 2, the Dark Pirate Trooper log says this:
"Pirate troopers, already trained to follow orders without question, were perfect candidates for Ing possession."
https://metroid.fandom.com/wiki/Dark_Pirate_Trooper
Author: Wait a second: the leader of the Pirates was supposed to be Ridley, yes? So wouldn't that be the "malicious force" in question? So what the hell is Samus going on about here. She knows that Ridley started this.
Mother Brain is the head of the Space Pirates, while Ridley (and Kraid for example) is a "General". Ridley is still under Mother Brain.
In the Super Metroid Comic, Ridley tells a Space Pirate:
"The Mother Brain can handle Samus... She is your leader!"
Page 3:
https://www.metroid-database.com/old_site/manga/?vid=1&cid=5#manga_top
In the manga, Grey Voice tells Ridley:
"What's wrong? My role is Commander, and I have command. All that's left is your duty, 'Leadership in battle'. I leave this matter to you!!"
https://metroid.retropixel.net/gallery.php?gallery_id=mga_mv2ch9&image_id=17
Author: So, Shitting on Metroid #7: for turning the main antagonists of the Prime trilogy, as well as a strong force in Zero Mission, into nothing more than mindless drones when Ridley isn't present. Oh, and if Ridley is needed... how do these mindless drones keep rebuilding/resurrecting him?
The Space Pirates have always had different factions. Even the Super Metroid manual makes a point of this by showing the "Zebesian Space Pirates" and the "Keyhunter Space Pirates":
https://metroid.retropixel.net/games/metroid3/manual/m3_19.jpg
Also, the Prime series likely doesn't have any Zebesian Space Pirates (hence why they look different and don't have "lobster pincers").
Pirate Data:
"Zebes has fallen. All ground personnel are presumed dead, either killed by the Hunter clad in metal or in the subsequent destruction of the underground facilities. Our research frigates Orpheon, Siriacus and Vol Paragom were in orbit at zero hour and managed to retreat. Frigate Orpheon is now docked at Vortex Outpost."
The Orpheon is the frigate that made it to Tallon IV, while both Siriacus and Vol Paragom are unaccounted for. I believe the Siriacus and the Vol Paragom had the Space Pirate factions from Prime 2 and 3 (hence why they all look different).
In a q&a for Prime 2, the developers said this about the Space Pirates:
QUESTION :
"Are these Space Pirates the same squad which Samus fought on Tallon IV? Or are they a different squad?"
ANSWER :
"They are a different squad."
In Prime 3, we are shown (one of) the Space Pirates' homeworlds (called Urtraghus in some unused Logbook entries. Also the Urtraghian Shriekbat found on the planet confirms this name).
So we have different factions of Space Pirates; the Zebesians, the Keyhunters, and the Urtraghians (also the ones from Prime 1&2 may be separate factions as well).
So it's possible that these factions have different levels of intellect and behavior patterns.
Another thing that supports that the Pirates from Prime 1 aren't Zebesians, is because in one of their capsules that contains a failed Elite Pirate, you can see a "lobster pincer" among the remains of the body parts. Implying that one of the early test subjects may have been a Zebesian Space Pirate (as the normal Elite Pirates don't have "lobster pincers").
https://metroid.fandom.com/wiki/High_Command
Also, the Samus and Joey manga shows a leader of the Space Pirates called "Dragud", and it describes him as the "Boss of the eight races of Space Pirates."
Page 4:
https://www.metroid-database.com/old_site/manga/?vid=7&cid=30#manga_top
The Samus and Joey manga depict various species as Space Pirates (all of which look different from those depicted in games).
Page 10:
https://www.metroid-database.com/old_site/manga/?vid=7&cid=30#manga_top
This turtle looking guy is also a Space Pirate:
Page 22:
https://www.metroid-database.com/old_site/manga/?vid=7&cid=31#manga_top
Samus and Joey also has (what looks like) a Zebesian Space Pirate.
Page 26:
https://www.metroid-database.com/old_site/manga/?vid=30&cid=146#manga_top
Even the Magazine Z manga shows differences between the Space Pirates.
The bottom left panel:
https://metroid.retropixel.net/gallery.php?gallery_id=mga_mv1ch7&image_id=3
Also:
https://metroid.retropixel.net/gallery.php?gallery_id=mga_mv1ch6&image_id=19
Plus later, Smash 4's trophy called "Zebesian", says this:
"This race forms the backbone of the evil Space Pirates, an organization plotting to take over the galaxy. Metroid: Other M features Cyborg Zebesians, bioweapons created through cloning and genetic manipulation of Zebesian DNA. These emotionless soldiers have none of the intelligence of the natural Zebesian race."
So Zebesians are the MAIN race within the Space Pirates (as they "form the backbone"), but they aren't the ONLY race. Also, this describes the Zebesians as intelligent, while the Cyborg Zebesians as emotionless and lack intelligence.
So the Zebesians in Other M aren't even normal Zebesians.
The Space Pirates keep rebuilding Ridley in the Prime series, because they have High Command telling them to.
Meta-Ridley Log:
"The reconstruction of geoform 187, code-named Ridley, was recently completed. After his defeat on Zebes, Command ordered a number of metagenetic improvements for him."
Author: The scientists apparently raised it as a pet. Why? Did they think some random crap they scrapped off Samus's suit and cloned would be kind and gentle?
These same scientists also thought it would be a good idea to clone Metroids and remove their one weakness, so I don't know if logic is among their highest qualities.
But regardless, Zebes also had friendly life-forms (the Dachora and Etecoons).
Author: Oh yeah, we then get a flashback to that scientist from Furby's room being killed by Furby. BTW, being killed by Furby is analogous to being killed by a chihuahua; yes, it's possible, but you really have to suck for it to happen.
A Chihuahua with a mouth that opens like a crocodile and has razor sharp teeth (plus a killer instinct).
But again, logic may not be what these scientists will be known for.
Author: Samus says that Mother Brain's telepathy would be needed to control Metroids. Um, what? They are animals; you can train animals as attack dogs.
The Space Pirates have been trying to train the Metroids, with no success.
Space Pirate Log:
"If they could be adequately tamed, we would have no need of a proper understanding of their metabolism."
Author: Also, this is the first we've heard about any such telepathy; where is this coming from?
In the manual for NES Metroid, it says that Mother Brain was controlling Ridley (this has since been retconned).
Also, in the manga Samus says that the life-forms on Zebes are trying to protect Mother Brain, and says that "This isn't the Zebes that I grew up on!" (implying that Mother Brain is influencing the life-forms).
http://metroid.retropixel.net/features/comics/metroidmanga/chapter15/metroid_v2_ch15_08.jpg
During the manga's depiction of the Zero Mission events, Mother Brain is "talking" to Samus (likely via telepathy) throughout her mission on Zebes (Samus also had a "link" of some kind with Grey Voice, where she could "hear" what Grey Voice was thinking).
https://metroid.retropixel.net/gallery.php?gallery_id=mga_mv2ch15&image_id=12
In Zero Mission, there is a moment that shows Mother Brain "looking" at Samus (this is likely Mother Brain using her telepathy to "see" Samus).
https://youtu.be/riV0496pS8E
In the Captain N comics, it says:
"...Except for the skill of their leader, Mother Brain! She could mentally control the creatures--and threatened to use them against the Federation!"
And it shows an image of Mother Brain controlling the Metroids:
Page 3:
https://www.metroid-database.com/old_site/manga/?vid=4&cid=21#manga_top
Author: Because they built an AI that replicated Mother Brain instead. Which is totally different from cloning.
Wait: how does that create telepathy? Wouldn't telepathy need some kind of special physical structure to work on? Why would an AI, a program, be able to generate telepathy?
It's fictional. Telepathy has been depicted many different ways.
The original Mother Brain was an AI, yet it had telepathy.
Also, in Prime Hunters, the Alimbic did something similar:
"History 10
Through science and technology we increased our already formidable mental skills. Significant advances were made in the areas of telepathy, telekinesis, and extradimensional exploration."
Plus, the Federation had worked with the Chozo (in some capacity) to share data with each other (kind of how the Aurora Units worked on Elysia).
In the manga, Mother Brain states:
"The Chozo saw the need to accelerate their plan to link the galaxy into one unified society, and decided to consolidate their data with that of the Federation. And so, I was born."
http://metroid.retropixel.net/gallery.php?gallery_id=mga_mv1ch7&image_id=8
The Aurora Units were first made 20 years prior to the events of Prime 3, and they have a lot in common with Mother Brain (both functionally and visually). So it's likely that the Federation got this technology via Chozo data.
This is a Sky Town log:
"The treaty brought with us new supplies, fuel, and parts from the Federation. In return, we allowed them to use Elysia Station as they saw fit. They were glad to use the station's powerful scientific systems, and gleaned a great deal of knowledge from our databanks. Unfortunately, the harsh atmosphere of our world was dangerous for the Federation researchers. They proposed to replace the humanoids with a single artificial intelligence unit, which they called Aurora."
https://metroid.fandom.com/wiki/SkyTown_Data
In some trailers for Prime 3, the Aurora Units were shown via blueprints that were very similar to Mother Brain and Tourian:
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/5/5a/Aurora242.png/revision/latest?cb=20140911071217
For comparison:
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/9/95/Mother_Brain_chamber_%28M1%29.png/revision/latest?cb=20140118053356
Also:
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/7/75/Mother_Brain_chamber_%28SM%29.png/revision/latest?cb=20140118053357
So I'm pretty sure that the AUs were meant to be the Federation's first step towards a Mother Brain-like system. And they made them 20+ years ago by the time of Other M. So them figuring out telepathy within that time doesn't seem like too much of a stretch.
Author: Samus asks where the Metroids are being stored. Madeline says that they're in Sector Zero, a place that doesn't appear on their maps. Why not? The BOTTLE SHIP is a top-secret facility, presumably run by a rogue branch of the GF. Do they need to keep secrets from themselves?
Because the Metroids are their number one asset. If things went bad (like the BOTTLE SHIP being investigated), they would rather them find things like the Space Pirate clones (or the other random clones), instead of finding the Metroids. They sent in a Deleter to ensure the Metroids wouldn't be found.
Also, the Metroid facility in Fusion wasn't on the map, and the area was labeled as "Restricted Zone". The computer even tells Samus that the Security Rooms weren't on the map "per safety protocols".
Author: Samus suspects that the GF's plan was to take Sector Zero and destroy the rest of the facility. But Adam showed up first. Um, how, why? We still never figured out why he came besides a distress call.
Adam came because of the Bio-weapon report. The distress call was simply an easy way to get on site to investigate.
Author: Samus figures that the Deleter was inserted into his unit to keep things quiet. Though why they couldn't just send a squad of commandos in to frag Adam's unit, take the Metroids, and do whatever is not answered.
Because if an entire squad of commandos was sent to investigate a simple distress call, it would cause suspicion (hence why they instead opted to plant a mole within Adam's unit to handle the situation quietly).
Page 11
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/lb_i.php?lb_id=13373815860B43920100&p=11
Author: This one shot is enough to completely destabilize her power suit, as well as do damage directly to Samus herself, as she collapses to the ground.
It's not just the shot, it's the shot coupled with her state of mind.
In the Super Metroid comic, after Samus had been badly injured (from a trap on Zebes), Old Bird said:
"The suit is something that only Samus can wear. It's like a second skin. It wouldn't work the same way if someone else were to wear it."
"She must not have been focused. Her mind must have been somewhere else. The suit is part of her, if she doesn't sense danger, it won't protect her."
"She must have been distracted by thoughts of... The abduction of the Metroid Hatchling."
Page 4:
https://www.metroid-database.com/old_site/manga/?vid=1&cid=4
Mother Brain from the manga:
"The Power Suit originates in your genetic information. It will not appear if you have negative emotions."
Page 9:
https://www.metroid-database.com/old_site/manga/?vid=11&cid=38#manga_top
Author: Cut to an external view of the ship. We see what look like flaps or wings or something unfolding from the rear of the BOTTLE SHIP. Well, that was pointless; next scene.
It was showing that the BOTTLE SHIP is continuing to make its way to GF HQ (implying that time is of the essence).
Author: He then says that genociding them was the right call. Despite Super Metroid telling us that Metroids could make for a strong power source.
A power source that the Space Pirates have constantly been trying to tap into and use for their own purpose.
Prime 1 Pirate Log:
"Furthermore, if we could then harvest the energy they'd consumed, we would have a near-limitless source of power at our disposal."
Author: Well, I hope the Deleter's not around while Samus's suit is on the fritz, or Adam will have just gotten her killed, won't he?
Adam says "You should be completely healed soon." So even IF the Deleter would do something dumb like trying to attack Samus (because that worked out soo well when The Deleter had a "mech" to help him fight Samus), she would be fully healed in time to fight him.
Author: It has been speculated that Samus magically knew that Adam shot her, and thus her suit deactivates because she lost her will now that Adam's turned against her. Sorry; not buying it. Why? Because even if Samus's suit deactivated from that, it would be after the shot hit. Her actual body wouldn't sustain damage from it.
"The suit is something that only Samus can wear. It's like a second skin. It wouldn't work the same way if someone else were to wear it."
"She must not have been focused. Her mind must have been somewhere else. The suit is part of her, if she doesn't sense danger, it won't protect her."
"She must have been distracted by thoughts of... The abduction of the Metroid Hatchling."
Author: Also, great engineering there, Chozo: making the suit deactivate when a simple freeze gun is employed. That's wonderful suit design guys.
Again, it wasn't just the Freeze Gun, but even if it were, the Power Suit still held up way better than the GF power suits (that froze their entire body and killed them in a single shot).
Author: Also, I wonder why a single shot with ice missiles didn't work on SA-X in Fusion? Maybe because that game was made by people who weren't blithering idiots and incompetents.
Because the SA-X isn't connected to the Power Suit like Samus is.
Yoshio Sakamoto was the Writer and Director on both Fusion and Other M.
Takayasu Morisawa was a Background Graphic Designer for Fusion and the Art Director for Other M.
Takehiko Hosokawa was the Co-Director on both Fusion and Other M (he was also the Game Designer on Fusion).
Fumiko Miyamoto was a Background Graphic Designer for Fusion and she was a Concept Artist for Other M.
Chiharu Sakiyama was a Graphic Designer on Fusion and did artwork for Other M.
Katsuya Yamano was the Program Director for Fusion and was in charge of Project Management for Other M.
Ryuichi Nakada was a Course Designer on Fusion and was credited as Special Thanks in Other M.
The Localization Management for both Fusion and Other M was handled by Jeff Miller and Leslie Swan.
The Localization for both Fusion and Other M was done by Scot Ritchey and Nate Bihldorff.
(Super Mario Club even did the Debug for both games.)
Author: There are only two games in the entire franchise where freezing Metroids is absolutely required: Metroid 1 and Zero Mission. You could technically lump Metroid II into this, as the baseline Metroids still need the ice beam to die, but most of the Metroids in that game aren't baseline. In Super Metroid, you can kill any Metroid with a series of Power Bombs. Not the most elegant solution, but it does work. Also, "the baby" was invulnerable to ice (and Power Bombs), but Mother Brain still managed to kill it. Missiles are good enough in the Prime games.
Let's not forget Fusion. The ONLY Metroid you fight in that game (the Omega) requires Ice Beam, which actively retcons Metroid II not needing Ice Beam (Samus Returns later followed up on this retcon, by making all evolved Metroids be vulnerable to Ice Beam).
In Prime, Tallon Metroids are weaker (due to the environment), so them not needing Ice Beam has an in-universe explanation (but Ice Beam still makes them easier to kill).
Super Metroid requires 3 Power Bombs, which isn't the best solution when you are being swarmed by Metroids.
Author: By all rights, we should be following the Super Metroid rules: if you hit them with big explosives, they will eventually die. But no; this game treats unfreezable Metroids as though they're indestructible.
In Super Metroid, trying to get off 3 Power Bombs before you get swarmed (by like 5 Metroids), isn't the most practical solution. Imagine trying to do that with potentially hundreds of Metroids swarming you. Keep in mind, these Metroids would be unfreezable, meaning you can't freeze some to keep them at bay so you can unload a series of Power Bombs.
Prime 1 even talked about the dangers of unfreezable Metroids in a Space Pirate Log:
"A small force of disciplined Metroids could wipe out entire armies, and once we find a way to shield them from cold-containment weapons, they will be invincible."
Author: Now we move on to Adam's "plan". His plan is to go into Sector Zero and blow shit up until it detaches. Um, Adam... you have a ship. A ship with guns on it. Why don't you launch your ship, fly around to where Sector Zero is, and shoot it from the back until it detaches.
The BOTTLE SHIP is on an intercept course with GF HQ, and one of the Ringleaders (the Colonel at the end) is already on his way to the BOTTLE SHIP ahead of schedule. Anthony says "you guys made it here quick!" implying the Colonel shouldn't have been able to get there so quick, unless he already knew what was going on. Meaning, shortly after Anthony "hit the breaks" (during the Queen fight) the Colonel docked with the BOTTLE SHIP.
Adam wouldn't have had much time (roughly 20 minutes) to tell Samus what was going on (he would have to tell her in person because he didn't have his comms anymore), backtrack all the way from Sector Zero to the Docking Bay, then fly to Sector Zero and blow it up before the Colonel got there.
Also, blowing up Sector Zero from the outside would be a lot harder than from the inside. From the inside, you just need to do enough internal damage to cause the unit to detach. As where from the outside, you have to shoot through the hull of the station with enough force to damage it, but not enough to make it explode. The goal isn't to blow up the unit, the goal is to cause enough damage so that it would detach and the rest of the station wouldn't blow up with it.
So given that Adam knows that the station is already on an intercept course for GF HQ, and he is already at Sector Zero with a means of ending the Metroid threat, I think he wouldn't risk an alternate plan. Everything is already in place, all he has to do is walk into Sector Zero and open fire. Plus, with "Madeline" (MB) being an unknown factor and someone that Adam doesn't trust, I don't see why he would take a chance on an alternate plan with so many variables.
Author: And don't tell me that Adam doesn't have explosives or something.
All members of the 07th Platoon were equipped with a Freeze Gun and a Submachine Gun. Anthony also had a Plasma Gun, while Adam and Lyle had an assault rifle. Lyle was also the one who carried explosives, as he was the demolition expert. Adam's assault rifle was equipped with a grenade launcher (which is what he used in Sector Zero).
In Prime 3, they even make a point of needing to keep (at least) 4 Demolition Troopers alive in order to blow open a path to the Seed.
Author: If they forgot to bring explosives with them in their dropship, I'm sure they could rig something up with its engines or fuel or something. Failing that, I'm pretty sure that they could find something explosive lying around on the ship.
Again, that is time that they simply do not have. Going all the way back to Adam's ship to gather explosives, then making their way back to Sector Zero within a short time frame (plus other variables) wouldn't be a reasonable alternative.
Author: Now, you might say that Sector Zero is crawling with unfreezable Metroids, so you can't go in there to plant explosives. Well, if that's true, then here's what will happen in Adam's plan. Adam will open the inner airlock door to Sector Zero, a half-dozen unfreezable Metroids will enter the room, and he will be a corpse in a few seconds. Which means that the only place he can damage is the airlock area.
Once the unit lost power from the damage it sustained, all of the contained Metroids could break out. Like how in Prime 1, the Metroids are contained in capsules, but when power is lost, they can easily break out (or in Fusion when the SA-X is shooting up the Metroid facility and the Metroids break out and attack the SA-X). By the time the unit has sustained enough damage, it would have triggered the BOTTLE SHIP's safety protocol and jettisoned the unit.
Author: If damage to the airlock area alone is sufficient to trigger the self-destruct (which makes sense), then you could just drop the explosives there. Put them in the airlock, set the fuse for 1 minute, exit, and open the inner doors. Problem solved.
Adam went beyond the airlock and into the unit itself. Damage to the airlock only, wouldn't be enough. It would either have an emergency lockdown to seal Sector Zero off from the rest of the BOTTLE SHIP (like how Samus had to out run the BOTTLE SHIP from sealing off the Sector after it exploded), or it would simply jettison the unit intact, in hopes of the Ringleaders recovering it later.
The goal was to destroy the Metroids, not make it so they could be recovered later.
Page 12
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/lb_i.php?lb_id=13373815860B43920100&p=12
Author: So, Adam's sitting in his booth, watching Samus talk to Madeline. He sees Samus heading to Sector Zero, but for whatever reason is unable to contact her.
When Adam had his encounter with the Deleter, Adam's comms was knocked out.
Author: He shoots Samus. First! He ignores the Metroid that he's not sure he can deal with in order to make sure that Samus is stopped.
Along with his Freeze Gun, Adam has a Submachine Gun and an assault rifle that is equipped with a grenade launcher. So EVEN IF his guess is wrong, that the Infant would still be vulnerable to cold, he would be well equipped to handle a single Infant Metroid (both Infant Tallon Metroids and Miniroids (which are basically Infant Phazon Metroids) are quite easy to kill).
Author: Adam knows that an assassin is walking the halls. But he still shoots Samus with his Mary Sue Cannon of Disabling +12. This knocks out her armor... when he knows there's an assassin around. He has just given the Deleter his best chance of taking out Samus
Adam has already encountered The Deleter, and survived, so while Samus is out, Adam should have no problem defending her against The Deleter. That's also if The Deleter happens to make his way to Sector Zero before Samus has recovered (which he doesn't). James was first working his way to Madeline (the real Madeline) to "delete" her (hence why he didn't attack MB while Samus was with her).
Author: And then there's the decision to shoot her at all. Adam makes absolutely no effort to discuss this with Samus like two rational adults.
Adam HAD to shoot Samus first. Otherwise, Samus would be at full strength and would sacrifice herself in his place. Even AFTER Adam explained the situation and told her that he was expendable, Samus STILL tried to go in his place.
Author: No discussion, but what about orders? Nope, he didn't even bother to just give her orders; he went straight to the gunshot.
Orders that she would have the power to ignore.
Author: Even though Samus has shown herself to be completely loyal to him at all times in this game. Even though Samus has done everything he said. Even though Samus responded appropriately to just his death glare on their first meeting. Even though Samus ran through an active volcano without her Varia simply because he hadn't told her to turn it on.
Lives weren't at stake then. In regards to the Ian situation, Samus even says "If something like that happened again, I would hold fast to that glimmer of hope and try for redemption. That's who I am." Adam knows why Samus left, Adam knows who she is, Adam knows that she, not only could try to stop him, but would.
In the manga, Samus was on a recon mission, along with Mauk and Kreatz, when they find a group of Space Pirates using slaves to build for them. This includes kids, and if these kids aren't tall enough, the Space Pirates kill them for fun. Samus sees this and decides to step in, which prompts Kreatz to say:
"Oh man- she started a firefight- we're disobeying orders and we'll have to write an apology.
https://metroid.retropixel.net/gallery.php?gallery_id=mga_mv1ch3&image_id=21
Also, in the manga, when Zebes is under attack and Samus isn't allowed to go, Adam says:
"So you're following you're personal emotions and abandoning your duty..."
https://metroid.retropixel.net/gallery.php?gallery_id=mga_mv1ch5&image_id=15
So Samus is willing to put up with orders, but NOT when lives are at stake.
Later in the manga, Grey Voice says:
"Furthermore, if you are to believe Mother's data, Samus is a lone wolf operative that frequently disobeys orders."
https://metroid.retropixel.net/gallery.php?gallery_id=mga_mv2ch9&image_id=15
Also in Fusion, Samus says:
"Following the commands of this blunt, computerized CO is something I have to bear, as it was a condition of my taking the ship. For someone who dislikes taking orders, this is the second time I've found myself having to do so."
Author: Oh yeah, she seems totally like the kind of person who'd rebel.
Maybe that's why she's on the run from the Federation after Fusion?
After she disobeyed orders (at the end of the game), Samus says:
"They will hold tribunals and investigations. They will hold us respondsible."
Author: Now, you might point out that she did in fact try to stop him, though the scene is still rather ambiguous as to what she's doing. OK, well, he has his Mary Sue Cannon of Disabling +12; if she tries to keep going, shoot her then.
Samus was distracted by the Infant Metroid when Adam shot her, he won't get that chance when she's on guard. Why would she not be ready for Adam trying to stop her? That was Adam's one chance, and he took it.
Author: When she wakes up next to Adam, she immediately assumes he did it. She doesn't even consider the possibility that the Deleter got to her and Adam simply made the save in the nick of time.
Because she saw the Infant Metroid get killed BEFORE she went unconscious. The Deleter simply would have let the Infant kill her.
Author: And here's the thing: we never find out if he's right. There is never any definitive proof of unfreezable Metroids; nobody who actually knows the truth ever says it
Samus recaps what Madeline told her about the Queen and unfreezable Metroids, she says:
"At the same time, they were conducting genetic-manipulation experiments to create unfreezable Metroids. Apparently, the queen I met earlier was the first of these propagated Metroids to mature. They wanted to preserve her as a control specimen, so they left her genes unaltered."
Samus isn't just coming up with this out of nowhere, Madeline is telling her this, and we are hearing it from Samus.
Adam knows that they wanted to create bio-weapons (he was given the report that they later co-opted) He even tells Samus that the Federation wouldn't make a weapon with a flaw (hence why he believed they removed the weakness to cold).
Also, the Gigafraug is proof. They specifically set that scene up to make Samus wonder how a Metroid could do this in a cold environment (which by the way, Adam is also aware of this, he saw the corpse along with Samus).
Author: And then there's that Metroid report. He wrote it, which means he came to the BOTTLE SHIP knowing that they were conducting illegal bioweapon experiments. Hell, how exactly do you get commissioned to investigate doing something illegal anyway?
He wasn't commissioned to investigate something illegal. There was a distress call coming from the BOTTLE SHIP, Adam used this as an opportunity to investigate what he feared to be true (hence why he went in person).
Author: So why didn't he tell anybody about that? I know he has that whole "outsider" think with Samus, but his men seemed rather unaware of the whole thing.
Because he can only tell them what the "official" mission is. Chain of command and what not.
Author: And if you think you're going after Metroids, why would you take only a 6 man team?
Again, the "official" mission was just for a distress call, it would cause suspicion if Adam requested more men than what is necessary for "just a distress call". The Ringleaders already knew what was going on, hence why they placed a traitor on Adam's team.
Author: If he knew that there was this rogue group within the GF, Adam should have suspected that they wouldn't just let him walk off with the secrets and expose them. He should have at least checked the backgrounds of his men for an assassin.
(MCU related spoilers) [That worked out great for S.H.I.E.L.D. when they found out that HYDRA had been secretly working within their ranks for 70+ years.]
I'm sure James had "Assassin" written right under "Traitor" in his resume.
Author: Also, if he knew about the illegal bioweapon research on the ship, why not, you know, contact the authorities?They can't all be corrupt.
It doesn't matter if they are ALL corrupt, all it takes is ONE.
(MCU related spoilers) [Alexander Pierce was part of the World Security Council (at that time, he was only member that was HYDRA) and when Fury tried to investigate Project Insight, Pierce ordered him to be killed.]
Author: The confusing bit is this: as the author of the Metroid report, he ought to have at least a passing familiarity with the station and its director. Granted, it was just one report, but he could probably remember that Madeline was a redhead.
Adam was requested to write a report about the use of Bio-weapons, he explained why this shouldn't be done and HQ listened to him. The "small group" took Adam's report and used it for the own purposes.
Adam's report had NOTHING to do with the BOTTLE SHIP nor the crew involved.
Adam didn't even know who Madeline was until Maurice read the file with her name on it.
Later when Samus met "Madeline", Adam was reading the files about the BOTTLE SHIP and he knew that she wasn't being truthful with Samus (it's why he warms Samus that Madeline is "no ally").
Samus is having a moment of reflection. This is the first Infant Metroid she's come across since the Baby sacrificed itself for her. They show a flashback to when Samus first found the Baby on SR-388 to emphasize the emotional state she's in and why she is reluctant to shoot at first.
This isn't about Samus's courage, this is a personal moment for her. She's not afraid of the Infant Metroid, she's simply having a lot of emotions flood in.
Author: And then she gets shot. The most badass being in all of the Metroid continuity, someone who's personally killed a 30 foot dragon 6 times, who's annihilated species and entire worlds, gets taken out in one shot.
Firstly, the "single shot" she gets taken out with, was able to kill the other Federation members with one shot (while they were wearing a GF power suit), so Samus's Power Suit held up well comparatively (all it did was freeze her suit from the base of her helmet, down to the top of her hips, rather than freeze her whole body and kill her). In Prime 1, a shockwave from an explosion knocks Samus's backside into a wall, which disabled all but her suit's base functions. Remember in Prime 3, when Dark Samus "one shots" Samus (and the other bounty hunters), and Samus is out for an entire month (the other bounty hunters recovered before she did).
Secondly, it wasn't JUST the Freeze Gun shot that was causing her suit to malfunction, it was her state of mind. Samus was focusing on the Infant Metroid which caused her mental state to be weakened.
Again, in the Super Metroid comic, Old Bird says:
"The suit is something that only Samus can wear. It's like a second skin. It wouldn't work the same way if someone else were to wear it."
"She must not have been focused. Her mind must have been somewhere else. The suit is part of her, if she doesn't sense danger, it won't protect her."
"She must have been distracted by thoughts of... The abduction of the Metroid Hatchling."
Author: Like with the PTSD thing, it doesn't matter what kind of rationalizations you give to this; it's still complete bullshit from a character perspective. It completely destroys her credibility as a badass. It's one thing to have a powerful hero who has vulnerabilities; it's quite another when a powerful hero is shown to simply not be powerful. It would be like Superman getting taken out with a regular bullet, no Kryptonite around or anything.
This has nothing to do with Samus being powerful or not. If Superman were to be brought to his knees because Lois was just killed, it doesn't make him "weak". Having an emotional reaction does not mean someone isn't "powerful" (especially someone like Samus who has carried around trauma her whole life).
Author: What's more, by doing this Adam robs Samus of all agency whatsoever. From the moment she gets shot, she becomes a non-entity in this cutscene. She's passive, weak, helpless, barely able to stand, can't even make her power armor work, and so forth. She does nothing but sit there in that skin-tight suit and pant breathlessly for 10 minutes while Adam walks off to be the hero.
That's the point, Samus is helpless to do anything, yet she still tries.
Adam didn't "rob" Samus of anything. This was never meant to be her moment.
Fusion set this up:
Computer: "...Who is Adam?"
Samus: "...A friend of mine."
Computer: "And what would this...friend advise you to do now?"
Samus: "He would know that the only way to end this is to start the self-destruct cycle. He'd know how important it is..."
Computer: "Did this "Adam" care for you? Would he sit in a safe Command Room and order you to die?"
Samus: "He would understand that some must live and some must die...He knew what it meant. He made that sacrifice once."
Computer: "So, he chose life for you? Our fair warrior, Samus Aran...Your Adam gave his life so that you might keep yours...For the sake of the universe... How foolish."
Also, Adam had to tell Samus about the Federation Ringleaders, because after he was gone, Samus would be the only one to know the truth.
Fusion also set this up:
Computer: "As you can see, the Federation has been secretly working on a Metroid breeding program. For peaceful application only, of course. Please understand. But perhaps you already knew of this program's existence?"
Author: In Other M, that doesn't happen here; there's no contrast, no character growth. So why the flashback; why have the Ian scene at all? Well, consider what the flashback does here: it emphasizes the lack of character growth. It says, in as strong and certain a way as possible, "You were wrong when you were a girl, and you're wrong now." And that's absolutely devastating to do to the protagonist of the work. You do not have a flashback to remind us of previous failures just to highlight that the protagonist has failed yet again and has therefore learned nothing from their prior experience.
Samus's growth isn't about what she does DURING the Ian scene, it's about what she does AFTER the Ian scene.
In the Ian situation, Samus left Adam because of the decision he made, even though she knew it was hopeless (hence why she saw herself as "young and naive"). Samus says:
"If something like that happened again, I would hold fast to that glimmer of hope and try for redemption. That's who I am."
Even in the face of a hopeless situation, Samus still tries to hold on to that glimmer of hope, because "That's who I am."
Even in Fusion (set after Other M) Samus was willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of the universe (Other M is staying consistent with her character in Fusion).
Her character growth IS NOT about her changing how she would handle the situation, it's about how she deals with the aftermath.
After Adam sacrifices himself, Samus says "Leave the rest to me". She isn't bitter about how Adam handled a hopeless situation (like she was when she was "young and naive"), she instead accepts Adam's decision, and carries his torch to the finish line.
Samus even gives Adam a thumbs up at the end of the game (for the first time).
Page 13
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Author: Now, it's important to understand something. The Queen was the final boss of Metroid II. And Fusion pretty much stated that you don't get higher forms of Metroids (Alphas, Zetas, etc, the ones from Metroid II) simply by raising Metroids. You have to raise Metroids on SR-388, or a similar enough environment, to get these kinds of things. This also jives with what Corruption said about Metroids. So how in the hell is a Queen here?
The computer that Maurice is using at the Exam Center, says this:
"The terraforming capsule colony designated as BOTTLE SHIP is currently under the administration of the Galactic Federation. The ship supports animal specimens from various [text cut off] the purpose of biological-weapon research. There were originally two other BOTTLE SHIP, designed for use by interplanetary colonists by the Space Development Corporation. After long years of use, the first two ships were retired, and the remaining ship was given to the Galactic Federation. After extensive refitting, the ship was made able to sustain three distinct closed habitats, each designed to preserve various specimens collected from different planets for research and development in military-technology applications."
Meaning they didn't ONLY replicate Zebes' environment on the BOTTLE SHIP (the same is true for the B.S.L. Station in Fusion, as they have life-forms from Zebes, and ONLY Sector 1 was made to replicate SR-388's environment).
Author: Equally importantly, without the context of Metroid II, then the Queen simply doesn't make sense. She's supposed to be a Metroid Queen, but she has no apparent morphological similarities to Metroids.
Aside from the fact that the Queen comes from a room that was filled with Metroid eggs (Samus even says "Metroid eggs?! It can't be!" then out walks the Queen).
And DURING the fight, the Queen unleashes Metroids to fight Samus.
Author: The thing is, Metroid II actually did a damn good job of showing the morphological stages from the standard Metroid all the way up through Queens. You could see how each stage was a modification of the last, kind of like an evolutionary morphology. We don't get that here; all we see is the first form and the finished product
Kind of like Metroid Prime (the creature)? You only see a Metroid, then jump straight to Metroid Prime (showing no in-between stages).
With the Queen, at least they had a PREVIOUS game establish what the Queen was. They even had a promotional video that recapped every game leading up to the events of Other M (aside from Prime):
https://youtu.be/2kKAaMmDhu0
Plus, after the fight, Madeline tells you about the Queen.
Even Other M's manual (which is packaged with the game) talks about the Queen from Metroid II:
"I had gone to planet SR388 to destroy the Metroids. After a deadly struggle I managed to defeat the Queen Metroid"
https://metroid.retropixel.net/gallery.php?gallery_id=metroidom_manual&image_id=4
Author: Adding to this is the fact that this 3D version is missing a prominent feature of Metroids: the red triangular/tetrahedral organ structure in the middle. All of the Metroid II Metroid forms had this structure, to help identify them as Metroids. In part because of the viewing angle and in part because of the terrible modeling, the organs just aren't clearly visible. The underbelly, where the Metroid gel sac is, is virtually opaque and supported by "ribs," unlike the 2D version.
So this:
https://cdn.gamer-network.net/2017/usgamer/Metroid-2-Shot-04.png
And this:
https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_super/11131/111313332/6025410-8412107115-latest
Are too different to recognize?
Author: What this all means is ultimately that figuring out that this is a Metroid is not the easiest thing in the world.
Yes, the game tells you it's the Queen Metroid. But if someone told you an elephant was a breed of dog, you probably wouldn't believe them.
The game shows you every stage of Ridley's evolution, yet for some reason "it doesn't make sense".
When the game doesn't show you every stage of a Metroid's evolution (something that HAS been seen before), and the game goes into detail that this is a Queen Metroid (plus the set up of Metroid eggs prior to the battle), it somehow isn't believable that this is a Queen.
???
Author: But of course, the real question is why is a Queen Metroid in this game? What purpose does it serve for the story? What does this battle mean in the context of the larger work?
Not. One. Damn. Thing.
There is no emotional attachment to the Queen Metroid. It has no character purpose in the story; it doesn't enhance anyone's character, nor does it have any affect on a character. It serves no purpose to the plot; its presence here will be briefly mentioned later, but ultimately it is meaningless to anything.
Meaningless? The entire plot for the unfreezable Metroids relies on the Federation having a Queen. They can't mass produce Metroids without a Queen to keep pumping them out (especially since they need a mass supply in order to keep experimenting until they break the code for unfreezable Metroids).
Also, it fits nicely with what Fusion established. We are shown that the Federation have an entire sector filled with Metroids, and we are shown they have every stage of the evolution EXCEPT for a Queen. Now we know they had a Queen.
Author: then a voice announces that the BOTTLE SHIP will reach "Galactic Federation orbit in approximately 30 seconds." Um, the Galactic Federation is not really something you can orbit. Unless you're going into orbit around the galactic core. Which is not particularly difficult, since sitting "still" will do that.
It's meaning the station is going to be within orbit of the planet that GF HQ resides on.
This is shown at the end of the game. You can see the GF planet, with the BOTTLE SHIP very close by.
Timestamp: 1:46:17
https://youtu.be/eG_terAuBBg
Author: The direction is trying to make this fight seem epic, but it just can't. Because the monster has no reason to be here other than the fact that it's a mother, it just doesn't work. It has no personal connection to Samus. It has no connection to the plot. So the moment is completely without any sense of gravitas or weight; it's just a big dragon she has to slay.
It has no personal connection to Samus? The Queen is THE BABY that was cloned. They specifically say that the Queen was the FIRST of the Metroids to develop into a Queen. Meaning, this is basically an "evil" version of the Baby.
Author: If the Deleter existed to make the story more complex, why is he never captured? Why is it that he dies off-screen and nobody ever mentions him again? Why is his identity completely irrelevant? Why doesn't Samus get to try to protect anyone but Madeline from the Deleter? Why doesn't Samus at least get to confront him?
Because the Deleter is a red herring. MB is the actual threat (which is why she kills the Deleter). MB even uses the Deleter as a way to gain Samus's trust. Who the Deleter was is unimportant, he is just a pawn in the greater scheme of things.
Author: And speaking of things that Samus doesn't get to confront, let's get to Ridley. He appeared, Samus freaked out, and Anthony was killed. This was her most spectacular failure in the game. Adam even personally asked her to kill Ridley as basically his last request. Yet despite all of that, there's no epic rematch, no chance of redemption for Samus. Why not?
Because Samus toasted Ridley in her first battle. He was barely hanging on to life, when the Queen showed up and finished him off. Samus has already killed Ridley for good (in Super Metroid). This "Ridley" was used as set up for Samus facing the Queen (as his corpse was drained in the way a Metroid would).
The Queen is Samus's ACTUAL final battle (instead of Ridley). The Baby is what "led" her to the BOTTLE SHIP, and now she has to face off against it.
Page 14
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Author: So after killing the Queen, we see the redhead from before leave her now open door and run off. Wait. Adam justified the whole "authorization" gimmick on the basis of power bombs. He said that they could go through many materials and killed people instantly. And yet, here's the redhead, who wasn't particularly far from a power bomb detonation.
Samus detonated the Power Bomb while inside the Queen, which may would have weakened the blast radius.
Besides, they were fighting in a pretty sizable room.
In the 2D games, a Power Bomb's blast radius is whatever is on screen. If something doesn't fit on screen (even if it's in the same room), it won't get affected.
In the Prime games, a Power Bomb's radius can be seen on screen. In a big room (comparable in size to the Queen battle), the radius covers maybe half of the room.
Timestamp: 5:17
https://youtu.be/jc9Xoc_0vPY
Author: So Madeline interrupts Samus's narration by telling us that MB was originally designed just to control the Space Pirates. Because obviously they needed that; they're not a sentient species. And slavery is just fine with the GF, right?
The Ringleaders are doing this, not the Federation as a whole. So yeah, bad people do bad things.
Author: Or maybe there's no such thing as unfreezable Metroids and Adam was talking out of his ass! Remember: this is not Madeline confirming any of this; this is just Samus pulling shit directly out of her ass.
Madeline is explaining EVERYTHING regarding the Queen, the unfreezable Metroids, and MB, we are simply hearing it via Samus.
Author: For more ass-talking, Samus talks about how it requires special DNA to become a Queen. Except... these Metroids are all clones of the same Metroid (except for those that were genetically modified). So why would only one turn into a Queen? Also, insect Queens don't work that way.
The Queen was the FIRST Metroid to propagate, the rest came from the Queen reproducing more. We've only ever seen one Queen at a time, there is nothing to suggest that other Metroids would even turn into a Queen if there is already a Queen present.
Also, what does insect Queens have to do with how a fictional species works?
Author: MB calls out to her, but one of the men says that they have orders from above. Excuse me? Madeline Bergman is the director of the facility. At the very least, she should have been informed of the decision to reprogram the android that can control Metroids and Space Pirates alike.
If only people who did illegal things would be polite about it.
Why would they ask Madeline for her approval? She is but a pawn to them (The Deleter was going to kill her).
It doesn't matter if she is the director or not, they say "these orders are from above." as Madeline tries to stop them.
Author: So instead of ordering them to at least delay the procedure so that she can talk to the "above" guys, she just bows her head. Any objections, Lady? I thought not.
Ordering them? She is out ranked (also, you know, they were doing things that are ILLEGAL).
Author: Then the most ridiculous thing happens. Samus narrates to herself, "Madeline had taken to calling MB 'Melissa'." WWTTFF? How in the hell does Samus know that? Is she telepathic now; did she just read Madeline's mind?
Madeline told her EVERYTHING.
Author: Then we cut to MB exhibiting super strength. So you morons didn't give her a remote kill-switch or a safeword or anything. And you gave her super strength?
Even if they had a remote kill-switch or a safeword, MB would have simply overriden it. MB devolved a consciousnes of her own and WENT AGAINST HER PROGRAMMING.
Author: Samus speculates that she started breeding Metroids and even produced a Queen. Wait; earlier Samus speculated that they wouldn't know which Metroids grew into Queens. Also, why would she breed a Queen from the control group of Metroids instead of the unfreezable group (more evidence against unfreezable Metroids)?
The Queen was the first of the Metroids to develop into a Queen. They didn't create unfreezable Metroids until AFTER they had a Queen.
Author: Yes, with her entire one ship that lacks any external weapons (that we know of). She could take out a whole city or two with a few Metroids and a ship.
Just a few Metroids? Fusion had a Metroid sector and you could see (on screen) 22 Metroids in the capsules (not counting the evolved Metroids). Then, after the SA-X starts shooting up the place and breaks the capsules, you can jump to the higher levels of the sector and see 3 additional levels that had capsules containing Metroids. Assuming the capsules had the same number of (on screen) Metroids that the previous levels had, that would make a total of 55 Metroids that can be accounted for (60 if you count the evolved Metroids). That is only counting what can be seen (and keeping in mind that this from a 2D perspective). There could have easily been double/triple the amount (or even more), we just don't know.
But for convenience sake, let's say that Sector Zero only had 60 (unfreezable) Metroids. That would still be more Metroids than the entirety of Metroid II (the game where Samus was hired to exterminate ALL Metroids). Metroid II has 48 Metroids (including the Infant).
Also, MB didn't JUST have the Metroids. Remember, she took control of the entire BOTTLE SHIP without even using the Metroids. She has all of the other life-forms PLUS the Metroids.
Author: At least the X from Fusion were a credible galactic threat, being a disease that is able to absorb intelligence, knowledge, and abilities; all while being virtually unkillable if you're not part-Metroid.
The entire series is based around how the Metroids are a threat to galactic peace.
Metroid NES: "Samus has now succeeded in penetrazing Zebes. But time is running out. Will he be able to destroy the Metroid and save the galaxy?"
Metroid II: "After serious consideration of how terrible and destructive the Metroid life form was."
Super Metroid: "The last Metroid is in captivity. The galaxy is at peace..."
Zero Mission: "If the Space Pirates were able to breed the Metroids and use the creatures as biological weapons, the destruction of all galactic civilization would be near certain."
Prime 1: "A small force of disciplined Metroids could wipe out entire armies, and once we find a way to shield them from cold-containment weapons, they will be invincible."
Author: Then she starts sending out purple energy waves that seal the door. Are we not supposed to see those energy waves? Is that the idea, because it sure looks like the others can see them as they wildly look around the room.
The GF soldiers are looking around because everything in the room started going nuts. The computers went haywire, the lights start flickering, the doors closed, then a beeping noise can be heard, to which a soldier says "what's that sound?" Then the other soldiers look up to see the orbs ("cocoons") start to glow red, and after a second or two, one of the orbs start to open up, which then a soldier says "What's that? There! Over there!".
So no, they don't see the purple energy waves, they are reacting to everything that's going on around them.
Author: Oh, and all the monsters disappear back into their half-spheres; they obviously operate under chess rules of engagement, surrendering when the king is captured.
MB was controlling them, once her control was broken, they went back to their cocoon.
Desbrachian's only ever attack when they are first disturbed via Power Bomb, they don't bother with Samus otherwise.
MB simply had control over them and forced them to attack.
Author: Then Colonel Smugsalot starts talking about Samus "transporting illegal cargo like infant Metroids." Um, you mean that cargo that she confiscated from SR-388 and delivered to the GF science team on Ceres Station? If that was illegal, why didn't they do anything about it then? So yet again, they're trying to change what Super Metroid was saying. Samus didn't hand over the infant Metroid; it was taken from her.
From the Nintendo Official Guide Book for Super Metroid:
"However, a sole infant remained alive on SR388-the rescued Baby Metroid. (In terms of the original mission, this had been a violation of duty) There, you can see Samus' true feelings. A sole survivor like herself... No one else to rely on, a lonely existence... Samus imposed her fate onto the baby, becoming its mother, almost as if she were trying to raise it herself."
They didn't "do anything about it then" because the Metroid produced positive results.
Super Metroid's opening:
"They discovered that the powers of the Metroid might be harnessed for the good of civilization!"
The Colonel was taunting her. Basically saying "You owe us."
Author: The Colonel asks one of his men to escort "the lady" off the station. You know, she could just threaten to drop a power bomb and kill everyone in the room. But no, Samus doesn't actually care enough to do anything about this.
And kill Madeline in the process?
Also, that would place Samus in the cross hairs of the Federation. Remember Fusion's ending? She's on the run for not falling in line with the Federation's orders.
Author: One of his soldiers comes over and takes Samus by the arm, but then he calls her "Princess."
Oh you've got to be kidding. Yep, it's Anthony, with not a scratch on his armor.
His armor is scratched, scuffed and dirty (you can't even see his "07" on his helmet).
Timestamp: 1:43:15
https://youtu.be/eG_terAuBBg
Compare that to timestamp: 11:10
Author: Samus then desperately tries to paint MB as a tragic figure, talking about how humans drove her to violence.
A similar topic was touched on in the Captain N comics.
Mother Brain was (accidentally) injected with a virus. So Captain N and crew decide to try and help her out. They shrink down and go inside Mother Brain to try and remove the virus. Once there, they run into an innocent looking girl who helps them out. This girl is basically Mother Brain's "true" self (she kind of resembles MB, having long blonde hair).
http://cnn.captainn.net/scans/cn3-08.jpg
At the end of the comic, Kevin (Captain N) wonders if there is good in Mother Brain.
"Inside that overgrown brain is the little girl that saved us. I can't let her die!"
"Imagine. There's good in everyone, even in Mother Brain. Who knows...? As tough as that little girl looked... Maybe someday, she'll win!"
http://cnn.captainn.net/scans/cn3-10.jpg
Author: But since the tragic aspects don't work, this is a failure. The only way for this to be legitimately tragic is if we knew her, and we as the audience never did. The MB we knew lied to us from the very beginning; everything else about her comes either from Madeline's infodumping and flashbacks or Samus pulling things out of her ass. All we know is that they were going to reprogram her, then she went apeshit and decided to burn the galaxy in response. That, alas, is not the stuff tragedy is made of. At least, not without more intimate knowledge of the person and much better characterization.
MB was a program based on Mother Brain, a computer designed to help bring peace in the universe, but ended up turning against her creators and tried to destroy galactic peace.
MB was basically doomed to follow down this path from the start. Madeline was the only one who "humanized" MB (Melissa Bergman), but ultimately this "humanity" is what drove MB (Mother Brain) to control the Metroids.
Madeline was MB's only connection to a "human" life, and when she felt that connection had been severed, MB no longer cared for humanity.
Samus takes pity on MB, because she too, had a similar situation in her life.
Samus was raised by the Chozo, with Old Bird and Grey Voice being her "fathers" (Grey Voice gave his DNA to Samus), and Mother Brain was her "mother".
Mother Brain tells Samus that she made the Power Suit, and "In other words, I gave birth to you!" Then Mother Brain taunts her by saying that the only reason she was taken in by the Chozo, was to convert her into a bio-weapon.
Samus rejects this notion and declares "My only parents are Rodney Aran, Virginia Aran and the Chozo! Not a machine like you!"
So Samus knows what it's like to be thought of as a "bio-weapon", but in her case, she knows that's not why she was "made". She was "made" to be the "Protector of the Galaxy".
As for MB, she WAS made to be a weapon (or at least be the trigger).
Samus also has another connection with MB, due to the Baby Metroid.
Samus made a bond with the Baby Metroid (which is why the GF wanted MB to be a "mother" figure for their Metroids), and the Baby felt like that bond was broken when Samus "abandoned" it at Ceres Station.
So when the Baby sees Samus again, it attacks her, like how MB felt that Madeline abandoned her. The difference is, the Baby ended up saving Samus by sacrificing itself, and MB simply ended up being killed.
MB didn't have her redemption moment like the Baby did. She was too far lost, and ultimately, was never meant to get redemption.
The Metroids were created for the purpose of peace, and in the end, got to fulfill that purpose (the Baby saved Samus twice, the Chozo's "Protector of the Galaxy").
Mother Brain was also created for the purpose of peace, but in the end, never fulfilled that purpose.
MB's fate was thrust upon her by the humans who created her. Samus simply recognizes this fact, and takes pity on MB.
Author: Then, the ship starts self-destructing. See, it was scheduled for demolition, but Samus apparently didn't bother to read what day that would happen on before going back.
Samus says that the demolition will most likely be carried out in the next day or two. Meaning someone blew up the BOTTLE SHIP early (likely the Ringleaders trying to kill Samus).
End Of Post
The next couple of pages go into the gameplay, and since gameplay is subjective, I'm not going to get into it (I personally really enjoy the gameplay and don't have any major problems with it).
Part 1 of this post is linked below:
https://mommetroidotherm.blogspot.com/2019/06/counter-points-to-metroid-other-m-tv.html
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