All the hype I've been seeing and reading about the upcoming Nintendo Wii METROID: THE OTHER M game inspired me to revisit Metroid 2D classics like Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion. The more I read about THE OTHER M, the more convinced I am that it isn't the game for me... but anything that reminds me of the beauty of Samus (Metroid's main character) is a good thing.

As with most males my age, I fell in love with robots and mecha during my formative kid years. My mom would buy me coloring books and children's books starring old-school japanese robots like Raiden during my pre-school years. For my Kindergarten graduation, my parents got me the Megatron Transformer action figure. Now, that was when people didn't even know what Transformers were. The cartoon had not been released and the toyline had barely hit toy store shelves. So, opening my graduation present and seeing Megatron for the first time was a revelation (and the envy of my classmates). My love for robots became a childhood passion.

Flash forward a couple years to the early days of the Nintendo Entertainment System. I didn't have an NES for several years, but I would take full advantage of times at my friends houses. If they had an NES, our play time typically was dominated by time in front of the television playing Nintendo. I would also often borrow my friend's Nintendo Power magazines... even though I didn't have a Nintendo system... and would study all the little bits of artwork in the colorful articles and level layouts.

The first time I saw the design for Samus, I fell in love. A video game starring a cool looking robot?! SOLD. The design was amazing! I remember being jealous of my friend who had some Metroid stickers from an issue of Nintendo Power on his Trapper Keeper. Samus was the embodiment of a cool robot design! When my friend told me that there was actually a beautiful woman INSIDE the robot suit, my mind was BLOWN. A cool design became even COOLER.

Sadly, the first Metroid game was way too hard to enjoy. I remember repeatedly trying to play the game at a neighbor's house and quickly giving up from getting lost or repeatedly dying. Bummer... but it didn't take away from Samus' cool factor!

Years later, my design tastes have changed with experience and a little wisdom... but my love for Samus' design is still strong. Yeah, the character gets small minus points for being an obvious rip-off/inspiration of Ridley from Alien; but the iconic colors (gold and red) and solid fundamental design make up for the lack of originality.

Those of you that buy THE OTHER M, enjoy. I'll be playing SUPER METROID, METROID FUSION, METROID: ZERO MISSION and finally get around to beating METROID PRIME 3.

Below are some promotional art from various Metroid games and some amazing "fan art" by super talented cartoonist Eric Canete and Torokun: