15 Most Disappointing Video Games Of The Decade (So Far)

7. Metroid: Other M

Despite never lacking the mass appeal of Zelda or Mario, Metroid has long been one of Nintendo's greatest series - the exploration elements are phenomenal and Samus rivals Lara Croft as gaming's finest action heroine. The shift into first-person shooter territory worked wonders in the Metroid Prime trilogy. Follow-up Other M was the first game in the series to marry the first and third person elements from the series but the game created a whole load of issues which continue to divide fans to this day. The game is disappointingly linear; Metroid has always been about exploring and uncovering the world without being forced down a specific path. Perhaps this was done for a greater focus on story-telling but that was also heavily criticised - deviating from Metroid tradition, lengthy cutscenes over-elaborate on Samus' past, exhausting the player with poor dialogue and repetition. The portrayal of Samus came under heavy fire too. The tough heroine is stripped away, revealing her flawed character by introducing a petulant, immature side to her personality. Many disagreed with this portrayal, some even going as far as to label it sexist, due to her somewhat submissive relationship with the male figures of the game. Some have accepted Other M's differences and regard it is a worthy game in the series; others have been far more critical. Regardless, the linearity and lack of loss of traditions like item discovery were massively disappointing, especially after Prime had given the series a new lease of life.