Introduction [IN00]

Your friendly guide to starting Metroid: Other M! Learn about Normal Mode 100% completion, Hard Mode challenges, and Low% runs. Get ready to play!

Hey there! So, you're diving into Metroid: Other M? Awesome! This guide is here to help you tackle the game on Normal Mode, aiming for that sweet 100% item completion. Think of it as your personal roadmap, though feel free to explore and find your own cool tricks – this game’s pretty good at keeping you on its intended path, but who knows what you might discover!

A quick heads-up: skipping cutscenes won't actually shave time off your in-game clock. They add up to about an hour, and even if you skip 'em, that time still counts towards your completion percentage. But hey, finishing with 100% unlocks some cool concept art and even Hard Mode, so it's worth it!

Speaking of Hard Mode, it's a whole different beast. No extra energy tanks or missile expansions – you're stuck with your base stats. You'll likely get taken out in just one hit if you're not careful, as you only have 99 energy. Sadly, the latter half of the game isn't playable in Hard Mode. If you're quick and know what you're doing, you can blast through Hard Mode in about two hours of actual gameplay, not counting those cutscenes.

If Hard Mode's missing that final stretch, why not try a Low% run on Normal Mode? Just grab the absolute minimum items needed to progress. You'll have to pick up two Energy Tanks and one Missile Tank – that's about 3% completion. The Low% walkthrough covers that last section that Hard Mode skips.

One last thing: this guide is mostly spoiler-free. The only real spoilers are the names of the final four bosses. Other than that, the story details are kept under wraps. A lot of the info here comes from the community, so a big shout-out to everyone who contributed!