After the success of the “Metroid: Prime” trilogy, it’s easy to forget the magnitude of the gamble Nintendo took in commissioning Austin, Texas-based Retro Studios to transform Nintendo’s hallowed 2-D sidescrolling franchise into a first-person shooter. With Retro off working on a secret project (later revealed to be the upcoming “Donkey Kong Country Returns”), Nintendo gambled again, developing “Metroid: Other M” in collaboration with Team Ninja, the folks responsible for the melee-heavy “Ninja Gaiden” games. The result is the most distinctive “Metroid” yet, at once a tribute to the 16-bit era and a tale that meets today’s higher standards for storytelling.

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