Nintendo Has Yet to Deliver Fix for Metroid Bug

A game-breaking bug in Metroid: Other M may require a patch from Nintendo, but we have the scoop on how to avoid it.

Since the release of Metroid: Other M, a number of players have encountered something unusual for a Nintendo franchise: A severe bug that may require starting the game over to fix.

The bug can be found in Sector 3 after you take the elevator out of the desert refinery. After swinging to the far side of the lava pit, some players have found that the door there is red and therefore locked. If that happens, the player is stuck.

According to YouTube user kNIGHTWING01, the glitch is caused by saving the game after beating the area boss for the third time. Apparently, if players save the game after beating this boss but before opening the door in question, it will remain locked and cannot be opened. Should this occur, the only way to fix the glitch is to load an older save file or start the game over from the beginning (unskippable cutscenes and all).  If you want to see a video of the aforementioned bug, you can find it here.

It's possible that Nintendo will release a fix through firmware, but has not yet announced their plans. The company does not normally release patches, due to the fact that it does not usually produce games with bugs this problematic. It hasn't happened since Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Luckily, neither of these bugs have affected more than a small percentage of players.