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Nintendo Fixes Game-Breaking Metroid Bug Via Snail Mail

by Phil Kollar on Sep 27, 2010 at 10:17 AM

Rumors of a game-breaking bug in Metroid: Other M began circulating shortly after the game's release. According to reports, if you backtracked to a save point instead of moving forward after finishing a certain encounter in Sector 3, the door blocking your progress would remain locked. Nintendo has confirmed the problem and is offering up an interesting solution.

Kotaku reports that Nintendo can resolve the issue if you send them an SD card with your Other M game save on it. Here are the details:

"If you are experiencing this issue, we are able to resolve it by fixing your save data. For instructions on how to set up a repair by sending us your save file on an SD card, or for other options, please call 1-800-255-3700. Representatives are available from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (PST) seven days a week."

Nintendo is offering a similar program in Japan, where they say it will take about a week to fix the save and send it back. Alternatively, if you're not against replaying portions of the game, you can restart from the beginning. Nintendo provided this explanation of how to avoid the bug:

"The Cause Of This Problem And How To Avoid It:
This sequence of events will cause the door in Sector 3 to remain locked:

1. In the room after the large lava area in Sector 3, battle the Space Pirates to unlock the Ice Beam.
2. Proceed to the second room ahead.
3. Defeat the enemies with spiked, purple legs to unlock the door at the end of the room.
- To create the issue: Do not go through this door and instead backtrack to the room where the Ice Beam was obtained. Continuing to play from here creates the issue.
- To avoid the issue: Proceed through the door that was just unlocked at the end of the room before doing any backtracking to any previous rooms."

Has anyone experienced this issue? And if so, is it worth the trouble of sending in your SD card to Nintendo to fix it?  Samus provided us with her official response to this whole mess: