They don't need to efface Other M from continuity, as it really had little to do with continuity to begin with. Really only the 4 mainline Metroid games set the story, and the rest build around that but are irrelevant to it aside from broadening the backstory of the world (Primes explained more about the Chozo and the Space Pirates, Other M detailed Samus' life in between her Chozo upbringing and her independent career and detailed exactly how Adam was "dead" by the time he showed up in a computer in Fusion)

They could easily move ahead from Fusion and start on a new adventure, because between Fusion and Prime, older plot points are pretty much exhausted Prime 3 made it apparent that the Space Pirates aren't coming back since their homeworld was badly damaged by Phazon irradiation and was occupied by the Galactic Federation anyway, and only Mother Brain's return brought them back for Super, and she's definitely permanently gone too. SR388 is gone, and apparently the only remaining Metroid DNA in the galaxy is running through Samus' veins

Actually would make a good plot, Samus fights the Federation, and flees the Federation, who are literally after her blood since her blood contains the last of both the Chozo and the Metroids, to give the next game more of a survival slant like Fusion had at times

Control Samus... and her ship, eh?

Tilt + spaceflight = hells yeah

It could be fun to explore an entire star system from the (no doubt) fiery inner planet to the icy outer planet, battling and then boarding hostile spacecraft.

There's a lot not to like about Other M, but my biggest disappointment is how exploration has been gutted by the forced perspective in third-person, lousy controls in first-person, and almost total lack of scanning. If fast-paced action means I don't have time to look around, I don't want it.

I'd *hate* for a new first person Metroid to use that new Wii U controller. IR pointer controls + Nunchuk are so insanely comfortable and smooth I wouldn't ever be able to go back to analog controls. Ew.

Sounds pretty hardcore. Then again, I was one of 7 people who liked Other M so more Metroid is only a good thing!