Fusion opens up more and more unlike what I played of Other M, it's just linear in the first half. Of course hou get some hints later, but that's just like other Metroid games. I also think it was more fun to play than Other M.

Most people just hated Samus not being the total badass she is known to be.

The problem with Other M was that we had already seen it in Metroid Fusion. Those cutscenes where samus talks about Adam, and his way of referring to her were already told in fusion. The sectors seem to be the same. And there was the one sector holding a secret metroid project that ultimately splits off from the main ship to explode.

With fusion, the wall jumping feature allowed for some additional exploration, while Other M was literally just walking down a corridor to get to the next place.

Other problems with Other M were the first person sections, dodging and reviving being too easy, Samus' voice, Samus having a traumatic experience when facing ridley when she had already fought ridley 6 times before(7 if you count the manga), and the final boss.

Other M is Ninja Gaiden on Metroid skin.

Fusion is a Metroid game.

Basically cutscenes, which was adressed in the OP. Gameplay is basically the same linear corridors but in 2D.

I liked every Metroid except for Prime Hunters on the DS. It just looked good but really, it wasn't fun to me.

So because of story, and not gameplay. I believe most Nintendo fans agreed that gameplay is first.

Yeah, the gameplay was fun. I just didn't like that there was no room left for exploration. Even Fusion is not close to Super Metroid or Metroid Prime level. I hardly replay the game because it just doesn't appeal to me the way Metroid Zero Mission does. One thing I can say, both fusion and other M are better than Hunters.

There is no reason to elaborate when the entire topic has been beaten to death a thousand times over. 

Fusion despite being linear, had you looking for things by yourself most of the time, Other M was purely linear.

Fusion improved the gameplay from Super Metroid, it felt smoother, slicker, and got rid of most of the flaws from Super Metroid's controls, Other M felt like 2 steps backwards from Prime control-wise.

Fusion introduced new gear, ranging from the Fusion Suit to the Ice and Diffusion missiles, maybe it's my faulty memory but I can't remember any new upgrades from Other M.

The only boss who returned from Super Metroid in Fusion was Ridley, who's a staple of the series and appears in most of the Metroid games, Again, maybe it's my faulty memory because I haven't played Other M in a while, but I can't remember lots, if any original bosses in Other M.

I'd list some other stuff but then again why am I arguing about Other M in the middle of my Uncle's wedding.