What is the first Metroid game to feature full voice acting?

The first Metroid game to feature full voice acting is Metroid: Other M. Released in 2010 for the Wii, it marked a major shift for a series traditionally built around exploration, atmospheric sound, and a mostly silent protagonist.

Other M uses extensive spoken dialogue in its cinematic story. Samus, Adam Malkovich, Anthony Higgs, and other characters have voiced performances, while long cutscenes present the plot in a film-like style. Jessica Martin provided Samus's English voice, and Ai Kobayashi voiced her in Japanese.

Earlier Metroid games included limited speech or voiced elements, but they did not use a complete spoken performance throughout their narrative. Metroid Fusion gave Samus written dialogue, and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption included voiced characters, yet Other M is generally identified as the first entry with full voice acting and a heavily voice-driven presentation.

The change was controversial: critics and fans praised the cinematic ambition but often criticized the script, characterization, and vocal performances. Later games largely returned to a quieter storytelling style.