The SenseMove^[1][2][3] is an evasive maneuver^[4] that utilizes the thrusters on the back of Samus Aran's Power Suit. It enables her to quickly evade any oncoming attack, melee or projectile,^[5] and immediately follow up with a charged shot.

The SenseMove is used during cutscenes to avoid a Ghalmanian in a chamber in Sector 1 / Biosphere, a Namihe in a tunnel in the Biosphere, a Kihunter in the Biological Experiment Floor in the Biosphere, Vorash in a passageway in Sector 3 / Pyrosphere, a Rhedogian in the Pyrosphere and the Biosphere, and the Queen Metroid in Room MW.

Details

A SenseMove is performed by pressing any direction on the D-pad before an attack makes contact with Samus. It can also be performed while in Search View by aiming offscreen when the edges of her visor shine green.

After performing a successful SenseMove while holding the 1 button, Samus's Charge Meter will instantly max out. Because of this, the SenseMove becomes the most important ability of hers: not only does it allow her to completely avoid receiving any damage, giving her the potential to never get hit throughout the entire game, but it also allows for maximum damage on every single counterattack. The SenseMove also renders Samus intangible for the entire duration, except for the last second of the dodge. The SenseMove can only be used while Samus is on the ground; it cannot be used while in the air, such as while falling or jumping.

The SenseMove can be executed indefinitely, as well as the fully charged shot counterattacks that come with it.

Official Data

Metroid: Other M manual

Sensemove

"If you press the +Control Pad (or move the pointer off the screen in Search View) at the right time just before getting hit by an enemy's attack, you'll dodge and avoid getting hurt. If this is done while pressing the 1 Button, your charge gauge will fill up quickly."

Metroid: Other M on-screen tutorial

SENSEMOVE
At the right moment, press [Control Pad] just before being hit. Use SENSEMOVE while pressing [1] to quickly reach full charge.

Metroid: Other M website

SenseMove

"Samus is always just a hope, flip, and a jump away with mastery of the SenseMove. A quick dash before contact with enemy attacks sends Samus out of harm's way in an instant."

Trivia

• The Strafe/Dash of the Prime series is arguably the SenseMove's precursor.
• Although Samus's ability to perform a SenseMove is attributed to her thrusters, she is capable of using the SenseMove outside of her powered armor, while wearing her Zero Suit. Worthy of note is that the sound of her thrusters still appear when she is suitless. Also, while Samus in her armor would cartwheel out of the way, suitless Samus merely flips rather clumsily, likely due to her high heels, which are in any situation more of a hindrance than a help.
• Samus evades perceived attacks in a similar fashion to the SenseMove many times in the Prime series (during cutscenes) and the Super Smash Bros. series, although Other M is the first canon game to use it in gameplay.
• The SenseMove appears to rely on some form of precognitive ability to function. Because of the Chozo DNA integrated into Samus, it is possible that the ability shares a similar mechanism with the distant sight employed by the Chozo of Tallon IV.
• While Samus is normally invulnerable to attacks while executing the SenseMove, some attacks, such as the Goyagma's arm sweep or the Queen Metroid's fire breath, can actually hit her in mid-animation. Despite this, Samus successfully dodges the queen's fire breath in a cutscene.
• During the Mystery Creature battle, Samus's SenseMove shows her merely throwing her upper body out of the creature's reach, due to the circumstances of the battle.
• It was Yoshio Sakamoto's idea to have SenseMove be usable in Search View.^[6]

Gallery

Power Suit

Zero Suit

Samus SenseMoves upon first encountering the 07th Platoon.

Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid Other M, page 170

References