Authorization

Authorization is a new concept introduced in Metroid: Other M.

Rather than beginning the game missing her power-ups or losing them near the start, Samus possesses all of her upgrades from Super Metroid (with the exception of the High Jump Boots, Spazer Beam and X-Ray Scope), but they are deactivated. Some power-ups and expansions are still collected in the traditional manner, however.

Concept
During the mission to the BOTTLE SHIP, Commander Adam Malkovich re-encounters Samus for the first time since she became a Bounty Hunter, and is displeased to see her. Despite his animosity, Samus stays onboard for the sake of his 07th Platoon, and out of respect for him deactivates her Missiles and Bombs until he authorizes them. Missiles are authorized as the Platoon is fighting the Brug Mass, and Samus is asked to assist them by using her Missiles to destroy its tentacles once they are frozen with Freeze Guns. Samus is then welcomed onto the team on the condition that she follow Adam's orders, and he authorizes the use of her Bombs. He gradually allows Samus to use more and more of her abilities as the situation changes. He does not allow her, however, to use her Power Bombs due to the devastation they cause.

Items in Other M are usually authorized when an obstacle or danger presents itself that cannot be overcome without the respective upgrade. This puts Samus in danger at several points during the game. The most glaring example is when she reaches Sector 3. She runs through several superheated rooms in her Power Suit before reaching the top of the Crater Interior, when Adam finally authorizes her to use her Varia Feature. Not being allowed to use the Grapple Beam hinders her further exploration of the Pyrosphere before Adam instructs her to pursue survivors in Sector 2. It is only authorized when Samus is required to use it to get to Anthony Higgs when he is attacked by the Rhedogian.

After fending off Ridley, Samus loses contact with Adam. From then on, no more upgrades are authorized by him, with her final four major upgrades being used at her will, as it becomes necessary. While pursuing the Deleter, Samus becomes stuck at a retracted bridge. She jokingly asks, "Any objections, Adam?" and activates her Space Jump and Screw Attack to overcome the obstacle. Adam later dies in the detached Sector Zero, and as Samus is escaping she is sucked into the vacuum of space. She quickly activates her Gravity Feature to stay inside. Finally, during the battle against the Queen Metroid Samus becomes trapped in the monster's stomach, and uses a Power Bomb to both escape and kill the creature.

List of items authorized by Adam

 * Missile Launcher
 * Bomb
 * Ice Beam
 * Varia Feature
 * Speed Booster and Shinespark
 * Wave Beam
 * Grapple Beam
 * Super Missile
 * Plasma Beam

Self-authorized items

 * Space Jump and Screw Attack
 * Gravity Feature
 * Power Bomb

Quotes
"Samus has decided not to use bombs or missiles until Adam authorizes them."

"Adam has not yet authorized the use of missiles."

"Adam has not yet authorized the use of bombs."

"Listen up! Freeze guns authorized! And Samus! I'm authorizing Missile use!"

"Samus. Start by searching areas you can access with your current equipment. We'll determine weapon and equipment authorization after we get a better understanding of the situation."

"Looks like the normal beam won't have any impact on the enemies here. Samus, use your Ice Beam."

"Samus, activate the Varia Suit to protect yourself from heat damage."

"The most efficient way through here should be delivering shoulder impacts with your Speed Booster, so I’m authorizing its use."

"Samus! You need a permeating shot effect to get past this! I’m authorizing you to unlock your Wave Beam!"

"Samus, use of the Grapple Beam is authorized! Get to Anthony and cover him!"

"Samus, blast the eruption port to get the magma flowing! Use your Super Missiles!"

"Samus! Samus! Use your Plasma Beam!"

Trivia

 * Authorization as a concept in Other M has been heavily criticized for its extreme control over Samus' abilities, particularly the Varia Feature, Gravity Feature and Grapple Beam. However, the heated room run is less dangerous than when Samus steps unprotected into heated areas in previous installments. In this instance, the rooms drain only one unit of Energy per second instead of the traditional five.
 * On the other hand, authorization from Adam has become a running joke in the Metroid community, mocking his ingame practice of not authorizing non-offensive upgrades.


 * In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, the Command Visor is unusable for some time at the beginning of the game until Rundas reports to Samus that such devices are authorized for use during the Norion invasion.
 * The computerized Adam in Metroid Fusion continues to authorize actions and missions for Samus, though it has no control over her upgrades, which are acquired through downloadable data or absorbing X.