[Review] Metroid Dread: The triumphant return fans had been waiting for

When Metroid Dread was announced last summer, it was a massive shock, to say the least. Not only was it a follow-up to Metroid Fusion, which was released in 2002, but it revived the long-rumored “Dread” project that had been hinted at for so long. Metroid Prime 3 had even referenced it in 2007. Then, in 2021, it was alive again, with an impressive trailer and the reveal that Yoshio Sakamoto from Nintendo and the team at MercurySteam were working on it.

The pressure was high. Decades of hopes and dreams were riding on this Dread, and with it being the first Metroid game to push the story forward again and the first original mainline Metroid game since the controversial Metroid: Other M, this upcoming Switch title was more than a new game release.

For Sakamoto, it was the chance to redeem himself in the eyes of fans after Other M hurt his reputation. For MercurySteam, it was the chance to continue to prove themselves after their well-received Metroid 2: Samus Returns. I believed that they could pull off a good Metroid game. What I didn’t expect was that not only would they succeed in delivering an exciting new title, but that they may have redefined Metroid for a new generation.

“The bounty for this mission does not seem appropriate”

Metroid Dread begins with Samus Aran heading to the planet ZDR on a new mission. The Galactic Federation recently received a video of the dangerous X parasites, alive and out in the wild despite their supposed eradication by Samus during the events of Metroid Fusion.

The Federation sent seven E.M.M.I robots to investigate, However, they have lost contact with them and ask Samus to find out what happened. After arriving on the planet’s surface, Samus encounters a mysterious Chozo warrior. The warrior defeats her with ease, with Samus waking up far below the surface, weakened but alive. Now she must make her way to her ship, get stronger and find out what’s really going on.

The story is a highlight of Metroid Dread, as it manages to be much less intrusive than in Fusion or Other M while still delivering some interesting new lore on the Chozo and setting up an intimidating new threat. Add some incredible reveals and set-piece moments in the climax and you have probably one of the strongest stories in the series. The fact it can tell a fairly strong story while keeping the pace up for the majority of the game is another strength, one that goes well with the fast-paced gameplay.

SamusWare: Smooth Moves

One of the first things you’ll discover when you start the game is how smooth it feels. Running and jumping mechanics are fast and responsive. The wall jump is back to feeling speedy while the new slide maneuver is incredibly welcome. It works to keep the speed up while sliding through small gaps as you’re exploring, and it’s an excellent way to avoid attacks and slip under bigger enemies in combat.

Said combat is also as slick as your movement. The melee counter from Samus Returns has returned, only this time it is now accessible while moving and jumping, and it dually functions as a melee attack. The Free Aim feature also returns from the same game, where you hold down L to stop and aim 360 degrees around you with the left stick. You can tilt the left stick while running to aim in the same way while moving. These features help evolve the combat into something closer to an action game, something slicker and more intentional than previous 2D Metroid games where combat basically became “spam fire and move when a big attack comes.” This continues to be the case as you find new items and upgrades.

Tools of Destruction

These upgrades include the standard selection of powerful weapons, movement upgrades, and suit upgrades that you’d expect. But you’ll also find some new upgrades that are particularly useful, such as the Phantom Cloak which makes you invisible temporarily, or the Flash Shift which allows you to dash a significant distance up to three times in a row. The latter is super helpful for combat and exploration.

Classic upgrades like the Wide Beam return, as well as new ones.

All these abilities will be put to the test as you explore the many varied interconnected areas of ZDR. Exploration in Metroid Dread is very rewarding, as there’s a nice variety of distinct areas and biomes that are full of secrets and alternate pathways for you to unlock. As per Metroid tradition, finding new upgrades will unlock new areas for you to find. Dread does a great job of guiding you to your next objective without having to follow markers like Zero Mission or constant briefings like Metroid Fusion. There are even ways to get certain items early and “sequence break,” and these are not only intentional but are rewarded with things like quick killing a boss.

Eerie Machines, Menacing Individuals

One other aspect of the gameplay involves the E.M.M.I. These are powerful robots that will patrol certain areas of the map, looking for Samus. If they spot you, they will rapidly pursue you, and your only choice initially is to run or hide, as you cannot face them with your normal firepower. If they catch you, there’s a moment you can counter to escape. However, it’s a very tight window. Thus, these sections act as tense “stealth” sections of a sort as you must avoid them until you can find a way to take them down.

The E.M.M.I are very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

I personally like their inclusion as they add a lot of tension while exploring these areas. The areas they appear in are designed in such a way as to give you just enough paths to help you escape. The E.M.M.I. are smart and fast enough to be a genuine threat, requiring either a lot of caution to avoid or quick thinking to outrun on the fly. They help bring the sense of fear and dread that the title implies and are more organic than the scripted SA-X sections in Fusion. Of course, what helps create that atmosphere are the fantastic graphics and art style.

A Whole New (High Definition) World

Graphically, the game is really impressive for the Switch. The art style suits Metroid, with the backgrounds rich and detailed while the foreground is kept shadowed except for the enemies, obstacles, and of course Samus. The graphics focus on the action and helps the game look nice and sharp while sticking to a mostly locked 60 FPS. This works well together with the music and sound design to create a very immersive experience.

When it comes to the music and sound of Metroid Dread, the game puts a focus on being atmospheric. Music tracks are eerie and foreboding, a mix of seemingly alien sounds that do a great job of immersing you in its world. However, it does mean that aside from a few returning tracks, there are not a lot of memorable songs besides the central theme and a few other exceptions. The sound effects are well done and do a lot to add to the atmosphere of the game. Samus’ counters and weapons sound suitably impactful, which helps them feel satisfying to use.

Test your Might

The game has a lot of different options for difficulty, with not only a normal and hard mode but also two new difficulties added in recent updates. “Rookie” mode makes recovering easier and causes more health to drop after killing enemies, allowing for a more forgiving experience. In “Dread” mode, the slightest touch will kill you instantly. In addition, there’s a selection of Boss Rush modes that unlock once you beat the game, which is a fun addition that adds some replay value. Collecting all the upgrades will take some time, so there’s a good amount of content for your money.

Conclusion

Metroid Dread is a fantastic return to form and arguably one of the best games in the series. It’s a bold step forward both in terms of the fast and smooth gameplay and the twists and turns of the ongoing story. Exploration is engaging and rewarding, with secrets around every corner. It looks fantastic and manages to be the ideal length for a game of this kind, with additional difficulty modes and the Boss Rush modes adding extra value. The final sequence in particular will stick in my mind for years to come, one of the most exciting endings in the entire series with so many memorable moments. Metroid Dread is a must-play for both fans of the series and newcomers alike, and I truly believe it is the start of a promising new era for the series.

Score: 10/10