Review: Metroid Dread (Switch – 2021)
Metroid Dread lands on the Nintendo Switch after nearly 19 years of speculation about the next chapter of the series. At first blush, the Metroid franchise may not seem like a horror game, but the series is rooted in strange, isolated areas and lurking danger. it is the most horror-driven series in Nintendo’s holdings outside of Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem and the chances of a new installment or even re-release of that game are about as thin as the atmospheres of the worlds Samus Aran explores in the Metroid series.
But what about Metroid Dread? Horror-discussion aside, how is the game? Is this a game that was worth waiting nearly two decades for?
What is Metroid Dread?
Metroid Dread is the sixth entry in the classic Metroid franchise. The series spun off in the Gamecube era with Metroid Prime – a first-person series. The classic Metroid style of gameplay is an action survival series where players control the lone, armor-clad Samus Aran as she runs missions for the Galactic Federation and often tangles with dangerous parasitic aliens – initially the Metroids, but later the X parasites. The games are 2D with Samus utilizing a variety of powerful abilities and weapons to fend off hostile environments, technology, and aliens.
Metroid Dread does not stray far from the formula, which is probably for the best as it is a formula that people still very much crave. The Metroidvania genre, a portmanteau of Metroid and Castlevania, is still quite alive and well, with many independent games of the genre, like Hollow Knight, finding critical and commercial success.
Metroid Dead takes the initially expected gameplay of the series but adds in the wrinkle of more survival-oriented sections where Samus can do little against a nearly invincible enemy. This creates a new flow of gameplay and results in extremely tense moments of gameplay.
What Works With Metroid Dread
The shift in gameplay in Metroid Dread is interesting. Moments of exploration and puzzle-solving utilizing Samus’ vast array of abilities tied to her suit are generally the most relaxing aspects of the game. Exploring and back-tracking as the mercy of Samus’ abilities as they are recovered creates a number of environmental puzzles. It is especially fun when you make note of areas you explore to come back to later when you recognize you need a specific ability. The shift, however, comes from the E.M.M.I. zones.
The E.M.M.I. are the most significant figures in the game’s branding outside of Samus Aran, and for good reason, as you see them a lot. Perhaps, more to the point, you hear them a lot. The game creates moments where exploration gives way to stealth in E.M.M.I.-specific chambers where Samus must utilize stealth and acrobatics to avoid a nearly invulnerable enemy. These robots will hunt Samus down at high speed with unnerving movements and make loud, bat-like echolocation chirps. It gets bad enough that even the sound of an E.M.M.I. somewhere in the zone is enough to unnerve you. Raising the tension, these robots are relentless and will result in an instant game over 99% of the time, as the parry window when caught is unnervingly limited. It is a fascinating role reversal in a series where Samus is the defacto badass and warrior and flips the series on its head.
It helps that the controls and genuinely tight for both styles of gameplay. Samus has never controlled better with incredibly cool abilities that showcase her agility, but also capable of illustrating her sheer power. The relatively new parry-system, an upgrade from Samus Returns, works wonderfully here and can be done on the move. If you want to play an aggressive Samus you totally can, and it works. But just as fun can be the defensive and evasive Samus who can use stealth, the morph-ball, and sliding to get around zones while being chased.
The game’s atmosphere and presentation are also the best in the series so far. The attention to detail to Samus’s motion, even on a 2D plane are impressive. When going into aiming mode you can make out her pose changes by the context of the environment and obstacles, such as holding onto walls to steady herself as she aims. The game is also gorgeous. While the Switch is not a powerhouse system, Nintendo’s focus on art design makes up for the technical lack, especially character and creature designs. This may be the coolest Samus has ever looked.
What Didn’t Work With Metroid Dread
With the increased functionality afforded to a seemingly more agile Samus Aran, the controls can be confusing in an E.M.M.I. encounter. Between sliding, the morph-ball, and shinesparking you may find yourself inevitably mixing up buttons or triggering the wrong action. Not that it is the fault of the game, per se, but the abundance of options in a high-intensity scenario like an E.M.M.I. chase can prove overwhelming at times, and may be overly punishing given the low chance of an escape once caught. Mercifully, the game helps reduce the frustration by returning Samus just outside of the zone upon a game over, whereas elsewhere returning her to the last save room on a game over. It is a reasonable accommodation for sequences that essentially strip Samus of her power.
One of the more annoying hallmarks of the series continues in Metroid Dread with the destructible walls. While many can be identified by paying close attention to the environment, there are others where the clues are so subtle that you may not be able to detect them without firing missiles all over the place. This is rare, but it still happens. Something things never change. Another issue is somewhat punishing bosses which often feel repetitive within their own fights with not as much variation and differing phases in each encounter. You’ll find yourself pelting a boss with so many missiles you may be asking yourself “how is this thing still not dead?”
Unfortunately, the music doesn’t live up to the heights of previous titles. While many tunes in Metroid are minimal, fitting the alien environments, there are still some fantastic melodies present. it feels less like the case here. The most iconic tunes still seem to be series staples carried through the series. Nothing that lives to the height of Ganadrayda’s Theme in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption or the classic Brinstar theme.
Bottom Line
An anticipated return to a series that hardcore fans have clamored for close to 20 years that lives up to the hype. This is definitely an evolution in presentation and atmosphere, but it still retains enough classic gameplay that will appeal to fans and more hardcore gamers. Casual players may find themselves a little more challenged compared to most games these days, but that probably makes the rewards all the better.
Now, hopefully, we won’t have to wait another decade or two for a follow-up. At least we know Metroid Prime 4 is on the way. If you have a Switch, get Metroid Dread and play it a couple of times and really take in the love and attention to the franchise developer MercurySteam put into it.
Metroid Dread was developed by MercurySteam and published by Nintendo. You can purchase Metroid Dread wherever video games are sold (note we are an Amazon affiliate, so we may earn money if you purchase through that link) or via the Nintendo eShop.
(5 / 5)
Have you had a chance to dive beneath the surface of planet ZDR? What do you think about the latest chapter in the Metroid series? Let us know in the comments.
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Continuing with video games I got to try out at PAX East, I was delighted to demo Let’s! Revolution! the debut game by developer and publisher BUCK. BUCK has historically been an animation and design studio, notably having worked on Into the Spiderverse and Love, Death, & Robots. Let’s! Revolution! marks their first foray into the world of video game development. I found this so interesting, I spoke to the Creative Director for Let’s! Revolution! on his career and how BUCK navigated that transition (find it here).
Let’s! Revolution! is a roguelike puzzle game inspired by the classic game Minesweeper. In it, you play as one of six heroes fighting their way along the dangerous roads to the capital city. Once there, you can defeat the tyrannical king and save the kingdom from his reign. Released in July of 2023, the game has been met with high praise. Unsurprisingly, this includes the game’s artistic and musical direction (by the team at Antfood), which is both stylistic and beautiful.
Watch the console reveal trailer here for a taste of the delightful animation and music:
I had the opportunity to play a 20 minute demo of Let’s! Revolution! on the PAX East show floor. I played alongside the Creative Director and other people who worked on the game. It’s important to note that this wasn’t long enough to get a feel for all the characters or the replayability of the game. But, it was definitely long enough to be enchanted by the game and the passion of the people who made it.
The core mechanics are inspired by Minesweeper. The player must use the power of deduction to uncover procedurally generated maze pathways to the exit. However, enemies are hidden along the way and can defeat the player before they reach their goal. Each character has their own special abilities that can help. Items and general abilities can also be bought or discovered to make your hero more powerful. All of these are limited in some way either by energy (your action currency) or limited uses per run.
From what I played, the gameplay is relatively simple with a mix of chance and strategy. I liked the cozy atmosphere, especially when combined with the ‘high stakes’ mechanics associated with Minesweeper. The UI was easy to understand and interact with while still being cohesive with the storytelling. And of course, the character design is exquisite and narratively driven, with many of the characters presenting as queer.
Having released on consoles earlier this month (April 2024), Let’s! Revolution! is even easier to access than ever. Let’s! Revolution! is a perfect game for those who love cozy roguelites and beautiful (queer) aesthetics. I definitely recommend it for fans of roguelites looking to try something fresh. Look for it anywhere you game!
(4.5 / 5)
Check out my other PAX posts here!
