LogFAQs > #962127630

I am quite happy I was wrong about 'Metroid Dread'. Not only is it a fantastic game in its own right, but it feels like the natural progression the series should have gone in following 'Metroid: Zero Mission'. 'Metroid Dread' offers some of the best areas and encounters seen in the franchise, and it's much more focused on atmosphere, exploration, and puzzle-solving than the trailers let on. The combat experience was so stiff and unnatural in 'Metroid: Samus Returns', but they managed to refine it to an impressive sheen here. The strength of the combat reaches its peak in nearly every boss encounter. Each one is incredibly unique and requires some significant thought in their approach. I don't know if I'd say the game is as brutally hard as it's being marketed, given how naturally trial and error most of the fights are, but each of them asks you to use a significant amount of effort to topple. It culminates in one of the most exciting and rewarding final bosses in any video game, and easily topping any other battle in the 'Metroid' universe, which is known for having some incredible boss fights.

Exploration does take a slight hit because the world isn't designed quite as carefully as it could have been. 'Super Metroid' is essentially peak map design and I'd struggle to say anything has managed to capture this quality, barring potentially 'Hollow Knight', though that game's massive map leads to its own smaller issues. 'Metroid Dread' isn't as tight as the best maps in this subgenre, but it's pretty damn close. There are some instances of railroading the player which can get a bit egregious, and going for 100% completion is a bit of a pain given how late you get some crucial upgrades. But these problems are only worth noting because 'Metroid Dread' is in the same series as 'Super Metroid'. The map is a joy to explore all around and it showcases some of the most engaging environmental design in the 2D series.

The main claim to fame for 'Metroid Dread' was the inclusion of the brand new enemy type, the EMMI. As this was the forefront of Nintendo's marketing efforts, it is, naturally, the worst part of the game by a pretty wide margin. I get the appeal of them and I understand what the developers were intending to accomplish, but this feels very much like Mr. X in the 'Resident Evil 2' remake. It's initially really cool and adds a layer of fear to the experience, but that only lasts for about 15 minutes until it just becomes annoying. I liked the first few EMMIs I encountered, but it got dry well before it became challenging. The last couple you encounter become infuriating, as they completely derail the pacing of the game and force you to focus on moving through their chambers as efficiently as possible. It gives a fairly gratifying conclusion when you can respond by decimating the machines with an overpowered beam, but you spend far too much time running and hiding to make that part worthwhile. Remove the EMMI sections entirely or make them scripted like SA-X in 'Metroid Fusion' and we likely have the hard conversation of whether or not 'Super Metroid' actually has been dethroned as the best 2D 'Metroid'. As is, the segments are an unfortunate blight on an otherwise masterful creation.

'Metroid Dread' almost won this year's top honors for me. If it weren't for two of the best gaming experiences I've ever had, it would have been. If nothing else, I'm no longer fearful for where the series will be going. Despite my reservations from their first effort, Mercury Steam appears to have developed a solid grasp on how these games function. I hope we can see this partnership continue I to the future, as I know there are likely many other ideas the team didn't even get to see to fruition which would expand the series even further. As Retro works on 'Metroid Prime 4', I hope the team walks back on the intentions of 'Metroid Prime 3: Corruption' and looks at the series and the growth it actually needs to receive with the same mindset as Mercury Stwam. The only certainty, however, is that I finally feel safely excited for the franchise for the first time in over a decade.

Metroid Dread Score: 5/6