Current Events > Metroid Dread reviews are going up

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3dykm/metroid-dread-is-stuck-in-the-past-but-the-past-was-awesome

All this is most immediately evident in how Dread attempts to address Metroid's weakest pillar: combat. Whereas games like Hollow Knight and Dead Cells have found ways to center combat and make it a thrilling part of the adventure, in many Metroid games it's an obstacle to be dodged, especially while venturing through an area for the fifth time, or a way to mine energy and missiles. Dread makes Metroid combat far more engaging by bringing over a melee counter attack from Samus Returns, wherein players tap a button when a bright counter indicator appears on screen, prompting Samus to send the enemy into a tizzy and have a chance for a one-hit kill (and way more item drops). It's extremely satisfying to pull off, and is most effectively used in a number of boss battles, where timed counters can lead to outrageous and lavish QTE-style sequences where Samus can inflict a ton of damage.

The best compliment I can give Dread's counter is that I was still finding time to do them with enemies while doing endgame sweeps for secret items, when I was long past the point of actually needing to spend time engaging with them. Hitting the counter remained a blast.

What puts things over the top, though, is Dread making boss fights more than spectacle, but centerpiece moments where you're thinkingand overthinkingevery jump, dodge, and dash. They're hard, and all the time you've spent gathering missiles and energy tanks, which frequently in these games is about discovery rather than usefulness, takes on real importance, because bosses increasingly eat through health. Especially towards the end, fights came down to nearly zero health, with me zipping around on a hope and a prayer that my next missile would land and end things. I've felt that way playing Dead Cells and Hollow Knightor to be very cliche for Waypoint, Dark Souls but Metroid's usually more chill.

https://www.gameinformer.com/review/metroid-dread/metroid-dread-astro-dreadnought

Exploring these foreign locales is continually rewarding thanks to essential upgrades scattered across Planet ZDR like a trail of bread crumbs. The handful of new abilities are incredibly empowering. I especially enjoyed Samus' new storm missiles, which allow her to lock onto multiple targets before unleashing a volley of explosives. Unfortunately, most of Dread's upgrades are old standbys that MercurySteam seemed obligated to include. I recognize that Metroid wouldn't feel the same without the morph ball, which allows Samus to squeeze into narrow vents, but finding this upgrade several hours into a new Metroid game isn't exciting. I wish Samus had started with more of her traditional abilities, leaving room for flashier upgrades. As it is, Metroid Dread feels like it's occasionally retreading old ground, but this is a small disappointment in an otherwise great experience.

Thankfully, Dread does a few things to shake up the old formula, and one of the most significant new additions comes in the form of a new enemy type called E.M.M.I. These Extraplanetary Multiform Mobile Identifiers are powerful robots equipped with an arsenal of gadgets that could make a starship blush. E.M.M.I.s are so sturdy that Samus cannot beat them in a fair fight; she must evade them or hide, using a new cloaking device that grants temporary invisibility. These tense cat and mouse encounters left me sweating, and each time I encountered an E.M.M.I., I felt my stomach drop as I franticly ran for safety.

https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22709647/metroid-dread-review-release-date-nintendo-switch-oled

I find myself enraptured by Metroid Dread in ways I havent felt since 1994s Super Metroid. Im reminded of what it feels like to be left on my own, with no help to guide me, as I scour an unforgiving planet looking for some edge over those hunting me down. Its terrifying and overwhelming, until it finally clicks and I find that Chozo statue with the next missing puzzle piece gripped in its claws.

Dread reimagines the Metroid format with confidence and care, and it trusts the player to make leaps along the way. While following its interwoven path of epic boss fights, satisfying upgrades, and otherworldly environments, all I could think was that this is the Metroid game Ive been waiting for. It easily stands astride the best entries in the series, and I eagerly await a follow-up in the year 2040.

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https://www.ign.com/articles/metroid-dread-review-nintendo-switch
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/review/metroid-dread/

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Im more excited for Disco Elysium in a week or so.

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I kinda regret that I missed out on the Metroid franchise.

when I was a kid, I didn't care too much about video games, so I missed out on the stuff on the NES & SNES.

and when I was older, I tried out Metroid Prime, but it was before I liked first-person games, so I ended up shelving it.

anyway, Dread looks pretty cool, and if I ever get a Switch (or its successor), I hope to try it out.

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Nintenbros... we won AGAIN

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I want to know about the music. To me thats one of the most important parts of Metroid

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g0ldie posted...

I kinda regret that I missed out on the Metroid franchise.

when I was a kid, I didn't care too much about video games, so I missed out on the stuff on the NES & SNES.

and when I was older, I tried out Metroid Prime, but it was before I liked first-person games, so I ended up shelving it.

anyway, Dread looks pretty cool, and if I ever get a Switch (or its successor), I hope to try it out.

The good news is that you can skip Metroid and Metroid II now and play their vastly superior remakes

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I got a lump in my throat reading the Vice review. It sounds like it's just a Metroid game, which is what I've been waiting for.

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Hairy-man posted...

I want to know about the music. To me thats one of the most important parts of Metroid

Game Informer says this about the sound:

Combat effects and boss music get the blood pumping, but the ambient and atmospheric soundtrack is more subdued than previous entries

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Recent Nintendo games have done an excellent job of utilizing music in different ways (from the bombastic orchestras of Odyssey, to the quiet contemplative melodies of BotW, to the energizing pop of Splatoon) so I have faith that the music will lend well to a Metroid-y experience.

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Alpha218 posted...

The good news is that you can skip Metroid and Metroid II now and play their vastly superior remakes

thanks.

I might do this one day.

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Shablagoo posted...

Im more excited for Disco Elysium in a week or so.

Having played the PC version of the final cut, it's amazing
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good feelings so far. real happy to hear the combat is on point.

just gotta hurry up and finish Yakuza 5 so i can jump on this

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Is Disco Elysium a physical release? I'm one of those physical collector cucks

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g0ldie posted...

I kinda regret that I missed out on the Metroid franchise.

when I was a kid, I didn't care too much about video games, so I missed out on the stuff on the NES & SNES.

and when I was older, I tried out Metroid Prime, but it was before I liked first-person games, so I ended up shelving it.

anyway, Dread looks pretty cool, and if I ever get a Switch (or its successor), I hope to try it out.

Like 90% of Metroid fans probably got into the series after Nintendo had basically shelved it and handed it off to Retro or other studios, the games were not hot sellers, excluding the Prime series.

They've aged extremely well, I don't think you miss anything by going back to them now.

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Sounds exactly like what I wanted. The old abilities aren't a negative for me, since they put the abilities in a lot of other Metroidvanias to shame.

Antifar posted...

and I eagerly await a follow-up in the year 2040.

Oof.

teep_ posted...

Having played the PC version of the final cut, it's amazing

Nice, I havent even played the base version yet because my phone and my Switch are the only devices Ive had for the last couple years. Super excited to finally get a crack at it.

Jabodie posted...

Is Disco Elysium a physical release? I'm one of those physical collector cucks

Yes, but not until early 2022. The one releasing on the 12th is digital-only.

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g0ldie posted...

I kinda regret that I missed out on the Metroid franchise.

when I was a kid, I didn't care too much about video games, so I missed out on the stuff on the NES & SNES.

and when I was older, I tried out Metroid Prime, but it was before I liked first-person games, so I ended up shelving it.

anyway, Dread looks pretty cool, and if I ever get a Switch (or its successor), I hope to try it out.

I randomly decided to play Super Metroid for the first time ever back in June, since it is part of the SNES Switch Online. Absolutely loved it. While it feels like an SNES game, it doesnt really feel
dated. I immediately followed it up with Samus Returns and Metroid Fusion. All are fairly short games, so if you really want to give it a try, its very doable.

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Jabodie posted...

Is Disco Elysium a physical release? I'm one of those physical collector cucks

I read the physical release is coming a few months later

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Zero Mission is also on the Wii U virtual console for anyone who wants to go that route.

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"Metroid dread is an excellent 2.5 hour long game"

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g0ldie posted...

I kinda regret that I missed out on the Metroid franchise.

when I was a kid, I didn't care too much about video games, so I missed out on the stuff on the NES & SNES.

and when I was older, I tried out Metroid Prime, but it was before I liked first-person games, so I ended up shelving it.

anyway, Dread looks pretty cool, and if I ever get a Switch (or its successor), I hope to try it out.

It's not too late. Have you ever played Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, or any of the post-SotN games that came out on the GBA? The sense of exploration and powering up is remarkably similar, with the difference being that Castlevania is melee-focused and Metroid focuses on ranged combat.

Metroid: Zero Mission is the one that got me into the games - I've tried to play Super Metroid a couple of times but the controls and sound effects are just kinda weird to go back to. But Zero Mission has aged incredibly gracefully, as both a standalone experience and as an updated remake of the first Metroid game. It came out after the Game Boy Advance line began getting backlights, so it didn't overcompensate for the GBA's original screen with vibrant, exaggerated color palettes like Metroid Fusion or DKC1 did.

Basically what I'm saying is that if the Metroid bug ever hits you, Zero Mission is a solid starting point. Or shit, Dread might go down as the game that matched or exceeded the rest of the side-scrolling games.

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This sounds like exactly what I was hoping for.

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thanks for all the replies.

I'll try to see what's up one of these days.

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Njolk posted...

"Metroid dread is an excellent 2.5 hour long game"

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-long-is-metroid-dread/1100-6496822/?

Even in the nine-hour playthroughs, at most we only managed to collect 49% of the available items.

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Njolk posted...

"Metroid dread is an excellent 2.5 hour long game"

It's shorter? Oh thank fuck. I'm so sick of long ass padded ass horse shit that I get burnt out on a third of the way through

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Smackems posted...

It's shorter? Oh thank fuck. I'm so sick of long ass padded ass horse shit that I get burnt out on a third of the way through

No, he's trolling

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These games always feel a lot longer than what the playtime says

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EndOfDiscOne posted...

These games always feel a lot longer than what the playtime says

You mean shorter

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Gwynevere posted...

No, he's trolling

I know

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where timed counters can lead to outrageous and lavish QTE-style sequences where Samus can inflict a ton of damage.

This is not engendering confidence.

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I've been a metroid fan since I played fusion on my GBA at 10 years old and have since played every other game probably a half dozen times... I'm unbelievably hyped for Dread and have wanted a sequel to fusion for 15 years!

Alpha218 posted...

The good news is that you can skip Metroid and Metroid II now and play their vastly superior remakes

Messages like this kill my hype. The only reason I would skip those games as a Metroid fan is because Ive played them to death already. I can practically boot up the game in my head at this point, pixel for pixel. When I was a kid, I just wasnt good enough to get through them without help tho. So, for me, Zero Mission is a great babys first Metroid and its fun to go back & play...... It can be a great way to break into series.... But it isnt the type of game fans are willing to take that big, deep dive over. Metroid I & II, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, and Metroid Prime are those games. Its easy to rep Zero Mission. Zero Mission is a great game. But nobody actually obsessed over it.

Samus Returns did fix a lot of problems from II, but it also tried to fix things that arent a problem, and they ended up making a bright & colorful game full of arbitrary fantasy designs from Zero Mission creating new puzzles in esoteric arrangements. Its cute. But it also defeats the purpose. While they made combat smoother, the world is full of hitches, so you actually end up standing around twiddling your thumb up your nose much more often than in the real Metroid II as a consequence. Its a great game.....

but the original was better. At the end of day, we were just upset it was on the GameBoy and not our TVs.

Xethuminra posted...

Messages like this kill my hype. The only reason I would skip those games as a Metroid fan is because Ive played them to death already. I can practically boot up the game in my head at this point, pixel for pixel. When I was a kid, I just wasnt good enough to get through them without help tho. So, for me, Zero Mission is a great babys first Metroid and its fun to go back & play...... It can be a great way to break into series.... But it isnt the type of game fans are willing to take that big, deep dive over. Metroid I & II, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, and Metroid Prime are those games. Its easy to rep Zero Mission. Zero Mission is a great game. But nobody actually obsessed over it.

Samus Returns did fix a lot of problems from II, but it also tried to fix things that arent a problem, and they ended up making a bright & colorful game full of arbitrary fantasy designs from Zero Mission creating new puzzles in esoteric arrangements. Its cute. But it also defeats the purpose. While they made combat smoother, the world is full of hitches, so you actually end up standing around twiddling your thumb up your nose much more often than in the real Metroid II as a consequence. Its a great game.....

but the original was better. At the end of day, we were just upset it was on the GameBoy and not our TVs.

For any newcomers to the franchise that are in this topic and read this post: please please PLEASE ignore this contrarian opinion and play the remakes over the originals.

DavidZ2844 posted...

For any newcomers to the franchise that are in this topic and read this post: please please PLEASE ignore this contrarian opinion and play the remakes over the originals.

Its not a contest, dude.

They can play all 4 if they want. Zero Mission & Samus Returns didnt exactly birth a new genre.

Thats actually how I feel. I play Metroid. Is that actually how you feel? If so, well okkaaaayyy

Xethuminra posted...

Its not a contest, dude.

They can play all 4 if they want. Zero Mission & Samus Returns didnt exactly birth a new genre.

Im not saying it is. Its just a great way to turn off newcomers to the franchise to have them play the most archaic, outdated, and frustrating games of the series first.

Maybe go back and play those after getting into franchise to get an appreciation for them and what they did to gaming, but even then I personally wouldnt do that (as a huge fan of the series).

DavidZ2844 posted...

Im not saying it is. Its just a great way to turn off newcomers to the franchise to have them play the most archaic, outdated, and frustrating games of the series first.

Maybe go back and play those after getting into franchise to get an appreciation for them and what they did to gaming, but even then I personally wouldnt do that (as a huge fan of the series).

Thats what I said. Zero Mission is a great way to break into the series.

As a lifelong Metroid fan, I will not say its the better game.

Lets be real though and apply the official Nintendo Handicap score correction

If they give it a 9 or 10- Subtract 1 point

8 or below- subtract 2 points

Now you have what score the game would get in reviews if it wasn't a nintendo game

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Xethuminra posted...

Thats what I said. Zero Mission is a great way to break into the series.

As a lifelong Metroid fan, I will not say its the better game.

as a longtime metroid fan, i would say ZM is the better game

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krazychao5 posted...

as a longtime metroid fan, i would say ZM is the better game

Im curious as to how. Take away Prime, and it sinks.

Metroid games have a very flexible playtime. The games are known for inspiring a lot of sequence breaking, and people try to complete the game with the lowest completion percentage possible. It wouldn't surprise me if you could beat Metroid Dread in two and a half hours. It wouldn't surprise me if people could nail down a speedrun that takes less than an hour.

What matters is that there are collectibles and secrets and stuff that make exploring the map and replaying the game interesting, satisfying and fun. Because what I love about Metroid is exploring the map, finding hidden shit and powering up Samus.

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So looking forward to playing this game. I can finally brush off the dust from my switch.

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Ill be honest, i wasnt expecting the game to be that good.

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Oh this thread:

Afterthought:

Metroid 1 was genre defining. Metroid II solidified what we see as the style, and Super Metroid won the Golden Ticket to Everythingland lol. Basically.

Zero Mission....... Zero Mission....... Zero Mission. Its a great game! Wouldnt replay it immediately after beating it any time except maybe the first time & a few others just because hey, lets see what thats like. Definitely wouldnt go exploring too hard. If you use a guide it easily becomes a one and done. Its legacy is Other M. Amazing game tho. Should be in anyones top ten Metroid. But its sort of a gimmick game...... Its almost like a visual novel version of Metroid that actually plays exactly like Metroid. If youve never done a Metroid game, this should be your first. Boy, I love Metroid!

cuh posted...

With my current level of anxiety, this would kill me

It's giving me Alien Isolation vibes with that description alone.

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Zero Mission: its fun because its the original. Cant imagine more like that

Got the notification that Amazon have dispatched my copy. Hopefully it will be sat waiting for me when I get in from work tomorrow.

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