Review of Metroid Dread: Samus makes a real comeback
Our Verdict
Metroid Dread doesn't break the mold, but it's a solid Metroidvania that will please fans new and old alike
We haven't really had a new Metroid in a while, do you think? Eleven years, to be exact—and no, I'm not include the highly criticized Federation Force or the remake Samus Returns. It is best to keep that subject quiet. The bland Other M was the last real Metroid, but a decent Metroid may be found even farther back in the Metroid Prime trilogy. Even so, there are still complications since it was a reworking rather than an extension of the original story.
No, Zero Mission on the GBA was the last official Metroid game released 17 years ago, and a lot has happened since then. There has been a whole rebirth of the genre, and Hollow Knight is now perhaps the best of them all, despite fierce competition from titles like Axiom Verge, Ori, and Bloodstained. So the issue still stands: in this bright new world, where does Metroid fit in?
I needn't have worried, however, after devoting a significant amount of time to Metroid Dread. With a few more bells and whistles from Samus Returns, it's a good Metroidvania that continues where Zero Mission left off.
It has a shallow storyline, similar to every Metroid, and the trailer pretty much tells you everything you need to know. You have to battle for your life after landing on a planet where there is a terrifying new menace. When we say "scary," we mean it. The EMMI, your new opponent, are almost unstoppable and will stop at nothing to bring you down.
The game seems to have been built around the eponymous Dread, which is extremely apparent. Tension abounds in the gloomy and dreary settings, which look amazing on the Switch OLED. It's an unpleasant experience in the best of ways because of the many foes out to harm you, the ominous backgrounds that have a startling habit of coming to life when you least expect it, and the eerie music that keeps your heart racing.
You're therefore already at your limit when you do come upon an EMMI. You only come across them in designated zones, so it's never a surprise, but it doesn't make the horror any less real. They are impossible to kill, and you often have no idea where you're headed. Either you'll manage to slip past without being seen, or you'll make a crazy run for the closest escape. You can live if you're caught, but it's really difficult.
Regular foes are also no pushovers; to defeat them, you'll need to use every technique in your repertoire. When you face a new adversary, you feel anxious as you try to figure out their attack pattern and take advantage of it. However, later on, when you conquer prior sections and defeat adversaries with little thinking, this anxiety intensifies.
The remainder is essentially typical Metroid. You explore, come across impassable barriers, and find a new item that enables you to go on. Repeat after rinsing. However, the routine is really well-balanced, introducing new skills and maneuvers to you bit by little without ever overwhelming you. It gives you a feeling of forward momentum that enables you to continue moving ahead even when you lose your way and forget what you were meant to be accomplishing.
Both your greatest ally and your deadliest opponent is your map. Almost everything you come across, including upgrades, recharging stations, and save points, is marked on your map so you may return later when you're better prepared to discover it if you uncover anything you can't get. All of this is rather comforting, but the map soon becomes cluttered and becomes more of a burden than a help.
But the real highlights are the bosses. Although you can beat them, they're never nearly as scary as the EMMI, but it was always fun to figure out their assault patterns and take use of them. Although I haven't yet encountered one that really bothers me, it doesn't really matter when you're up against unbeatable opponents all the time.
But let's get down to it: in 2021, is Metroid still relevant? Yes, is the response. Although Dread remains faithful to the tried-and-true template and doesn't offer anything new, it's still a well-balanced Metroidvania that will satisfy fans who have been waiting 17 years for Samus's real return.