Intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran lands on a new planet to get to the bottom of a new, life-threatening mystery. She is immediately confronted by a powerful creature that destroys her high-tech suit.
She survives, but must start the journey further without all the aids she has received in the ten previous games in this series. And if you’ve been to a “Metroid” game before, you probably know what to expect.
ICONIC GAME HERO: In 1986, Nintendo shocked fans by waiting for the revelation that Samus Aran is a woman until the end of “Metroid”. In 2021, she is cooler and more iconic than ever.
Photo: MERCURYSTEAM / NINTENDO
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Metroidvania
“Metroid Dread” is an exercise in finding your way through a maze of locked doors and inaccessible areas. As you get new upgrades, you can return. This formula is simply called «metroidvania», After Nintendo’s” Metroid “and Konami’s” Castlevania “from 1986.
You see it in indie classics like «Ori and the Blind Forest»And« Hollow Knight ». You see it in more unexpected places like «
Returnal
», «Dark Souls»And«Batman: Arkham Asylum»Also. But the developers in Mercurysteam and Nintendo EPD show with “Metroid Dread” who is the queen of back and forth. It is the character Samus Aran who is the mother of this formula.
Some are frustrated by all the locked doors and inaccessible areas. But I feel a bubbling joy.
After all, the “Metroid” series is my absolute favorite from Nintendo.
DANGEROUS TO LIFE: “Metroid Dread” is built around elements from the horror genre. Samus is being hunted by seemingly immortal, life-threatening robots.
Photo: MERCURYSTEAM / NINTENDO
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HECTIC BOSS BATTLES: Occasionally in “Metroid Dread” you meet huge and very cool bosses.
Photo: MERCURYSTEAM / NINTENDO
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PROGRESSION: You see these blue walls all the time on your way forward in “Metroid Dread”, but it is only when you get a special upgrade that you can use them.
Photo: MERCURYSTEAM / NINTENDO
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QUICK REACTIONS: If you time it right, you can dispatch enemies in cash by pressing a button at exactly the right time.
Photo: MERCURYSTEAM / NINTENDO
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Confusing maze
From being vulnerable and limited, Samus Aran is getting tougher and tougher with each new upgrade. I gradually get better and better control of the life-threatening environment. In the end, the huge, confusing map has become mitt rich. I am familiar with every nook and cranny. Here it is I who is the boss.
A feeling of mastery develops and a joy of discovery few games can match.
Besides, we finally get an actual continuation of the “Metroid” story. For the last 20 years, we have jumped back in time with the “Metroid Prime” games and with the series’ black sheep, “Metroid: Other M”. We have also received excellent new versions of the first two games in this series with the unique “Metroid: Zero Mission” in 2004 and Mercurysteam’s beautiful “Metroid: Samus Returns” on the 3DS in 2017.
But the saga of Samus Aran has not been continued after “Metroid Fusion” on Game Boy Advance. It came out 19 years ago!
MYSTERIOUS: A lot of tough sci-fi mystery awaits in «Metroid Dread».
Photo: MERCURYSTEAM / NINTENDO
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LABYRINT: The maze-like map in “Metroid Dread” grows bigger and bigger throughout the game. Here you can plan your route and get an overview of the chaos.
Photo: MERCURYSTEAM / NINTENDO
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STYLISH ENVIRONMENTS: “Metroid Dread” carries its 2D heritage with pride. But the environments are stylish and contemporary.
Photo: MERCURYSTEAM / NINTENDO
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Minimalist story
It is therefore nice to be able to report that the story in “Metroid Dread” is probably the best in the series. It is still minimalist and straightforward, just so it is mentioned, but it builds up a tension and a nerve that is extremely successful.
The main reason for this is the horror elements of the game. You are being chased by immortal robots you have to play cat and mouse with.
The fantastic soundscape – for a music! – and the great visual expression reinforces the feeling of being in danger of death.
And behind all this: the mystery of what in the world is going on on this planet, and what the connection is to Samus.
The developers have also been incredibly good at lifting Samus as an iconic game hero. The way she is framed in the cinematic sequences – her cash, confident movements and the way they are animated – she is super cool throughout. It was clear that the Spanish studio Mercurysteam understand Metroid in their “Samus Returns” in 2017. In the new “Metroid Dread”, their love for Samus Aran is in full bloom.
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Formula-bound
It’s formula bound so it holds. The innovations are more nuances in the way the story and the environments are presented than big grips with the actual gaming experience. In other words, “Metroid Dread” does not surpass “Metroid: Zero Mission” or “Super Metroid”, but it is definitely up there.
“Metroid Dread” is an extremely engaging exercise in feeling gradually cooler and cooler and cooler until my aging gaming heart almost explodes with pure gaming happiness.
It’s unreal enough the game I’ve been longing for since “Fusion” and “Zero Mission” on Game Boy Advance. It is just so effortlessly stylish and indisputable bra as this series can and should be.
For it is 27 years since “Super Metroid”, the previous fantastic “Metroid” experience in 2D for large screens. 27 years!
I bathe in the delicious feeling of being newly in love.
“Metroid Dread” launches on Nintendo Switch on Friday, October 8.
Hi!
I am a freelancer and write about games for NRK. On a daily basis, I work in Level Up Norway through the production company Buffkitten AS. If you want to read more about games, I can recommend my reviews of the great games «Returnal»And«It Takes Two».
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All reviews and recommendations from NRK can be found at nrk.no/anmeldelser.
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In the same way that Super Metroid paved the way for SOTN and future generations of great metroidvanias, Metroid Dread has set the new bar for the following generations of metroidvanias and I’m excited about it! This game really makes you feel like Metroid. Good review