REVIEW: Metroid Dread is simply amazing 5w2

After almost 19 years since the release of the last 2D chapter of the Metroid franchise, Nintendo and MercurySteam, after the great work of this company in the development of Metroid: Samus Returns for the 3DS (Remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus, from Game Boy ), forces to produce Metroid dread. The work paid off, and the game is everything a longtime fan of the series could want, with several references to previous games and an almost flawless execution. Meanwhile, new players have every reason to become Metroid fans. 2v234g

a long wait 3s2m4g

Fans have been waiting for a new “classic” Metroid for a long time. In 2002, Nintendo developed and distributed the fourth installment in the series, called Metroid Fusion. Released for the Game Boy Advance, the game had, as expected, two-dimensional graphics and a side view. Although it was a beautiful game (and excellent, that is to say) for the platform, it was below the cutting edge technology available at the time.

Since then, all games in the series have been three-dimensional. There was the Metroid Prime sub-franchise—which yielded two games for the GameCube, one for the Wii, and one for the Nintendo DS—with a first-person view, and Metroid: Other M, which merged side-view and first-person styles. However, they all fit together chronologically before Fusion, and the last release had been in 2010, and it didn't please most fans.

Six years have ed and the series returns on Nintendo 3DS with Metroid Prime: Federation Force, but with a very different gameplay style and dubious quality, which earned it heavy reviews. Finally, in an agreement with MercurySteam, Nintendo releases Metroid: Samus Returns, also for the 3DS, but this time the result is a well-made game that garnered positive reviews. Still, it was a remake, not a new chapter in Samus' story.

It is in this context that Metroid dread. With the quality of the previous title, MercurySteam received the green light to develop for the Nintendo Switch what would finally become the sequel to Metroid Fusion, and four years later a game is released that meets all expectations, whether in of visuals , in gameplay or story.

direct sequence 554l54

Anyone who is unfamiliar with the franchise, or hasn't played Metroid Fusion, won't be lost with the story of Metroid dread, because the game begins, through some arts, explaining the events of the previous title, and consequently provides the necessary information for the understanding of what justifies the new game.

With the demise of Metroid Fusion, it was believed that the parasite X — a dangerous organism that can take the form of those it infects — had gone extinct. What is the surprise of the Galactic Federation, a kind of space police, to receive from an anonymous sender a video of a live specimen of Parasite X. The Federation then sends seven EMMI robots to the planet ZDR to investigate what was happening, but soon loses with the machines.

Samus, then, being immune to Parasite X, thanks to the metroid DNA that was linked to her own, descends to the planet to help the Federation discover what was behind those events. During her descent, she is attacked (and therefore loses almost all of her abilities) by a creature Chozo, the race that created her and gave her the armor she wears in every game. Questions are asked, and answers are given as Metroid dread unfolds.

A masterpiece 583m6o

As the name of the game already shows, Metroid dread is a perfect example of Metroidvania, a game style that got its name because it was invented and popularized by the Metroid and Castlevania franchises. In this genre, the player is dropped on a vast map that has several interconnected areas, and the available skills allow very limited interaction with the scenario and its elements. When acquiring new skills, the player must return to areas already traveled to open paths to new ones.

The planet ZDR, which Samus explores in Metroid dread, has an intricate map that is very well designed and poses a challenge in itself, with the fauna of the various places that the heroine knows loose and posing as obstacles to be overcome. Environments are not only the nature of the planet, but also highly technological facilities used to manipulate areas, such as opening ages or bringing water to a certain point.

The many secrets — items and abilities — seem to have been meticulously hidden throughout ZDR. Most of them aren't mandatory, but they empower Samus to make it easier (or less difficult) to explore the planet's dangerous environments. Players who want to dedicate themselves to completing the game at 100% will spend considerable time finding all the secrets. Fortunately Dread has the most detailed and informative map in the franchise.

Like a good Metroid, in Dread the player has to go through the same areas several times, which can sound boring. However, the connections between the different areas of the game are scattered all over the place. Add to that the precise control that the player has of Samus, which has an exquisite animation and fast movements, and going back and forth through the scenarios is not a tiring task, even if it is necessary to defeat the same enemies repeatedly.

Note the high difficulty of Metroid dread. The total amount of enemies in the game is large, and each one has its own ways of attacking Samus, with emphasis on the merciless boss battles, which can last for several minutes and require close attention to the movements of each one of them. The player must always be aware of his growing arsenal to use it optimally.

For combat, MercurySteam has reused welcome additions from Metroid: Samus Returns. In the 3DS game, Samus can aim in any direction, and even has a counter move that, if used at the right moment, defeats enemies quickly. Such additions contrast with the limited gameplay of older games and make Metroid Dread a very enjoyable game to play.

Nintendo Switch well used 2su1y

right at start Metroid dread, it is evident the good work that the developers have given to the game, which is extremely beautiful. The character models are very detailed, especially Samus, who, as we said, has beautiful animations. The scenarios have great light effects, highlighting the heroine's armor glow in dark environments, as well as dust particle effects, gunshots or just the impression of heat and cold in some places. The pre-rendered scenes (CGIs) also stand out for being well done, and it's common to long for the next scene as the adventure progresses.

Metroid dread runs at a resolution of 1600x900p when connected to the television. Even though it's not Full HD, the maximum resolution ed by Nintendo Switch, the game is pleasant to watch. It was certainly a good decision by the developers, as Dread maintains itself at 60 frames per second for most of the time, with occasional drops in performance, but nothing that interferes with the gaming experience.

When played in handheld mode, the game runs at 1280x720p resolution, the maximum that the Switch's screen s. There is a slight reduction in the graphic quality of the game, mainly in the level of detail of objects, but as the display is done on a small screen, the image is equally beautiful.

Another highlight is the use of HD Rumble, the vibration system of the Nintendo Switch controls. In many situations the feeling of holding the Joy-Cons is different, like the shots given by Samus or her heartbeat when health is low or an EMMI is close.

The game's audio is also a very positive point. Even though the soundtrack Metroid dread isn't epic, or good enough to be heard outside of the game's context, it helps set the right tone of desolation and action. Plus, it's one of the few Nintendo Switch games to make use of sound. surround, which makes a difference when using a home theater ou soundbar of qualitye.

Who are the EMMIs? 3p62d

The Galactic Federation sent seven robots to the planet ZDR to investigate the existence of a living specimen of Parasite X. These robots are the EMMI, machines built with the most resistant materials known in the universe and capable of collecting samples from creatures and extracting DNA from them. Once they reach the surface of ZDR, the Federation loses with them.

When Samus arrives on the planet, she is pursued by EMMI, each of them with different behavioral characteristics and patrolling specific areas of the game's map. Upon entering any of these areas, the region's EMMI begins to search for Samus tirelessly, and these moments create a tense atmosphere, since none of Samus' weapons is capable of defeating the robots, which need only one attack to kill our heroin.

These moments of Metroid dread they are like a game of cat and mouse, in which Samus is the easy prey. To get rid of the EMMI, the player needs to move away from the robots - which can hear the noise made by Samus's walking -, in addition to using an ability (the Phantom Cloak, or Phantom Cloak) that camouflages the character so that it is not View. Worth an explanation of how this skill works.

The Phantom Cape is new to the franchise, and is one of the Aeion abilities (another Metroid: Samus Returns import). In order to use it, the Aeion gauge must be full, and it is depleted when the player uses it. If the bar is empty, using the skill will consume Samus' health. When you stop using it, the player needs to move to recharge the Aeion bar, which can draw EMMI from the region closer to Samus and consequently, a chase ensues.

It's a smart way to make the player use the skill well, while creating moments of great tension, since the only way out is to run away. Once Samus is reached by EMMI, there is a very short time for the player to counter the robot's attack, but it's not easy to get the exact moment right. The result is many screens of Game Over, but luckily the game returns to the point just before the EMMI area

At some point Samus manages to build up enough strength to defeat each and every EMMI, and it's interesting to see her go from prey to predator — which doesn't mean destroying them is an easy task, though. It is worth mentioning that the EMMIs are one of the highlights of the journey, but at the same time they are one (and perhaps the only) negative point of Metroid Dread, because at a given moment the robots start to keep very close to Samus. Therefore, the slightest movement is enough to start a chase, which ends in many defeats, and becomes quite frustrating.

An interesting reference deserves to be said. One of designer Gunpei Yokoi's inspirations when he created the first Metroid in 1986 was the space science fiction Alien, The Eighth enger, directed by Ridley Scott. Yokoi paid tribute to the filmmaker by naming Ridley as the name of Samus' archenemy. The EMMI chases are reminiscent of the film's crew fleeing the Alien.

Bring on Metroid Prime 4 and Metroid 6 4i431v

The Metroid dread can be finished in a few hours, especially for those who play it more than once, since the secrets will no longer be secret. However, players who want to collect all the optional in-game items are sure to have a longer playtime than many beloved games in the industry.

The care that the development team took with the gameplay of Metroid dread will make the game not get dated anytime soon, and it will certainly be well enjoyed even by players who decide to give it a chance only in the next few years. With the large number of independent games of the genre Metroidvania and with great quality available on the market today, Dread doesn't revolutionize the style, but it has the potential to be as cult as Super Metroid, the most beloved game in the series.

Retro Studios, which is currently developing Metroid Prime 4 for the Nintendo Switch, is now under pressure to release a title as good as Metroid dread. And that this pearl guarantees the development of “Metroid 6” — preferably in under 19 years.

Metroid dread can be found by BRL 299,00 at Nuuvem, in digital gift card format, and can be paid in up to 10 interest-free installments on your credit card.

Curious to know more about the universe of this franchise? How about delving into Metroid history?

The Story of Metroid, Nintendo's Space Franchise