As a lifelong Metroid fan, I can confidently say that Dread is already one of the best entries in the series. Worth picking picking a Switch up to play it, IMO. Metroid fans have been waiting for this game since 2004!
I’m glad you said 2004, when Zero Mission came out, instead of 2002, when Fusion was released.
Fusion is the previous game in the mainline Metroid series, but…I never liked it. It felt slow and clunky compared to Super Metroid. The SA-X scenes were uncompromising and required memorization to get through. It was also more linear from what I saw, with seemingly arbitrary access restrictions instead of solid level design, but I never finished it so I cannot say for sure.
Zero Mission was “the original Metroid game, remastered with modern features and new content.” As a huge Super Metroid fan, it was exactly what I had desired when I bought Fusion.
Dread takes the “unbeatable adversary” mechanic from Fusion and greatly improves upon it. The EMMIs are smart and deadly, and they have killed me dozens of times, but it never feels unfair like the SA-X did. I haven’t finished it yet, but it feels like it’s taken the best parts of the best 2D Metroids, current gaming sensibilities and expectations, modern hardware capabilities, and rolled them into a great game.
I haven't finished it yet because kids and stupid responsibility gets in my way, but I'm blown away by how much Nintendo can get out of that underpowered device. A few moments of slow-down here and there but Metroid Dread's mood and sound is stunning given the device's specs.
It's way shorter, somewhat easier, more straightforward, and more expensive than Hollow Knight. Depending on how much time you have, all but the last of these can be pros.
Flip side the shorter playtime allows replayability. I love hollow knight but it is such a time investment I've only played through it 2x and I bought it not long after it came out. Dread I've already completed 4 runs and about to start a 5th so I can 100% every zone (the only thing I have left to get all the art unlocks and "complete" the game).
tshell|4 years ago
filoeleven|4 years ago
Fusion is the previous game in the mainline Metroid series, but…I never liked it. It felt slow and clunky compared to Super Metroid. The SA-X scenes were uncompromising and required memorization to get through. It was also more linear from what I saw, with seemingly arbitrary access restrictions instead of solid level design, but I never finished it so I cannot say for sure.
Zero Mission was “the original Metroid game, remastered with modern features and new content.” As a huge Super Metroid fan, it was exactly what I had desired when I bought Fusion.
Dread takes the “unbeatable adversary” mechanic from Fusion and greatly improves upon it. The EMMIs are smart and deadly, and they have killed me dozens of times, but it never feels unfair like the SA-X did. I haven’t finished it yet, but it feels like it’s taken the best parts of the best 2D Metroids, current gaming sensibilities and expectations, modern hardware capabilities, and rolled them into a great game.
ryneandal|4 years ago
bla3|4 years ago
It's way shorter, somewhat easier, more straightforward, and more expensive than Hollow Knight. Depending on how much time you have, all but the last of these can be pros.
runevault|4 years ago