Metroid Dread

Both Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda might be celebrating not insignificant anniversaries this year, but it’s the Metroid series that Nintendo is showing some unexpected love to in the second half of 2021.

Metroid Dread is a superb entry into one of Nintendo's most beloved franchises.

Metroid Dread sees the galaxy's best bounty hunter return in fine form. It takes the terror of being hunted from Metroid Fusion, the more modern direction of Samus Returns, and the freedom to add to the series' decades of lore to create something that's nigh on essential for Metroid fans.

It’s hard to believe Metroid Dread is the first original 2D game in the series since Metroid Fusion was released in 2002. Appropriately, Dread picks up where Fusion left off both in story and in gameplay. Longtime fans of the series will be immediately gripped with a feeling of familiarity as Samus explores the mysterious planet ZDR.

Metroid Dread is yet another fantastic return to form for Samus. ZDR is an absolute blast to explore with secrets everywhere and satisfying bosses to fight. However, the game is held back by some strange design decisions, areas that blend together, and controls that are far too complicated.

The Metroid series is largely defined by its haunting atmosphere and ominous tone. Inspired by the Alien film franchise and the works of H.R. Giger, Metroid has always been only a few steps removed from the horror genre. Metroid Dread inches the series even closer. The moment Samus sets foot on Planet ZDR, she becomes prey. Every deadly creature – and machine – in the world is hungry for Samus' blood, and she is trapped miles below the planet's surface, far from her ship. And, the only way out is through the barrel of her arm cannon. While Samus' latest adventure delivers the classic explorati...

It's been an exceptionally long time but we finally have a new Metroid game and the action-packed Dread is certainly one of the best.

Metroid Dread is not only an excellent game and return of a beloved franchise, it’s emblematic of everything that defined the genre in the first place in a way that many modern Metroidvanias simply aren’t. Its exploration, upgrading, and re-exploration are never spoonfed to you and feel constantly like great accomplishments with great difficulty scaling and thrilling new mechanics and atmosphere.

Metroid Dread feels like a celebration of 2D Metroid. It manages to stay true to the original games, whilst also introducing some new elements that keeps things feeling fresh. The game is held back by some questionable level design, the E.M.M.I feeling repetitive and a definite knowledge barrier for series newcomers.

Metroid Dread is hard, but it's hard in a really good way. The kind of way that makes you sometimes want to toss your controller, but doubles your resolve while doing so. It's smooth, quick, and makes Samus feel fast and powerful as much as it possibly can without turning into an action platformer

Metroid Dread was a game 15 years in the making, and it was well worth that wait. Full of great visuals, fun enemies, new powers, and a true sense of fear via the E.M.M.I. robots, you’re going to want to try this title for yourself, and then recommend it to others.

The wait for the final chapter in the Metroid timeline has expired. Metroid Dread faithfully re-immerses players in the 2D "Search Action" experience that made the franchise so influential to the gaming world. With a newfound emphasis on terror and isolation, what kind of dangers lie in wait for Samus to combat?