Metroid Dread

Metroid Dread is the fifth installment of the main series under the Metroid brand and the sequel to Metroid Fusion. The game began life back in the early years of the 21st century, but the developers were forced to abandon the project due to technological limitations. Eventually, the game was created as the result of a collaboration between Nintendo and the Mercury Steam Entertainment, which previously helped with the development of Metroid: Samus Returns.

Plot

Metroid Dread continues the story of Samus Aran, a space bounty hunter with a long history with the dangerous (and formally extinct) Metroid race. The heroine travels to the planet ZDR, attracted by a mysterious transmission sent to the Galactic Federation. While there, she has to face not only dangerous life forms, but also merciless machines called E.M.M.I.

The developers also wanted the new Metroid to appeal to those with no prior knowledge of the series. Therefore, Dread does not require you to know the previous installments - the events of those were presented in the prologue.

Mechanics

In many ways, Metroid Dread is a classic representative of metroidvania - a genre that owes the series half of its name. So it is a two-dimensional (actually 2.5D) action game with platform games elements, in which instead of separate levels we have many interconnected locations. In these we find enemies to defeat, but also various obstacles. Some of them initially prevent access to certain places, but over time Samus gains access to new abilities, not only useful in combat, but also opening new paths.

The several years that have passed since the release of the last 2D Metroid have also resulted in a handful of gameplay modifications. Metroid Dread expands on the mechanics known from Fusion, modifying older abilities and weapons and adding more. This includes temporary reinforcements and camouflage, which comes in handy against the new threat of E.M.M.I. These robots patrol single locations, and when they spot Samus they immediately begin pursuit. Her standard weapons can't stop the machines, so Samus must either escape or avoid detection by the E.M.M.I.

Technical aspects

Although Metroid Dread uses a perspective typical of 2D games, the developers have abandoned 2D graphics in favor of 3D models and locations. Thanks to this, from time to time we can look at the game world from the protagonist's perspective or from behind her back (for example while using certain abilities). The game is kept in a gloomy, futuristic style: vivid colors are rare here, but "dirty" locations and monstrous enemies are the order of the day. Like Metroid Fusion, the game also builds a creepy atmosphere with atmospheric music. There are also some audiovisual touches worthy of a modern day production, such as sound that changes underwater and a variety of special effects.