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Metroid Dread
Developer(s)MercurySteam
Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)
  • Jose Luis Márquez
  • Fumi Hayashi
Producer(s)Yoshio Sakamoto
Designer(s)
  • Jose Maria Navarro Herrera
  • Carlos Zarzuela Sánchez
  • Jacobo Luengo
Programmer(s)Fernando Zazo
Artist(s)Jorge Benedito Chicharro
Composer(s)
SeriesMetroid
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
ReleaseOctober 8, 2021
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Metroid Dread[a] is an action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD, released on October 8, 2021, for the Nintendo Switch. Players control bounty hunter Samus Aran as she faces a robotic enemy on the planet ZDR. It retains the side-scrolling gameplay of previous 2D Metroid games and adds stealth elements.

Dread was conceived as a Nintendo DS game in the mid-2000s, but was canceled due to technical limitations. Industry commentators expressed interest in a new 2D Metroid game, and listed Dread in their "most wanted" lists. After their work on Metroid: Samus Returns in 2017, Metroid producer Yoshio Sakamoto appointed MercurySteam to develop Dread, the first original side-scrolling Metroid game since Metroid Fusion (2002). Nintendo announced the game at E3 2021. It received generally favorable reviews from critics and audiences.

Gameplay

Metroid Dread is an action-adventure game in which players control bounty hunter Samus Aran as she explores the planet ZDR. It retains the side-scrolling gameplay of previous Metroid games, alongside the free aim and melee attacks added in Samus Returns (2017). Samus can also slide and cling to blue surfaces.[1]

Dread adds stealth elements, with Samus avoiding the almost indestructible EMMI robots by hiding, reducing her noise, and using the Phantom Cloak, camouflage that reduces her noise but slows her movement. If an EMMI robot catches Samus, the player has two extremely brief chances to perform melee counters and escape. If they fail, Samus is killed and the player faces a game over, emphasizing the need to avoid detection. EMMIs can only be destroyed when Samus obtains the temporary "Omega Blaster" upgrade, which is lost upon using it to destroy one.[1]

Plot

Metroid
Story chronology
Main series in bold, remakes in parentheses
[2][3]

The Galactic Federation receives video evidence that the X, a dangerous species of parasite that can mimic any creature it infects, still exist on the remote planet of ZDR (the X having thought to have gone extinct after the events of Metroid Fusion). They dispatch research robots called E.M.M.I. (Extraplanetary Multiform Mobile Identifier) to ZDR to investigate, but lose contact with them shortly after. The Federation then sends Samus Aran to ZDR to investigate. Upon arriving at ZDR, Samus encounters a Chozo warrior who defeats her in combat and strips her of most of her abilities. After waking up, Samus is instructed by her ship's computer, Adam, to escape to the surface of ZDR and return to her ship. While exploring ZDR, Samus is attacked by one of the E.M.M.I. robots, which have been hacked and are now hostile. She escapes and discovers one of the planet's central units, from which she absorbs a mysterious energy that allows her to temporarily gain the ability to destroy the E.M.M.I. and regain some of her abilities in the process.

In the region of Ferenia, Samus is ambushed and nearly captured by one of the E.M.M.I., but is saved by a Chozo named Quiet Robe, who deactivates the E.M.M.I. Quiet Robe explains that in the past, two Chozo tribes, the scientific Thoha and warrior Mawkin, banded together to capture the Metroids on SR388, with the Thoha tribe (using their ability to control and command the Metroids that the Mawkin tribe do not posses) intending to destroying them. However, Raven Beak, the leader of the Mawkin, wished to use the Metroids as a bioweapon to conquer the galaxy, slaughtered the Thoha tribe except for Quiet Robe so the Metroids could still be controlled, and planned on using ZDR as a base of operations to house Metroids, but was forced to put his plans on hold to contain an X infestation that resulted from an infected Chozo soldier. During which, Samus eradicated the Metroids from SR388, driving them to extinction. He then explains that Raven Beak reprogrammed the E.M.M.I. units and lured Samus to ZDR so that he could extract the Metroid DNA implanted in her during the events of Fusion, which would allow him to revive the Metroids. Quiet Robe opens a barrier to allow Samus to progress before he is assassinated by one of Raven Beak's soldiers. Adam encourages Samus to confront Raven Beak and defeat him before destroying ZDR.

In the Elun region, Samus encounters the X parasites once again and inadvertently releases them into the rest of the planet, with one of the X possessing Quiet Robe's corpse which reactivates the remaining E.M.M.I. Samus eventually arrives on the surface, where she is attacked by the last of the E.M.M.I.; she destroys it by sapping its energy with her left hand, which Adam reveals is a result of Samus gaining the same energy-draining abilities that Metroids possess from the Metroid DNA implanted in her, and is slowly becoming a Metroid herself.

At the floating fortress of Itorash, Samus confronts Raven Beak, who reveals that he spared her during their first encounter so that she would awaken her Metroid powers, at which point he would clone her to create an army of Metroid warriors (It is also implied that Raven Beak implanted his own DNA into Samus during her childhood). Samus battles Raven Beak and is nearly killed by him, but the Metroid abilities within her grant her incredible power. Samus violently attacks Raven Beak, draining energy from Itorash and causing the fortress to crash into ZDR. Raven Beak survives the crash, but is shortly thereafter infected by an X Parasite, and Samus uses her newfound powers to destroy him. ZDR begins to self-destruct, so Samus returns to her ship, but is unable to use it due to her energy-draining Metroid powers. The X Parasite possessing Quiet Robe appears and willingly lets itself be absorbed in order to neutralize Samus' Metroid abilities, allowing her to escape the planet before it explodes.

Development

Early efforts

Metroid creator Yoshio Sakamoto at the 2010 Game Developers Conference

Metroid producer Yoshio Sakamoto conceived Metroid Dread as a Nintendo DS sequel to Metroid Fusion.[4] It came from the concept of having Samus followed by "dread" on an unfamiliar planet.[5] Sakamoto's inspiration for this direction was "the tension surrounding the SA-X from Metroid Fusion and how we wanted to take that style of gameplay and put it into what is considered to be the normal Metroid gameplay".[4] Sakamoto did not want Dread to be a horror game, but did want to explore "fear-based gameplay".[4]

Sakamoto attempted to have Dread developed for the DS at least twice, but the technology was too limited to create the game he envisioned.[6][4] The first attempt was made around 2005,[4] while a second attempt was made around 2008. A playable prototype was shown to Nintendo Software Technology and Nintendo of America staff at E3 2009. The project was reportedly not titled Metroid Dread at that point and had an art style similar to Metroid Fusion.[7] However, the prototype did not meet Sakamoto's expectations, so development was halted.[6] A major reason for this was that Sakamoto's desire for an intimidating, unsettling antagonist was difficult to achieve with the DS's limited hardware.[4]

The title Metroid Dread first appeared on a 2005 internal Nintendo software list of "key DS games set to be announced in the future".[8] This led to the expectation that it would appear at the E3 convention in 2005 or 2006.[9][10][11] By late 2005, rumors spread that Metroid Dread was canceled or in development hell.[11][12] A release date of November 2006 was listed in the February 2006 issue of Official Nintendo Magazine. The March issue listed a release date for 2006, with a suggestion to look to E3 2006 for further details, but the game did not appear.[13]

A message reading "Experiment status report update: Metroid project 'Dread' is nearing the final stages of completion" appears in the 2007 game Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.[8] Corruption director Mark Pacini denied a connection and stated that it was entirely coincidental.[14] Wired writer Chris Kohler expressed skepticism over Retro's denial; he felt it would be believable if Pacini said that it was a joke, but the claim that it was a coincidence was not.[15] The message was edited in the Japanese version of the game, which launched later that year and instead refers to a "dread class turret".[16]

Later discussion

In 2010, Sakamoto confirmed that Dread had existed, but said that Nintendo would "start from scratch" if they returned to it.[17] He also stated that they were "waiting and watching and reading the comments to see what people are interested in before we make any comment on the project".[9] In other interviews, he denied that the Wii game Metroid: Other M (2010)[18] and the Nintendo 3DS game Metroid: Samus Returns had any connection to Dread.[19] In May 2010, IGN's Craig Harris said that the story for Metroid Dread was complete, and that Nintendo was able to "bring it back at any time".[20]

Following the game's initial listing, critics expressed an interest in Metroid Dread or a similar 2D side-scrolling Metroid project being revived.[21][22] In 2011, IGN cited it as a "game in danger".[23] K. Thor Jensen included it in his list of "video games you will never, ever play". He felt that Metroid: Other M was a disappointment and it made him nostalgic for Dread.[24] Thomas East included Dread and its apparent reference in Corruption in their list of "11 amazing Metroid facts and secrets". East added that he was hopeful for a possible 3DS release.[25]

Marc Zablotny, a writer for the Official Nintendo Magazine, included it in his 2013 wishlist, saying he was more interested in what Dread "stood for rather than the specific game itself".[11] Zablotny later included it in a list of the "15 more Nintendo Games you never got to play" and called it one of the most infamous canceled Nintendo games.[26] Nick Chester from Destructoid criticized Nintendo for its focus on games such as the Brain Age series over Metroid.[27]

Revival on Nintendo Switch

During Nintendo's E3 2021 Nintendo Direct presentation on June 15, Nintendo announced that Metroid Dread was in development for the Nintendo Switch, with a release date of October 8, 2021.[28]

Dread was developed by Nintendo EPD and the Spanish developer MercurySteam, the studio that developed the 3DS game Metroid: Samus Returns (2017). Sakamoto said that Nintendo revived the project after seeing what MercurySteam could do with its technology on the Switch.[29] Dread is the first original 2D Metroid game since Fusion.[4][1]

Reception

Metroid Dread received "generally favorable reviews", garnering an 89 out of 100 on review aggregator site Metacritic.[30] Samuel Claiborn of IGN praised the boss fights, writing that they "range from the traditional big, drooling monsters with patterns and weak points to learn, to almost Smash Bros.-esque encounters with enemies that mimic your move set".[37] Chris Carter of Destructoid said Dread "masterfully" executed the Metroidvania formula, and that it "doesn’t take a lot of big swings, but it rarely bats a foul ball".[31] Nintendo Life's PJ O'Reilly liked the game's returning mechanics, and the newer additions to the game, saying "it always feels as though you've got a ton of choice in how to explore and move around your richly detailed surroundings."[42]

Sales

Metroid Dread became the most pre-ordered game on Amazon in the US, UK, Japan[43] and Australia.[vague] It was also the most pre-ordered game at the American retailer GameStop.[44]

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: メトロイド ドレッド, Hepburn: Metoroido Doreddo

References

  1. ^ a b c "Metroid Dread, a 2D sidescroller, gets E3 reveal". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  2. ^ Quick, William Antonio (June 23, 2021). "Every Metroid Game In Chronological Order". TheGamer. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Parish, Jeremy (August 5, 2015). "Page 2 | "I was quite surprised by the backlash": Kensuke Tanabe on Metroid Prime Federation Force". VG247. Retrieved February 15, 2023. First off, [Yoshio] Sakamoto is behind the main series, taking care of all of that, the timeline. I'm in charge of the Prime series. I had the conversation with him to decide where exactly would be a good spot for me to stick the Prime universe into that whole timeline and the best place would be between Metroid II and Super Metroid. As you know, there are multiple titles in the Metroid Prime series, but everything takes place in that very specific point. Metroid Series go down the line, but with the Prime Universe, we have to stretch sideways to expand it as much as we can in that specific spot.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Bailey, Kat (June 17, 2021). "Inside Metroid Dread's development with producer Yoshio Sakamoto". IGN. Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Machkovech, Sam (June 15, 2021). "Metroid Dread brings Nintendo's classic back as a 2D sequel on October 8". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Metroid Dread - Development history - Nintendo Switch E3 2021". YouTube. June 15, 2021. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  7. ^ Whitehead, Thomas (July 8, 2015). "Unseen64 digs up development insights Into Metroid Prime: Hunters, Dread and Federation Force". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on November 25, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Casamassina, Matt (August 27, 2007). "Metroid Dread nearing". IGN. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  9. ^ a b Harris, Craig (March 12, 2010). "GDC 10: Sakamoto on Metroid Dread: please be patient". IGN. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  10. ^ Kohler, Chris (September 6, 2007). "Nintendo teases, denies existence of Metroid Dread". Wired. Archived from the original on December 27, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  11. ^ a b c Zablotny, Marc (January 1, 2013). "Nintendo 2013 wish list". Official Nintendo Magazine. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  12. ^ Klepek, Patrick (November 20, 2005). "Metroid Dread cancelled?". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  13. ^ "Monday Mysteries: Project STEAM or Metroid Dread?". June 9, 2014. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  14. ^ Totilo, Stephen (September 26, 2007). "Retro Studios answers the treaded Metroid Dread question -- And Other "Prime" Exclusives". MTV. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  15. ^ Kohler, Chris (September 27, 2007). "Retro: Metroid Dread name drop 'complete and utter coincidence'". Wired. Archived from the original on October 25, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
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  19. ^ Campbell, Evan (June 14, 2017). "E3 2017: Metroid: Samus Returns is not Metroid Dread". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  20. ^ Harris, Craig (May 3, 2010). "Nintendo Voice Chat Podcast Episode 75 - Wii Feature at IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
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  22. ^ Drake, Audrey; George, Richard (June 1, 2012). "E3 2012: IGN Nintendos most wanted". IGN. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  23. ^ Geddes, Ryan (March 30, 2011). "Life support: games in danger". IGN. Archived from the original on April 23, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  24. ^ Jensen, K. Thor (January 21, 2011). "Video games you will never, ever play". UGO Networks. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
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  26. ^ Zablotny, Marc (September 8, 2013). "15 more Nintendo Games you never got to play". Official Nintendo Magazine. p. 2. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  27. ^ Chester, Nick (September 6, 2007). "Nintendo denies Metroid Dread poppycock". Destructoid. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  28. ^ "Metroid: Dread brings the franchise to Switch". VentureBeat. June 15, 2021. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  29. ^ Sheridan, Connor (June 15, 2021). "Metroid Dread release date revealed and it's a sequel to Metroid Fusion". Gamesradar. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
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  33. ^ "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: メトロイド ドレッド". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 1714. Kadokawa Game Linkage. October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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