Metroid Dread Reviews
I'm grateful to have experienced Metroid Dread's tale on the Switch, given that its initial - and scrapped - intention was to be a Game Boy title. The impact this game alone will have on the franchise is of grandeur, that will remain unmatched for many years. Game of the Year worthy? Yes. Definitely.
I can’t recommend Metroid Dread enough, whether to longtime fans or newbies to the franchise. Not only does it deliver on the promise of a fifth 2D Metroid game nearly two decades in the making, it does so while updating the time-tested formula to reduce tedium and bring new players into the fold. Nintendo knocked it out of the park, and while I wish the game were a little longer and the presentation a tad more polished, I can’t find any other faults in this very welcome new addition to the canon.
I was really debating how I would score Metroid Dread. After all, it did live up to many of my hopes and expectations, which is hard to do after a wait this pronounced. But I still couldn’t shake the feeling that Super Metroid did many things just a bit better. As such, I can’t help but score this a little lower than I wanted to. That said, if you’re a fan of the Metroid series, you’ll find a lot to enjoy here for only $59.99. Not only is it challenging and story-driven, but there’s plenty of incentives to replay the game in the form of various galleries. While there’s some frustrating design issues that could have been avoided, this is still a must play game for fans of the series, or just those that own a Nintendo Switch. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait another 20 years for the next epic tale of Samus Aran.
...Metroid Dread is a good Metroid game and will likely be a favorite among fans of this series.
The game takes place directly after Metroid Fusion and we quickly discover that Samus is going to be in the battle for her life. She is drawn to the planet ZDR due to suspicion of a lone X Parasite on the loose.
There's no denying that Metroid Dread is a solid game. But I'm still disappointed at how safe the studio decided to play with this game. While the gameplay is solid, everything else is just "ok" and there's no innovation, leaving me feeling that the newest sequel to Metroid should've felt more influential on the future of the genre it popularized.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Metroid Dread represents the highest point of the experience gained in 35 years. It is the valid successor of the previous ones. With its ten hours of gameplay, the fifth chapter of this storic 2D saga leads us to explore all of ZDR while we look for all the power ups.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Oh boy, this one’s a doozie! I remember playing Metroid and Metroid II when I was a wee bairn, all those distant sepia-toned years ago. At the time they were revolutionary. Where am I going? What am I doing? It was all so novel. They were brutally brilliant and I remember scratching my head over and over, working out where to go next. Good times! I have really been looking forward to this one, welcome to my Metroid Dread Nintendo Switch review.
Without a doubt, you’ll get your money’s worth with Dread, but if you’ve been cold on the Metroid series before, don’t expect this one to change your mind. This is a game for Metroid fans and as a result, it adheres closely to that formula; but that formula is still really good and is well worth trying out if you’ve never played a Metroid before. Having this game be your introduction to the world of Metroid wouldn’t be bad and would definitely give you a leg up on the other games in terms of skill.
How you'll enjoy Metroid Dread depends on what you're expecting from the game. If you want a traditional Metroid experience, don't hesitate, because that's exactly what Metroid Dread is. In addition to following the formula of the classics to the letter, Dread introduces us to the most versatile and agile Samus in the series, majestic and challenging bosses, and an HD presentation that is a treat for the eyes. But we were hoping to find in Dread some kind of evolution of the formula, a wish that we don't deem unfair considering the indie titles of the same genre which managed successfully to improve the formula's potential. Metroid Dread seems to have been created in a bubble, so much so that the only innovation that MercurySteam has introduced is a new type of enemies, the seven E.M.M.I., which poetically exhaust their originality in minutes.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Metroid Dread takes full advantage of the Nintendo Switch’s processing power and presents a beautiful game, with great world-building, set dressing, and character designs.
Metroid Dread is both a retreat from the recent experiments of the series and a continuation of the identity crisis it has endured since the Gamecube era. Backtracking to the safety of familiar haunts, even ones as polished and gleaming as these, can’t help but leave you wanting more.
For a series with such a high pedigree, Dread hits all the high notes and leaves very little to be unsatisfied with. Even after experiencing its bombastic finale, it has many secrets to discover that warrant multiple playthroughs. Even if the additions are subtle, it’s the refined sheen of polish that makes Dread not just one of the best games in the franchise, but one of the best games in recent memory.
"Killer's instinct."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
The ultimate culmination of classic Metroid tropes and modern design philosophy, Metroid Dread is a treat for fans of the hallowed Nintendo series and anyone who loves a challenging, old-school throwback.
Metroid Dread is a superb entry into one of Nintendo's most beloved franchises.
Metroid Dread is simply the concrete demonstration of what a great action game in two dimensions should look like.
Review in Italian | Read full review
As the first wholly-original 2D Metroid game in 19 years, Metroid Dread had a very difficult legacy to live up to. Thankfully, the game delivered on its promise in a very big way. As a long-time fan of the franchise, I couldn't be happier with Metroid Dread. It's the kind of game that frequently made me say to myself "just five more minutes" when it was already two o'clock in the morning. Super Metroid is considered by many to be one of the best video games ever made. Gamers will have to judge for themselves if Metroid Dread managed to surpass it, but there's no doubt in my mind that it deserves to be considered among the best games in the series. It has its challenging elements, and they might scare some players off. However, those that stick with the game will be rewarded with one of the year's best experiences.
Metroid Dread raises the classic formula to new heights, with a cat and mouse gameplay hook that makes it extremely hard to stop playing. The sprawling level designs, tough-as-nails boss fights and hidden collectible locations help Metroid Dread easily rank in the upper echelons of the series.
Players who have played any of the previous Metroid titles will immediately get that “Metroid” feeling from this title and it’s pure bliss. The fantastic world and level design makes Metroid Dread a highly recommended title on Nintendo Switch and one that newcomers should consider too.