Metroid: Dread Review
Credit to: NintendoMetroid’s Back!
Welcome back, y’all! This time around, we’re taking a look at the brand new Metroid: Dread, which actually just released today! Now, what’s interesting is that I am by no means a Metroid fan. By that, I mean I have very little experience with the franchise. I played this game with a completely open mind, no expectations, nothing. I’m gonna review this game as a complete beginner to the series, and with no biases against this series whatsoever. I’ve only played a few levels of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and only two levels of Super Metroid, so again, I’m a complete newbie. Now, as per usual, I’ll have a pros section, a cons section, and a final thoughts section. Now, without any further ado, let’s jump right into it.
Pros
Man, I absolutely love the level design of this game. Every level feels so unique and fresh, and I couldn’t help but to explore each level before progressing just to take in all of the amazing work done on this game. Basically every level has its own unique feel and atmosphere, whether it’s bright and vibrant or dark and creepy. This combined with a slew of interesting and engaging enemies makes this a fantastic game, sure to keep you glued to your screens. As a massive fan of side-scrolling games, I absolutely LOVED the implementation of the 3D cinematics during a boss fight and/or a cutscene. Especially during a boss fight, you seamlessly transition from the fight to a short but sweet action cinematic, similar to the most recent God of War title. Speaking of fights, I have to say that I really love collecting upgrades which work well for all kinds of situations, whether it’s evading a chase from an EMMI by using the phantom cloak, freezing enemies solid with the ice missiles, and way, waaay more. If you’re an absolute completionist, you’re going to love this game. There are plenty of upgrades/power ups and other collectibles to aid you on your mission, so you’ll definitely be kept busy, no doubt about it. Speaking of boss fights, I had such a great time fighting these creepy or powerful looking bosses. Each boss is unique in their own way, and they really do keep you on your toes at all times. They’re not impossible to fight or anything like that, but they do indeed give you a pretty good challenge if you’re not focused. Overconfidence can be your downfall for sure with this game, but that’s good, because it won’t feel like a cakewalk for those of you who want that excitement. Now, as someone who, as I mentioned before, has essentially no experience with this series, I can honestly say from the bottom of my heart that this game hooked me into this series. I will absolutely be trying to find the previous Metroid games, and I will indeed play them, because it seems that this game has important story beats from a previous Metroid game(s) that I myself can’t identify, because, you know, I’m a newbie. However, if you are a newbie like me, this game still feels inviting enough for you to have a fantastic time, and that’s absolutely what happened for me. It’s because of this game, that I’m honestly so pumped up for Metroid Prime 4, and if you’ve heard the rumors, Nintendo is apparently working on a Prime collection. I can’t confirm nor deny this, because it’s just a rumor, but if it’s true? I’m pre-ordering it the MOMENT it’s available. Again, it’s not confirmed, I’m just trying to explain how much of a fanboy this one single game has made me. I love the action, I love the upgrades, I love the environment, I love the character design of Samus, I love it all. I absolutely love it all, and I’m definitely going to replay this game after this review is launched. What a wonderful time.
Cons
Guess what? There are no cons. I think my only legitimate complaint, is the fact that the game feels a bit short. This could be me nitpicking, and if that’s the case then I do apologize, but in my opinion, I do wish it was a little longer. Other than that, I really can’t say I have an issue with this game. I haven’t had this much fun since Breath of the Wild first came out, and I’m not even kidding. This might very well be my favorite game this year. Fight me.
Final Thoughts
This is an amazing game. I enjoyed it all. Sure, I didn’t understand certain things due to me not playing the previous game, but I didn’t mind it at all. I didn’t feel overwhelmed, I actually felt very welcomed. I seriously love this game. I don’t replay too many games, but this will definitely be a game that I’ll replay besides games like Breath of the Wild, Skyrim, Halo 3, God of War, and Kingdom Hearts. I’m blown away, honestly. I was intrigued the moment it was revealed, but actually having the game installed, and actually playing it is an entirely different experience, you really have to play this game for yourself to fully enjoy it. Walkthroughs or gameplay videos won’t do this game justice. Pick this game up, you absolutely won’t regret it. If you have this game, what did you think about it? Did you agree with the things I said about it? Let me know on my Instagram and Twitter, and make sure you’re following them both to stay up to date on the latest entertainment news and reviews. That’s all from me, this has been The Wolf Den!
