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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. Set after Metroid Fusion (2002), 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, longtime producer Yoshio Sakamoto appointed MercurySteam to develop Dread, the first original side-scrolling Metroid game since Fusion. Nintendo announced the game at E3 2021. It received positive reviews.

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 a brief chance to perform a melee counter and escape; if they fail, Samus is killed.[1]

Premise

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

Producer Yoshio Sakamoto said that Dread will conclude the main Metroid arc that focuses on the fates of Samus and the parasitic Metroid creatures.[1]

After the events of Metroid Fusion (2002), in which Samus wipes out the lethal X parasites along with planet SR388, the Galactic Federation receives a video transmission from an unknown source indicating that the X are still alive. They dispatch a special unit of seven EMMI robots (Extraplanetary Multiform Mobile Identifier) to ZDR, the source of the transmission. Soon, the unit vanishes and Samus travels to ZDR to investigate.[4] After landing on the planet's surface and beginning to explore, Samus is confronted by a mysterious figure wearing a Chozo Power Suit. After a brief skirmish, the path back to the planet's surface is destroyed and Samus is summarily defeated. When she regains consciousness, Samus finds that she has lost all of her suit upgrades and has no choice but to continue searching for another way back to the planet's surface and her ship.[5]

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.[6] It came from the concept of having Samus followed by "dread" on an unfamiliar planet.[7] 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".[6] Sakamoto did not want Dread to be a horror game, but did want to explore "fear-based gameplay".[6]

Sakamoto attempted to have Dread developed for the DS at least twice, but the technology was too limited to create the game he envisioned.[8][6] The first attempt was made around 2005,[6] 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.[9] However, the prototype did not meet Sakamoto's expectations, so development was halted.[8] 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.[6]

The title Metroid Dread first appeared on a 2005 internal Nintendo software list of "key DS games set to be announced in the future".[10] This led to the expectation that it would appear at the E3 convention in 2005 or 2006.[11][12][13] By late 2005, rumors spread that Metroid Dread was canceled or in development hell.[13][14] The game was listed in the February 2006 issue of Official Nintendo Magazine, with a release date of November 2006. The March issue listed a general 2006 date, with a suggestion to look to E3 2006 for further details, but the game never appeared at the convention.[15]

A message reading "Experiment status report update: Metroid project 'Dread' is nearing the final stages of completion" appears in the 2007 Retro Studios game Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.[10] Corruption director Mark Pacini denied a connection and stated that it was entirely coincidental.[16] 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.[17] The message was edited in the Japanese version of the game, which launched later that year and instead refers to a "dread class turret".[18]

Later discussion

In 2010, Sakamoto confirmed that Dread had existed, but said that Nintendo would "start from scratch" if they returned to it.[19] 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".[11] In other interviews, he denied that the Wii game Metroid: Other M (2010)[20] and the Nintendo 3DS game Metroid: Samus Returns had any connection to Dread.[21] 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".[22]

Following the game's initial listing, critics expressed an interest in Metroid Dread or a similar 2D side-scrolling Metroid project being revived. According to Sakamoto, questions about Metroid Dread were popular, especially in interviews following E3.[23] Audrey Drake listed it as her second most-wanted thing at E3 2012, specifically developed by Retro Studios and released for the Nintendo 3DS with "Super Metroid-style gameplay".[24] IGN cited it as a "game in danger".[25] 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.[26] Patrick Klepek noted that the possible cancellation of the game was not good for "old school Metroid fans".[14] 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.[27]

Marc Zablotny, a writer for the Official Nintendo Magazine, included it in his 2013 wishlist. He used Kirby's Return to Dream Land, a game originally announced in 2005 and released in 2011, to show the possibility that Metroid Dread could still be made. He also stated that he was more interested in what Dread "stood for rather than the specific game itself".[13] 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 examples of a canceled Nintendo game.[28] Nick Chester from Destructoid criticized Nintendo for its focus on games such as the Brain Age series as opposed to a 2D Metroid game.[29]

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.[30] Metroid Dread became the most pre-ordered game on Amazon in the US, UK and Japan[31] and the most pre-ordered game at the American retailer GameStop.[32]

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.[33] Dread is the first original 2D Metroid game since Fusion.[6][1]

Reception

Metroid Dread received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator site Metacritic.[34] 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".[41] 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".[35]


Notes

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

References

  1. ^ a b c d "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. ^ "Metroid Dread Report vol. 1: A closer look at the reveal trailer". Nintendo. June 15, 2021. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "Metroid Dread Report vol. 6: Dive deep into the new trailer". Nintendo. August 27, 2021. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ a b Casamassina, Matt (August 27, 2007). "Metroid Dread nearing". IGN. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ a b Klepek, Patrick (November 20, 2005). "Metroid Dread cancelled?". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
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  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Metroid Dread reference removed from Japanese version of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption". GoNintendo. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  19. ^ "Yoshio Sakamoto discusses Metroid 64, Metroid Dread and the 3DS". GamesTM. September 14, 2010. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  20. ^ Totilo, Stephen (June 3, 2009). "Nintendo: New Metroid is not Metroid Dread". Kotaku. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ Grant, Christopher (March 12, 2010). "Metroid Dread concept is something Sakamoto 'can't say never existed'". Joystiq. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ Geddes, Ryan (March 30, 2011). "Life support: games in danger". IGN. Archived from the original on April 23, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ East, Thomas (April 20, 2012). "11 amazing Metroid facts and secrets". Official Nintendo Magazine. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ Chester, Nick (September 6, 2007). "Nintendo denies Metroid Dread poppycock". Destructoid. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  30. ^ "Metroid: Dread brings the franchise to Switch". VentureBeat. June 15, 2021. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  31. ^ Mastro, Max (June 18, 2021). "Metroid Dread Tops Amazon Preorder Charts". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  32. ^ Doolan, Liam (December 27, 2017). "Metroid Dread Is GameStop's Top Pre-Order Following E3 2021". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ a b "Metroid Dread for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  35. ^ a b Carter, Chris (October 6, 2021). "Review: Metroid Dread — The end of the Metroid saga". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  36. ^ Robinson, Martin (October 6, 2021). "Metroid Dread review - a sublime return for a Nintendo icon". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  37. ^ "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.
  38. ^ Reeves, Ben (October 6, 2021). "Metroid Dread Review – Astro Dreadnought". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  39. ^ Petite, Steven (October 6, 2021). "Metroid Dread Review: Space Truckin'". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  40. ^ West, Josh (October 6, 2021). "Metroid Dread review: "Samus Aran is a little off her game"". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  41. ^ a b Claiborn, Samuel (October 6, 2021). "Metroid Dread Review — Tanks for the memories". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  42. ^ O'Reilly, PJ (October 6, 2021). "Metroid Dread Review (Switch) — And the E.M.M.I. goes to..." Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  43. ^ Morse, Blake (October 6, 2021). "Metroid Dread review: EMMI award-winning action". Shacknews. Gamerhub. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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  45. ^ Robinson, Andy (October 6, 2021). "Review: Metroid Dread is the comeback fans have been waiting for". Video Games Chronicle. Gamer Network. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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