Metroid Dread - Part 4: No Sleep til Hanubia

00:00:07 - Heading to Elun 00:24:45 - Chozo Soldier 01:06:12 - Another Soldier, Another E.M.M.I, and Ice missiles 01:52:20 - Miniboss and Storm Missiles 03:14:44 - Experiment No Z-57 04:01:46 - They got big... 04:19:38 - Hanubia 05:02:40 - Studying Raven Beak 1986's Metroid, was among the first in a long line of games which didn't follow the linear template of platformers, with the idea of stages/levels thrown out the window in favour of a large map that unlocks with abilities that help you further explore until the finale is reached. Even if not the first, the series is the most prominent in the genre named after itself and Castlevania, which rewarded the player through exploration. The genre has seen a massive resurgence since Metroid Fusion, with Cave Story, Ori, Hollow Knight, Guacamelee et al proving there is a desire for more and more of these games. Originally planned for the Nintendo DS over 15 years prior to release, Metroid Dread was developed as a cross between the older games and fear/panic based sections not unlike the stealth parts of Fusion - where you would find yourself stalked and defenceless. The game follows longtime main character Samus Aran as she lands on a remote planet ZDR to investigate after The Galactic Federation receives reports of the dangerous X parasite surviving unchecked at the location. E.M.M.Is (Brutal and almost indestructible robots) were sent beforehand but contact was lost. On her arrival, Samus is defeated in combat by a mysterious warrior called Raven Beak - who leaves her stripped of abilities, vulnerable and miles below where her spaceship was landed. On her mission to escape and destroy the planet, she finds that the E.M.M.I have been reprogrammed with the sole purpose of finding and eliminating her. As you move from place to place, you realise that Dread can be euphorically good, or tantrum-inducing as the game fluctuates between linear sections, and not giving you any idea at all on what you are supposed to be doing. I don't need a game to hold my hand or point to an exact location, but given that Dread features several sub maps within it's larger world then sometimes it is enormously frustrating when you have no direction. I don't even mind exploring previous areas again, but at times the route ahead is hidden behind obscure and inconspicuous walls that you'd have no idea otherwise - though David Jaffe has no excuse for what is now known commonly as the Jaffe Room (look it up). The idea of a log which tells you what you've done is utterly redundant and pointless, and maybe advising of an objective rather than having Adam tell you vaguely what needs to be done once would not have gone amiss. Working out puzzles in order to get power ups can also be equal parts fun and annoying too. Despite the often antagonistic nature of the game, I found myself itching to come back after cooling down. Whilst the sound is excellent, the music is utterly diabolical in this most recent offering, and I was hoping we had moved past the awful outdated midi soundtracks that belong on an N64 - but Graphically and performance wise (with the exception of dire loading times between areas), this game is incredibly smooth and looks beautiful considering it was on the last generation's Switch. The precision controlling is both stunning and accurate, and when you're not panicking or constantly trying to keep up with which button does what (particularly as your abilities are returned, or arsenal expands) - it's extremely fluid - and this helps no end through some of the best boss fights I can remember playing in any 2D game ever. They are Dark Souls level in both difficulty and design, and not only do you get a tremendous sense of achievement from destroying something that you initially thought was unbeatable but it serves to prepare you further for the next ordeal. You need to scientifically dissect and analyse attack patterns, when is safe to open fire and which of your abilities to use in each situation. Despite the challenge, they are masterfully thought out and I can't say enough good things about them. Also, The E.M.M.I sections are worthy of the title Dread as you frantically try to hide and avoid obstacles as they pursue you with extreme prejudice. Ultimately whilst there are better Metroidvanias out there right now (God, I love Blasphemous), it's great to see Samus back and Metroid Dread shows exactly why the franchise has been so successful over the last 3 decades. #metroid #metroiddread #nintendoswitch #metroidvania #nukeboxharris #twitch #nintendo #fullplaythrough Broadcasted live on Twitch -- Watch live at   / nukeboxharris