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When the reveal trailer forMetroid Dreadappeared during Nintendo’s special E3 Direct in June of 2021, the announcement was met with both shock and surprise. It had been more than a decade since the last 2DMetroidgame, after all, and almost two since the last good one. Fast forward four months and the game has now been released, achieving both critical and commercial success in its first few days on sale.
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Much like the 2017Metroid 2remake for the 3DS,Metroid Dreadwas co-developed by Nintendo’s EPD division and Spanish developer MercurySteam. It’s a sterling effort from all involved, with the game bearing all of the hallmarks that made previous 2DMetroidgames so enjoyable to play. This does include the series' signature challenging difficulty level, however, meaning that some players will likely need the help of guides in order to complete the game.
Getting Started in Metroid Dread
Metroid Dreaddoes a fantastic job of easing players into the action, both through its tutorial sections and the way that it deals with new weapons and upgrades. With each new piece of gear that players get their hands on, more and more parts of Planet ZDR begin to open up to them. Unfortunately, however, actually finding these newly accessible areas isn’t always so simple.
Likewise, the way that player progress is gated inMetroid Primemeans that players will constantly be coming across locked doors that they don’t yet know how to open and blocks that they’re unable to destroy. Among other things, this guide will explainhow todo so, while also offering up somegeneral tips and tricksand answering some of the morefrequently asked questionsregarding the game.
The Main Story
Metroid Dread’s main story sees Samus head to Planet ZDR after a research team sent to investigate an X-Parasite sighting goes radio silent. Upon her arrival, she’s easily swept aside by a mysterious Chozo warrior and awakes with none of her iconic powers intact. Worse still, she soon learns that the seven E.M.M.I. robots that were part of the missing research team are now out for her blood.
Players will need to make their way through nine distinct areas in order to escape the planet, collecting new equipment and upgrades as they go. There are also ten uniqueboss fightsfor players to overcome, which, when combined with the challenge of figuring outwhere to go next, makeMetroid Dreadone of the most difficult 2DMetroidgames ever made.
Equipment and Upgrade Guides
As players explore the depths of Planet ZDR, they’ll be able to find some of Samus' iconicequipment. In trueMetroidtradition, some of this is being held by Chozo statues, while the rest is obtained by defeating bosses and the seven hostile E.M.M.I. robots. By collecting these tools, players can learn new techniques and improve the stopping power of Samus' arm canon.
In addition to these new pieces of gear, players can also find special tanks that will increase Samus' maximum health or the total number of missiles or Power Bombs that she’s able to carry. In total, there are 24Energy Tanks, 86Missile Tanks, and 13Power Bomb Tanks, many of which can be collected even before players have found the Power Bomb.
