The Perfect Series Finale | Metroid Dread Review
A Masterpiece of a Sequel, though, at What Cost?
A Masterpiece of a Sequel, though, at What Cost?
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Metroid DREAD is the perfect fifth and final installment to the METROID series. It pays homage to all the systems and legacies of the originals and improves on them. Its gameplay feels like a natural evolution of those games in the most perfect way, and is a beautiful send-off in every regard. I recommend it.
Its only flaw, is that I believe its potential is held back, because of its commitment to being the perfect sequel. Don’t get me wrong, it is, in its own right, a masterpiece game. However, I feel as all these years have flown by waiting for Metroid DREAD, we’ve seen its own ‘Metroidvania’ genre grow and expand in exceptional ways. We’ve seen absolute masterpieces like Hollow Knight, fun cute interpretations such as Yoku’s Island Express, and highly replayable experiences like Dead Cells, not to mention the many games in between them all. Metroid DREAD, coming after all of these wonderful games inspired by its own source material, is inspired by none of those ideas and the genre niceties invented because of them.
As I played Metroid DREAD, I could see its potential behind the curtain, you can feel the unexplored ideas and quality of life features begging to be realized at every frustration. I understand the narrative arc has been completed so we can’t get a true sequel, but I hope Nintendo commissions a spiritual sequel, built on the bones of Metroid DREAD, with some improvements. A new story line to become immersed in, with the same game engine. I don’t want to sound negative, by all means this is a fantastic game that gets so much right, that I wish it could be tweaked that last 5–10% to be perfect.
The movement is phenomenal, and addicting, only marred by the times you’re slowed down intentionally. Combat is smooth and flows exceptionally well, which is deeply satisfying. Controls on all counts are tight and responsive, which leads to you feeling at fault for every death and mistake, rather than anything unfair the game does.
The pacing and exploration do feel a bit unbalanced. It almost seems as if there was supposed to be a much larger game for you to play, with the frequency at which you’re obtaining new items and abilities. If I had to take a guess, this happens about every 15–30 minutes, and when you do get that shiny new thing, you’re rushed to the next boss or ability (or both), despite how much you try to ensure you’re completely exploring the world.
There is some of the best game design I’ve ever seen in how I somehow, despite exploring everything and making every turn imaginable… I never got lost. Not only that, but I knew exactly where to go at all times, from memory, which is a very rare achievement in this genre. In relation to this, I was happy to read up later that there are portions of the game you can sequence break to get a better clear time, in true OG Metroid fashion. But for this first play through I was very satisfied with the route I took through the game, quite impressed at how it subliminally guided me.
Overall, Metroid DREAD is an incredible game that I recommend to any and all Metroidvania enjoyers out there. However, if you see it on sale, perhaps for around 25 bucks, I think that’s a price that would be a steal for anyone to pick up.
