Metroid Dread test: no surprises, but a formula that remains as effective as it is timeless

The fifth installment in the 2D Metroid series took nearly two decades to reach us. Indeed, since Fusion released on Game Boy Advance in 2002, Samus Aran had contented herself with remakes and other episodes in FPS view via the Prime saga. Metroid Dread therefore comes to put an end to this long period of inactivity. But has the adventurer in armor taken wrinkles after these long years spent waiting for players aboard her ship? We will answer this thorny question in our test.

Metroid Dread test: no surprises, but a formula that remains as effective as it is timeless See PriceRead ConclusionMetroid Dread

Aesthetically stunning (especially on Switch OLED)
A worked and stressful atmosphere in front of the EMMI
Tough bosses that increase the difficulty
Some great staging ideas

... but without major novelties
The rather simplistic narration
Meetings with EMMIs a little repetitive in the long run
A map not always very readable

It should be known, Metroid Dread is a project that began in 2005. Unfortunately, the limitations imposed by the technology of the time had pushed Nintendo to put the project on the sidelines before its big comeback last June, during the E3 2021. Now in development for the Switch, the title chronologically takes place 20 years after the events of Metroid Fusion. Last important point before getting to the heart of the matter, this test was carried out on a Nintendo Switch OLED. So the visual quality that we will discuss later could be slightly different on another model.

The Samus cruise not much

Once again, the player finds poor Samus Aran in a bad position. Indeed, the latter is dispatched in disaster to the planet ZDR where an X parasite has been seen. The Galactic Federation hastened to send its EMMI combat robots to the scene, but these intelligent weapons have evaporated into thin air. The young woman will have to shed light on this story. Barely arrived at port, our heroine is attacked by a strange being and wakes up in the depths of this world for the least inhospitable. And to make matters worse, Samus is the victim of a kind of physical amnesia which deprives her of most of her skills.

So we aim to escape the planet while reforging the arsenal of our favorite bounty hunter. Very clearly, the script structure is extremely close to that of a Metroid Fusion and the first minutes remain rather classic in terms of gameplay and progression. Thus, we evolve through tables connected to each other by doors and other passages sometimes locked at the start of the game. Because Metroidvania obliges, the player must necessarily make many round trips once the required equipment has been obtained to free the path. Let's make it simple, this Metroid Dread doesn't invent anything when we could have hoped to see some innovations. Nintendo and MercurySteam didn't take any risks.

Watch out, evil robots!

If there is a novelty to point out in this opus, it is quite logically the EMMI These robots act as Nemesis who will chase Samus through precisely delimited areas. Faced with this threat, the ex-soldier must flee or risk losing his skin. Indeed, these machines are not afraid of conventional weapons and the player must study the terrain and then move discreetly to dodge these real potential killers. If they manage to put their metal paws on Samus, game over is guaranteed! Well almost... Because during the small capture cutscene, the player has the opportunity to perform a counter to escape. But the game immediately warns, our heroine has a 99% chance of dying as the shooting window is reduced.

Of course, Samus' skills must be put to good use in order to thwart the fatal fate that awaits her. For example, it can make itself momentarily invisible to deceive the vigilance of robotic machines. This power requires a cooldown and it is therefore essential to use it wisely. Each EMMI can at a specific time be destroyed using a super-powerful weapon that is only made operational after defeating a mini-boss. The pressure is maximum as the areas occupied by these metal monsters are often cramped. The sound environment also changes and a very characteristic little noise warns of the approach of this formidable threat. It is important to exercise composure.

JVFR

A Samus is well hidden in this scene

If we devote a long paragraph to the EMMI it is because they are at the forefront of the antagonists of this Metroid Dread. Let it be said bluntly, you will undoubtedly die many times in front of them. It sometimes takes time to understand the area, use the environment to your advantage and above all develop a strategy in order to reach the nearest exit in complete safety. Frustration is unfortunately never far away and a certain redundancy can even set in after several meetings. Each entity has its own power, but the technique to get rid of it remains unchanged until the end of the game. Too bad for the variety...

A pure and good Metroid

Yes, Metroid Dread will inevitably not be within everyone's reach. This Nintendo Switch exclusive offers a good dose of challenge, especially when faced with sometimes very intimidating bosses. It is essential to accept dying in order to anticipate attacks more effectively. To avoid penalizing the player too brutally, the developers have cleverly placed multiple checkpoints that allow you to resume the game directly at the entrance to the boss room, for example. Overall, we feel all the fragility of Samus who is rarely in a position of strength. Some bosses will be ruthless and kill the bounty hunter in one or two hits. And these remarks are valid even outside the difficult mode which will be unlocked after having finished the game for the first time.

JVFR

A tense battle looms

But beyond this difficulty and as we mentioned previously, Metroid Dread does not reinvent the license of 2D opuses. Samus jumps by pressing the B button, launches bursts of energy via her cannon with Y, can propel missiles at her enemies or even use her morphing ball to sneak through the tightest passages. For their part, skills such as the grapple beam, which will cling to attachment points, spectral camouflage or pulse radar offer additional possibilities to our heroine in her quest for survival. Also, each attack is able to destroy a specific type of block. This forces the player to revisit an area once the correct ability is in their possession. Hidden areas almost always contain a bonus that will increase Samus' health or her missile reserve. Overall, it's still classic...

If we can therefore rail against this form of repetition, it is clear that the Metroid recipe is still working miracles in 2021. The adventure is mastered from start to finish with a very steady pace. Franchise lovers will be on conquered ground and will quickly find their bearings. Samus responds to our requests without putting up any resistance and the good ten hours (or even a little more if you die often) spent in her company are a real pleasure.

JVFR

After a perfect counter, the bounty hunter can perform a devastating attack

The perfect showcase for the Nintendo Switch OLED

In terms of its visual part, Metroid Dread is doing just as well. The artistic touch of the title is superb and the settings crossed never lose variety. The design of the enemies is relatively inspired (with a special mention for the bosses) and the lighting effects are well worked. The observation is all the more striking on the flamboyant screen of the Nintendo Switch OLED. Contrasts and colors are ideally highlighted. If it is on the map a bit archaic in the menus, the readability of the action is never undermined whether on a TV or in portable mode. We can also note flashes in the staging with a camera that changes angle (for a more "TPS" side) on the crucial sequences.

JVFR

Some sets are absolutely stunning

Finally, Metroid Dread also pulls out of the game thanks to its successful soundtrack. The musical themes stick to the atmosphere and even allow themselves to rekindle the nostalgic flame that slumbers in each of us. The sound effects are also in the spotlight and those used in the EMMI zones raise the pressure well. You will have understood it, it is a technical, visual and sound copy at the limit of perfection that Nintendo delivers to us on this one!

JVFR

We're not here to joke!

Metroid Dread, l'avis de JVFR

No need to beat around the bush, Metroid Dread is a real success. If it does not reinvent the wheel of a formula that could (should?) have been completely dusted off, this new opus does honor to its predecessors by refining a much appreciated recipe. If you can get lost from time to time, the progression remains fluid and the action smoothly carried out. The bosses are remarkable and the audio part really immersive.

We could briefly rail about the perhaps noticeably too numerous and repetitive EMMI encounters or even a fairly agreed-upon scenario in the first few minutes, but the overall experience does not disappoint. Metroid Dread is hardly surprising but it delivers a successful and pleasant epic until the end credits. It's one of the best Nintendo Switch games in 2021. Quite simply!

Metroid dread

Metroid Dread is everything we could expect from a 2D Metroid. If the genre revolution is clearly not there, we are in the presence of a most entertaining Nintendo production. It's the perfect game to accompany the launch of the Switch OLED.