Nintendo’s E3 2021 Direct presentation was full of exciting reveals but the biggest one was undoubtedly the announcement ofMetroid Dread,the first 2DMetroidgame in nearly two decades. Despite its rocky development history over the years, fans finally caught a glimpse of what a 2DMetroidgame would look like on the Nintendo Switch.
Over the past few years, Metroidvanias have become a staple in the indie scene as games likeHollow Knight, Ori and the Blind Forest,andDead Cellsslowly perfected the mechanics that theMetroidseries introduced 35 years ago. WithMetroid Dread’sreveal, it’ll be interesting to see what the game brings to the new age of modern Metroidvanias. The previews ofMetroid Dreadshowcased an emphasis on stealth elements and this could offer a unique spin on the genre.
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The Refinement of Metroidvanias
Over the past decade,Metroidvanias have exploded in popularity thanks to indie gameslikeHollow Knight,Ori and the Blind Forest,andDead Cellstaking over the scene. As the popularity of Metroidvanias grew, more developers began to refine the mechanics and subtleties of the genre in order to make their own games stand out. As a result, modern Metroidvanias are completely different from the originalMetroidandCastlevaniagames that inspired the namesake. Mechanics like exploration, lore, puzzles, and powerups have all been refined and perfected over the years.
With the return of 2DMetroidgames inMetroid Dread,fans are curious to see what the direction the franchise takes now that Metroidvanias are more popular than ever before. Although there’s certainly no pressure forMetroid Dreadto completely reinvent the wheel, the mechanics that have been revealed so far seem to offer a unique take on the genre. WhileMetroid Dreadwill retain the traditional exploration elements that the franchise is known for, it’ll also make use of stealth mechanics to create a far tenser atmosphere.
Metroidseries creator Yoshio Sakamoto always intended forMetroid Dreadto center around Samus being hunted by a terrifying foebut it seemed that the Nintendo DS’s hardware limitations kept it from happening. Sakamoto wanted an antagonist that was unsettling and intimidating to achieve a sort of “fear-based” gameplay. Metroidvanias rarely emphasize stealth mechanics given the focus on exploration and discovery. However,Metroid Dreadseems to utilize the stealth mechanics as a way to create a tense atmosphere alongside the traditional aspects of exploration and puzzles.
ThroughoutMetroid Dread,players are tasked with avoiding the near-invincible EMMI robotsthrough hiding behind objects, noise reduction, and using the Phantom Cloak, a camouflage which slows Samus' movement. The EMMI robots patrol certain areas and will pursue Samus if they hear her. If caught, players will have a brief opportunity to perform a melee counter to escape and if they fail, Samus will be killed.Metroid Dread’sdesign is based around the fact that players will be continuously hunted and need to strategize their movements throughout the levels.
The concept of powerful foes relentlessly pursuing the player is a unique one in Metroidvanias as players typically blitz their way through enemies without the fear of instantly dying. While there’s strategy involved in backtracking and managing enemies encountered between checkpoints, players rarely need to plan out their movements in a strategical way.Metroid Dreadforces players to engage the world carefullyas they navigate the levels and the stealth mechanics offer a new twist on the classicMetroidformula.
