In Dread, Samus feels like the unstoppable juggernaut of destruction that the story has been saying she was for years. My only complaint about Dread was there wasn't enough.
@@llab3903 I mean they could have gone on hiatus leaving us in the dark like Team Cherry cause they had so many ideas. No shade on TC I love Hollow Knight, but they do need some publisher pushing for a time constraint of some sort. Glad Silksong has a soft release date though
One side note: Once you unlock every single transport, you can actually transport to any transporter, regardless of color. It helps when you are going for 100%
@@igoralmeida4677 nope it was there from the very start. I have the 1.0 cartridge and play it due to the invicibility glitch. Once you enter itorash all teleporters connect
The fact that her model is so expertly crafted so that not a SINGLE polygon within her body clips into another at any point in the game speaks volumes of the love and dedication Mercury Steam gave to this game
I really appreciate Arlo doing these review months after the game comes out. Gives you enough time to actually figure out your true thoughts on the game. Plus if you're a good reviewer, your fans are interested in your opinion no matter how long it takes. No need to rush it out the door
I absolutely agree, and his true thoughts really cover everything!! Like, He covers the entire massive list of things that are great about Dread AND the small-but-notable list of things that are not great about it too. I really appreciate the commitment to detail, and I can't stress enough how valuable and well-thought-out his constructive criticism is. I found myself agreeing with him on most of the issues he had.
Like the guardians in botw. OP to a noob player, weak to a experienced player. They both one shot you while creepy music plays in the background! They both even chase after you, once they saw you😫😂
I absolutely love the EMMIs. Each zone feels like a puzzle every time you enter that door, and even if you fail, the counter mechanic feels so incredibly amazing to pull off, but it also doesn't feel bad if you don't. It's like a last chance hail mary, where you know you've already failed, but maybe there's just that one chance you can perfectly counter them and then escape.
Honestly, the best part of this game to me was something you didn't cover: The characterization of Samus. Between her extremely expressive eyes and the attention to body language, there are moments where she is exuding a cocky arrogance unlike anything we've seen from her, moments where she is desperate to survive, and my favorite scene with Quiet Voice where we see her flip from panicked to relieved in a moment that feels believably human. She literally says like two words in an alien language through the entire game, but I feel like I learned more about Samus as a person here than anything Other M could have done.
Other M was almost entirely “tell, don’t show” and it was lame. I liked the gameplay of other M but the story was basically the opposite of Dread. obnoxious, trying yet failing to be pandering, drops established plot threads like they never existed to begin with.
Yesss! Her interactions with Quiet Robe and Raven Beak were my favourite parts of the game. Hearing her speak Chozo was just absolutely awesome. I feel like this was another thing where the devs really had a close look at what fans heavily disliked about a previous entry (mainly Other M in this case as you say) and actively tried to steer in a better direction. They nailed it!
I loved every second of this game, it is the first game that made me want to do speedruns... Something I thought I wasn't really into. But Metroid dread is so fine tuned and well crafted that I just kept wanting more and more from it
You hit the nail in the head about wanting to do a speedrun. The game is just masterfully crafted and it actually encourages players to GET faster times.
I like how inconsistent the EMMI counter window timing is. Countering an EMMI doesn’t just serve as an easy way to breeze through every close encounter, but creates tension when an EMMI catches you, and is incredibly satisfying when pulled off.
Something I felt Dread desperately needed was some kind of logbook or scan system. I'll always argue that the single biggest thing that separates the Prime series from the main series is the scan visor, it opens the lore to such a huge degree and is an absolutely perfect form of organic storytelling (ie the player discovers, or doesn't discover, things at their own pace). There are so many areas and creatures in ZDR that I just want to learn more about, like what is the massive underwater facility in Burenia being used for? What are these Mawkin ruins? Or the research experiments they were doing throughout the planet? In the Prime series, all of these questions would have been answered, but in Dread they pretty much only serve as big set pieces.
That would be amazing, agreed. I know a lot of people who dislike the scanning in Prime and simply don't do it, except for the gameplay relevant stuff. Fair dos! I however obsessively scan absolutely everything and read every bit of flavour text there is, so yes please. 😅 They could even integrate that into the Aeion scan, highlighting something that could be investigated further for lore.
@@jaretco6423 Even if they don't do a scan feature why not utilize the same idea that Hollow Knight did? Defeating one or several creatures would proceed to filling in a log book entry. It would make sense too if it's the first time Samus has come across a particular species and the log includes some text about weaknesses.
I don't think I want a scan visor. I'd rather leave that to the Prime games and their own pacing. This game takes on more of that environmental storytelling, so if you ask me, what I would do instead is give the Pulse Radar either the ability to translate chozo text in the background or have it play out holographic scenes within certain rooms. For example, what if you returned to the room with the first Central Unit and used the Pulse Radar, activating a sort of hologram memory where Raven beak guns down the first E.M.M.I.
Yeah, the scanning makes sense in Prime because you go from a ninja in SM to simulating Robocop in the 3D games. Scanning would not mesh well with the pacing of a propper Metroid game. Don't get me wrong, I like the more meandering pace of the Prime games, but if Prime 4 comes out I hope they find some way to bridge the agility gap. Edit: someone mentioned an auto-log for the 2d games, that's such a good idea they should do that in Prime as well.
I'm not a Metroid person but I bought it as part of my attempt to try the Metroid series: I began with Super Metroid, then this game, then the Prime Trilogy. Overall, good series.
Likewise! I even went ahead and bought Zero mission and Fusion (as I already owned but didn't play Super and Samus Returns) and then played them in order leading up to dread! And I even beat fusion 2 weeks prior to Dread's release
The way the combat and stealth sections are talked about in this review remind me of how Cuphead plays. Plenty of bosses in that game seem totally impossible until you're forced to switch up your strategy to beat them and realize that even though you were playing skillfully you were doing it in the wrong way the whole time. All the frustration only leads to increased satisfaction in the end when you're finally triumphant.
The controls for Samus were so painfully and absolutely optimized and polished that they feel indescribably amazing even a year after playing it for the first time. I'm still not over it and doubt I ever will be
Yeah, I couldn't believe how good and intuitive the 360 aiming felt. Was so easy to pick up, when it could easily have been clunky. Tiny details like momentum when she turns makes everything *so* fluid.
I love how the developers anticipated and rewarded players who found shortcuts and got items early. For instance, if you manage to find the morph bombs before the Kraid fight you can use the bombs against him and kill him with ease and are also rewarded with a unique badass cut scene. It’s glorious.
@@Cerebrum123 yeah you can also flash shift into his face during the second phase. And most of the other bosses have all kinds of speed booster and screw attack tech.
This was my first Metroid game. I can’t believe I had this much fun. I bought it mainly because I’ve been getting bored with the games I usually play, and this was the first Metroidvania I had finished. I loved this game
Was my first Metroidvania as well. I usually don’t like 2d platforming stuff but I am impressed at how fun this game is. Made me try out Aria of sorrow as well
Man the lead up and hype to this game will never be forgotten. And to know that Dread played even better than I thought I would was just the icing on top. I’m so glad Metroid Dread is now the most sold game in the series and rightfully so. This game could really be the start of Samus’ adventures getting even bigger than before and I’m all for it!
I'm an aspiring art concept designer and Metroid Dread has been one of my biggest inspirations in a long time. The backgrounds in every area, the lighting, its just such a beautiful game, it makes me want to try harder to develop something like this
Regarding the teleporters, you may have forgotten to add that, once you activate all the teleporters in the game, you are actually able to teleport to any one of them regarding the colors. It's like they allowed this extra bit to help players backtrack during the later stages of the game, most likely when they're trying to 100% the items.
Correction, the teleporters do that after you enter Itorash. I did a 100% run constantly poking around and testing this. Even activating all the teleporters and getting all possible items before power bombs and eventually just straight up 100%ing the game didn't do anything to open them up. The teleporters only opened up after I went in Itorash and came out. Consequentially, in my first run of the game I only had 2 teleporters period active prior to Itorash and literally every teleporter opened up after coming out of Itorash, even if I never activated them. Which meant I could warp into new areas I hadn't even seen, which helped 100%ing a lot!
I actually really like the music, it's not directly memorable but it's atmospheric to me. I get a very specific feeling from the first time I heard that song when it kicks in.
thats understandable, I think a lot of long time fans like me were just dying to get more of that classic, iconic style, so it was a bit disappointing when it (aside from Burenia) wasn't there
Yeah I liked it too. It's nice and unobtrusive so you can kind of zone out and focus on traversal and solving puzzles. It accompanies the gameplay without crowding it out. I can't believe Arlo used Magmoor Caverns as a positive example because IMO that song does the exact opposite.
I really enjoy the music too. Personally, it feels like a soundscape which makes it feel way more atmospheric. The older games OST are amazing, but it definitely feels like game music, lol
Burenia is the overwhelmingly huge exception to the general consensus of the music being forgettable. The atmosphere is great throughout the game, but that eerie aquatic music was something truly special, able to elevate the atmosphere while also being recognizable and even iconic, and something I wish was utilized just a little bit more throughout the rest of the game. Here’s to hoping this is the norm next time around
I think the reason so many areas feel the same is due to the visuals, or more specifically, the tiling. Look at the area backgrounds and yes, they're all different, but the foregrounds tend to be very bare, and the walls/midgrounds are always black in the center. Compare the fire area to the forest areas in Dread, and they all have the same basic blacked-out walls. Now look at super metroid, and see that there aren't really any black areas. In other words, in Super Metroid the colours and theming are clearly visible across the whole screen, but in Dread, the colour schemes are only immediately obvious in interactable/playable areas.
I observed the bland black theme in every scene of dreads reveal, hoping this was some prototype beta footage that would be fixed eventually...of course, it never was...and having the whole game like this has the same effect as having little to no music, i remember the strider reboot doing the same thing and being underwhelmed by the utter blandness etc.
Thank you for this! The prominent black void whereever there is just a solid wall is something that bothers me quite a bit, and I just rarely see somebody mention it.
Another area where the visuals blend areas together is the EMMI zones. All the EMMI zones have the same sci-fi aesthetic and considering they take up a major portion of most areas, it makes the areas themselves less distinct. Ghavoran is only 50% a wild jungle, the other 50% is a Sci-fi box where a killer robot stalks you, just like 50% of most of the other areas in the game.
It's pretty sad that music often gets overlooked in games or seen as an afterthought. You put it very nicely, awesome and atmospheric music is the difference between a great game and an unforgettable experience. I think a lot of people underestimate just how much heavy lifting an awesome soundtrack can do for a game. That being said, a lot of the music in Dread has grown on me and I've even come to like a decent amount of it. It's definitely not on the level of Super Metroid or Hollow Knight or anything like that but I think for the most part it sets the mood well enough. Two tracks in particular I think are excellent are Burenia and Ferenia. Haunting, mysterious, and atmospheric.
I agree on Burenia being one of the best and most atmospheric Metroid tracks we've had in a while (imo being to Dread what Lower Brinstar is to Super and what Sector 4 Underwater is to Fusion) but as for the vast majority of the game's themes like Dairon, Ferenia and Cataris, they sound very much like stock action movie music to me--generic, forgettable, repetitive, and compositionally very basic and unremarkable. The #1 argument in defense of Dread's soundtrack is that it's forgettable because it's "just atmospheric and ambient rather than earwormy," but to me it's the lack of atmosphere and uniqueness itself that makes the OST underwhelming, not the fact that it isn't "hummable."
Can you imagine if BOTW’s soundtrack was treated exactly the same as every other Zelda game? A regular soundtrack that sounds amazing, unique, and fits the game it’s meant for. It would be great, but what they did made that game feel completely different from anything that ever came before it. I completely agree with you. Atmospheric music goes a long way for these types of games.
It's crazy to me how Nintendo can still produce the best, most industry defining games in the genres they pretty much invented, even over 3 decades later. This game had absolutely zero reason to be this amazing, but they've done it again.
I think in this case, rather than Nintendo, most of the praise should go to MercurySteam, the development team based in Madrid that, from Castlevania: Lords of Shadow on PS3, arrived to this game in 10 years. It is a little spanish (and european) pride this game.
@@starpier I'd agree with you, but here's the thing: It's Mercury Steam that developed the game, but it's probably Nintendo's fault that it's actually good. Just look at what studios like Ubisoft (who usually make bloated, buggy, microtransaction-ridden messes, can accomplish when they develop for Nintendo (Mario + Rabbids), or Namco Bandai (Super Smash Bros Ultimate). Contracted studios can make good games for sure, but there's no way in hell they're making stuff like _this_ without the Nintendo cracking the whip and enforcing quality control. We all know how much they value their first party IPs after all.
@@S.A.O.D.A yes. We can definitely agree that, under Nintendo whip, these studios improved their outputs. In the case of Mercury Steam, they significantly improved, even in comparison to their previous Nintendo titles. And all of this was achieved by a non-Japanese team. It is quite remarkable and Mercury Steam deserves plenty of praise for it.
I cannot express enough how amazing Samus feels to control in this game. You just feel powerful, especially when you get the Storm Missiles and rip the bosses to shreds.
I’ve never played a Metroid game in my life before now, but this game EASILY made me a Metroid fan. Samus is such a badass that she instantly went to the near top of my favorite Nintendo protagonists list lol. This game is literally eye candy and I love so much about it. If they remake the old ones, you *know* I’ll be there to see what I’ve missed.
The controls in Dread are unbelievably buttery smooth. So much so that I had a hard time going back to even Fusion and Zero Mission for a good couple weeks after playing Dread! It is easily the most fluid and fun to move around 2d game and just one of the most fun to control games out there. It's very close to being my favorite Metroid game, it's right at the 2nd spot. There are a couple nitpicks here and there but besides that it is incredible. I'm so glad the wait was beyond worth it. Welcome back, Samus!
I think the main problem with the areas is that the EMMI areas take up so much space and they all look pretty damn similar, even when the EMMI is gone. Plus they do thematically tie the areas together to some degree when you get closer to an elevator or train, which doesn't really leave much room for them to stand out in their own.
I don’t think there’s enough to do a big fat review. Zelda is a massive open world game that you can easily put in 100 hours and not even come close to doing by everything. You can do everything in Dread on a first playthrough in like 10-15 hours. Obviously it’s designed to be more replayable but that doesn’t translate into a longer review
I am so, so happy for Metroid fans, they finally got their full return to glory. I'm currently working my way through Super on the Switch and once that's over I'll prolly get this. I would absolutely be behind a MS remake of it on the Switch.
I'd say dread does miles better on the visual identity of areas front than samus returns did. some color palettes are kinda bleh but they're still distinct and feel like a cohesive zone instead of just "generic planet background 265", pretty as that background might be. I think it's more the music contributing to the problem than anything with the visuals. no zone of dread ever really felt oppressive and isolating the way super/zm/fusion did except the emmi rooms.
The movement is INSANE and all feels so natural (other than clicking in the left joycon to speed boost and shine spark), the story is great, the atmosphere is terrifying and the bosses are *chef's kiss*, especially the final boss, and the fact that the EMMI encounters are all a different experience is great
The only negative for me is length and amount of content for the price. I like that they added a boss rush mode, if they added a zero suit side story mode or something it would probably be worth it for the price
Many long months I’ve been waiting for this review! Thanks Arlo! This was my first Metroid game and I can confidently say I’m now a Metroid fan and am excited to go back and play the older titles.
I'd like to add one thhing to your point on the leveldesing. The sequence breaks in this game are at least on par with those in Super. Both in number, and in balance. Here, they let you grab many powerups ealry. But when i did my first run using them, i got forced to do the Heat generator Boss without the Space Jump, presenting an immense challenge. This is peak metroid level desing.
@@wrosebrock true I just recently replayed through it and I have to say I enjoy the environments a bit more and it feels more interconnected than dread IMO
I'm kinda surprised you didn't cover the story more. To me, that was the most exciting part for me going into Dread. I wanted to know what was next for Samus and good lord did we get that and more. Excellent review all in all though! It really makes me want to go back and finally complete it...
I just hope Dread selling relatively well gives wakes Nintendo up to really pull development on Prime 4 into maximum gear, if it turns out as good as Dread Metroid could be their Halo.
The problem with Metroid not selling well is that Metroidvanias are a niche type of games, adding on to the fact that Metroid's tone is more serious than what typical Nintendo fans want to play. If Metroid was licensed to be developed on PC and the other consoles, then it would be available to a much wider market of players, and it wouldn't be limited to typically weaker Nintendo hardware.
@@johnleonard9102 The problem in the past has been that core idea of Metroidvanias being niche, yes. But with the surge of Indie Metroidvanias essentially putting the genre on the map, with games such as Hollow Knight, Ori, Shantae and definitely many others exploding, it put the series in a good position to sell well. And with Dread being one of, if not the best selling entry in the series thanks to this, it's definitely proof that this series can hold its own still, especially in the right circumstances.
Prime will never be Halo, it would require far too much alteration to get close, one thing halo had was multiplayer as well as campaign multiplayer, prime will be lucky to ever get either of those, and then there was the entry level easiness of halo... You can literally shoot your way forward at all times. I understand where you are trying to go, but it just won't.
@@sonicrunn3r895 Dread is the best selling Metroid game yet, but even Skyward Sword HD has sold more than it. A remaster of arguably the least favorite 3D Zelda outsold the newest and freshest Metroid; while 3mil sales of Dread isn't a failure, it's leagues behind other Nintendo franchises.
I agree, but I think the atmosphere that music does provide can feel a little similar at times. I think the pieces of music that fit there there areas the best are burenia, cataris and ferenia, my favorite of which is ferenia. What's your favorite?
~19:00 The nicest part about bosses in Dread is that it's not hard to dodge attacks endlessly, nor is it difficult to deal damage, but putting the two together gives it a pretty good challenge.
I pre ordered this game at a bestbuy like a half hour a way and I drove there in the rain and it was still 100% worth it. It is my favorite game of all time. Thank you Arlo!
@Potato Power Me too. Also, HK is a little too big imo (more of the same just) and many bosses are just frustratingly hard. It's a great game as well, but it's not as perfect imo as everybody says. Metroid is the king of the genre and Dread showed. Looking forward to Silksong though and hopefully the next 2D Metroid in the not too far distant future...
Metroid Dread was the first game in the series I’ve played and has instantly converted me to being a Metroid fan. Now I can sufffer with the rest of you as we wait for Metroid Prime 4 lol.
Great video! Couldn't have posted it at a better time for me. I've been back on a metroid rave and I have been playing through the games again. I did want to take a quick moment to point out something I think you missed with the teleporters and that is that at end-game (right before you fight the final boss I believe), the teleporters allow you to use any of them to teleport to any other one.
Been on a HUGE Metroid kick this month, having me replay, or play for the first time, all the 2D titles. AM2R did a LOT of things right for me (Music especially, the sound team KILLED it on that one), but MAN is Dread just an all around complete package for me. The more expansive Super-like maps, the Zero Mission snappy controls, the harder difficulty a la Fusion, Dread just nails it. While the music isn't doing it for me, and the environments can be a bit forgettable, it still blows my mind we got a mainline 2D Metroid game that not only is a sequel, not ONLY is made my MS, and not ONLY is Metroid 5, but it is Metroid Dread. Just *chefs kiss*
This was my first metroid game, and what a game to start on. I followed the game extensively before it's release and I was absolutely immersed in each and every trailer. I distinctly remember watching the announcement trailer and thinking to myself "welp, I guess I'm a metroid fan now". And now after playing it (repeatedly) i can confidently say that metroid dread is comfortably sitting at the top of my list of favorite games.
Arlo’s review of this is very thought out, I mean he even took forever to get this out just like the game!! (This is a joke for those who don’t understand that. Glad you were finally able to get this video out that you always wanted to! Also glad you loved the game too!)
I think the problem with the atmosphere is partially due to the EMMI rooms. Not because they're bad, but because the story dictates that EMMI's can only roam within their sterile lab environment... so EACH area needed to include a Sterile lab setting for the EMMI to move about in. It kinda ruins the "Every area is unique" atmosphere, when every area contains a set of rooms that are visually and thematically identical. That said, I was HYPED for this game. I played the SHIT out of this game, and I did my speedruns to unlock more of the art. I LOVE this game, and I'm happy you see what I see in it.
betcha didn't know this, when you enter and then exit out of the final boss area, then the teleporters become interconnected. you don't have to find all of them first, just get to that point in the story (and yes you HAVE to enter that final area to activate it, it's weird but whatev)
Metroid Dread was my first 2D metroid game I ever played and I only purchased it because of how excited you were during the nintendo direct when it was shown. And it turned out to be one of my favorite games I have ever played on the switch. I have played a lot of games I never would of played previously after watching your videos.
As an OG Metroid fan myself since the beginning, this was everything I wanted in a 2d game. It's truly incredible and I want more!! Also, I'm super happy this game made new fans of the franchise. We need all we can get for the future.
I still go back every once in a while to watch your reaction video. It actually brings a little tear to my eye to hear someone be so exuberantly happy. Just so amazing having that happiness come out of the speakers.
I really appreciate hearing Arlo talk about the trouble of traversing the map. I thought that it was happening to me because this was my first Metroid game, but it’s kinda nice to hear I’m not as dumb as I first thought.
Great review. I will say the EMMI music, that switched it up when it was in idle, searching or chasing mode was fantastic, but otherwise I agree with the music part. And the rest of the review
Agree with everything, this game is incredible and despite putting 70+ hours into it, I still can't believe it exists! Really hope Nintendo keep this up and a Super Metroid remake with these systems would be the end-all-be-all remake! Even if not, I just hope it's not another 15+ years for the next 2D Metroid to release!
@@jamesgravil9162 Nintendo has had little faith in the Metroid series as a whole. Hopefully Dread has changed their perception of the series and it's fanbase.
Honestly I really want a remake of every 2D Metroid game on Dread's engine. Wishful thinking is that they would be in a collection but they would probably all be separate
@@hotcocoabomb_ Problem is those games are pretty short by modern standards. If you know what you're doing, it's possible to complete Super Metroid in a couple hours. If they did remake those games, I would expect them to be fleshed out a bit, with new areas, bosses and power-ups.
@@jamesgravil9162 Again, entirely wishful thinking but if you put all the games in a collection and had some connecting cutscenes (think sonic origins) then I think it could work without many changes. I will admit though that if you're selling them as separate games that's a much harder sell unless you change some things, which wouldn't be ideal (except for fusion, at least in my opinion)
The one thing I'll disagree on is the soundtrack. Honestly, I love it, I feel it's a pretty natural follow up to the style Fusion and Prime 3 had going at many points. It's not quite as in your face, but it's got enough personality to stand out. I'm in particular a fan of how Ghavoran's tune fits so perfectly before and after Elun, and Burenia's music in general which I'd put as probably my favorite water area music to date. Artaria and Dairon also have standouts. However, I'd say the mixing in the game does make them a bit on the low sounding side, and that makes them more missable than other games in the series. I don't recall the game having volume sliders other than master volume? Something like that might have helped. That being said, there is something that makes the areas blend in a bit more than usual, but I disagree it's the soundtrack. I'd say it's the EMMI zones. I like the EMMI encounters a lot and what they bring to the table, but the constant sterile white room vibe in the middle of every area does stand out, and there's not much to distinguishing "Artaria EMMI area" from "Ferenia EMMI area" or so on. Giving each EMMI area different touches to match with each individual area would've done wonders I feel like.
It’s possible they were approaching music in a similar way they did for Breath of the Wild. It’s more of a backdrop and they wanted the environment to speak for itself which can add to the atmosphere
While I wish the songs were more melodic, I think they did just as well as the average Metroid area song in making the areas feel atmospheric. It just would’ve been able to kick everything up to the next level and give everyone a beautiful soundtrack to listen to if they were more in the style of the old music
It's worth noting that clearly the devs were also aware of how bizarre and annoying having teleporters pair instead of warp to any other teleporter was, because right before you fight the final boss they actually do unlock the ability for any teleporter to go to any other teleporter. But since this isn't something expected or hinted at (I don't remember if there's even any indication in game when it is unlocked) most players probably aren't even aware it exists. I sure wasn't aware of it until I tried looking up online if there was like, a cheat code or amiibo that would unlock it for me. It's a very bizarre design choice in an otherwise very well crafted game
Loved this review. Praises everything I loved and the criticisms were super fair in my opinion. I hadn't really heard much about it online, but the lack of distinctive music tracks or even solid remixes of more than a couple songs was something that stuck out to me and brought down the game a bit. (It was especially obvious after I beat the game and went through the OST to add stuff to my playlists.) With the criticisms regarding area theming, I would honestly go a step further and say that the game felt just a *little* bland as a whole to me. Like it was relying just a smidge too much on series staples for a game that came so long after. In fairness, I think a huge part of this is the rise in Metroidvania games in the past decade. This game would have felt a lot more fresh if I hadn't recently played games like Ori BF/WOTW and Hollow Knight in the past year or two, for example. If you put it alongside the other 2D Metroid games, I wouldn't deny that it absolutely holds its own in terms of original ideas, it's just that the genre has a whole has evolved a lot in the downtime. That's a whole lot of negativity, though, I just can't resist tearing into stuff on the internet! The game was fantastic and was a highlight of the year, so I'm extremely grateful for Dread despite my nitpicks.
One Emmy encounter that forever scared me was when I had finally figured out where to wait, when to start charging, and roughly the path the emmy would take. My heart was pounding and I was waiting, looking for the one spot I was pretty sure the emmy would be. I was standing pretty close to a ledge, when- its face showed up right in mine, were I should have died. It was totally charged so I screamed and immediatly shot it and defeated it. Man, it was a lot. I love this game!! I finished it forever ago and seeing it on my reccomended and watching it really made me go- Oh yeah! Great video and it was amazing seeing more Metroid Dread!!
I was going to go to bed after procrastinating for 45 minutes but then this excellent chap uploads a review I’ve been looking forward to since October. Guess I’m watching this then.
I wouldn’t say dread’s music is bad per se, but it is trying something very different. There aren’t as many prominent, hummable melodies as previous games, but the songs do still aid in giving these locales an identity. I particularly like artaria’s theme. Its got that whimsical alien planet vibe that sounds both fun and a bit mysterious
Given that my two biggest issues with Super Metroid are that the controls are a little stiff and the map leaves a lot to be desired, a full remake in the style of Dread would be absolutely fantastic, I would preorder it in an instant.
I'm not sure about that...the controls felt stiff at first, but you get used to it. Same with the map that gets more familiar every time you play it. I just fear a lot of charm gets lost when those 16bit graphics and also the sound gets replaced...didn't work for me with Link's Awakening though there are definitely a lot of improvements with the remake, but the soundtrack changed too much for my liking and the new graphics aren't really how I imagined the game in HD either. If they "have to" remake another Metroid game, I'd actually prefer Fusion. This also still looks and sounds great, but somehow I think modern graphics and better sound could really enhance this one more than Super. The graphics look sometimes a bit too cartoonish anyways and the sound quality wasn't the best on the GBA. This one I could imagine even being more atmospheric with a remake.
I loved dread, but I absolutely agree with what you mentioned about interconnected level design. Less teleporters, more levels looping back in on themselves is the way to go!
Been waiting for this! Glad to see Dread was (almost) everything you'd hoped for, Arlo! I know you're probably too busy with other stuff, but I might recommend the 0% challenge, where you beat the game without grabbing any optional power-ups. When I first heard about it, I thought it sounded insane. With how hard those bosses are? No way in HECK would I be able to do that! But I tried it (on Hard Mode, even!), and it wasn't too bad. And finally beating Bird Dad was a rush unlike anything I'd felt before!
I really appreciate how you talk about the music in games. Music can make such a massive difference in a game experience and I don't hear enough people mentioning it in other reviews. Thank-you!
I. Love. This. Game. It was worth the wait. And that’s a HUGE claim seeing that I waited over 10 years for it. Great review, but I’d have to disagree on the music. Yeah it’s definitely not as good as super, fusion or primes music it had some bangers. The Elite Chozo theme was really intense and kinda scary, I also loved the credits theme.
I also love the credits theme in Dread, to the point where I can confidently say it's my favorite in the series. Though, that wasn't the case when heard it after my first playthrough. It basically went in one ear and out the other when I listened to it the first time, but in all fairness, I was trying to process the ending of the game and couldn't focus on the music at that moment. It took me a few more times listening to the credits theme before I started loving it more and more. It manages to convey a sense of triumph and finality in my opinion.
@@guyudontno7689 I agree. The credits didn’t sit well with me until I realized. That all credits up until now where somber, sad or even dreadful sounding. Dread sounding triumphant really shows that you actually won. That this truly is the end to the Metroid Creature Saga
Best part of melee in this game is that it's rarely required for normal enemies. Sure, it makes them easier, but you barely lack the ability to harm them without it. It also adds so much to boss fights by giving fun cinematics as a reward for hitting the parry
Yess!! I have waited soo long for an official full review from arlo on this game! Metroid Dread was seriously probably my #1 game on the switch from 2021
Literally cried when Dread won Best Action Game. Also, i don't think you mentioned that teleporters go to any other, once you've found them all. Great review, Arlo! You're right about the areas not quite distinguishing themselves.
you read my mind! how COOL does Sammy look in the cut scenes?! them controls *chefs kiss*. and you're right- the music was lacking. My major complaint that I'm surprised you didn't mention was simply the length of them game. I wanted so much more content, but what I got was near perfect
This is the game that made me fall in love with Metroid. When I saw it in the E3 Direct last summer, I started getting into the series for the first time. I beat Zero Mission and Super Metroid and started the Prime Trilogy. When Dread came out, I 100%ed it the first week it was our and then started a brand new save file on the next difficulty and 100%ed it all over again. It isn’t a perfect game but it is one that I love a lot.
Glad that it sounds like you utterly loved it, music aside. A lot of my thoughts and enthusiasm for Dread echo your own, right down to the emmis, although I'm less harsh on the music. It's unreal that this game actually happened and was this well-crafted. It really was worth it!
It's my definitive Metroid. It's simultaneously easy and hard. Linear and nonlinear. It makes you feel like you discover stuff even though it guides you precisely where it wants you unless you sequence break (like me)
When Metroid Dread was announced, your videos encouraged me to try out Zero Mission to see if I would like Metroid. I ended up really enjoying it and was super excited to play Dread. I loved the game and it’s one of my favorite Switch games. I just finished Prime, and am currently playing through Prime 2.
I agree with essentially literally everything in this video. Which is shocking, because it's hard for that to happen with a video this length. The only thing I'd add is that, to me, the segmented and slightly artificial-feeling world is made up for by the amazing implementation of tech and advanced mechanics. It's got the best sequence-breaking I've seen intentionally put in a game since, well, Metroid Zero Mission. And not only is the Speed Booster back, it's actually better and more versatile than ever before, which blew my mind. These things made me replay the game and be surprised and delighted several times over. Early Gravity Suit and the quick kill for the otherwise brutal giant boss will never leave my memory as great moments.
Arlo took the words out of my mouth. Talking about how everything was the same, but couldn't put his finger on it. I literally said to myself " it's the music" at the exact same time as him.
I'd disagree tho. Just like in BotW, the music is way more experimental, in this case trying to recreate the feeling of being lost in endless caverns on an alien planet filled with aggressive, hostile creatures.
@@fluffynator6222 "Trying to recreate the feeling of being lost in endless caverns on an alien planet filled with aggressive, hostile creatures" is the perfect way to describe what Super metroid achieved so perfectly in its soundtrack, and what Dread (imo) failed miserably at achieving with the majority of its own music.
@@BenjaminAnderson21 No really. Most of Super's themes are harmonic, conformable. Meanwhile Dread's soundtrack actually sounds alien in its experimental nature.
@@fluffynator6222 Sure, I won't deny that Dread's soundtrack is much more diverse, and as you said, "expirimental" than Super's in its instrumentation and textures. IMO, however, the bulk of Dread's OST hardly capitalizes on this advantage in the interest of conveying an oppressive, mysterious and otherworldly atmosphere. On the other hand, I'd say Super's more restrained style doesn't hold it back at all in terms of instilling said atmosphere--in fact, its stylistic unity might actually aid it in doing so, as demonstrated in the ominous "breathing" rythms that can be found in the bulk of its area themes.
I just finished yet another play through of this game and absolutely loved it. This game was honestly how I connected with my friend who loves souls games. I’ve yet to get addicted to souls but the mastery you get after dying 100 times to the same boss makes that victory oh so sweet.
I agree with basically everything you said, and especially about the music. While the level design having too many one-way areas that made back tracking/exploration a bit unfun, I think the music is the single biggest flaw of the game, and it's really really unfortunate. Like, I watch a LOT of speedruns for this game, and I don't think a single song has been able to stick in my head any. I think if they bring back the soundtrack quality from past games in the next(?) one, while maintaining all of the quality we see in this one, we could have a truly perfect Metroid game. Even then, though, it was an absolutely stellar experience when I didn't think we'd get anything like it! Absolutely adore the game, and I hope its success allows for many more 2D Metroids going forward
such a good and interesting franchise for nintendo. Not super adult but def not kiddie. I'm 32 so I'm older and have never played a metroid game before but have always been interested In the story and lore. This was the perfect game to start with for me and really get me into the series. will def be supporting this franchise from now on
Oh hey, we finally get that Arlo review of Dread that he's been promising us ever since last October! I bought this game the first week it was out, and I loved it too. I think the reason the areas seem too blended together is because they kind of are. There are elements of each area that make them unique, but these elements bleed into other areas until you can't tell them apart. There is a heat zone in Dairon; eastern Artaria looks exactly like Cataris; the organic look of Burenia bleeds over into Dairon; Ferenia and Hanubia are too small and too similar; etc. I also think it didn't help that the EMMI zones all looked exactly the same.
In Dread, Samus feels like the unstoppable juggernaut of destruction that the story has been saying she was for years. My only complaint about Dread was there wasn't enough.
Dlc adding an extra area with a new boss would have been nice but honestly I’m fine with how long it is in my opinion it’s the perfect length.
I am really willing to pay money for more content
Hurts then finding out they had to cut areas and bosses due to time constraints
@@_Teej_264 that’s literally never not the case
@@llab3903 I mean they could have gone on hiatus leaving us in the dark like Team Cherry cause they had so many ideas. No shade on TC I love Hollow Knight, but they do need some publisher pushing for a time constraint of some sort. Glad Silksong has a soft release date though
I do love how beautifully they animated Samus' movements in this game. She has this confident swagger in all of the cutscenes that just oozes cool.
She has exaggerated swagger of a black teen
The exaggerated swagger of a chozo bounty hunter
@@tomcampbell8934 lmfao
Hallelujah for somebody on the internet knowing that it’s samus’. Not samus’s
@@johnjuandemarco I know right? People should of understand this grammer since middle school.
One side note: Once you unlock every single transport, you can actually transport to any transporter, regardless of color. It helps when you are going for 100%
Wow really! I didn't know that!
This would have saved me so much time on my 100% run.
Sooner than that actually! Just entering the final area and going back to a teleporter will unlock full access to whatever you have unlocked already!
I believe its something added in that DLC that brought dread Mode and boss Rush. But I'm not sure.
@@igoralmeida4677 nope it was there from the very start. I have the 1.0 cartridge and play it due to the invicibility glitch. Once you enter itorash all teleporters connect
The fact that her model is so expertly crafted so that not a SINGLE polygon within her body clips into another at any point in the game speaks volumes of the love and dedication Mercury Steam gave to this game
Metroid definitely deserves it. Definitely my favorite Nintendo IP.
also cool to see the suit not being overly sexualised like in other M, but samus will always be hot either way
😂
@@agent5657 Metroid games have always rewarded the players who achieve the best ending with sexy pics of Samus...
@@josephbrandenburg4373 yeah true, tho she's hotter with the armor imo
I really appreciate Arlo doing these review months after the game comes out. Gives you enough time to actually figure out your true thoughts on the game. Plus if you're a good reviewer, your fans are interested in your opinion no matter how long it takes. No need to rush it out the door
I absolutely agree, and his true thoughts really cover everything!! Like, He covers the entire massive list of things that are great about Dread AND the small-but-notable list of things that are not great about it too. I really appreciate the commitment to detail, and I can't stress enough how valuable and well-thought-out his constructive criticism is. I found myself agreeing with him on most of the issues he had.
Yup
Finally someone who says this! I agree!
@Don't Read My Profile Photo ok! i wont!
I lost my copy😂😢
I LOVE having EMMIs in the game. I think that part of the Metroid atmosphere and experience is fear, and those murder-bots were absolutely terrifying.
Like the guardians in botw. OP to a noob player, weak to a experienced player. They both one shot you while creepy music plays in the background! They both even chase after you, once they saw you😫😂
@@MetaGamingDojo oh my gosh how have i not made that connection before
They’re scary at first but they just become annoying after a while
I absolutely love the EMMIs. Each zone feels like a puzzle every time you enter that door, and even if you fail, the counter mechanic feels so incredibly amazing to pull off, but it also doesn't feel bad if you don't. It's like a last chance hail mary, where you know you've already failed, but maybe there's just that one chance you can perfectly counter them and then escape.
Honestly, the best part of this game to me was something you didn't cover: The characterization of Samus. Between her extremely expressive eyes and the attention to body language, there are moments where she is exuding a cocky arrogance unlike anything we've seen from her, moments where she is desperate to survive, and my favorite scene with Quiet Voice where we see her flip from panicked to relieved in a moment that feels believably human. She literally says like two words in an alien language through the entire game, but I feel like I learned more about Samus as a person here than anything Other M could have done.
Other M was almost entirely “tell, don’t show” and it was lame. I liked the gameplay of other M but the story was basically the opposite of Dread. obnoxious, trying yet failing to be pandering, drops established plot threads like they never existed to begin with.
Yesss! Her interactions with Quiet Robe and Raven Beak were my favourite parts of the game. Hearing her speak Chozo was just absolutely awesome.
I feel like this was another thing where the devs really had a close look at what fans heavily disliked about a previous entry (mainly Other M in this case as you say) and actively tried to steer in a better direction. They nailed it!
ah yes my favourite character quiet voice
@@hugodl9073 Same 🤣
Eleven words. “Do not worry. I will end this. Once and for all.”
I loved every second of this game, it is the first game that made me want to do speedruns... Something I thought I wasn't really into. But Metroid dread is so fine tuned and well crafted that I just kept wanting more and more from it
You hit the nail in the head about wanting to do a speedrun. The game is just masterfully crafted and it actually encourages players to GET faster times.
Especially since you can unlock gallery art from completing it in a certain amount of time
How does anybody Speedrun this game with the horrendous fast travel load times? I was so annoyed by them during my playthrough
Haha... I feel the same way. It's replay value is off the hook. 10 years from now I'll still come back to it and smile when I play it.
@@pipedreamsz This is what drove me to play through the game as many times as I did🤣
I like how inconsistent the EMMI counter window timing is. Countering an EMMI doesn’t just serve as an easy way to breeze through every close encounter, but creates tension when an EMMI catches you, and is incredibly satisfying when pulled off.
Has it been confirmed that there really isn't a consistent timing window to counter the EMMI's attacks?
@@Sugarman96 Yup, it’s randomized
Yeah, agreed ^^
@@theakiwar9118 Oh, I love that XD That really does add to the feeling and all!
@@Sugarman96 the time when they flash is different, but the actual counter window is like, frame-perfect
Something I felt Dread desperately needed was some kind of logbook or scan system. I'll always argue that the single biggest thing that separates the Prime series from the main series is the scan visor, it opens the lore to such a huge degree and is an absolutely perfect form of organic storytelling (ie the player discovers, or doesn't discover, things at their own pace). There are so many areas and creatures in ZDR that I just want to learn more about, like what is the massive underwater facility in Burenia being used for? What are these Mawkin ruins? Or the research experiments they were doing throughout the planet? In the Prime series, all of these questions would have been answered, but in Dread they pretty much only serve as big set pieces.
Big agree, organic storytelling is my absolute favorite thing in games. The Prime games are outstanding in that regard.
That would be amazing, agreed. I know a lot of people who dislike the scanning in Prime and simply don't do it, except for the gameplay relevant stuff. Fair dos!
I however obsessively scan absolutely everything and read every bit of flavour text there is, so yes please. 😅 They could even integrate that into the Aeion scan, highlighting something that could be investigated further for lore.
@@jaretco6423 Even if they don't do a scan feature why not utilize the same idea that Hollow Knight did? Defeating one or several creatures would proceed to filling in a log book entry. It would make sense too if it's the first time Samus has come across a particular species and the log includes some text about weaknesses.
I don't think I want a scan visor. I'd rather leave that to the Prime games and their own pacing. This game takes on more of that environmental storytelling, so if you ask me, what I would do instead is give the Pulse Radar either the ability to translate chozo text in the background or have it play out holographic scenes within certain rooms. For example, what if you returned to the room with the first Central Unit and used the Pulse Radar, activating a sort of hologram memory where Raven beak guns down the first E.M.M.I.
Yeah, the scanning makes sense in Prime because you go from a ninja in SM to simulating Robocop in the 3D games. Scanning would not mesh well with the pacing of a propper Metroid game. Don't get me wrong, I like the more meandering pace of the Prime games, but if Prime 4 comes out I hope they find some way to bridge the agility gap. Edit: someone mentioned an auto-log for the 2d games, that's such a good idea they should do that in Prime as well.
I’m not a Metroid guy but I literally bought this just because you were so excited. Ended up loving it thanks Arlo.
Planning to play others in series?
I'm not a Metroid person but I bought it as part of my attempt to try the Metroid series: I began with Super Metroid, then this game, then the Prime Trilogy. Overall, good series.
SAME
Likewise! I even went ahead and bought Zero mission and Fusion (as I already owned but didn't play Super and Samus Returns) and then played them in order leading up to dread! And I even beat fusion 2 weeks prior to Dread's release
Same. Dread was my first Metroid game, and it's all because of that blue fella.
The way the combat and stealth sections are talked about in this review remind me of how Cuphead plays. Plenty of bosses in that game seem totally impossible until you're forced to switch up your strategy to beat them and realize that even though you were playing skillfully you were doing it in the wrong way the whole time. All the frustration only leads to increased satisfaction in the end when you're finally triumphant.
Play the binding of Isaac. It's similar but much better IMO. You'll love it. Plus it's dark.
3:38 HOLY CRAP! I never realized the first boss is shuffling about in the background while camouflaged. That's amazing.
He shows up twice before his fight
@@jesusramirezromo2037 OP was getting head during those sections and got distracted lol.
There are lots of amazing details like that in this game. I'd recommend the channel Looygi Bros series on metroid dread details if you're interested
The controls for Samus were so painfully and absolutely optimized and polished that they feel indescribably amazing even a year after playing it for the first time. I'm still not over it and doubt I ever will be
Yeah, I couldn't believe how good and intuitive the 360 aiming felt. Was so easy to pick up, when it could easily have been clunky. Tiny details like momentum when she turns makes everything *so* fluid.
Best controls on any game I’ve ever played. So intuitive and well done.
I love how the developers anticipated and rewarded players who found shortcuts and got items early. For instance, if you manage to find the morph bombs before the Kraid fight you can use the bombs against him and kill him with ease and are also rewarded with a unique badass cut scene. It’s glorious.
Really? That's amazing.
@@Cerebrum123 yeah you can also flash shift into his face during the second phase. And most of the other bosses have all kinds of speed booster and screw attack tech.
@@Cerebrum123 you can roll into a ball and shoot into Kraid’s stomach hole and bomb him from the inside. It’s incredible.
Can u send a link of the unique cutscene
@@alejandrocastrejon4419 ruclips.net/video/88D3HHI5_rc/видео.html here you go
This was my first Metroid game. I can’t believe I had this much fun. I bought it mainly because I’ve been getting bored with the games I usually play, and this was the first Metroidvania I had finished. I loved this game
@John Smith "Also, nothing against you, glad you enjoyed it"
yeah right you are obviously seething
@John Smith dude… Metroidvania is a genre. Metroid is under that genre. Castlevania is under that genre
@John Smith the amount of gate keeping that is seeping from your comment is absolutely disgusting.
Was my first Metroidvania as well. I usually don’t like 2d platforming stuff but I am impressed at how fun this game is. Made me try out Aria of sorrow as well
Man the lead up and hype to this game will never be forgotten. And to know that Dread played even better than I thought I would was just the icing on top. I’m so glad Metroid Dread is now the most sold game in the series and rightfully so. This game could really be the start of Samus’ adventures getting even bigger than before and I’m all for it!
i still play that arlo reaction from time to time lmao
@@NaikoArt YESSS Same here, I love doing stuff like that XD
I'm an aspiring art concept designer and Metroid Dread has been one of my biggest inspirations in a long time. The backgrounds in every area, the lighting, its just such a beautiful game, it makes me want to try harder to develop something like this
Regarding the teleporters, you may have forgotten to add that, once you activate all the teleporters in the game, you are actually able to teleport to any one of them regarding the colors. It's like they allowed this extra bit to help players backtrack during the later stages of the game, most likely when they're trying to 100% the items.
Correction, the teleporters do that after you enter Itorash. I did a 100% run constantly poking around and testing this. Even activating all the teleporters and getting all possible items before power bombs and eventually just straight up 100%ing the game didn't do anything to open them up. The teleporters only opened up after I went in Itorash and came out.
Consequentially, in my first run of the game I only had 2 teleporters period active prior to Itorash and literally every teleporter opened up after coming out of Itorash, even if I never activated them. Which meant I could warp into new areas I hadn't even seen, which helped 100%ing a lot!
I actually really like the music, it's not directly memorable but it's atmospheric to me. I get a very specific feeling from the first time I heard that song when it kicks in.
thats understandable, I think a lot of long time fans like me were just dying to get more of that classic, iconic style, so it was a bit disappointing when it (aside from Burenia) wasn't there
Yeah I liked it too. It's nice and unobtrusive so you can kind of zone out and focus on traversal and solving puzzles. It accompanies the gameplay without crowding it out.
I can't believe Arlo used Magmoor Caverns as a positive example because IMO that song does the exact opposite.
I really enjoy the music too. Personally, it feels like a soundscape which makes it feel way more atmospheric. The older games OST are amazing, but it definitely feels like game music, lol
Same. The only improvements I could see is if the tracks slightly adjusted based on your progress, further emphasizing your growth.
Burenia is the overwhelmingly huge exception to the general consensus of the music being forgettable. The atmosphere is great throughout the game, but that eerie aquatic music was something truly special, able to elevate the atmosphere while also being recognizable and even iconic, and something I wish was utilized just a little bit more throughout the rest of the game. Here’s to hoping this is the norm next time around
I think the reason so many areas feel the same is due to the visuals, or more specifically, the tiling. Look at the area backgrounds and yes, they're all different, but the foregrounds tend to be very bare, and the walls/midgrounds are always black in the center. Compare the fire area to the forest areas in Dread, and they all have the same basic blacked-out walls. Now look at super metroid, and see that there aren't really any black areas. In other words, in Super Metroid the colours and theming are clearly visible across the whole screen, but in Dread, the colour schemes are only immediately obvious in interactable/playable areas.
I observed the bland black theme in every scene of dreads reveal, hoping this was some prototype beta footage that would be fixed eventually...of course, it never was...and having the whole game like this has the same effect as having little to no music, i remember the strider reboot doing the same thing and being underwhelmed by the utter blandness etc.
I believe that was intentional so that the environments would pop out on the OLED Switch that released on the same day
Thank you for this! The prominent black void whereever there is just a solid wall is something that bothers me quite a bit, and I just rarely see somebody mention it.
It doesn't bother me because I can't see inside walls in real life or in 3d games either. And Samus can't see into the walls in-universe.
Another area where the visuals blend areas together is the EMMI zones. All the EMMI zones have the same sci-fi aesthetic and considering they take up a major portion of most areas, it makes the areas themselves less distinct. Ghavoran is only 50% a wild jungle, the other 50% is a Sci-fi box where a killer robot stalks you, just like 50% of most of the other areas in the game.
To put it simply and effectively
It was THE game to make me actually interested in the series
Same!
It's pretty sad that music often gets overlooked in games or seen as an afterthought. You put it very nicely, awesome and atmospheric music is the difference between a great game and an unforgettable experience. I think a lot of people underestimate just how much heavy lifting an awesome soundtrack can do for a game. That being said, a lot of the music in Dread has grown on me and I've even come to like a decent amount of it. It's definitely not on the level of Super Metroid or Hollow Knight or anything like that but I think for the most part it sets the mood well enough. Two tracks in particular I think are excellent are Burenia and Ferenia. Haunting, mysterious, and atmospheric.
I agree on Burenia being one of the best and most atmospheric Metroid tracks we've had in a while (imo being to Dread what Lower Brinstar is to Super and what Sector 4 Underwater is to Fusion) but as for the vast majority of the game's themes like Dairon, Ferenia and Cataris, they sound very much like stock action movie music to me--generic, forgettable, repetitive, and compositionally very basic and unremarkable.
The #1 argument in defense of Dread's soundtrack is that it's forgettable because it's "just atmospheric and ambient rather than earwormy," but to me it's the lack of atmosphere and uniqueness itself that makes the OST underwhelming, not the fact that it isn't "hummable."
Can you imagine if BOTW’s soundtrack was treated exactly the same as every other Zelda game? A regular soundtrack that sounds amazing, unique, and fits the game it’s meant for. It would be great, but what they did made that game feel completely different from anything that ever came before it. I completely agree with you. Atmospheric music goes a long way for these types of games.
It’s all very atmospheric but not very melodic other than Burenia really
@@shroomfruit345 botw has the worst music in the Zelda series
@@bodacious117 the entire fanbase disagrees with you.
It's crazy to me how Nintendo can still produce the best, most industry defining games in the genres they pretty much invented, even over 3 decades later. This game had absolutely zero reason to be this amazing, but they've done it again.
It's Metroid. Some of the best games ever made are Metroid games.
I think in this case, rather than Nintendo, most of the praise should go to MercurySteam, the development team based in Madrid that, from Castlevania: Lords of Shadow on PS3, arrived to this game in 10 years. It is a little spanish (and european) pride this game.
@@starpier I'd agree with you, but here's the thing: It's Mercury Steam that developed the game, but it's probably Nintendo's fault that it's actually good.
Just look at what studios like Ubisoft (who usually make bloated, buggy, microtransaction-ridden messes, can accomplish when they develop for Nintendo (Mario + Rabbids), or Namco Bandai (Super Smash Bros Ultimate).
Contracted studios can make good games for sure, but there's no way in hell they're making stuff like _this_ without the Nintendo cracking the whip and enforcing quality control. We all know how much they value their first party IPs after all.
@@S.A.O.D.A yes. We can definitely agree that, under Nintendo whip, these studios improved their outputs. In the case of Mercury Steam, they significantly improved, even in comparison to their previous Nintendo titles. And all of this was achieved by a non-Japanese team. It is quite remarkable and Mercury Steam deserves plenty of praise for it.
I cannot express enough how amazing Samus feels to control in this game. You just feel powerful, especially when you get the Storm Missiles and rip the bosses to shreds.
And her movement is so fluid and smooth. Just traversing the map feels awesome.
YESSS Agreed, with both of you! It's awesome!
I’ve never played a Metroid game in my life before now, but this game EASILY made me a Metroid fan. Samus is such a badass that she instantly went to the near top of my favorite Nintendo protagonists list lol. This game is literally eye candy and I love so much about it. If they remake the old ones, you *know* I’ll be there to see what I’ve missed.
Post-Dread, I went back to play Super Metroid again and for the first time it felt old and outdated. That is an incredible accomplishment.
The controls in Dread are unbelievably buttery smooth. So much so that I had a hard time going back to even Fusion and Zero Mission for a good couple weeks after playing Dread! It is easily the most fluid and fun to move around 2d game and just one of the most fun to control games out there. It's very close to being my favorite Metroid game, it's right at the 2nd spot. There are a couple nitpicks here and there but besides that it is incredible. I'm so glad the wait was beyond worth it. Welcome back, Samus!
This was my first Metroid game ever. It was love at first sight and now I love the series.
Same
Welcome to the fan base
Same
This was my second game, my first was federation force...
@@urm8matt156 oof
I think the main problem with the areas is that the EMMI areas take up so much space and they all look pretty damn similar, even when the EMMI is gone. Plus they do thematically tie the areas together to some degree when you get closer to an elevator or train, which doesn't really leave much room for them to stand out in their own.
I was expecting a big fat review like we got for Zelda, but I'm still happy to see this. Arlo's reviews are always worth the wait.
Fr fr, but I'll take it 🤧
He should do a big fat review when Metroid Prime 4 comes out. They hype alone could easily make the topic a 3 hour video
I don’t think there’s enough to do a big fat review. Zelda is a massive open world game that you can easily put in 100 hours and not even come close to doing by everything. You can do everything in Dread on a first playthrough in like 10-15 hours. Obviously it’s designed to be more replayable but that doesn’t translate into a longer review
@@adrianpadin1840 yea. But MP4 thooo
@@adrianpadin1840 That's fair. I guess I expected Big fat review based more on how big a Metriod fan Arlo is and I didn't consider the game length.
I am so, so happy for Metroid fans, they finally got their full return to glory. I'm currently working my way through Super on the Switch and once that's over I'll prolly get this. I would absolutely be behind a MS remake of it on the Switch.
I'd say dread does miles better on the visual identity of areas front than samus returns did. some color palettes are kinda bleh but they're still distinct and feel like a cohesive zone instead of just "generic planet background 265", pretty as that background might be. I think it's more the music contributing to the problem than anything with the visuals. no zone of dread ever really felt oppressive and isolating the way super/zm/fusion did except the emmi rooms.
The movement is INSANE and all feels so natural (other than clicking in the left joycon to speed boost and shine spark), the story is great, the atmosphere is terrifying and the bosses are *chef's kiss*, especially the final boss, and the fact that the EMMI encounters are all a different experience is great
The only negative for me is length and amount of content for the price. I like that they added a boss rush mode, if they added a zero suit side story mode or something it would probably be worth it for the price
This is the first Metroid game I finished and also my first switch game, I’ll never forget how incredible this game is
Definitely a great choice as your introduction to the Switch!
Many long months I’ve been waiting for this review! Thanks Arlo! This was my first Metroid game and I can confidently say I’m now a Metroid fan and am excited to go back and play the older titles.
Welcome aboard. This IP surely needs all the fans it can get. Just make sure to spread the word lol
It really shows the quality of this channel that even after so long, I immediately wanted to watch this video when I came by it.
I felt the exact same.
I also find him calming as narrator.
I'd like to add one thhing to your point on the leveldesing. The sequence breaks in this game are at least on par with those in Super. Both in number, and in balance. Here, they let you grab many powerups ealry. But when i did my first run using them, i got forced to do the Heat generator Boss without the Space Jump, presenting an immense challenge.
This is peak metroid level desing.
I kinda unintentionally sequence broke Kraid. I didn’t fight his belly button, I managed to get up to his face during the second phase
I loved this game so much I started to play the older titles such as Zero Mission, Prime, and Samus Returns
Noice. Zero Mission is my favorite.
Have you checked out super yet?
@@nicktheballer4 aspects of Super still haven't been topped IMO like how interconnected the worlds are
@@wrosebrock true I just recently replayed through it and I have to say I enjoy the environments a bit more and it feels more interconnected than dread IMO
@@nicktheballer4 I didn’t like it as much as I wanted to, I really didn’t like the floaty controls
Your incredibly accurate and concise description of what Rod Serling does at the end of every Twilight Zone episode will stay with me
I just finished Metroid Dread the other day; perfect timing for this review! Absolutely phenomenal game and a must-play for any Switch owner!
Absolute must play for any gamer I would suggest :)
@@rickhynes2693 Indeed!!!
I'm kinda surprised you didn't cover the story more. To me, that was the most exciting part for me going into Dread. I wanted to know what was next for Samus and good lord did we get that and more.
Excellent review all in all though! It really makes me want to go back and finally complete it...
I just hope Dread selling relatively well gives wakes Nintendo up to really pull development on Prime 4 into maximum gear, if it turns out as good as Dread Metroid could be their Halo.
The problem with Metroid not selling well is that Metroidvanias are a niche type of games, adding on to the fact that Metroid's tone is more serious than what typical Nintendo fans want to play.
If Metroid was licensed to be developed on PC and the other consoles, then it would be available to a much wider market of players, and it wouldn't be limited to typically weaker Nintendo hardware.
Well it has, it's already the best selling metroid game
@@johnleonard9102
The problem in the past has been that core idea of Metroidvanias being niche, yes. But with the surge of Indie Metroidvanias essentially putting the genre on the map, with games such as Hollow Knight, Ori, Shantae and definitely many others exploding, it put the series in a good position to sell well. And with Dread being one of, if not the best selling entry in the series thanks to this, it's definitely proof that this series can hold its own still, especially in the right circumstances.
Prime will never be Halo, it would require far too much alteration to get close, one thing halo had was multiplayer as well as campaign multiplayer, prime will be lucky to ever get either of those, and then there was the entry level easiness of halo... You can literally shoot your way forward at all times. I understand where you are trying to go, but it just won't.
@@sonicrunn3r895 Dread is the best selling Metroid game yet, but even Skyward Sword HD has sold more than it.
A remaster of arguably the least favorite 3D Zelda outsold the newest and freshest Metroid; while 3mil sales of Dread isn't a failure, it's leagues behind other Nintendo franchises.
I personally loved the music, sure it isn't as melodic as the other games but its really atmospheric and helps with the more isolated feeling.
I agree, but I think the atmosphere that music does provide can feel a little similar at times. I think the pieces of music that fit there there areas the best are burenia, cataris and ferenia, my favorite of which is ferenia. What's your favorite?
Easily my GOTY 2021. I cannot believe how good this one turned out. I always had high hopes, but man Dread is truly special.
~19:00 The nicest part about bosses in Dread is that it's not hard to dodge attacks endlessly, nor is it difficult to deal damage, but putting the two together gives it a pretty good challenge.
I pre ordered this game at a bestbuy like a half hour a way and I drove there in the rain and it was still 100% worth it. It is my favorite game of all time. Thank you Arlo!
I must admit, there wasnt a metroid game I truly adored since prime 1 until I played dread. I really hope theres more of this to come! Its truly epic
This was my first Metroid game, and has quickly become by favourite game of all time!
Definitely play Metroid Prime if you can manage. It's incredible.
That is interesting why? It’s a great game but I can’t see it being someone favorite. No doubt my favorite 2d game though
Have you ever played hollow knight?
@Potato Power Me too. Also, HK is a little too big imo (more of the same just) and many bosses are just frustratingly hard. It's a great game as well, but it's not as perfect imo as everybody says. Metroid is the king of the genre and Dread showed. Looking forward to Silksong though and hopefully the next 2D Metroid in the not too far distant future...
Metroid Dread was the first game in the series I’ve played and has instantly converted me to being a Metroid fan. Now I can sufffer with the rest of you as we wait for Metroid Prime 4 lol.
Well, but now you have the rest of the games to play while you wait! I envy you, you just opened up a treasure trove of great games!
Metroid is my favorite Nintendo IP. I wish it was Nintendo's, so I hope Retro Studios hits it out of the park.
Great video! Couldn't have posted it at a better time for me. I've been back on a metroid rave and I have been playing through the games again. I did want to take a quick moment to point out something I think you missed with the teleporters and that is that at end-game (right before you fight the final boss I believe), the teleporters allow you to use any of them to teleport to any other one.
Been on a HUGE Metroid kick this month, having me replay, or play for the first time, all the 2D titles. AM2R did a LOT of things right for me (Music especially, the sound team KILLED it on that one), but MAN is Dread just an all around complete package for me. The more expansive Super-like maps, the Zero Mission snappy controls, the harder difficulty a la Fusion, Dread just nails it. While the music isn't doing it for me, and the environments can be a bit forgettable, it still blows my mind we got a mainline 2D Metroid game that not only is a sequel, not ONLY is made my MS, and not ONLY is Metroid 5, but it is Metroid Dread. Just *chefs kiss*
This was my first metroid game, and what a game to start on. I followed the game extensively before it's release and I was
absolutely immersed in each and every trailer. I distinctly remember watching the announcement trailer and thinking to myself "welp, I guess I'm a metroid fan now". And now after playing it (repeatedly) i can confidently say that metroid dread is comfortably sitting at the top of my list of favorite games.
Aww, that's awesome! ^^ I just read your name, too XD Perfect
As a newcomer to the franchise and someone who just completed this game, i agree with everything you talked about. Awesome game
Arlo’s review of this is very thought out, I mean he even took forever to get this out just like the game!!
(This is a joke for those who don’t understand that. Glad you were finally able to get this video out that you always wanted to! Also glad you loved the game too!)
Even if that wasn't a joke it wouldn't be that rude or anything
@Don't Read My Profile Photo Okay I won't
I think the problem with the atmosphere is partially due to the EMMI rooms. Not because they're bad, but because the story dictates that EMMI's can only roam within their sterile lab environment... so EACH area needed to include a Sterile lab setting for the EMMI to move about in. It kinda ruins the "Every area is unique" atmosphere, when every area contains a set of rooms that are visually and thematically identical.
That said, I was HYPED for this game. I played the SHIT out of this game, and I did my speedruns to unlock more of the art. I LOVE this game, and I'm happy you see what I see in it.
betcha didn't know this, when you enter and then exit out of the final boss area, then the teleporters become interconnected. you don't have to find all of them first, just get to that point in the story (and yes you HAVE to enter that final area to activate it, it's weird but whatev)
Metroid Dread was my first 2D metroid game I ever played and I only purchased it because of how excited you were during the nintendo direct when it was shown. And it turned out to be one of my favorite games I have ever played on the switch. I have played a lot of games I never would of played previously after watching your videos.
As an OG Metroid fan myself since the beginning, this was everything I wanted in a 2d game. It's truly incredible and I want more!! Also, I'm super happy this game made new fans of the franchise. We need all we can get for the future.
The emmis were def a highlight for me!!
Metroid dread was my 1st Metroid game and well.... ima fan of the series now because of it!!
I still go back every once in a while to watch your reaction video. It actually brings a little tear to my eye to hear someone be so exuberantly happy. Just so amazing having that happiness come out of the speakers.
Bit of a creep you are
Totally agree on the music. The one sore spot besides getting lost every once and a while.
I really appreciate hearing Arlo talk about the trouble of traversing the map. I thought that it was happening to me because this was my first Metroid game, but it’s kinda nice to hear I’m not as dumb as I first thought.
Well you're not dumb, but he's not the best player either so...
Great review. I will say the EMMI music, that switched it up when it was in idle, searching or chasing mode was fantastic, but otherwise I agree with the music part. And the rest of the review
Agree with everything, this game is incredible and despite putting 70+ hours into it, I still can't believe it exists! Really hope Nintendo keep this up and a Super Metroid remake with these systems would be the end-all-be-all remake! Even if not, I just hope it's not another 15+ years for the next 2D Metroid to release!
A Super Metroid remake is well overdue. Instead, all we keep getting is Sonic!
@@jamesgravil9162 Nintendo has had little faith in the Metroid series as a whole. Hopefully Dread has changed their perception of the series and it's fanbase.
Honestly I really want a remake of every 2D Metroid game on Dread's engine. Wishful thinking is that they would be in a collection but they would probably all be separate
@@hotcocoabomb_ Problem is those games are pretty short by modern standards. If you know what you're doing, it's possible to complete Super Metroid in a couple hours. If they did remake those games, I would expect them to be fleshed out a bit, with new areas, bosses and power-ups.
@@jamesgravil9162 Again, entirely wishful thinking but if you put all the games in a collection and had some connecting cutscenes (think sonic origins) then I think it could work without many changes. I will admit though that if you're selling them as separate games that's a much harder sell unless you change some things, which wouldn't be ideal (except for fusion, at least in my opinion)
im new to this channel and i did not expect seeing a puppet talking.. i love it
The one thing I'll disagree on is the soundtrack. Honestly, I love it, I feel it's a pretty natural follow up to the style Fusion and Prime 3 had going at many points. It's not quite as in your face, but it's got enough personality to stand out. I'm in particular a fan of how Ghavoran's tune fits so perfectly before and after Elun, and Burenia's music in general which I'd put as probably my favorite water area music to date. Artaria and Dairon also have standouts. However, I'd say the mixing in the game does make them a bit on the low sounding side, and that makes them more missable than other games in the series. I don't recall the game having volume sliders other than master volume? Something like that might have helped.
That being said, there is something that makes the areas blend in a bit more than usual, but I disagree it's the soundtrack. I'd say it's the EMMI zones. I like the EMMI encounters a lot and what they bring to the table, but the constant sterile white room vibe in the middle of every area does stand out, and there's not much to distinguishing "Artaria EMMI area" from "Ferenia EMMI area" or so on. Giving each EMMI area different touches to match with each individual area would've done wonders I feel like.
It’s possible they were approaching music in a similar way they did for Breath of the Wild. It’s more of a backdrop and they wanted the environment to speak for itself which can add to the atmosphere
While I wish the songs were more melodic, I think they did just as well as the average Metroid area song in making the areas feel atmospheric. It just would’ve been able to kick everything up to the next level and give everyone a beautiful soundtrack to listen to if they were more in the style of the old music
It's worth noting that clearly the devs were also aware of how bizarre and annoying having teleporters pair instead of warp to any other teleporter was, because right before you fight the final boss they actually do unlock the ability for any teleporter to go to any other teleporter. But since this isn't something expected or hinted at (I don't remember if there's even any indication in game when it is unlocked) most players probably aren't even aware it exists. I sure wasn't aware of it until I tried looking up online if there was like, a cheat code or amiibo that would unlock it for me. It's a very bizarre design choice in an otherwise very well crafted game
Loved this review. Praises everything I loved and the criticisms were super fair in my opinion. I hadn't really heard much about it online, but the lack of distinctive music tracks or even solid remixes of more than a couple songs was something that stuck out to me and brought down the game a bit. (It was especially obvious after I beat the game and went through the OST to add stuff to my playlists.) With the criticisms regarding area theming, I would honestly go a step further and say that the game felt just a *little* bland as a whole to me. Like it was relying just a smidge too much on series staples for a game that came so long after. In fairness, I think a huge part of this is the rise in Metroidvania games in the past decade. This game would have felt a lot more fresh if I hadn't recently played games like Ori BF/WOTW and Hollow Knight in the past year or two, for example. If you put it alongside the other 2D Metroid games, I wouldn't deny that it absolutely holds its own in terms of original ideas, it's just that the genre has a whole has evolved a lot in the downtime. That's a whole lot of negativity, though, I just can't resist tearing into stuff on the internet! The game was fantastic and was a highlight of the year, so I'm extremely grateful for Dread despite my nitpicks.
What? Like wtf are you talking about, every single popular review out their mentions the music. Like you clearly have not been looking very hard.
One Emmy encounter that forever scared me was when I had finally figured out where to wait, when to start charging, and roughly the path the emmy would take. My heart was pounding and I was waiting, looking for the one spot I was pretty sure the emmy would be. I was standing pretty close to a ledge, when- its face showed up right in mine, were I should have died. It was totally charged so I screamed and immediatly shot it and defeated it. Man, it was a lot. I love this game!! I finished it forever ago and seeing it on my reccomended and watching it really made me go- Oh yeah! Great video and it was amazing seeing more Metroid Dread!!
I was going to go to bed after procrastinating for 45 minutes but then this excellent chap uploads a review I’ve been looking forward to since October. Guess I’m watching this then.
I wouldn’t say dread’s music is bad per se, but it is trying something very different. There aren’t as many prominent, hummable melodies as previous games, but the songs do still aid in giving these locales an identity. I particularly like artaria’s theme. Its got that whimsical alien planet vibe that sounds both fun and a bit mysterious
Given that my two biggest issues with Super Metroid are that the controls are a little stiff and the map leaves a lot to be desired, a full remake in the style of Dread would be absolutely fantastic, I would preorder it in an instant.
Same. I grew up with Super Metroid and it’s one of my favorites, but it would be awesome to play it with the silky smooth movement of Dread.
I'm not sure about that...the controls felt stiff at first, but you get used to it. Same with the map that gets more familiar every time you play it. I just fear a lot of charm gets lost when those 16bit graphics and also the sound gets replaced...didn't work for me with Link's Awakening though there are definitely a lot of improvements with the remake, but the soundtrack changed too much for my liking and the new graphics aren't really how I imagined the game in HD either.
If they "have to" remake another Metroid game, I'd actually prefer Fusion. This also still looks and sounds great, but somehow I think modern graphics and better sound could really enhance this one more than Super. The graphics look sometimes a bit too cartoonish anyways and the sound quality wasn't the best on the GBA. This one I could imagine even being more atmospheric with a remake.
music is key to flesh out the identity of any given location for sure - the metroid trilogy really nails this aspect
This game made me buy all the Metroid games. It was the last push I needed to really get into the series.
That’s awesome! There’s so many fantastic entries in this series! I wish I could experience them all again for the first time.
Aww, hope you've had fun with them!
I loved dread, but I absolutely agree with what you mentioned about interconnected level design. Less teleporters, more levels looping back in on themselves is the way to go!
Been waiting for this! Glad to see Dread was (almost) everything you'd hoped for, Arlo!
I know you're probably too busy with other stuff, but I might recommend the 0% challenge, where you beat the game without grabbing any optional power-ups.
When I first heard about it, I thought it sounded insane. With how hard those bosses are? No way in HECK would I be able to do that! But I tried it (on Hard Mode, even!), and it wasn't too bad.
And finally beating Bird Dad was a rush unlike anything I'd felt before!
The hardest part of the 0% run isn't even worrying about dying, it's trying to avoid the items that the game almost forces you to pick up!
@@jacobmonks3722 yep! There are a couple you have to do tricky shinesparks to get around.
I really appreciate how you talk about the music in games. Music can make such a massive difference in a game experience and I don't hear enough people mentioning it in other reviews. Thank-you!
I. Love. This. Game. It was worth the wait. And that’s a HUGE claim seeing that I waited over 10 years for it. Great review, but I’d have to disagree on the music. Yeah it’s definitely not as good as super, fusion or primes music it had some bangers. The Elite Chozo theme was really intense and kinda scary, I also loved the credits theme.
Oh, the End Screen theme is amazing, too, in my opinion! ^^ And I love this game, too, I getcha!
I also love the credits theme in Dread, to the point where I can confidently say it's my favorite in the series. Though, that wasn't the case when heard it after my first playthrough. It basically went in one ear and out the other when I listened to it the first time, but in all fairness, I was trying to process the ending of the game and couldn't focus on the music at that moment.
It took me a few more times listening to the credits theme before I started loving it more and more. It manages to convey a sense of triumph and finality in my opinion.
@@guyudontno7689 I agree. The credits didn’t sit well with me until I realized. That all credits up until now where somber, sad or even dreadful sounding. Dread sounding triumphant really shows that you actually won. That this truly is the end to the Metroid Creature Saga
Best part of melee in this game is that it's rarely required for normal enemies. Sure, it makes them easier, but you barely lack the ability to harm them without it. It also adds so much to boss fights by giving fun cinematics as a reward for hitting the parry
I wanna see Fusion remade with the Dread engine. Now THAT would be an experience.
and the thing is, they already have a lot of the models from the intro of M5, so it's not like they'd have to create everything from scratch
Yess!! I have waited soo long for an official full review from arlo on this game! Metroid Dread was seriously probably my #1 game on the switch from 2021
Literally cried when Dread won Best Action Game.
Also, i don't think you mentioned that teleporters go to any other, once you've found them all.
Great review, Arlo! You're right about the areas not quite distinguishing themselves.
you read my mind! how COOL does Sammy look in the cut scenes?! them controls *chefs kiss*. and you're right- the music was lacking. My major complaint that I'm surprised you didn't mention was simply the length of them game. I wanted so much more content, but what I got was near perfect
This is the game that made me fall in love with Metroid. When I saw it in the E3 Direct last summer, I started getting into the series for the first time. I beat Zero Mission and Super Metroid and started the Prime Trilogy.
When Dread came out, I 100%ed it the first week it was our and then started a brand new save file on the next difficulty and 100%ed it all over again.
It isn’t a perfect game but it is one that I love a lot.
Glad that it sounds like you utterly loved it, music aside. A lot of my thoughts and enthusiasm for Dread echo your own, right down to the emmis, although I'm less harsh on the music. It's unreal that this game actually happened and was this well-crafted. It really was worth it!
Still my favorite game since its release!! I have beaten every difficulty and enjoyed every moment, they did an incredible job 🙇♂️
I can see myself coming back to this game every year or two. It's just so good. Speedruns are also hype AF.
It's my definitive Metroid. It's simultaneously easy and hard. Linear and nonlinear. It makes you feel like you discover stuff even though it guides you precisely where it wants you unless you sequence break (like me)
When Metroid Dread was announced, your videos encouraged me to try out Zero Mission to see if I would like Metroid. I ended up really enjoying it and was super excited to play Dread. I loved the game and it’s one of my favorite Switch games. I just finished Prime, and am currently playing through Prime 2.
Welcome to the series. Hope you enjoy the Prime games, Prime 2 is my favorite game of all time :)
I agree with essentially literally everything in this video. Which is shocking, because it's hard for that to happen with a video this length.
The only thing I'd add is that, to me, the segmented and slightly artificial-feeling world is made up for by the amazing implementation of tech and advanced mechanics. It's got the best sequence-breaking I've seen intentionally put in a game since, well, Metroid Zero Mission. And not only is the Speed Booster back, it's actually better and more versatile than ever before, which blew my mind. These things made me replay the game and be surprised and delighted several times over. Early Gravity Suit and the quick kill for the otherwise brutal giant boss will never leave my memory as great moments.
Arlo took the words out of my mouth. Talking about how everything was the same, but couldn't put his finger on it. I literally said to myself " it's the music" at the exact same time as him.
I'd disagree tho. Just like in BotW, the music is way more experimental, in this case trying to recreate the feeling of being lost in endless caverns on an alien planet filled with aggressive, hostile creatures.
@@fluffynator6222 "Trying to recreate the feeling of being lost in endless caverns on an alien planet filled with aggressive, hostile creatures" is the perfect way to describe what Super metroid achieved so perfectly in its soundtrack, and what Dread (imo) failed miserably at achieving with the majority of its own music.
@@BenjaminAnderson21
No really. Most of Super's themes are harmonic, conformable. Meanwhile Dread's soundtrack actually sounds alien in its experimental nature.
@@fluffynator6222 Sure, I won't deny that Dread's soundtrack is much more diverse, and as you said, "expirimental" than Super's in its instrumentation and textures. IMO, however, the bulk of Dread's OST hardly capitalizes on this advantage in the interest of conveying an oppressive, mysterious and otherworldly atmosphere. On the other hand, I'd say Super's more restrained style doesn't hold it back at all in terms of instilling said atmosphere--in fact, its stylistic unity might actually aid it in doing so, as demonstrated in the ominous "breathing" rythms that can be found in the bulk of its area themes.
@@fluffynator6222 Maridia's theme alone debunks that. It has an eerier feeling than anything Dread has to offer.
I just finished yet another play through of this game and absolutely loved it. This game was honestly how I connected with my friend who loves souls games. I’ve yet to get addicted to souls but the mastery you get after dying 100 times to the same boss makes that victory oh so sweet.
I like how Arlo takes time on his reviews instead of pushing them out.
Is this the first time you've said this or do you say it every video?
This was an anomaly. He’s usually far more timely on reviews.
I agree with basically everything you said, and especially about the music. While the level design having too many one-way areas that made back tracking/exploration a bit unfun, I think the music is the single biggest flaw of the game, and it's really really unfortunate. Like, I watch a LOT of speedruns for this game, and I don't think a single song has been able to stick in my head any. I think if they bring back the soundtrack quality from past games in the next(?) one, while maintaining all of the quality we see in this one, we could have a truly perfect Metroid game. Even then, though, it was an absolutely stellar experience when I didn't think we'd get anything like it! Absolutely adore the game, and I hope its success allows for many more 2D Metroids going forward
Wondering when this would come out
The Star Fox Grand Prix gag broke my heart, I need it so bad
I’ve never clicked a notification so fast in my life!
such a good and interesting franchise for nintendo. Not super adult but def not kiddie. I'm 32 so I'm older and have never played a metroid game before but have always been interested In the story and lore. This was the perfect game to start with for me and really get me into the series. will def be supporting this franchise from now on
Oh hey, we finally get that Arlo review of Dread that he's been promising us ever since last October! I bought this game the first week it was out, and I loved it too. I think the reason the areas seem too blended together is because they kind of are. There are elements of each area that make them unique, but these elements bleed into other areas until you can't tell them apart. There is a heat zone in Dairon; eastern Artaria looks exactly like Cataris; the organic look of Burenia bleeds over into Dairon; Ferenia and Hanubia are too small and too similar; etc.
I also think it didn't help that the EMMI zones all looked exactly the same.
Absolutely love the fact you took your time in playing the game and making this video!