After years of waiting, Metroid Dread is almost here, with long-time fans of the iconic sci-fi franchise preparing themselves to step into the first completely new 2D iteration of the series since 2002's Metroid Fusion. With the release date closing in, Nintendo has been providing short updates through its regular Metroid Dread reports, and the latest addition to the lineup of deep dives offers plenty of new details regarding the sequel's main setting: Planet ZDR.
According to the new article, Planet ZDR is shaping up to be a sprawling locale filled with frightening enemies to face and hazards to evade. The report goes over 6 biomes that will crop up during players' adventures through Metroid Dread's mysterious core setting, with each section offering new mechanics, monsters, and more.
The first is a cavernous area known as Artaria. Interestingly, the report notes players will find themselves here after being attacked by Dread's mysterious Chozo enemy, leaving Samus stranded in the rocky locale. Artaria appears to be the starting area of Metroid Dread, with the report claiming it'll have plenty of locked doors Samus won't be able to access until later in the game. Some of the enemies players will encounter in this opening hub include flying eyeball-shaped aliens and giant purple foes that'll charge them.
Next up, players will head to the fiery depths of Cataris, which is the main power source of ZDR. Nintendo reveals this is where players will discover Samus' iconic Varia suit, which allows her to navigate high-temperature environments. They can look forward to battling large robots and small magma-shooting creatures during their travels. A research lab known as Dairon is the third location Samus travels to, tasking players with evading sniper-esque turrets and spinning energy blades. They'll also have to navigate through dimly lit sections, with Nintendo hinting that danger lurks in the shadows.
The report then documents an underwater area known as Burenia. As with most Metroid games, moving through water will slow Samus down, meaning she's more at risk of being hit by enemies or losing momentum while jumping. Enemies in this section include hordes of jellyfish and large acid-spitting monsters. Location number five then switches gears to an underground forest, seeing players battle giant alien spiders and flying insects.
Finally, the report wraps up with details on one final location: Ferenia. The area is allegedly a sanctuary home to various Chozo rituals, although Nintendo remains quite tight-lipped regarding what players will find within it. The company does note that fans will have to return to the locale several times throughout their adventure, so it's sure to be slowly unveiled as players recover more of Samus' gear.
Metroid Dread is set to launch on October 8 for Nintendo Switch.
