Nintendo's E3 2021 Direct presentation was full of exciting reveals but the biggest one was undoubtedly the announcement of Metroid Dread, the first 2D Metroid game in nearly two decades. Despite its rocky development history over the years, fans finally caught a glimpse of what a 2D Metroid game would look like on the Nintendo Switch.
Over the past few years, Metroidvanias have become a staple in the indie scene as games like Hollow Knight, Ori and the Blind Forest, and Dead Cells slowly perfected the mechanics that the Metroid series introduced 35 years ago. With Metroid Dread's reveal, it'll be interesting to see what the game brings to the new age of modern Metroidvanias. The previews of Metroid Dread showcased an emphasis on stealth elements and this could offer a unique spin on the genre.
The Refinement of Metroidvanias
Over the past decade, Metroidvanias have exploded in popularity thanks to indie games like Hollow Knight, Ori and the Blind Forest, and Dead Cells taking over the scene. As the popularity of Metroidvanias grew, more developers began to refine the mechanics and subtleties of the genre in order to make their own games stand out. As a result, modern Metroidvanias are completely different from the original Metroid and Castlevania games that inspired the namesake. Mechanics like exploration, lore, puzzles, and powerups have all been refined and perfected over the years.
With the return of 2D Metroid games in Metroid Dread, fans are curious to see what the direction the franchise takes now that Metroidvanias are more popular than ever before. Although there's certainly no pressure for Metroid Dread to completely reinvent the wheel, the mechanics that have been revealed so far seem to offer a unique take on the genre. While Metroid Dread will retain the traditional exploration elements that the franchise is known for, it'll also make use of stealth mechanics to create a far tenser atmosphere.
Metroid Dread's Stealth Mechanics
Metroid series creator Yoshio Sakamoto always intended for Metroid Dread to center around Samus being hunted by a terrifying foe but it seemed that the Nintendo DS's hardware limitations kept it from happening. Sakamoto wanted an antagonist that was unsettling and intimidating to achieve a sort of "fear-based" gameplay. Metroidvanias rarely emphasize stealth mechanics given the focus on exploration and discovery. However, Metroid Dread seems to utilize the stealth mechanics as a way to create a tense atmosphere alongside the traditional aspects of exploration and puzzles.
Throughout Metroid Dread, players are tasked with avoiding the near-invincible EMMI robots through hiding behind objects, noise reduction, and using the Phantom Cloak, a camouflage which slows Samus' movement. The EMMI robots patrol certain areas and will pursue Samus if they hear her. If caught, players will have a brief opportunity to perform a melee counter to escape and if they fail, Samus will be killed. Metroid Dread's design is based around the fact that players will be continuously hunted and need to strategize their movements throughout the levels.
The concept of powerful foes relentlessly pursuing the player is a unique one in Metroidvanias as players typically blitz their way through enemies without the fear of instantly dying. While there's strategy involved in backtracking and managing enemies encountered between checkpoints, players rarely need to plan out their movements in a strategical way. Metroid Dread forces players to engage the world carefully as they navigate the levels and the stealth mechanics offer a new twist on the classic Metroid formula.
Metroid Dread will release on October 8, 2021 for Nintendo Switch.
