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Metroid Dread report Vol. 3 - "Players can enjoy greater freedoms when exploring compared to previous entries"

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The games in the Metroid series don’t follow a linear “clear the stage” setup—they are exploratory action games where you journey through a sophisticated, maze-like world. Picking up new items and weapons along the way lets you expand the areas you can visit, allowing you to explore new destinations and discover alternate routes. Map-reading and navigation skills can be quite helpful.

The map itself has evolved, too. Where previous maps used a simple cell-based view, this new map has become a more detailed navigational tool that can show things like differing terrains.

Icon highlight - This feature allows you to highlight and view the same type of icons across all area maps. It can be extremely handy when looking for places you can newly explore after obtaining an ability.

Marker - Place up to six markers of different colors anywhere you’d like on the map. These markers will also appear on your minimap during gameplay.

Zoom - You can zoom in and out on the map screen to get a better look at things.

Hidden item hints - Glowing places on the map indicate there are hidden items within that range.

Expand the minimap - During normal gameplay, pressing the Left Directional Button on the Joy-Con™ controller will expand your view of the minimap in the top-right corner of the screen.

Since the Metroid series of games is all about exploring, it was clear to us that the map—the foundation of exploration—would be an important thing for us to focus on. This new map is powered up from previous, traditional maps in terms of look and function, which we think will make exploring the world feel even smoother than before.

In addition, players can enjoy greater freedoms when exploring compared to in previous installments, which might encourage you to try new strategies each time you play through.

In the Metroid Dread game, Samus’s suit appears to have changed quite a bit from her previous missions. In the Metroid Fusion game, Samus’ suit was greatly transformed after the emergency removal of pieces eroded by the X parasite and a life-saving injection of the Metroid vaccine—resulting in an organic appearance for her suit. Now, her suit is gradually returning to its original, mechanical Power Suit form.

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This is the most exciting game of the year for me. Can't wait to read the next report where they might talk a little more about the story.
 

Kuranghi

Member
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Do you think this shot was touched up in some way or is a direct screenshot? With dev screenshot tool for higher quality and freecam at the bare minimum I think though still, I'm not saying that a shot you could replicate on a consumer unit.

I can't think of any times Nintendo used bullshots, I know they do pre-rendered stuff but I dont think they try to pass it off as gameplay ever.
 

ResurrectedContrarian

Suffers with mild autism
Somehow I really hate the look of it. If I'm going to play a 2D metroid, I want the mysterious and retro feeling of pixel art, like Fusion. This kind of 2.5D is so stale & lifeless looking. Either go full 3D like Prime or go for something artfully rendered in 2D, but don't give me a halfway point.
 

Astral Dog

Member
Somehow I really hate the look of it. If I'm going to play a 2D metroid, I want the mysterious and retro feeling of pixel art, like Fusion. This kind of 2.5D is so stale & lifeless looking. Either go full 3D like Prime or go for something artfully rendered in 2D, but don't give me a halfway point.
I think it looks nice, sure its not colorful like Samus Returns or Zero Mission, but this is DREAD, the art seems appropiate for this scary 2D Samus adventure.

Also while the 2D Metroids look great, with 3D they can do a lot more tricks, cinematic camera angles, more epic bosses, crazy animations and more that we haven't seen. The gameplay will translate well, and this approach should work much better than the last awkward "3D" Metroid Other M.

If you want a fully 3D Metroid just wait for Prime 4, but Dread is fine as it is.
 

Marty-McFly

Banned
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Do you think this shot was touched up in some way or is a direct screenshot? With dev screenshot tool for higher quality and freecam at the bare minimum I think though still, I'm not saying that a shot you could replicate on a consumer unit.

I can't think of any times Nintendo used bullshots, I know they do pre-rendered stuff but I dont think they try to pass it off as gameplay ever.
Stunning imo
 

Kuranghi

Member
Stunning imo

Totally agree, thats why I'm asking opinions because its so great looking. I believe its real because it still has aliasing but regardless of that it looks super nice, makes me more excited for the game since the image quality seemed a lot crustier in the treehouse footage.
 

Kuranghi

Member
No more counters, please.

I didn't like it in SR at all but it looks good here, you can do it while moving so it can speed up travel, I think the idea is you get in a the flow of kinda one-shotting small enemies as you go, you can always just not do it if you don't like it. In Metroid its usually kill everything to advance at first and then later you can avoid them entirely using abilities or shortcuts but this adds a nice intermediate stage where once you know their patterns/attacks you can also backtrack faster, so I think it could add a lot of depth and enjoyment to the gameplay.
 

Marty-McFly

Banned
I didn't like it in SR at all but it looks good here, you can do it while moving so it can speed up travel, I think the idea is you get in a the flow of kinda one-shotting small enemies as you go, you can always just not do it if you don't like it. In Metroid its usually kill everything to advance at first and then later you can avoid them entirely using abilities or shortcuts but this adds a nice intermediate stage where once you know their patterns/attacks you can also backtrack faster, so I think it could add a lot of depth and enjoyment to the gameplay.
The counter system looks totally fixed, doing it while moving is key because it doesn't force you to wait. I would imagine Nintendo EAD is working closely with Mercury Steam on polishing the gameplay because it looks so fluid for a sidescroller. The slide dash is also adding a lot to the flow. I would imagine the entire moveset is like poetry in motion.
 
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Oh cool. If they really did fix it I hope some genius hacker manages to put it in SR.

Or better yet Nintendo do a subsequent Director's Cut of SR for Switch.
 

Porcile

Member
Countering was only like necessary for half of Samus Returns outside of bosses. Once you get some specific items and abilities you are OP as fuck against the regular enemies. Really fun game.
 

cireza

Member
I wonder how much handholding they are going to put in this new game.

You could already draw the entire map in SR, removing the surprise of discovering new rooms. Now it seems they are also removing the surprise of finding items.
 
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Tarin02543

Member
Getting my oled switch on the same day this game releases, however I will get it during a sale as these Switch games are quite expensive.

How often are Switch games developed by Nintendo on sale?
 

Andyliini

Member
Looking forward to this. Never been a huge Metroid fan, but this I'll have. Actually, I have Special Edition of this, the amiibo pack, and Switch Oled Model preordered, so that will be one expensive day for me. And I'm happy about it.
 

Hulk_Smash

Banned
Getting my oled switch on the same day this game releases, however I will get it during a sale as these Switch games are quite expensive.

How often are Switch games developed by Nintendo on sale?
Never. Unless a retailer decides to put them on sale for a loss. The 1st wave of Wii games went on sale officially about 6 months before the WiiU came out. And the sale price was not that great. You could usually find it used for cheaper.
 
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Countering was only like necessary for half of Samus Returns outside of bosses. Once you get some specific items and abilities you are OP as fuck against the regular enemies. Really fun game.

I logged 10 hours on SR with maybe 10 Metroids to go before dropping it. May come back. Maybe I was doing it wrong. * shrugs *
 

HF2014

Member
I logged 10 hours on SR with maybe 10 Metroids to go before dropping it. May come back. Maybe I was doing it wrong. * shrugs *

I think a lot drop it for some reasons, including myself. I grab it back like a month ago, and finish it, and it was very good!
 

Marty-McFly

Banned
It's amazing the there's a good chance the best 2D metroid ever is about to release in October.

Even if is not as good for the time of release, I'm sure it will be the best in terms of what you want to play today.

With the graphics, combat, environments, deep exploration and the most horror oriented Metroid, I truly can't wait.
 
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