This was my first Metroid game. It kicked my ass but it definitely wasn't alienating and explained things very well. I loved it. I think you can start with this one.
Just curious, was it your first Metroidvania title? Or have you tried a game like Hollow Knight or Steam World Dig? I find that newcomers to the Metroid series(such as myself) find Dread to be much more manageable if they have prior experience in the genre.
@@sethfeldpausch4337 I played some of Hollow Knight and Ori 1 but didn't get too far in either (need to get back into them). The only MV I beat was The Messenger, and that wasn't even fully a MV.
@@sethfeldpausch4337 My first was Hallow Knight, but currently I've been on and off playing Super Metroid on nso over the last couple of months, I play for a while, have fun, then get lost and stop playing it for a month or 2 while I play other things
Speaking from someone who has just got Metroid Dread and is playing it while watching this, and has only barely dabbled in super metroid, you can definitely start with this
Definitely agree. I played each title when they came out but it’s been 19 years since the last one. But there are a ton of quality story catch up videos on TH-cam now. Glad you’re loving it.
Facts. I've played metroid and super metroid but never beat those games. But I'm familiar with metroid games, and this is the first metroid game I ever brought. You can definitely start with this game.
@@stuckinthe90sThegoldenera Super Metroid is very much worth beating, it has one of the best endings/final boss battles in video game history. The biggest problem is being used to all the modern touches from Dread when you go back to play it. Despite it's time-related flaws, Super Metroid is still a masterpiece.
I'm a new Metroid fan. Dread (and also Arlo) got me really hyped to start super Metroid a couple weeks ago and I love it. I'm going through the other games first. I need that special edition of Dread, it looks so good.
Can we just talk about how amazingly sequence breakable this game is? You can get 70% of all upgrades early some hours earlier than „intended“. It definitely shows that the devs love sequence breaking. Especially the shinespark
I did the 2nd boss sequence break trick. After getting the grappling beam I was able to get to the teleporter to go to Ghavoran and get the Pulse Radar.
"I will consider getting this game" is the equivalent of a boss saying "thank you for coming, you'll hear from us" after a job interview. In other words; He'll never get the game.
i tried Metroid games previously & none of them really held my attention, but i've REALLY enjoyed Metroid Dread. i've collected 100% of the items & only need to beat the final boss now. so yeah i'd say it makes a great first Metroid game, whether you've tried to get into the series before or not
This was basically my first Metroid game and I loved nearly every second of it! I’ve only dabbled for a minute or two in Super and I only played about half of Samus Returns, but with Dread, I couldn’t stop! It had such a great loop, that I never wanted to put it down!
It's very handholdy when you follow the intended the route so yes. I have a hard time believing anyone would get stuck when the game literally closes off previous paths and puts teleporters right there to use. Beware of the boss difficulty though.
Nintendo isn’t dumb. They know a lot of fresh faces are getting this Metroid cause it took them nearly 20 years! I played Fusion when it came out and totally forgot the plot already. And Samus Returns was them just tearing the Metroid waters. We want more Metroid Nintendo!
Nintendo is insanely dumb. They are constantly 3 generations behind, don't care, and overcharge for the bare minimum possible effort in their games. Because they know tons of idiots will still give them money and have no standards.
Yes, Dread is a great starting place. You either start at the beginning or at the end and in this case, starting at the end with Dread will have you asking questions that you'll want answered by Super, Zero Mission and Fusion.
i only beat super metroid a few weeks ago. I watched a couple recap videos and feel like i know everything. Metroid stories don't seem too involved. Absolutely loving Dread. Pretty sure it's going to be my GotY
This is my first Metroid game. I'm not even a fan of 2D games, I rarely play them. Never played a MetroidVania before. That being said. THIS GAME IS AMAZING. I love it. It's really well designed and it controls really smoothly. It's such a good game. I was having second thoughts about getting it but honestly I don't regret it. This is the most fun I've had with a switch game since BOTW.
Metroid Dread is better designed and better polished than probably most other 60$ games out there today. The only problem I can see in starting playing Metroid games from Dread is that it would be a bit difficult to play the previous games in the franchise because of less movement mechanics, fluidity and control. It feels so good to control Samus in this game!
I feel like knowing what happens in the previous games makes it more rewarding for certain story stuff, but getting a good recap is pretty easy. I’d still say playing them in order is worth it if you are interested and you have the time.
Well, in the 2D series, fusion was the only one actually having an elaborate story. The other games' story literally happens in the prologue and at the end, you can just skip everything in between 😂
Basically Dread holds your hand without really holding your hand, there were times where i was trying to figure out where to go next and was able to find out where to go after checking the map for subtle hints, Where is some of the older Metroid games you basically had to figure it out on your own
Did John said that he finished metroid 1 to 4 between 2 to 4 hours? If you finish super metroid around 2 to 4 hours in your first playthrough porbably you have Chozo dna.
I did the 2nd boss sequence break trick. After getting the grappling beam I was able to get to the teleporter to go to the 5th area, Ghavoran, and get the Pulse Radar before starting the 4th are.
My first playthrough I took my time and took in the whole scene. Whenever I got a new upgrade, I would turn back and find every upgrade possible before pressing forward. I didn't need a massive end-game-sweep for upgrades. Cleared it 100% in 17 hrs. I don't think it's short at all. But, next playthroughs I'm focusing on just pressing on low-percent like and it goes much quicker. But the whole thing flows and is satisfying. I'm on my third playthrough and it is so much fun still! There's multiple routes to take, upgrades to skip, enemies to beat differently, boss quick kills... In short, there's so much variety that you can just play it over and over in different and satisfying ways.
I don't think it's that short either, if one is new to Metroid or didn't play it for many years and did not watch spoilers one can expect to put in many hours into the game.
ive only played prime 1 and 2. dread is great and its my first 2D metroid. im not done with it yet but im having a blast. samus controls like a dream, loved exploring, collecting power ups, and i think the challenge is fair
I totally think it could be someone’s first game. The story isn’t that complicated and as long as you watch a refresher on the other games you’ll know everything you need to know. The gameplay, especially the movement, is so fluid and easily the best in the series and perfect for a first timer
I would actually recommend this as your first Metroid. It is the most accessible (despite the difficulty of boss battles) with it's fluid movement and intuitive progression. Arguably, it's the best game in the series. Nintendo realized it would be many people's first Metroid and they catch you up with the story too. Nintendo Life also has a good story recap video too.
I wish they had mentioned Samus' Chozo DNA somewhere in the intro because they only bring it up right before the final boss and I feel that would confuse new people
I have listened to a story recap before playing Dread, because it's my first Metroid game but I think you can start with Dread it has a nice up to speed at the beginning. Not detailed but enough to know what's going on.
As someone who's never played a Metroid game this game is super fun. I'm glad I started here I think people let nostalgia take over when you go back to old games a lot of times they're shit. This game has great graphics fun gameplay and just extremely challenging really enjoying it.
Only game I've played in the series is Super. So, rn I'm playing through Zero Mission, then Samus Returns, then super again, and then fusion. I wanna play em all!!
I’ve been wanting to play this game so bad, but I wasn’t sure if I could play it as my first Metroid. So, thanks for answering this question. On that note though, I did buy Samus Returns for my 3DS as a good starting place.
Samus Returns is a great starting place. Dread feels like Samus Returns refined and enhanced to it's perfect form. SR gets a little repetitive and was limited by the source material (remake of a gameboy game) and the power of the 3DS. It's a great game though, and shows the potential of all the innovations that Mercury Steam added.
This is my first ever Metroidvania game. Thanks to smash on the 64 I've always been aware of Metroid and Samus but for some reason just never picked duo the games. If the fra chise is anything like this game I've been missing out.
I think it can. Most, if not all, of the difficult segments are located immediately after a checkpoint or save room, making it a simple matter of repetition. The map markers are really handy, and (as Jon said) the game gives you subtle hints as to your next destination. And of course, the tutorials are accessible whenever you need them. The hidden E-Tanks and Missile Packs are nice, but absolutely not necessary to beat the game.
Speaking as someone who's familiar with the 2D Metroid series (started all but 2/Samus Returns but never beat any of them other than Dread) I can confidently say there isn't anything here to keep someone new to the series from wholeheartedly enjoying Dread even if they haven't played any of the others. I feel like there's some story beats that won't have the same amount of impact without some prior knowledge of the overarching plot or lore, but for the most part Dread's prologue does a good job of getting you up to speed. The "is it worth $60?" question is harder to answer - it's very subjective. Do you base a game's value by how long it takes you to finish it? If so, then a game that can be beaten comfortably in around 10 hours the first time through may not be worth your money, especially if you don't plan on replaying it. But if you value the experience and enjoyment more than the runtime you'll definitely find a lot to like here. And considering you'll need to beat the game a minimum of six times to unlock every completion bonus it definitely gives you a reason to blast through multiple times. All in all, I hugely enjoyed (and still am enjoying) my time with Dread - I'm currently on my second of what I'm sure will be countless playthroughs.
You don't HAVE to beat the game six times to get the Ending Rewards. If you finish Normal Mode under 4 hours you get all 3 rewards, and if you do Hard Mode under 4 you get the other 3 rewards as well. I personally did a 100% run of the game first to familiarize myself with the controls, then did a Normal speedrun, and then did the Hard Mode speedrun immediately after and have a save file with all the rewards now. Now I'm just doing a 4th playthrough just for fun
So, to preface this, I'm actually very bad at platformers. It took me forever to beat Metroid Fusion, to say nothing of other platformer titles like the classic Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Country, etc. That being said, I have been extremely enjoying playing Metroid Dread, and even accidentally found a sequence break. It is easily one of, if not my favorite game on the Switch.
Sure sure! An instant classic like this is so plug and play I've been telling my kids "see this is how they used to make games with intense difficulty that can and will be overcome with time and dedication"!
I got this as my very first Metriod game and so far I absolutely adore it. Im having so much fun and fright whilst playing it. My brother knew more about the series than myself so he brought me up to date with the many things that were going over my head. I think that I triggered him for life when I mistakenly called *"them"* a Chorizo by accident😂
I mentioned this to Zion on twitter but the best way to approach the Kingdom Hearts series is to play 1, 2, Birth by Sleep, 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and finally KH3. Watch 358/2 Days in the collection since you finished watching Chain of Memories (they happen at the same time and leads into KH2). This was pretty much how I got my gf into it!!
I just completed Metroid Dread with 100% completion and total playtime of 14:47:10. I think Dread is a really good first Metroid game but it's definitely a challenging one. If you're not used to having tough bosses, you'll have an uphill battle. But it's still an excellent first Metroid game!
Yes Every game can be your first game I jumped into Mario with Mario 3 Zelda with Breath of the Wild Metroid with Samus Returns Pokemon with Sapphire Splatoon with Splatoon 2 Fire Emblem with Radiant Dawn
Last of Us with Last of Us 2? All your examples aren't sequels. So, the main question is "Is the story a limiting factor?" For Last of Us, I would say definitely play the first one. Metroid doesn't really matter.
Honestly, I think you can start with this but there is a nice bit of extra context that really hits ya if you played the other games, especially Fusion. This has already surpassed Fusion as my favorite 2D Metroid, Hell it probably rivals the original Prime as my favorite in the series (though I may have to ruminate on that later one and replay Prime)
I was originally not planning to get this game. But then I remembered that I played and loved Fusion all those years ago. And then I remembered that I played and absolutely loved all the Castlevania games on the GBA and DS. This game was obviously built for me so glad I am playing it.
Yes, this was my first Metroid game and I played all the way through and beat it in 12 hours. It was very difficult but rewarding when beating a boss or getting an suit upgrade. I’m familiar with Samus from smash bros since N64 and it was cool to see Samus as the main character in a game.
14:31 If you like games in which you explore, if you like action adventure games, if you like a challenge, this game is most definitely worth the $60 (USD) price tag. Yes, i know there are other MetroidVanias out there that are cheaper. I love Hollow Knight. I bought it when it was on sale. I think the game is underrated, considering the man-hours that went into ALL the art and ALL the animations. I still have yet to beat that game, because some bosses are blocking my progression, but I will still say that the game is underrated
Long time metroid fan and also loving dread. Just wanted to say I love your point about hollow knight being at an undervalued price point. I also cant remember the last game i spent $60 that i appreciated as much as dread.
Metroid and kingdom hearts fan here! Hey Nintendo life, I love your content. Recently I started playing the metroid games for the first time! Sadly I didn’t get caught up in time, but I’m currently playing fusion and soon I’m gonna pick up dread!
As someone who's played all the 2D titles, I'm in awe at how much Dread keeps rising up the list. It's currently sitting at #2, only behind Super. I was very pleasantly surprised to realize I'm enjoying this game even more than Zero Mission and Fusion. It's been a _long_ time since I've been this invested in a game. Well worth the price tag to me, without question.
I bought it day one (lifelong Metroid fan, it was one of my fav NES games and Super was my absolute fav SNES game) and still haven't got a chance to play it... Been avoiding vids on it but this one was perfect, as I intend to play it finally tonight!
I bought this game out of pure curiosity, and it's been great so far! I don't consider myself a Metroid pro, or a Metroid fan by any means and I feel like the game explains the mechanics well enough that anyone can jump in both new or old! I've been totally getting destroyed but been really enjoying the learning process overall. I think I like it! I may try out other Metroid games too! Whenever I beat this one. I don't play platformers that often I'm more of a jrpg guy myself. Or the occasional open world.
I think Jon said it best: it's a good game to start but you would appreciate the game more if you played the other Metroid games and I agree. When I first saw Metroid Dread when they announced it at E3, I went and played the other Metroid games. I only played Other M and some of the Prime games, but when I finished Zero Mission, Super, and Fusion (sadly I couldn't play Samus Returns), I appreciate Dread so much more.
This is essentially my first Metroid game and really enjoying it (even with my numerous "Game Over" screens). Tis tough but fair. I do have Prime Trilogy on WiiU, but had no idea what I was doing an hour or 2 into the first and dropped off completely years back. But Dread might bring me back into retrying the Prime series too (I know it's a different storyline completely, before anyone jumps at me)
I picked it up, having never played a Metroid before, but I haven't started yet. Tetris Effect came out the same day and I have a Tetris addiction problem. 😂I want to set aside a weekend for Metroid dread and fully focus on it.
As somebody who's very familiar with the Metroid vania genre, I actually never played a actual Metroid game. Metroid is my first Metroid game, and I love it. I personally am not the biggest story guy, but I do enjoy a good story in a video game. But I feel Metroid doesn't really dwell on the story and more or less just focuses on its gameplay, which isn't a bad thing by any means. I feel that this is a good Metroid game for people just getting into the series, I haven't played any other Metroid game, but I can at least assume that most 2D metroids function like this one. And personally, I'm having a blast playing this one. ihaven't been addicted to a game in a while... But this one just kind of sinks you in, making you want to find every secret, every ability, and destroy every boss.
This game is extremely well designed imo, so it can be an excellent way to start. The feelings spawning from a wait of nineteen years cannot be understood, but the plot is enjoyable by anyone. The most important thing I can recommend to newcomers: play the other games, especially super metroid!
This was my first metroid type game and I absolutely loved it, I 100% the game. This game has really made me want to go back and play the older games because of how much fun it was
This was my first metroid game, finished it in 3 days, and honestly, one of my favorite games and looking forward to playing the other ones, I died too many times to count but it was so addicting and its maybe the first game I finished 100% with no guide too. The story wasn't too hard to follow, just saw like a recap of the other games prior and I was ready
Metroid games have never been about a cohesive story to me. The story is told in the atmosphere, environments, music, monsters, weapons, and exploration; that’s the enjoyable part to me. The story is very much minimalist in the style of it’s influence from the iconic “Alien” film. Almost anyone could play Super Metroid and MOST Metroid games (especially 2D) without reading text and enjoy it as much as someone trying to follow the story. I like how the game lets your mind wander in that eerie exciting way. I’ve played every Metroid game besides Other M, and Federation Force and loved them all. Metroid Zero Mission is my favorite even better than Fusion IMO. MZM is an S Tier remake of the original and improves it in every way. Also MZM unlocks NES Metroid original when you beat it. It’s a solid game to get into speed running with. I can’t wait to get Dread. I almost bought the digital edition on night one but held back. I’m really making an effort to go mostly physical again after going heavy digital through 2020. I haven’t had time to get to the store yet. I probably need to eat ramen for a week or two to pick it up but it’s worth it. PS: I think Nintendo has a timeline problem with many of their popular game series (see The Legend of Zelda Series). The Metroid story isn’t as confusing but there are some missing spots and confusion.
Started with this and loving it! I watched a plot synopsis of the series up to this point and it’s pretty easy to understand the plot of this game. I think Samus looks stylish as hell and the game is really pretty which really drew me into this one whereas previous ones didn’t really hook me. Can’t wait for Metroid after this
The platforming in metroid dread feels like the cleanest most satisfying platforming since Zero Mission. The combat is the best in the series aswell. Using the phase thing to dodge makes fighting so much more fun.
I'm near the final boss of Metroid Dread and its my first time with the series. So I can speak for this: I fucking LOVE it, best game I've played this year by far.
Fun fact: When I was beginning the series, I began with Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime Hunters, which if you know, maybe a good start, and Metroid Dread. It was nice.
One thing I will say, it might be rather tough going back to older Metroid games after playing this one. It's not that the older ones aren't excellent games, but Dread has a much more detailed map and feels smoother to control overall. Not that Nintendo would ever do this, but if Nintendo ever decided to remake all the previous 2D Metroid releases using this new engine, I would happily buy them.
This is the first Metroid game I beat. I did try Super Metroid before and it seemed like a very good game. I think I got stuck somewhere and stopped playing it. Metroid Dread is one of the best games I have ever played. There are tough boss fights but they don't feel unfair. It was worth 60, and I am definitely going back to beat it in hard mode.
Thanks for the video! Super Metroid just could not hold my attention. I’ve tried playing through some of it twice to no avail. I really enjoyed Prime 3 though! (really random that that’s the only other one I’ve played). I may pick up Dread some day, but I’m in no hurry. :)
Before dread i played a small amount of other m, and metroid 2 on gameboy (child me got completely lost trying to work out how to progress that), but I was excited enough about dread to preorder the collectors edition. 6 hours in and I'm loving it, even if I've not really experienced the series or even the genre before. After I beat it, I will definitely play super on nso, or mini SNES.
If you ever want to close dread but you're stuck at a boss and die, go back to the save room again and save so you can skip the cutscenes next time you boot up the game again
I think that playing Fusion, minimum, helps fill you with the appropriate dread when a certain event takes place in the game. Without the prior knowledge, you might be like "oh, that's bad right?" vs "oh shit oh shit, I know how bad this is going to get..."
"I never was wandering aimlessly unsure where to shoot or where to go" Huge Metroid fan, but I got stuck IN THE FIRST HOUR of Dread, for an hour lol. There's something slightly different about this Metroid vs the others and I have now gotten used to it and found my bearings, but man. It was the most lost I had ever felt in any game in the series.
Great review and very accurate. Other M was my first Metroid game which I loved despite the negative reviews. Keen to play a "proper Metroid" and absolutely loved Dread. Spot on about the bosses being challenging but not unfair, left me with a smile on my face when I figured out the pattern!
Gonna get this, not sure whether it will be in a few months or a few days but I’ll definitely pick it up, still after samus returns on 3ds, and I’m still salty it was out of stock when I saw it was £10 at Argos a while back
This was my first Metroid game. It kicked my ass but it definitely wasn't alienating and explained things very well. I loved it. I think you can start with this one.
Just curious, was it your first Metroidvania title? Or have you tried a game like Hollow Knight or Steam World Dig? I find that newcomers to the Metroid series(such as myself) find Dread to be much more manageable if they have prior experience in the genre.
@@sethfeldpausch4337 I played some of Hollow Knight and Ori 1 but didn't get too far in either (need to get back into them). The only MV I beat was The Messenger, and that wasn't even fully a MV.
Same here. The checkpoints are super generous too, there’s barely a downside to dying.
@@sethfeldpausch4337 My first was Hallow Knight, but currently I've been on and off playing Super Metroid on nso over the last couple of months, I play for a while, have fun, then get lost and stop playing it for a month or 2 while I play other things
"alienating" I see what you did there.
"This is the kinda game you can play while you get cozy"
As the EMMI on screen stabs samus in the throat
After first two EMMIs, it has become cozy though
@@manojlds Blue EMMI says hello
Speaking from someone who has just got Metroid Dread and is playing it while watching this, and has only barely dabbled in super metroid, you can definitely start with this
Definitely agree. I played each title when they came out but it’s been 19 years since the last one. But there are a ton of quality story catch up videos on TH-cam now. Glad you’re loving it.
100%. It's my first Metroid game and I find it more than accessible. Story wise It was clear enough
Facts. I've played metroid and super metroid but never beat those games. But I'm familiar with metroid games, and this is the first metroid game I ever brought. You can definitely start with this game.
@@stuckinthe90sThegoldenera Super Metroid is very much worth beating, it has one of the best endings/final boss battles in video game history. The biggest problem is being used to all the modern touches from Dread when you go back to play it. Despite it's time-related flaws, Super Metroid is still a masterpiece.
@@xenos_n. I'm definitely going to go back and play it. I enjoyed the few hours I put into it.
I'm a new Metroid fan. Dread (and also Arlo) got me really hyped to start super Metroid a couple weeks ago and I love it. I'm going through the other games first. I need that special edition of Dread, it looks so good.
You and me my friend, I wasn't interested in Metroid until Arlo hyped it up
Can we just talk about how amazingly sequence breakable this game is? You can get 70% of all upgrades early some hours earlier than „intended“. It definitely shows that the devs love sequence breaking. Especially the shinespark
I did the 2nd boss sequence break trick. After getting the grappling beam I was able to get to the teleporter to go to Ghavoran and get the Pulse Radar.
@@tomsimmons7673 Ah yes that quick kill. Let me guess slide jumping is in your DNA now.
I heard it was restrictive lol
I also found a sequence break for early super missles, but it requires the speed booster, and it's a hell run in a freezing laboratory.
@@esmooth919 That one is one of my favorites
2:04 Sakamoto has stated it's not the last one. Just the last in the current story arc. He's already stated he has plans for no6.
Metroid 6 coming 2040
Hype
I will consider getting this game as someone who’s never played a Metroid game.
Do it!
"I will consider getting this game" is the equivalent of a boss saying "thank you for coming, you'll hear from us" after a job interview. In other words; He'll never get the game.
I have never played a metroid game before dread, and it is an amazing game, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
I never played Metroid and i have dread
Its amazing
Same, I am considering it. Though it's only around 9 hours, I have nothing to lose
i tried Metroid games previously & none of them really held my attention, but i've REALLY enjoyed Metroid Dread. i've collected 100% of the items & only need to beat the final boss now.
so yeah i'd say it makes a great first Metroid game, whether you've tried to get into the series before or not
@polyhex same here in terms of the 2D metroids. I played and enjoyed Metroid Prime trilogy and Hunters
Good luck! He killed me so many times. But it felt so good to finally take him down!
I just beat him a few hours ago and also reached 100% completion. It felt so great to finish the game!
I'm pretty used to challenging games, so I was happy when the final boss killed me 10 times. Learning patterns and attack windows is so fun imo
How did you get through that one with morphball mine blocks over a lot of speed blocks. I have no clue how to do that
This was basically my first Metroid game and I loved nearly every second of it! I’ve only dabbled for a minute or two in Super and I only played about half of Samus Returns, but with Dread, I couldn’t stop! It had such a great loop, that I never wanted to put it down!
you can definitely start with dread i have never played metroid before and got easily into dread, such a great game
It's very handholdy when you follow the intended the route so yes. I have a hard time believing anyone would get stuck when the game literally closes off previous paths and puts teleporters right there to use.
Beware of the boss difficulty though.
I’d say without the fantastic map system, this could have easily been another game where you have no idea where to go
@@secureb00t39 that's pretty much it with the bosses. They will kick your ass, but the more you play, the easier it gets.
Nintendo isn’t dumb. They know a lot of fresh faces are getting this Metroid cause it took them nearly 20 years! I played Fusion when it came out and totally forgot the plot already. And Samus Returns was them just tearing the Metroid waters. We want more Metroid Nintendo!
theyre kinda dumb
@@ethanbeers273 the most successful company in the biggest entertainment genre
Nintendo is insanely dumb. They are constantly 3 generations behind, don't care, and overcharge for the bare minimum possible effort in their games. Because they know tons of idiots will still give them money and have no standards.
Yes, Dread is a great starting place. You either start at the beginning or at the end and in this case, starting at the end with Dread will have you asking questions that you'll want answered by Super, Zero Mission and Fusion.
i only beat super metroid a few weeks ago. I watched a couple recap videos and feel like i know everything. Metroid stories don't seem too involved. Absolutely loving Dread. Pretty sure it's going to be my GotY
Dread was my first metroid game and I absolutely loved it.
This is my first Metroid game. I'm not even a fan of 2D games, I rarely play them. Never played a MetroidVania before.
That being said. THIS GAME IS AMAZING. I love it. It's really well designed and it controls really smoothly. It's such a good game. I was having second thoughts about getting it but honestly I don't regret it. This is the most fun I've had with a switch game since BOTW.
I want you to know that THIS comment made me purchase Dread.
@@asnlunatic And what did you think? Be honest. I'm kinda conflicted.
@@Ravio_Z this is my first metroid game too and i loved it. Especially if you can find discounted or second hand physical copy i’d say go for it.
Metroid Dread is better designed and better polished than probably most other 60$ games out there today.
The only problem I can see in starting playing Metroid games from Dread is that it would be a bit difficult to play the previous games in the franchise because of less movement mechanics, fluidity and control.
It feels so good to control Samus in this game!
I feel like knowing what happens in the previous games makes it more rewarding for certain story stuff, but getting a good recap is pretty easy. I’d still say playing them in order is worth it if you are interested and you have the time.
Do you need to play the prime games as well? Or just the other 2D games?
Well, in the 2D series, fusion was the only one actually having an elaborate story. The other games' story literally happens in the prologue and at the end, you can just skip everything in between 😂
@@IAmNotASandwich453 ah ok. I’ve only played through Zero Mission so I wasn’t sure if they were all like that.
@@theterriblef8101 They aren't connected at all really, but it's all canon. So no not necessary but they are very good.
@@IAmNotASandwich453 Yeah fair enough lol
Basically Dread holds your hand without really holding your hand, there were times where i was trying to figure out where to go next and was able to find out where to go after checking the map for subtle hints, Where is some of the older Metroid games you basically had to figure it out on your own
Did John said that he finished metroid 1 to 4 between 2 to 4 hours? If you finish super metroid around 2 to 4 hours in your first playthrough porbably you have Chozo dna.
lol right
righttt i’ve been playing it off and on for months
I did the 2nd boss sequence break trick. After getting the grappling beam I was able to get to the teleporter to go to the 5th area, Ghavoran, and get the Pulse Radar before starting the 4th are.
As someone who's played every single Metroid game, Dread pleases me.
As someone who’s never played a Metroid game, Dread pleases me.
As someone who’s interested in dread I’m considering buying .
@@blumoshi166 Go for it. It's incredible.
My first playthrough I took my time and took in the whole scene. Whenever I got a new upgrade, I would turn back and find every upgrade possible before pressing forward. I didn't need a massive end-game-sweep for upgrades. Cleared it 100% in 17 hrs. I don't think it's short at all. But, next playthroughs I'm focusing on just pressing on low-percent like and it goes much quicker. But the whole thing flows and is satisfying. I'm on my third playthrough and it is so much fun still! There's multiple routes to take, upgrades to skip, enemies to beat differently, boss quick kills... In short, there's so much variety that you can just play it over and over in different and satisfying ways.
I don't think it's that short either, if one is new to Metroid or didn't play it for many years and did not watch spoilers one can expect to put in many hours into the game.
Yes, the story isn't that complicated just watch a 15 min TH-cam vid on the story so far and you will be fine, just like I was
ive only played prime 1 and 2. dread is great and its my first 2D metroid. im not done with it yet but im having a blast. samus controls like a dream, loved exploring, collecting power ups, and i think the challenge is fair
I totally think it could be someone’s first game. The story isn’t that complicated and as long as you watch a refresher on the other games you’ll know everything you need to know. The gameplay, especially the movement, is so fluid and easily the best in the series and perfect for a first timer
The game even gives a refresher on the last one.
Metroid Samus Returns was my first Metroid, I adored it but going from that to Dread is a massive difficulty spike but I love the challenge 😊
I would actually recommend this as your first Metroid. It is the most accessible (despite the difficulty of boss battles) with it's fluid movement and intuitive progression. Arguably, it's the best game in the series. Nintendo realized it would be many people's first Metroid and they catch you up with the story too. Nintendo Life also has a good story recap video too.
I wish they had mentioned Samus' Chozo DNA somewhere in the intro because they only bring it up right before the final boss and I feel that would confuse new people
I have listened to a story recap before playing Dread, because it's my first Metroid game but I think you can start with Dread it has a nice up to speed at the beginning. Not detailed but enough to know what's going on.
As someone who's never played a Metroid game this game is super fun. I'm glad I started here I think people let nostalgia take over when you go back to old games a lot of times they're shit. This game has great graphics fun gameplay and just extremely challenging really enjoying it.
Only game I've played in the series is Super. So, rn I'm playing through Zero Mission, then Samus Returns, then super again, and then fusion.
I wanna play em all!!
I’ve been wanting to play this game so bad, but I wasn’t sure if I could play it as my first Metroid. So, thanks for answering this question.
On that note though, I did buy Samus Returns for my 3DS as a good starting place.
Samus Returns is a great starting place. Dread feels like Samus Returns refined and enhanced to it's perfect form. SR gets a little repetitive and was limited by the source material (remake of a gameboy game) and the power of the 3DS. It's a great game though, and shows the potential of all the innovations that Mercury Steam added.
Haven’t watched the video yet, but the answer is yes.
This is my first ever Metroidvania game. Thanks to smash on the 64 I've always been aware of Metroid and Samus but for some reason just never picked duo the games.
If the fra chise is anything like this game I've been missing out.
I think it can. Most, if not all, of the difficult segments are located immediately after a checkpoint or save room, making it a simple matter of repetition. The map markers are really handy, and (as Jon said) the game gives you subtle hints as to your next destination. And of course, the tutorials are accessible whenever you need them. The hidden E-Tanks and Missile Packs are nice, but absolutely not necessary to beat the game.
Speaking as someone who's familiar with the 2D Metroid series (started all but 2/Samus Returns but never beat any of them other than Dread) I can confidently say there isn't anything here to keep someone new to the series from wholeheartedly enjoying Dread even if they haven't played any of the others. I feel like there's some story beats that won't have the same amount of impact without some prior knowledge of the overarching plot or lore, but for the most part Dread's prologue does a good job of getting you up to speed.
The "is it worth $60?" question is harder to answer - it's very subjective. Do you base a game's value by how long it takes you to finish it? If so, then a game that can be beaten comfortably in around 10 hours the first time through may not be worth your money, especially if you don't plan on replaying it. But if you value the experience and enjoyment more than the runtime you'll definitely find a lot to like here. And considering you'll need to beat the game a minimum of six times to unlock every completion bonus it definitely gives you a reason to blast through multiple times.
All in all, I hugely enjoyed (and still am enjoying) my time with Dread - I'm currently on my second of what I'm sure will be countless playthroughs.
You don't HAVE to beat the game six times to get the Ending Rewards. If you finish Normal Mode under 4 hours you get all 3 rewards, and if you do Hard Mode under 4 you get the other 3 rewards as well.
I personally did a 100% run of the game first to familiarize myself with the controls, then did a Normal speedrun, and then did the Hard Mode speedrun immediately after and have a save file with all the rewards now. Now I'm just doing a 4th playthrough just for fun
So, to preface this, I'm actually very bad at platformers. It took me forever to beat Metroid Fusion, to say nothing of other platformer titles like the classic Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Country, etc. That being said, I have been extremely enjoying playing Metroid Dread, and even accidentally found a sequence break. It is easily one of, if not my favorite game on the Switch.
Sure sure! An instant classic like this is so plug and play I've been telling my kids "see this is how they used to make games with intense difficulty that can and will be overcome with time and dedication"!
I have two friends who bought it as their first Metroid and they are in love.
I got this as my very first Metriod game and so far I absolutely adore it. Im having so much fun and fright whilst playing it. My brother knew more about the series than myself so he brought me up to date with the many things that were going over my head. I think that I triggered him for life when I mistakenly called *"them"* a Chorizo by accident😂
I have a pc, ps5 and switch. Metroid dread is the best game I’ve played this year on any of those consoles. Worth every penny.
The intro to the game does pretty well at giving a high level story overview.
I mentioned this to Zion on twitter but the best way to approach the Kingdom Hearts series is to play 1, 2, Birth by Sleep, 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and finally KH3. Watch 358/2 Days in the collection since you finished watching Chain of Memories (they happen at the same time and leads into KH2). This was pretty much how I got my gf into it!!
I just completed Metroid Dread with 100% completion and total playtime of 14:47:10. I think Dread is a really good first Metroid game but it's definitely a challenging one. If you're not used to having tough bosses, you'll have an uphill battle. But it's still an excellent first Metroid game!
Yes
Every game can be your first game
I jumped into Mario with Mario 3
Zelda with Breath of the Wild
Metroid with Samus Returns
Pokemon with Sapphire
Splatoon with Splatoon 2
Fire Emblem with Radiant Dawn
Last of Us with Last of Us 2? All your examples aren't sequels. So, the main question is "Is the story a limiting factor?" For Last of Us, I would say definitely play the first one. Metroid doesn't really matter.
Well.. i gotta say you guys totally convinced me.. to start my 5th playthrough 😂
You guys got me to finally finish Super! I’ll soon be wrapping up Fusion. Really loving it.
Honestly, I think you can start with this but there is a nice bit of extra context that really hits ya if you played the other games, especially Fusion. This has already surpassed Fusion as my favorite 2D Metroid, Hell it probably rivals the original Prime as my favorite in the series (though I may have to ruminate on that later one and replay Prime)
I was originally not planning to get this game. But then I remembered that I played and loved Fusion all those years ago. And then I remembered that I played and absolutely loved all the Castlevania games on the GBA and DS. This game was obviously built for me so glad I am playing it.
I think I will get this for Christmas with the GTA Remastered collection
Its my first Metroid and yes, it can definitely be your first Metroid
this was my first metroid game ever. And I loved every moment of it. It can be a good first game for people who want to play a metroid game
I don't know if Super Metroid on SNES switch online counts but I have been playing that for quite a while with the SNES switch online controller.
This will be the new Super Metroid equivalent for the newer gen. So glad that Dread is this good and hopefully it's nominated for GOTY.
Boy, do I have news for you!
Metroid Dread was my first metroid game. It's fun as hell and it's worth $60 tag for me. I hope nintendo continue to support metroid franchise!
Yes, this was my first Metroid game and I played all the way through and beat it in 12 hours. It was very difficult but rewarding when beating a boss or getting an suit upgrade. I’m familiar with Samus from smash bros since N64 and it was cool to see Samus as the main character in a game.
Metroid dread is my first Metroid, I’m worried I’ve been spoiled and won’t like the older ones now because this game is awesome
Zero mission is very smooth in my opinion for being a little older
14:31 If you like games in which you explore, if you like action adventure games, if you like a challenge, this game is most definitely worth the $60 (USD) price tag. Yes, i know there are other MetroidVanias out there that are cheaper. I love Hollow Knight. I bought it when it was on sale. I think the game is underrated, considering the man-hours that went into ALL the art and ALL the animations. I still have yet to beat that game, because some bosses are blocking my progression, but I will still say that the game is underrated
Long time metroid fan and also loving dread. Just wanted to say I love your point about hollow knight being at an undervalued price point. I also cant remember the last game i spent $60 that i appreciated as much as dread.
This was my first metroid game ever...great experience! I just beat Raven Beak last night.
Metroid and kingdom hearts fan here! Hey Nintendo life, I love your content.
Recently I started playing the metroid games for the first time! Sadly I didn’t get caught up in time, but I’m currently playing fusion and soon I’m gonna pick up dread!
As someone who's played all the 2D titles, I'm in awe at how much Dread keeps rising up the list. It's currently sitting at #2, only behind Super. I was very pleasantly surprised to realize I'm enjoying this game even more than Zero Mission and Fusion. It's been a _long_ time since I've been this invested in a game. Well worth the price tag to me, without question.
i cant wait for my carpal tunnel to heal so i can play zero mission, AM2R, super, fusion, and dread. keep posting these awesome videos!
It’s my first Metroid
I bought it day one (lifelong Metroid fan, it was one of my fav NES games and Super was my absolute fav SNES game) and still haven't got a chance to play it... Been avoiding vids on it but this one was perfect, as I intend to play it finally tonight!
Absolutely. My brothers first Metroidvania game. He absolutely loves it!
I bought this game out of pure curiosity, and it's been great so far! I don't consider myself a Metroid pro, or a Metroid fan by any means and I feel like the game explains the mechanics well enough that anyone can jump in both new or old! I've been totally getting destroyed but been really enjoying the learning process overall. I think I like it! I may try out other Metroid games too! Whenever I beat this one. I don't play platformers that often I'm more of a jrpg guy myself. Or the occasional open world.
I think Jon said it best: it's a good game to start but you would appreciate the game more if you played the other Metroid games and I agree. When I first saw Metroid Dread when they announced it at E3, I went and played the other Metroid games. I only played Other M and some of the Prime games, but when I finished Zero Mission, Super, and Fusion (sadly I couldn't play Samus Returns), I appreciate Dread so much more.
This is essentially my first Metroid game and really enjoying it (even with my numerous "Game Over" screens). Tis tough but fair.
I do have Prime Trilogy on WiiU, but had no idea what I was doing an hour or 2 into the first and dropped off completely years back.
But Dread might bring me back into retrying the Prime series too (I know it's a different storyline completely, before anyone jumps at me)
I picked it up, having never played a Metroid before, but I haven't started yet. Tetris Effect came out the same day and I have a Tetris addiction problem. 😂I want to set aside a weekend for Metroid dread and fully focus on it.
This game is amazing, definitely my favourite game of the year.
Metroid prime on gamecube was amazing. Just got dread last night and I love it. Can't wait for prime 4.
As somebody who's very familiar with the Metroid vania genre, I actually never played a actual Metroid game. Metroid is my first Metroid game, and I love it. I personally am not the biggest story guy, but I do enjoy a good story in a video game. But I feel Metroid doesn't really dwell on the story and more or less just focuses on its gameplay, which isn't a bad thing by any means. I feel that this is a good Metroid game for people just getting into the series, I haven't played any other Metroid game, but I can at least assume that most 2D metroids function like this one. And personally, I'm having a blast playing this one. ihaven't been addicted to a game in a while... But this one just kind of sinks you in, making you want to find every secret, every ability, and destroy every boss.
Dread is very much worth $60. Snes games were $75 new when they came out.
This game is extremely well designed imo, so it can be an excellent way to start. The feelings spawning from a wait of nineteen years cannot be understood, but the plot is enjoyable by anyone. The most important thing I can recommend to newcomers: play the other games, especially super metroid!
Fantastic job gentlemen, one of your best. I always appreciate your takes on games. This one was pretty much spot on.
My favorite game of the year and was my first Metroid game.
First ever Metroid game I played i love it !
This was my first metroid type game and I absolutely loved it, I 100% the game. This game has really made me want to go back and play the older games because of how much fun it was
This was my first metroid game, finished it in 3 days, and honestly, one of my favorite games and looking forward to playing the other ones, I died too many times to count but it was so addicting and its maybe the first game I finished 100% with no guide too. The story wasn't too hard to follow, just saw like a recap of the other games prior and I was ready
It was my first Metroid game and it’s my second favorite switch game.
Metroid games have never been about a cohesive story to me. The story is told in the atmosphere, environments, music, monsters, weapons, and exploration; that’s the enjoyable part to me.
The story is very much minimalist in the style of it’s influence from the iconic “Alien” film. Almost anyone could play Super Metroid and MOST Metroid games (especially 2D) without reading text and enjoy it as much as someone trying to follow the story. I like how the game lets your mind wander in that eerie exciting way.
I’ve played every Metroid game besides Other M, and Federation Force and loved them all. Metroid Zero Mission is my favorite even better than Fusion IMO. MZM is an S Tier remake of the original and improves it in every way. Also MZM unlocks NES Metroid original when you beat it. It’s a solid game to get into speed running with.
I can’t wait to get Dread. I almost bought the digital edition on night one but held back. I’m really making an effort to go mostly physical again after going heavy digital through 2020. I haven’t had time to get to the store yet. I probably need to eat ramen for a week or two to pick it up but it’s worth it.
PS:
I think Nintendo has a timeline problem with many of their popular game series (see The Legend of Zelda Series). The Metroid story isn’t as confusing but there are some missing spots and confusion.
Started with this and loving it! I watched a plot synopsis of the series up to this point and it’s pretty easy to understand the plot of this game. I think Samus looks stylish as hell and the game is really pretty which really drew me into this one whereas previous ones didn’t really hook me. Can’t wait for Metroid after this
The platforming in metroid dread feels like the cleanest most satisfying platforming since Zero Mission. The combat is the best in the series aswell. Using the phase thing to dodge makes fighting so much more fun.
You have somebody on Nintendo Life staff who hasn't played Super Metroid?! Fire them immediately or force them to play, this is the only solution.
The only way I can stand Zion is when he is with Jon and Alex lol, good video guys 💕
I'm near the final boss of Metroid Dread and its my first time with the series. So I can speak for this: I fucking LOVE it, best game I've played this year by far.
Metroid Dread will be my second Metroid game since Metroid Other M was my first.
Fun fact: When I was beginning the series, I began with Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime Hunters, which if you know, maybe a good start, and Metroid Dread. It was nice.
One thing I will say, it might be rather tough going back to older Metroid games after playing this one. It's not that the older ones aren't excellent games, but Dread has a much more detailed map and feels smoother to control overall. Not that Nintendo would ever do this, but if Nintendo ever decided to remake all the previous 2D Metroid releases using this new engine, I would happily buy them.
This is the first Metroid game I beat. I did try Super Metroid before and it seemed like a very good game. I think I got stuck somewhere and stopped playing it. Metroid Dread is one of the best games I have ever played. There are tough boss fights but they don't feel unfair. It was worth 60, and I am definitely going back to beat it in hard mode.
The last side-scroller I played similar to this was castlevania sotn (almost 2 decades ago?). I think I'll like this one.
Thanks for the video!
Super Metroid just could not hold my attention. I’ve tried playing through some of it twice to no avail. I really enjoyed Prime 3 though! (really random that that’s the only other one I’ve played). I may pick up Dread some day, but I’m in no hurry. :)
Before dread i played a small amount of other m, and metroid 2 on gameboy (child me got completely lost trying to work out how to progress that), but I was excited enough about dread to preorder the collectors edition. 6 hours in and I'm loving it, even if I've not really experienced the series or even the genre before. After I beat it, I will definitely play super on nso, or mini SNES.
If you ever want to close dread but you're stuck at a boss and die, go back to the save room again and save so you can skip the cutscenes next time you boot up the game again
OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH 😭💕💖
I think that playing Fusion, minimum, helps fill you with the appropriate dread when a certain event takes place in the game. Without the prior knowledge, you might be like "oh, that's bad right?" vs "oh shit oh shit, I know how bad this is going to get..."
"I never was wandering aimlessly unsure where to shoot or where to go"
Huge Metroid fan, but I got stuck IN THE FIRST HOUR of Dread, for an hour lol. There's something slightly different about this Metroid vs the others and I have now gotten used to it and found my bearings, but man. It was the most lost I had ever felt in any game in the series.
Great review and very accurate. Other M was my first Metroid game which I loved despite the negative reviews. Keen to play a "proper Metroid" and absolutely loved Dread. Spot on about the bosses being challenging but not unfair, left me with a smile on my face when I figured out the pattern!
Gonna get this, not sure whether it will be in a few months or a few days but I’ll definitely pick it up, still after samus returns on 3ds, and I’m still salty it was out of stock when I saw it was £10 at Argos a while back