Metroid Dread

Overview

Metroid Dread is a 2D sci-fi exploration-based action game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD, published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch on October 8, 2021.

The fifth main installment of the Metroid series, Metroid Dread is developed by the studio behind Metroid: Samus Returns. Along with high-definition graphics and some gameplay mechanics from Samus Returns, Metroid Dread introduces several new and enhanced abilities from previous games (including sliding, dash counters, and a surface-cling ability known as the Spider Magnet).

The game takes place sometime after the story of Metroid Fusion, where bounty hunter Samus Aran is believed to have eradicated a lethal parasite (known as "X") that only she is immune to (thanks to a vaccine created from Metroid cells). When it is believed that the X parasite is still alive on the planet ZDR, the Galactic Federation sends seven research robots (the Extraplanetary Multiform Mobile Identifiers, or E.M.M.I.) to investigate. When the unit of E.M.M.I. vanishes, Samus is sent to investigate.

amiibo

Two new amiibo are set to release alongside the game, featuring Samus in the game's new suit and the E.M.M.I. respectively. The Samus amiibo grants players an extra Energy Tank and lets them restore their energy once per day while the E.M.M.I. amiibo hands out a Missile Plus Tank, expanding Samus' missile capacity by 10.

Development History

The original concept "Metroid Dread" was planned in the mid 2000s, with two different attempts to realize the project on then-current hardware by Yoshio Sakamoto's team at Nintendo SPD which ultimately ended up being abandoned due to technical limitations. Metroid Dread first appeared on a list of "key titles" for Nintendo DS at E3 2005. The second version of the game was internally demoed to Nintendo of America and NST staff at E3 2009 before it was again quietly shelved. The partnership with MercurySteam which started with a pitch by the Spanish studio to remake Metroid Fusion would evolve into a remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus. The success of the latter was the foundation for a second collaboration to create a wholly new game together, the third and finally successful attempt at realizing Metroid Dread.

The game had become a myth among fans on the internet which later led to an in-game text log in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption referencing a "project Dread" to stir up hopes, dreams, and rumors of the game finally coming out.