The release ofMetroid Dreadis less than two weeks away and many players are certainly excited for what’s to come. Some fans have been waiting for over a decade forMetroid Dreadto arrive, with many assuming the project had been scrapped. Now, it seems that the newest installment in the 2DMetroidseries will feature a returning mechanic seen in previous games.
It’s been some time since an officialMetroidgame was released, let alone an original 2D entry. The last 2DMetroidgame to release wasMetroid: Samus Returnson the 3DS and even then, that was just a remake ofMetroid 2: Return of Samus. Thus, expectations forMetroid Dreadare rather high. Fortunately, there will be a plethora of familiar gameplay mechanics returning, including one involving the Morph Ball.
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Nintendo of America confirmed via Twitter thatMetroid Dreadwill feature a directional physics mechanic that players can use while in Samus' Morph Ball form. The bombs that can be dropped while in the Morph Ball form can propel the player both upwards and diagonally through the air. This mechanic was first introduced inSuper Metroidand has since carried over into mostMetroidentries.
It’s nice to see that familiar mechanics like this one will be introduced withinMetroid Dread. There hasn’t been an original 2DMetroidgame since the release ofMetroid Fusion.It has also been confirmed that the game will be set directly after the events ofMetroid Fusion, meaning that a lot of mechanics introduced in that game will likely make an appearance inMetroid Dread.
In many ways, it’s impressive thatMetroid Dreadis even releasing at all. Given thatMetroid Dreadwas originally intended to release on the Nintendo DSover 16 years ago, the fact that players will finally be able to experience it is exciting to say the least. Although, the upcoming release ofMetroid Dreaddoes leave one lingering question remaining with regards to the future of the franchise.
WhileMetroid Dreadwas first announced in the mid-2000s,Metroid Prime 4was confirmed to be in development over four years ago and since that time, development on the game rebooted and there haven’t been many other updates. Then again, it’s important to note just how many big name titles that have gone unaddressed by Nintendo for years at a time, such asBayonetta 3, which was finally unveiled after years of silence. With any luck,Metroid Prime 4’srelease won’t take nearly as long asMetroid Dread’s.
