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Metroid Dread has been a delightful slog and I've proven I guess I'm not a real Gamer.
[this is a mostly spoiler free review of Metroid Dread, but also a bit of a rant]
Okay, so, I should start with some pedigree here. I'm a relatively accomplished Super Metroid speedrunner. In the stone ages of speed running (taking photos of your super nintendo with a disposable camera, recording videos with your VHS), my brother was a talented SM speed runner that beat the game with 100% in under 2 hours. I looked (and continue to look) up to my brother and became obsessed with speed running. And I'll do a 100% sub 2 hour run every year or so, just to keep my skills up. Yes, I'm mostly known for playing Animal Crossing New Horizons these days, but I can play a game.
Metroid Dread is a gorgeous game. Its delightfully atmospheric, and ZDR is another planet to add to the Metroid galaxy of cool planets with distinct biomes. The planet exploration (in other words, the 'metroidvania') is a good balance of letting you explore, but also making it pretty easy to stumble into the next area on accident.
That being said, let me say something that may get me some docked points from anyone reading this review: yes, i did get stuck in the Jaffe room. I even shot at the walls, but I hadn't shot at the right place. Do I think its bad game design? Nah, not really. I think its an homage to the past games that could have probably stayed in the past, but I don't think it harmed anyone. I got a little mad when I looked up a walk through, but then I just laughed thinking about having looked up the same thing in a Nintendo Power as a kid.
I've heard conflicting opinions on the EMMI, the robot-cats that hunt you in Dread, but I found the EMMI experience to be the most refreshing entry to the Metroid franchise in quite some time. It flips the game on its head. I love stealth games done well, and this aspect of Dread was always enjoyable to me. And finally getting to destroy the EMMI with the Omega Cannon felt great.
But, I've wanted to write this review, because Metroid Dread is fucking hard, y'all.
I've played every 2D Metroid to completion. Yes, Fusion is hard. But in Fusion, I could always get more items, and come back to a boss. Yes, NES Metroid was Hard. But that is mostly because of hardware limitations. But all you had to do was grind enemies to get past 30 HP and draw your own maps. Its hard. Frankly, I think Dread is harder than both of them and it is because of the boss battles.
I realized at the first boss battle that this game might be a bit of a challenge. The first boss that isnt an EMMI is Corpius. And I was stuck on that boss for quite some time. This game does not really forgive getting hit often. It requires you to memorize patterns and have sharp reflexes. But, I'm a metroid guy. I'm a seasoned speed runner. I literally have a metroid tattooed on my forearm. I can just git gud and get moving. And after a couple hours of chipping at the boss, I was awarded the phantom cloak.
I didn't feel accomplished; I felt relieved.
And this trend continued. Kraid was a bit easier; at least he hasn't changed much in 20 years or whatever, but the next major boss, a Robot Chozo Soldier in Ferenia, I spent nearly a day stuck and trying to beat the boss. Additionally, I was locked into the area. I couldn't go looking for other upgrades. I had to beat the boss to progress. So I grinded away.
And yes, I beat the boss. But I started to feel utter exhaustion at the game any time it was time for a boss battle. I (finally) looked into the settings to see if there was an easy mode. There isn't. "Adapt or Die, Samus" the game seemed to sneer at me. So, I kept trying to git gud.
Y'all, there is like a slog of bosses at some point. I know, I know its chozo warriors, but they're still bosses. They still require more out of me than I normally enjoy giving to video games. But I love Metroid. Samus Aran was, like, my hero when I was 5 because there weren't hardly any badass women in video games. I'm just marking myself as an obvious SJW (i'm writing this on a livejournal clone. What do you expect?)
All this to say, I am stuck on the last boss in Metroid Dread. I am so tired of giting gud. i've gathered every power up I could muster. I'm at about 90% completion and gods i just dont care about the other 7 or 8 things or whatever. I am buying the amiibos in hopes the extra energy tank might help. but i've been grinding at this fucker for days and I'm /tired/.
Fine. I'm not A True Gamer (tm). Fine. My reflexes are good, but not great. I'm not made for perfection. I play Metroid for exploration. The bosses were always a side note to just spam missiles at till it goes away. I never wanted this. And now, a franchise that felt like it was /mine/ is telling me I suck.
I've been frustrated with what I see when I google "Metroid Dread is Hard". Its mostly people acting like 1) this game totally isn't all that hard and 2) you just have to keep trying. But, I paid 60 dollars, I keep trying, and I can't fucking beat this game. And its not like I'm not a Metroid player!!! But according to the internet, I'm just some newbie to the franchise that doesn't understand video games or something. But Metroid was never ever ever a franchise to compare to fucking Dark Souls or whatever, but here we are. Seriously!
AND THIS GAME APPARENTLY HAS A HARD MODE IF I BEAT THE GAME. LMAO.
I watched the ending on youtube. I don't know if I'm fully giving up or not, but I'm at least going to try to take a break. The lore in this game is so good. The ending is a ride, and an absolute delight. It just sucks that, I, a fan, couldn't get there myself.
I'm not saying you need to make the game easier. But it would have been nice to have an easy mode. Or present me an easy mode after 50 deaths or something. It sucks to feel excited about a game and frustrated all at once. I used to dream of being Samus (i could never be such a bad ass) but now its just so beyond my grasp because I can't even beat this stupid game.
Metroid Dread is really hard, and could benefit from an easy mode. As a long, long fan of the franchise, maybe my words mean something. Anything. Please.
[this is a mostly spoiler free review of Metroid Dread, but also a bit of a rant]
Okay, so, I should start with some pedigree here. I'm a relatively accomplished Super Metroid speedrunner. In the stone ages of speed running (taking photos of your super nintendo with a disposable camera, recording videos with your VHS), my brother was a talented SM speed runner that beat the game with 100% in under 2 hours. I looked (and continue to look) up to my brother and became obsessed with speed running. And I'll do a 100% sub 2 hour run every year or so, just to keep my skills up. Yes, I'm mostly known for playing Animal Crossing New Horizons these days, but I can play a game.
Metroid Dread is a gorgeous game. Its delightfully atmospheric, and ZDR is another planet to add to the Metroid galaxy of cool planets with distinct biomes. The planet exploration (in other words, the 'metroidvania') is a good balance of letting you explore, but also making it pretty easy to stumble into the next area on accident.
That being said, let me say something that may get me some docked points from anyone reading this review: yes, i did get stuck in the Jaffe room. I even shot at the walls, but I hadn't shot at the right place. Do I think its bad game design? Nah, not really. I think its an homage to the past games that could have probably stayed in the past, but I don't think it harmed anyone. I got a little mad when I looked up a walk through, but then I just laughed thinking about having looked up the same thing in a Nintendo Power as a kid.
I've heard conflicting opinions on the EMMI, the robot-cats that hunt you in Dread, but I found the EMMI experience to be the most refreshing entry to the Metroid franchise in quite some time. It flips the game on its head. I love stealth games done well, and this aspect of Dread was always enjoyable to me. And finally getting to destroy the EMMI with the Omega Cannon felt great.
But, I've wanted to write this review, because Metroid Dread is fucking hard, y'all.
I've played every 2D Metroid to completion. Yes, Fusion is hard. But in Fusion, I could always get more items, and come back to a boss. Yes, NES Metroid was Hard. But that is mostly because of hardware limitations. But all you had to do was grind enemies to get past 30 HP and draw your own maps. Its hard. Frankly, I think Dread is harder than both of them and it is because of the boss battles.
I realized at the first boss battle that this game might be a bit of a challenge. The first boss that isnt an EMMI is Corpius. And I was stuck on that boss for quite some time. This game does not really forgive getting hit often. It requires you to memorize patterns and have sharp reflexes. But, I'm a metroid guy. I'm a seasoned speed runner. I literally have a metroid tattooed on my forearm. I can just git gud and get moving. And after a couple hours of chipping at the boss, I was awarded the phantom cloak.
I didn't feel accomplished; I felt relieved.
And this trend continued. Kraid was a bit easier; at least he hasn't changed much in 20 years or whatever, but the next major boss, a Robot Chozo Soldier in Ferenia, I spent nearly a day stuck and trying to beat the boss. Additionally, I was locked into the area. I couldn't go looking for other upgrades. I had to beat the boss to progress. So I grinded away.
And yes, I beat the boss. But I started to feel utter exhaustion at the game any time it was time for a boss battle. I (finally) looked into the settings to see if there was an easy mode. There isn't. "Adapt or Die, Samus" the game seemed to sneer at me. So, I kept trying to git gud.
Y'all, there is like a slog of bosses at some point. I know, I know its chozo warriors, but they're still bosses. They still require more out of me than I normally enjoy giving to video games. But I love Metroid. Samus Aran was, like, my hero when I was 5 because there weren't hardly any badass women in video games. I'm just marking myself as an obvious SJW (i'm writing this on a livejournal clone. What do you expect?)
All this to say, I am stuck on the last boss in Metroid Dread. I am so tired of giting gud. i've gathered every power up I could muster. I'm at about 90% completion and gods i just dont care about the other 7 or 8 things or whatever. I am buying the amiibos in hopes the extra energy tank might help. but i've been grinding at this fucker for days and I'm /tired/.
Fine. I'm not A True Gamer (tm). Fine. My reflexes are good, but not great. I'm not made for perfection. I play Metroid for exploration. The bosses were always a side note to just spam missiles at till it goes away. I never wanted this. And now, a franchise that felt like it was /mine/ is telling me I suck.
I've been frustrated with what I see when I google "Metroid Dread is Hard". Its mostly people acting like 1) this game totally isn't all that hard and 2) you just have to keep trying. But, I paid 60 dollars, I keep trying, and I can't fucking beat this game. And its not like I'm not a Metroid player!!! But according to the internet, I'm just some newbie to the franchise that doesn't understand video games or something. But Metroid was never ever ever a franchise to compare to fucking Dark Souls or whatever, but here we are. Seriously!
AND THIS GAME APPARENTLY HAS A HARD MODE IF I BEAT THE GAME. LMAO.
I watched the ending on youtube. I don't know if I'm fully giving up or not, but I'm at least going to try to take a break. The lore in this game is so good. The ending is a ride, and an absolute delight. It just sucks that, I, a fan, couldn't get there myself.
I'm not saying you need to make the game easier. But it would have been nice to have an easy mode. Or present me an easy mode after 50 deaths or something. It sucks to feel excited about a game and frustrated all at once. I used to dream of being Samus (i could never be such a bad ass) but now its just so beyond my grasp because I can't even beat this stupid game.
Metroid Dread is really hard, and could benefit from an easy mode. As a long, long fan of the franchise, maybe my words mean something. Anything. Please.
