5/5 ★ – percival's review of Metroid Dread.

I had high praises going from Metroid Fusion into Dread, and this is potentially the highest-quality follow up title I’ve ever played. Each aspect of the game from Models, Maps, Puzzle placement is just stellar. This game is seriously no walk in the park! I had a pretty gruelling 9.75hr play-though my first time around, with the bosses adding to that due to some tough-but-fair design. Any issues I had with Metroid Dread could be summarised with the phrase “Skill Issue”. The atmosphere and ‘dread’ present throughout the game are heavily focused upon in the E.M.M.I sections, making use of a “Nemesis” mechanic with a twist. You pick up more and more tools to help you avoid these killer robots - but they never get less terrifying! These sections are present within each area of the planet in Metroid Dread, and are without a doubt the way this game leaves its mark on the long-established franchise. A special mention HAS to be made towards the glorious cinematics and interactive “finishing moves” used throughout the game. Dread takes a page out of Other M’s book and utilises beautiful graphics to display some of Samus’ best moments. Each boss goes out in style, that’s for sure! I could preach forevermore about what I loved about this game - but justice is only done from playing it yourself (cliche as that may be). This game can be picked up for a fair price in terms of Switch games, with my copy being an eBay find! The game’s replayability makes this worth the price - two times over. I cannot wait for the next instalment in the franchise, and I pray it is as much a love-letter to the franchise as Metroid Dread is.