After nearly two decades of anticipation,Metroid Dreadis officially coming and is no longer just a dream of longstandingMetroidfans. The game’s announcement was one of the biggest surprises from Nintendo’s E3 presentation, and now fans of one of Nintendo’s tentpole franchises only have to wait until this October to get their hands on it.Metroid Dread’s reveal was not only a pleasant surprise for generalMetroidfans, but so far it’s served as a source of relief for those that have been patiently awaiting more news onMetroid Prime 4.
The return toSamus Aran’s 3D adventureshas been one of the more frustrating parts of being a Nintendo fan for the past few years, as numerous delays have left some fans questioning whether or not the game will ever come.Metroid Dreadhas provided some hope, as the game’s announcement can be seen as paving the way forPrime 4’s eventual release by getting players reacquainted with the series. As true as this may seem however,Metroid Dreadis so much more than an appetizer toMetroid Prime 4. It’s the culmination of 35 years of video game history, and a sign of things to come for theMetroidseries.
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Finishing One Of Nintendo’s Longest Stories
One of the most exciting things aboutMetroid Dreadis the fact that it will bethe conclusion to one of Nintendo’s first, and longest stories. The very firstMetroidgame came out all the way back in 1986, and since then every mainlineMetroidgame has followed one singular story. This is a rare thing for Nintendo to do with most of its franchises, withThe Legend of Zeldapossibly being the only major exception.Metroid Dreadwon’t just give longtime fans their first classicMetroidgame in almost twenty years, it will also give closure to a story that’s been going on since Nintendo’s rise to fame.
Nintendo’s Return To The Genre It Started
With how longMetroidhas lived in the shadow of other Nintendo properties, it can be easy to forget just how important the series has been to the video game industry as a whole. Whenever a new adventure game comes out that forces players to find new abilities to explore previously unreachable parts of the game, the word “Metroidvania” is always thrown out to describe it. WhileCastlevaniadeserves just as much credit for making this kind of gameplay popular,Metroidis one of Nintendo’s greatest contributions to the gaming industry because of this style.
Metroid Dreadhas the unique opportunity to not only bring players back to the source of this kind of gameplay, but do it in a way that feels like an evolution of what made it successful to begin with. WhileMetroid Prime 4will likely take on similar exploration elements,Metroid Dreadwill be able to do it in a way that draws on the roots of one of gaming’s most treasured and nostalgic genres.
Reviving Metroid As A Whole
It’s no secret within that Nintendo has a history of abandoning some of its most popular franchises for an extended amount of time. FromStar FoxtoF-Zero, if it’s a franchise that doesn’t include an Italian plumber or a pot-smashing Hylian, then it probably hasn’t gotten much support from Nintendo over the past ten or so years.
Metroidis one such franchise that has faced a similar fate, butMetroid Dreadis a sign that Nintendo has more faith in the series than what might have been previously believed. The fact that Nintendo is giving players another2DMetroid, let alone a conclusion to the main series, could be a sign of aMetroidrevival.Metroid Prime 4’s many delays have concerned fans that may have thought the franchise could fade into obscurity yet again, butMetroid Dreadshows that Nintendo is willing to support it to some extent now.
The entire Nintendo Switch era has been a sort of renaissance for some of Nintendo’s most prolific properties, and seeingMetroidget in on the action is an encouraging sign.Metroid Dreadcan certainly be seen as a refresher for those looking forward toMetroid Prime 4, but on its own it’s also a very important title for therevival of theMetroidfranchise. IfDreadproves to be a big enough success,Metroidcould remain at the top of Nintendo’s priority list for a long time.
Metroid Dreadreleases Jun 18, 2025 on the Nintendo Switch.
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