Metroid is one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises, and with Prime 4: Beyond joining the series, it’s a great time to replay all your old favorites. Samus has gone on plenty of adventures throughout the ?gal??axy, battling Space Pirates, Metroids, and more.

If you’re itching to play more of the classic series, you’re in luck. There are tons of Metroid titles on the latest generation of Nintendo Console. Here is every single one of them, and how to play them on ??your Switch.

Metroid Dread

Dread brings the classic side-scrolling of the original games to the modern age, as Samus investigates a mysterious transmission from the planet ZDR. With intense boss fights and incredible level design, Dread is one of the best Metroid games in years.

Metroid: Dread is available for purchase from the Nintendo eShop on your console, or you can pick up a physical copy at a variety of retailers.

Metroid Prime: Remastered

Remastered to run beautifully on the Switch, the original Metroid Prime lets you go into first-person with Samus ?and do battle with the Space Pirates on the planet Tallon IV. You’ll also be taking on their experimental creatur??es that have been made with the dangerous Phazon substance.

Just like Dread, you can get the remastered version of Metroid Prime in the Nintendo eShop or get a physical copy from stores.

Metroid (NES)

The original adventure that started it all. Play as Samus Aran and journey to the depths?? of the planet Zebes to stop the Space Pirates and Mother Brain from destroying the galaxy after they’ve gotten ahold of Metroids.

You can download the original Metroid straight to your console if you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership. You’ll get access to p??lenty of NES, Game Boy, and SNE??S classics, including this legendary title.

Super Metroid

One of the most well-regarded games in history, Super Metroid is not to be missed. An infant Metroid has been stolen by the Space Pirates and their leader Ridley, and it’s up to Samus to ret??rieve the baby Metroid and save the ga?laxy. 

Since Super Metroid is an original SNES title, it’s included with a Nintendo Switch Online basic membership. You can download it straight from the Nintendo eShop??.

Metroid II: Return of Samus

Set directly after the original game for NES, Metroid II follows the bounty hunter as she prevents the Space Pirates from obtai?ning the Metroids by eradicating the species on their home planet, SR388. Other teams sent by the Galactic Federation have failed, so it’s up to Samus to finish i?t.

Just like the others, Metroid II is available with the basic Nintendo Switch Online membership since the game was ?originally released on the Game Boy back in ??1991.

Metroid Fusion

Metroid Fusion lets you play as you guessed it, Samus Aran after she is infected with a dangerous shapeshifting X parasite. You’ll battle these parasites as they infest the BSL space station. This game takes place right before Dread, so it’s a great one to play if you’re interested in getting Dread, too.

You’ll need the next tier of Nintendo Switch Online membership to get this title, the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. This nabs you tons of Game Boy Advance games, like Metroid Fusion, along with titles from the? N64 and SEGA Genesis.

Are more Metroid games coming to Switch?

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is on its way to join the roster of Metroid titles on the Switch. It’s scheduled to be released in 2025, though ?the exact date is still unknown.

As of right now, there is no news on whether more ports to the Switch will be available for the Metroid series, including Prime 2 or Prime 3 remasters. The Switch?? i?s nearing the end of its life cycle and a successor to the console will be announced soon, but we’re still keeping our hopes up for more ports.

The post All Metroid games available on Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

W?hen you buy the Nintendo Switch Online subscription, you get a slew of retro games through the platform's online library of older titles. Of course, there is a step above just the regular ole service with the higher tier, the Expansion Pack. However, you don't have to pony up for more just to play some treasured classics.

For th??ose of you looking to sample some of Nintendo's retro library, I've got some suggestions on where to start with the now 100-tile collection of classics. These are the best games for the base Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

The 10 best games to play on Nintendo Switch Online

Since we're excluding Expansion Pack titles, the following games? are from either the Nintendo Entertainment Sys?tem (NES), Game Boy, or Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). If a game you like from these catalogs and they aren't on the list, fret not �these are just the best of the best in a massive library beloved by many of us.

10. Tecmo Bowl (NES)

Sports games and Nintendo don’t go hand-in-hand now unless Mario is involved, but Tecmo Bowl is an exception. Despite being a g??ame from the late �0s, this one still holds up a lot better than most modern American football games. It’s simple enough to break into even for the folks not quite so sports savvy and there's no overly convoluted set of controls just to get your players moving.

9. Metroid (NES)

The Nintendo Switch was made for sidescrolling games, namely Metroidvanias. So, why not take a trip back to the late '80s and see the game that started it all? The original NES Metroid definitely shows how dated it is, but it doesn’t mean it’s a ??bad game. It’s loads of fun and will have you hooked from the moment you discover the out-of-the-way or less obvious path forward. The movement takes some time to get familiar with, but if you stick around, it’s well worth putting that effort in.

8. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)

After being the fellow who would hold Pauline captive in the 1980s, Donkey Kong would eventually get his own 2D sidescrolling adventure where he’s the good guy. He’s also accompanied by Diddy?? Kong, who ??you can swap to on the fly if the situation requires it. 

Its gameplay is akin to the Super Mario games in that you can jump on enemies�heads to defeat them. You c??an also?? throw things or use a close attack to deal damage. Still, it provides its own kind of fun that shows the quality of the 16-bit era. What a glow-up, good guy story for the Kong.

7. EarthBound (SNES)

It’s wild to look back on this game and see the Mother series only started to take off in western regions after Ness and Lucas became a staple in the Smash Bros. franchise. Still, now that the '90s RPG has become popular and made available for NSO subscribers, EarthBound still holds up. So, to all of you hungry for more Mother releases, the old?est western release is at least far more available now ?than it was back then.

6. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)

Fans of top-down games, especially the Zelda games, have to have played this at some point. A Link to the Past is one of the better, if not the best of the games in this style. The first Legend of Zelda game was exceptional in so many ways, but A Link to the Past is just more memorable, more fluid, and o??verall more fun.

5. Tetris (Game Boy)

If you want to break away from the highly competitive nature of Tetris 99, you can always fire the OG Tetris up on the Game Boy app. It plays a lot differently than modern Tetris because pieces automati??cally snap the moment they make contact on ??the surface. 

You’ll also be unable to see an outline of where your pieces will drop, so there’s a challenge within itself right there. Tetris on the Game Boy is based ?on classic rules, but it’s still such a fun?? time regardless.

4. Super Metroid (SNES)

If you want even more Metroid that’s faster-paced and has more fluid gameplay, then the third game of the se??ries will provide just that. It’s just an overall better time than the original game, with just the right amount of difficulty that won’t? have you pulling your hair out.

3. Kirby Super Star (SNES)

There’s something about the older Kirby games that just have more charm and character to them. They’re simple enough and follow the whole “pink blob eats enemies and takes their powers�aspect of the game. Then there are the min??igames on the side to take a break between the main story that just feels like a good kind of padding.

Even though Kirby games are doing just fin??e and are still prevalent in today’s market?, it’s a fun trip down memory lane to see the early days of his adventures.

2. Killer Instinct (SNES)

Killer Instinct is an awesome fighting game that acted as healthy competition against Mortal Kombat in the '90s. While not as gory, it still had great, over-the-top action, sporting a roster of ten wildly different and memorable?? characters. For the time, it was impressive, an??d so fun to play, even for those who aren’t into fighting games. 

This is the game that introduced the “c-c-c-combo breaker!�and the echoed “ultra!�sound effects t??hat we all still use from time to time. Novelties aside, it’s such a great addition to the lineup of current games on the Switch’s SNES library.

1. Super Mario World (SNES)

Super Mario World is touted as one of the best 2D Mario games of all time because of the mechanics, the music, and just how much exploration it has. This is the game that introduced the Cape Feather, which is iconic?? fo?r all the wild verticality that you can perform. It also has the hilarious P Balloon that inflates Mario or Luigi and lets them fly in all eight directions for a short time. You can’t forget the different Yoshis with their own respective abilities, either.

Most people will play this game from sta??rt to finish, but there is more than meets the eye once you clear the Switch Palaces or revisit previous levels with proper power-ups. If you never played this game in any way, you have to.

The post 10 best games on Nintendo Switch Online appeared first on Destructoid.

Don't call it a comeback. Metroid has been having a fantastic past few years with the success of Metroid Dread and Metroid Prime Remastered, and the franchise is in a great spot. But it's never a bad time to release more Metroid merch, and First 4 Figures is doing jus??t that with this Samus Varia Suit PVE statue.

The Metroid Prime Varia Suit First 4 Figures statue is up for pre-order

Available for pre-order via the figure's landing pag??e, you'll find both collector's and exclusive editions in tow for $149.99. To cl??arify, the exclusive edition comes with more stuff and is available at a discount (normally $164.99) through November 27.

Here's what you get in general:

• The 11" PVC painted statue
• Two interchangeable arms
• An LED light-up function (for the glowing portions of the suit)
• A base based on the Screw Attack/Metroid logo
• A leaflet and collector's box

Here's a quick breakdown of the excl??usive edition:

"Only in the Exclusive Edition will you get a premium deluxe box, l?imited edition numbering, authentication card, rechargeable battery, and USB charging cable."

First 4 Figures is known for their detail, and they're boasting a "subtle view of Samus' face behind the visor" for this one, which is extra rad. If you want it, the first batch of pre-orders (approximately 1000 units) will be delivered in Q1 of 2024, with the second batch coming in Q2 of the same year. To pony up for it, you'll need to make a non-refundable deposit of 20% of the purchase price (roughly ?$30).

The post This First 4 Metroid Prime S??amus statue is a beast appeared first on Destructoid.

More potential to discover

With the success of Castlevania and the Cyberpunk Edgerunners anime series, it is clear? that game anime adaptations are worth investing in. They can heighten a franchise’s standing among the mass audience and attract new fans to each game.

Castlevania and Cyberpunk Edgerunners elevated the worlds they were based on. They had unique art styles,?? engaging characters, and intriguing storylines ?that should inspire any game anime adaptation. Here are a few we’d love to see follow in that same pattern.

Bloodborne

[caption id="attachment_369924" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via PlayStation[/caption]

The best live-action and anime adaptations take the source material and run with it. That’s what a studio should do with Bloodborne. It can take the gorgeous gothic world of Yharnam and layer it with a mysterious story loosely based on the game’s lore. It would be creepy, have a gripping art style, and be a huge win for Sony. Maybe it would even lead to a Bloodborne sequel at some point in the future.

Final Fantasy X

[caption id="attachment_369925" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Final Fantasy XV saw a promotional anime mini-series based on the lead protagonists�friendship. However, we haven’t received a full-on anime series based on any of the franchise’s entries. That is absolutely bizarre, considering the grand source material. Final Fantasy X has one of the strongest narratives that a game anime adaptation could ask for. Each cha??racter has a great story arc, and the romance between Tidus and Yuna would tantaliz?e viewers until the very end.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

[caption id="attachment_369926" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Fire Emblem: Three Houses would make a compelling anime series you’d want to catch every week. Each character is well-written, and there’s a compelling plot about three factions forged between former friends. There could be intense fight scenes that play out on the battlefield, making every spell and swing of the sword look stunning in animated form. A studio could also add additional scenes that bring more nuance to the original game’s plot. There’s a lot of potential for an anime based on a game as dramatic as Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

Kid Icarus

[caption id="attachment_370327" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Kid Icarus: Uprising is a thrill, despite its terrible control scheme on the 3DS. Part of what made the game’s fans toughen out the awkward controls is the script. The banter between Pit and Palutena is hilarious and would be perfect for a comedy. The action would be spectacular as Pit soars across the sky and shoots down foes. There were a few anime shorts to promote Kid Icarus: Uprising, but it would be outstanding to get a full show.

Kingdom Hearts

[caption id="attachment_370377" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Square Enix & Disney[/caption]

Even the most dedicated of fans would admit that the Kingdom Hearts lore is hard to follow. However, an anime based on the series could help with that. Rather than a full game, an anime recapping the events of the mobile games Unchained X, Union X, and Dark Road would be fantastic. The dramatic story of the Foretellers and other influential characters from those games is essential for future Kingdom Hearts games, as they’re positioned to be the next ant?agonists of the series. Rather than watching cutscenes from the now-defunct mobile game, it would be great to get an anime retelling to keep mainstre??am fans informed.

The Legend of Zelda

[caption id="attachment_370384" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

The Legend of Zelda is begging for an anime. You have engrossing characters, the gorgeous land of Hyrule, and a mighty antagonist for the hero to defeat. Breath of the Wild specifically would be fantastic for a game anime adaptation. You have the dramatic ??st?ory of keeping Hyrule safe from Ganondorf, the growing relationship between Link and Zelda, and mighty battles against the likes of Master Khoga and the Divine Beast encounters.

Metal Gear Solid

[caption id="attachment_370396" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Konami[/caption]

One of the greatest game series in the eyes of many is Metal Gear Solid. However, it is so difficult to get into nowadays. Almost every game in the series isn’t available natively on the PS4 and PS5. Also, the older titles on the PS1 and PS2 have awkward controls by modern standards. An anime series based on the espionage titles would be amazing, especially with how the narrative has been praised over the years. It would catch up potential fans who missed the Metal Gear Solid franchise in its prime and ideally pre??pare them for a remake.

Metroid

[caption id="attachment_370379" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

The Metroid series is rich in lore and stunning sci-fi world design. It would lend itself to some beautiful animated scenes and grandiose battle scenes with Ridley and other aliens across the galaxy. With Metroid Prime 4 around the corner, an anime based on this cult-favorite series could bring Samus Aran into the limelight. If the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher could make Geralt a household name, it could work for Metroid.

A new Street Fighter anime

[caption id="attachment_370404" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

With today’s animation styles and an energetic sequel on the horizon, a new Street Fighter anime would be perfect. It could give the characters more depth and get folks invested in the battles of Street Fighter 6. Additionally, the fight scenes would look spectacular and take inspiration from the splash effects from the latest game. Ideally, this anime could give us more backstory on the events of Street Fighter 6.

Xenoblade Chronicles

[caption id="attachment_370409" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Another Nintendo franchise that’s waiting for a game anime adaptation is Xenoblade Chronicles. Imagine seeing the stunning Gaur Plains brought to life as Shulk and the gang stroll around the environment. Furthermore, the engrossing story would capture anime fans who have never given the series a chance. The music could be adapted beautifully too. To quote Shulk, “I’m really feelin�it!�/p>

The post 10 game series that deserve anime adaptations appeared first on Destructoid.

Like clockwork

As I've said in the past, Nintendo has been pretty good about getting physical My Nintendo rewards up on their end for pretty much every AAA game they've released. That also includes Metroid Prime Remastered, which just debuted its physical reward today.

Clocking in at 800 Platinum Points, the reward is a set of two pins, one of which is the game's logo, and the other: Samus, of course. These pins are on top of the downloadable Metroid Prime Remastered alternate box art cover. Here's the full description from Nintendo:

"A set of two rustless-iron lapel pins inspired by the Metroid Prime Remastered game are available to My Nintendo members. The game logo pin measures?? 3.5" x 1.77", and the Samus pin measures 3" x 2??.9". Pin them to your hat, jacket, or other gear to show your fandom!"

You love to see more Metroid merch out in the wild, even something as small as pins. It's hard to find basically anything featuring this series, and it's always great to see Nintendo remember that it exists. But with Metroid Dread making them a ton of cash, they're well aware of that now!

As a reminder, if you want physical rewards, you can find our full Platinum Point guide here, which has been updated with details on weekly missions: bookmark it for when you need quick points for a reward. A handful of points is incredibly easy to get, as that’s basically just 15 minutes with Super Mario Run, or a quick sign-on to the 3DS or Wii U 3Shop. Also remember that any shipments are bundled together, so you can pay a flat rate for multiple items instead of paying it each time. Just know that items go out of stock on My Nintendo frequently, and some are ne?ver restocked.

The post Met??roid Prime Remastered My Nintendo pin reward is now live appeared first on Destructoid.

Metroid subreddit simply asks, 'where do the arms go?'

The Metroid series is one full of mystery and discovery, yet one in particular has overtaken a sect of the fan community: how do????es Samus fit into the suit?

Over on the Metroid subreddit, the discussion seems to have kicked off with this post, showing several diagrams of how Samus may or may not actually fit into her signature suit. The key point of discussion is her arms, which depending on how far away from the torso they are and relation to the large shoulders, could have troubling indications. Here's one diagram, as shared by Chris Sutcliffe on Twitter:

//twitter.com/chrismsutcl??iffe/status/1631326061005873164

The answer, as users began to reply, is simply "bird magic." Rather, that the Chozo technology and "space-magic" could make all this body-warping happen. That didn't exactly stop the memes from rolling on out, though.

Armed and dangerous

Of course, we have a reference point for all this. As some have pointed out, the Super Metroid Player's Guide contains a diagram of Samus inside the suit, with an X-ray look inside showing exactly which limbs go where. Though this design doesn't apply wholesale across every Metroid game, it do??es give us a good idea of how the arms and should??ers incorporate into Samus' iconic suit.

[caption id="attachment_366759" align="alignnone" width="640"] Graphic via Super Metroid Player's ?Guide[/caption]

Heck, cosplayers have been figuring out where the arms go for years at this point. Though the design in some games definitely looks uncomfortable, i??t does feel like we generally know how the human body could fit inside Samus' suit.

So case roughly closed, right? Well, this still opens up the question of how exactly the Morph Ball works. To be honest, I've always wondered that myself. Not only does it seem very fluid when Samus tucks and curls, there's a bunch of machinery and mechanical pieces that would have to go in too. Seems like it might not be very comfortable. And how does she see where she's going? It's a question that's plagued the world for years, it seems. Even the Space Pirates of Metroid have canonically tried and failed to ??figure out how the suit's Morph Ball capabiliti??es work, to seemingly horrific results.

If you want to do some research of your own, though, Metroid Prime Remastered seems to be a good way to do it. The remaster (borderline remake, I'd say) surprise-dropped on Switch last month, and it's been received quite well. Maybe someone at Retro could shed some l?ight on all these body-warping concerns, too??.

The post Metroid fans break out diagrams to solve how Samus’ suit works appeared first on Destructoid.

The galaxy is at peace

Eons ago, otherwise known as the NES and SNES era of gaming, people at my school were obsessed with the idea of "Nintendo's big three." What are the big three franchises that Nintendo has? In the days before Mario Kart, Pokémon, and Animal Crossing, all the kids could usually say Super Mario, Zelda, and Metroid. That's what I would say too, though sometimes you'd find the one kid who had to be a contrarian by saying Donkey Kong.

While Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda are both still two of the top-tier franchises for Nintendo, it's become clear to me that Metroid was never really as big as it might have seemed. It sold well, but not well enough to have skipped entire console generations without a new entry. And with the modern gaming landscape and Nintendo's focus on those best-sellers like Splatoon and Smash Bros., fans are almost lucky that Nintendo chooses to keep throwing this franchise a bone. But I'm glad it does because Metroid might be the best IP in Nintendo's pocket. Sure, the series has seen some bad games, but when it's good, it's really good.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the 10 best games in the Metroid series.

[caption id="attachment_365714" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Moby Games[/caption]

10. Metroid Prime Pinball

Consider Metroid Prime Hunters an honorable mention for this list, but if we're going to include one of the series' Nintendo DS outings on this list, it's going to be Metroid Prime Pinball. This wonderful adaptation of Metroid Prime shrunk the planet of Tallon IV down into a couple of pinball tables with genuinely fun gameplay and some of the best graphics at the time on the Nintendo DS. Sure, it was a bit slight in terms of content, ?but just like any good pinball machine, it was the experience that kept players coming back long after they defeated Metroid Prime.

9. Metroid

There are so many great things about the original Metroid, launched in North America in 1987. The setting, the music (or lack thereof), and the puzzle that was the game's map; it was all unlike anything else you could get on the NES. Perhaps the best thing, however, was that Metroid was a Password Pak game, and it didn't take long for people to realize there were so many ways you could alter the game based on what was entered into the password screen. Justin Bailey, anyone? The game itself is o??ne of the greatest on the NES, but in the days before the internet gave you everything ??you needed to know in the palm of your hand, sharing passwords for it on the playground was an exciting experience in itself.

8. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

The renowned trilogy of Metroid Prime games came to a satisfying conclusion with Metroid Prime 3: Corruption on the Nintendo Wii. Not only was it the most talkative Metroid game (at the time), but it showcased the brilliance of the Wiimote and Nunchuck controller, giving players an FPS experience that was by and large superior to what a traditional controller could offer. It's also home to what might be the greatest moment of the Metroid Prime trilogy: fi??ghting Meta Ridley as ?he and Samus plunge down a seemingly neverending shaft.

7. Metroid: Samus Returns

Metroid II: Samus Returns gets a bit of a bad rap because it was a game held back by its hardware. The Game Boy just couldn't do the isolated world of SR388 justice with its shades of grey. Samus Returns for the Nintendo 3DS rights the wrongs of the original release, giving players arguably the last great game from Nintendo on ?the ha??ndheld system.

[caption id="attachment_365720" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

6. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

Ignoring its dumb but fun multiplayer mode, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes was a worthy follow-up to its ground-breaking predecessor. It took everything that worked in the first game and set it on the planet known as Aether, a unique world where light and darkness are at war. The boss battles of Echoes might be th?e most challenging the series has ever seen, and its cruel lack of save points only added to its often hellish difficulty. But if you stuck with it and found all those Sky Temple keys, you got to experience one of the most satisfying titles on GameCube.

5. Metroid Fusion

Like a lot of Nintendo franchises, just because Samus Aran jumped to 3D with Metroid Prime doesn't mean she was done with her side-scrolling adventures. On the same day the GameCube masterpiece dropped, Nintendo released Metroid Fusion, a sequel to Super Metroid that put Samus on a spaceship with a doppelganger known as SA-X. Fusion is one of the more lore-heavy entries in the Metroid franchise, cementing concepts like Samus' fusion with the Metroid DNA and intro??ducing a character known as Adam Malkovich to western audiences, who would go on to become an important person in Samus's backstory. As for the gameplay and design of the BSL Station, they were pretty close to perfect and ideal for the burg?eoning speed-running scene.

4. Metroid: Zero Mission

If Metroid Fusion carried on the tradition of 2D Metroid games, then Zero Mission perfected it. This remake of the original Metroid brought all of the gameplay enhancements stronger hardware can offer and combined it with one of the most tightly designed Metroid maps ever. I don't think you could find a more perfectly designed game, where everything functions like clockwork. Plus, the added epilogue gave us Zero Suit Samus, who has been a staple of Smash Bros. and cosplay conventions ever since. That's more than enough reason to give Zero Mission a spot on this list.

[caption id="attachment_365715" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

3. Metroid Dread

For more than a decade, Metroid Dread was nothing more than a rumor, an in-game joke of a possible game that almost never came. When Metroid Prime 3: Corruption made reference to it back in 2007, it set the fandom on fire. Sadly, nothing would come of it until 2021 when Nintendo and MercurySteam released Metroid Dread for the Nintendo Switch. Whether or not this was the same Metroid Dread that Yoshio Sakamoto was dreaming up back in '07 doesn't matter. All that matters is this is one of the best games of its generation. And that's not recency bias talking. If we revisit this list in 10 years with all the Metroid games that are released between now and then, chances are Dread will be listed exactly where it is right now, if not higher.

2. Super Metroid

The original "Greatest Game of All-Time" is still absolutely stellar nearly 30 years after it was first released. Super Metroid was the first time the very idea of what a Metroid game could be was explored to its fullest potential. The power of SNES allowed for bigger sprites, better music, and some of the most action-packed boss battles the genre has ever seen. No other game at the time captured the feel of being alone on an alien planet as well as Super Metroid did. While some may say Fusion and Dread topped what Nintendo achieved in this game, I would argue that neither of those has a final boss battle as emotionally gut-wrenching as the one at the end of Super Metroid. That fight is video game royalty.

[caption id="attachment_365717" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

1. Metroid Prime (Remastered)

Whether you are playing it on GameCube, Wii, or Nintendo Switch with the recently released HD remaster, there is no better Metroid game to date than Metroid Prime. It was a bit of a gamble at the time with some arguing Samus might not make the jump to 3D as successfully as Mario and Link. But she absolutely stuck the landing with Retro Studios' deft hand guiding the experience and creating an adventure for the ages. More than 20 years later, Metroid Prime remains a masterclass in game design.

The post Let’s rank the 10 best Metroid games of all time appeared first on Destructoid.

Exploring and excavating

In some ways, Metroid has always been a series about the tension between discovery and destruction. Nearly every tool in Samus' ever-growing arsenal serves two purposes: it helps her find something new, and it helps her tear it to shreds. Sometimes unearthing secrets is wrecking shop, as in the case of the series' iconic-but-divisive destructible walls. But Metroid is most interested in finding the line between investigation and annihilation in Metroid Prime.

Most would agree that the most dramatic difference between Metroid Prime and earlier games is the jump to the third dimension. T?his opens the door for all kinds of structural shakeups, but my person?al favorite is the Scan Visor. With the Scan Visor, Samus can learn details about nearly every element of her environment. And it changes things considerably.

What can't you do?

I've long held that games are chiefly defined by their limitations. Every game is a set of restrictions, a series of things you aren't allowed to do. In Metroid Prime, for example, you may scan enemies and you may shoot them. There are n?o other points o??f interaction between the player and the characters classified as "enemies." You're not going to sit down and reason out your differences with the Space Pirates. That's just not the game you're playing.

[caption id="attachment_363377" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

This is not an especially novel observation. While there's something vaguely melancholic about studying a creature before you destroy it, Samus has always been a killer. The game knows this: using the Scan Visor is mechanically identical to locking onto enemies to shoot. What's truly heartbreaking about Metroid Prime is the fact that Tallon IV once played host to creatures that Samus act??ually would talk wi?th: the Chozo.

Scattered around Tallon IV are ancient Chozo writings that give players the best insight into the ancient race we've ever seen. We learn about their faith, their history, and their love for their new home. But it's too late. By the time Samus lands on Tallon IV, the Chozo are dead and gone. Samus can lock onto their history. She can target it. B??ut she can't do anyth??ing else.

The surviving planet

Samus Aran is known?? for destroying, exploding, and otherwise incapacitating planets. She's destroyed SR-388, ZDR, and even the planet where she was raised, Zebes. But she doesn't destroy Tallon IV. In fact, after learning the planet's history, studying its flora and fauna, and discovering the culture that once flourished there, she chooses to save it. She discovers that the planet has been awaiting a savior, and she b?ecomes that savior.

[caption id="attachment_362516" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

But this doesn't feel triumphant to me. All I can think is... what other planets needed saving? The Chozo occupied nearly every planet Samus has visited across the Metroid series. How many of those planets were awaiting a savior of their own? Was Samus meant to save Zebes from destruction? Most of those planets are Chozo graveyards, but so is Tallon IV �did the other Chozo want their graves protected and preserved? We'll never know. The game won't let us ask. Metroid Prime is not tragic simply because it's a game about wandering through defiled graves. It's tragic because it asks tha?t the player consider all the other defiled graves they've wandered through.

A tragic fate

Metroid Prime takes place in between the first two Metroid games, which means Samus hasn't started on her path of destruction just yet. But the player knows what's bound to happen. They know that after the credits roll, whole cultures just l?ike this one will be lost. We know bits? and pieces of the history of ZDR, but we'll never feel so close to it.

[caption id="attachment_359263" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

In Metroid Prime, Samus plays scholar and soldier. She catalogs every piece of Tallon IV, learns its secrets and becomes its savior. But as players, we know that we can't keep this up forever. Someday, worlds will catch fire. Someday, we won't have the luxury of stopping to take in an anthropological view. Scholar and soldier will, inevitably, become solely soldier. Discovery will lo??se ground to destruction. Samus will continue to occupy these spaces, and she'll continue to learn their shape as they are, but it will forever be a means to a violent end.

Samus will always be a hero. That's foundational to the character. She will never burn planets to the ground just for laughs. There's always going to be a utilitarian trade-off to her decisions, and the Metroid games will always feel a little somber as a result. But Metroid Prime proposes a different, more thoughtful kind of Sam??us, one who examines her surroundings with a careful eye. That Samus cannot live forever.

The post Discovery and destruction in Metroid Prime appeared first on Destructoid.

Due out on February 22 in the US

Metroid Prime Remastered had a surprise digit??al release on February ??8, but folks will have to wait until February 22 for the physical edition of the game (myself included, who ordered one!).

Early copies are now in the wild, including this one from Reddit user LegoFan12345. But the real story here is that the physical edition includes reversible box art. So what's on the reverse side? It's the Japanese box art for the game. Neat! Y??ou can peruse both options and the back of the box in the gallery below.

After all this time, it's wild to see so much focus on Metroid. Between Metroid Dread selling well and Metroid Prime Remastered seeing widespread acclaim, it would stand to reason that we'll get more Metroid Prime re-releases leading into the question mark release of Metroid Prime 4. That thing is likely so far away that we could even see another 2D Metroid before it comes out.

That said, Nintendo has surprised us before. One E3 Direct and a title announcement: and it could even get a release window. That sort of stuff is why Nintendo is such a wild card, and the industry is better overall with them in it. For now, you can enjoy Metroid Prime again (or for the f??irst time!), over 20 years after the original rele?ase.

The post Metroid?? Prime Remas?tered physical edition has reversible box art appeared first on Destructoid.

Portable power!

The most popular current-generation console is a handheld. Computer companies with limited experience in the console market are jumping in with handhelds of their own. There's no denying it: portable gaming is in the midst of a renaissance. But as companies continue to release handheld consoles, and as consumers continue to buy them, I'm struck by an interesting question: what was the l??ast mainstream handheld game?

I'm not talking about a game that you can play on a handheld. At this point, you can play basically any game ever made on a handheld. I'm talking about a game built for handhelds, one that benefits from a smaller form factor, lower processing power, and increased portability. Handheld consoles are about as big?? as they've ever been... so where are all the handheld games?

Very important pockets

Think back with me on?? simpler times. Remember when companies like Nintendo and Sony would have two main consoles on the market at once? A chunky home dev??ice and its lean, mean, pocket-friendly little sister? And, crucially, remember when they had different libraries? There was a kind of separation of powers in those days, and it led to some really compelling design decisions.

[caption id="attachment_359259" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sony Interactive E??????????????????????????ntertainmen??t[/caption]

The limited power of the handheld has also always been of some import. Patapon, Loco Roco, and Echoshift are all wildly beloved PSP and Vita franchises, and it's hard to imagine any of them connecting on the PS3. While home consoles were in the midst of a graphical arms race, pushing more and more cinematic stories, Sony was quietly publishing some deeply innovative and interesting titles on their dedicated handhelds. At home, you get Halo and The Last of Us. On the go, you get a rhythm tactics side-sc??roller.

Most of these games are designed based on a simple philosophy: a great handheld game is built on the idea that it will be played in your hand. It's a game in which nothing is lost on the small screen, and, indeed, one in which something is gained. Patapon plays great on my PlayStation 5, but its miniature heroes, are built for a smaller world. The characters bear simple designs that are readable on a smaller screen. They address the player directly,?? assuming a level of intimacy that the PS??P facilitates nicely. Most importantly, the tight, brief levels are the kind of thing that belong in a back pocket, not on a TV stand.

A delicious bite

When I talk about games that are truly built for handheld play, it's hard to avoid Pokémon: I have long believed that the original Pokémon games would have faded into the realm of the cult classic on home consoles. These games are full of smart design calls that make them sing on the go. Of course, Pokémon has ??some pretty foundationally pocket-size?d ideas. A game about going on an adventure and finding new things outside was undoubtedly able to more fully resonate with young children who could actually take it with them on their own mini-journeys.

Portability in Pokémon is baked into its ethos, but it also plays a meaningful role in its design. Battles are tactical, but they're usually brief affairs. Every moment offers up the chance to see a cool? new character, or to win a really tough fight. Satisfaction and engagement awaits around every corner... which also means every play session, no matter how bite-sized, is satisfying and engaging.

[caption id="attachment_359268" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

"Brief but satisfying" is the aim in a good handheld game. That's also why a lot of homebound games earned a revival in the back seat of Mom's car. Series like Final Fantasy and Persona earned second lives through handheld ports - where sprawling RPGs with intense stories were once considered TV-oriented affairs, ports like Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions and Persona 4 Golden posited that a sixty hour game with three minute fights might actually be more digestible on the go. These games were already satisfying in bursts, so they made for a natural fit on the PSP and PS Vita. Likewise, Tetris' earliest releases were on Soviet home computers, but its most iconic incarnation was on the original Gam??e Boy. As it turns out, people like score-chasing dopamine hits in their pock??ets.

A necessary lifeline

Handheld design philosophy also left the door open to iterate on home concepts. When home gaming systems entered the 3D era, a lot of franch??ises made the jump with them. Handheld consoles needed games, too, but sprawling adventures didn't always play as well on the go. That meant older design philosophy met with handheld design philosophy to keep certain corners of the gaming world alive.

I often think of Metroid Fusion. This was a 2D Metroid game released on the Game Boy Advance exactly one day before Metroid Prime, which would become the "main" Metroid series for the following twenty years. My personal opinions on Fusion aside, it is a great portable title. It's fairly linear by necessity, because it is designed to be played in shorter bursts by more casual players. More notably, though, it's an actual 2D Metroid game - I can't help but feel that if the GBA wasn't around, 2D Metroid might have disappeared entirely. As a matter of fact, when a new 2D Metroid game finally arrived on the Nintendo Sw??itch in 2021, it was a retooled version of a DS game.

[caption id="attachment_359263" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda followed similar trajectories: as the home console games got more expansive, the portable games tightened ??the bolts on classic concepts, offering up some of the best games in their respective franchises.

What now?

In 2023, the distinction between "handheld" and "home console" is becoming increasingly muddy. The Nintendo Switch, of course, exists to destroy that distinction entirely, serving as both Nintendo's current generation handheld and its home console. Games made for the Switch need to be both home console titles and handheld titles (and the handheld bit usually cedes itself to the big-screen bit). The Steam Deck, similarly, is a handheld that plays PC games. At least for now, basically nothing is built for the Steam Deck. It also bears mentioning that, while they do fit in your hand, neither of these consoles are especially portable, so the "on-the-go" philosophy that defines games like Pokémon isn't something developers need to consider.

I think the impact of this has been almost instantaneously obvious. It seems unlikely that we'll ever get, say, a new 2D Zelda game on the Switch. When an old 2D Zelda game was brought over, it was prettied up and converted to 3D to make it look and fe??el less like a handheld game. Sony has seemingly given up on its handheld platforms entirely. The company offers PS4 and PS5 remote play on mobile devices, as well as a meager offering of remastered PSP titles for its home consoles, but looking at a list of Sony-published games from the last several years, it's apparent that the portable design phi?losophy has vanished.

[caption id="attachment_359260" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

There have been proper handheld games developed and released more recently - Panic's Playdate, for example, is a comically underpowered monochrome handheld with a dedicated and compelling library. It's become something of a safe haven for independent developers looking for a quirky platform where smaller games can flourish. Developers want to make new games like Patapon, and the Playdate offers them that space. While there are plenty of Playdate games that would be comfortable enough on home consoles, the most beloved titles on the platform tend to be games like Bennett Foddy's Zipper, a tactical ?RPG full of?? brief, satisfying encounters.

In terms of mainstream consoles, though? We're pretty much out o?f luck. Every game made for Nintendo's flagship handheld must necessarily be made for its flagship home system, and nobody else is even trying to offer a smaller counterpart to their mass??ive offerings. There's a portable hole in the market, and I truly hope someone comes along to fill it.

The post Where have the handheld games gone? appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm bad, and that's good

Heroes get a lot of love. The main character of a game is, by their very nature, the star of the show. But a great villain is often even more compelling than a great hero - everyone wants to save the world, but?? it takes a special soul t??o want to destroy it.

It's almost impossible to whittle a list of iconic video game villains down to just ten. It would be easy to simply point to the villains from games that sold really well, but that's not really what it means to be iconic. So I tried my hardest to compile a list of ten video game villains who are?? real icons; the ones who stand tall in the world of gaming, whose silhouettes are enough to send shivers down your spine.

[caption id="attachment_358899" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

10. Ridley - Metroid

The Metroid games have all sorts of great villains, but if you want to talk about iconography, Ridley's your guy. This nasty space dragon has done battle with Samus Aran on nearly every single one of her many adventures. To be fair, ??Samus has a pretty good reason to want Ridley dead: he killed her parents way back when.

Secretly, though, I think Samus got over that a while ago. She just wants to flex about beating the?? same alien pterodactyl like a dozen times.

[caption id="attachment_356767" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Nintendo[/caption]

9. Sephiroth - Final Fantasy VII

If you asked ten people who played Final Fantasy VII what Sephiroth's motive was, you'd probably only get three answers, and you'd be pretty lucky if one of them was correct. Honestly, it's hard to remember much about Sephiroth himself. He wears that really cool coat, he's got a huge sword, and he's a weirdly chill co-worker in Crisis Core, but that's about it. He's not even really the main villain of Final Fantasy VII Remake. So how does a character like that wind up on a "most iconic" list? Why does Sephiroth keep cropping up in Final Fantasy VII spinoffs and crossover events?

To answer that question, I'd like to give you a few instructions. First, I want you to open up a new tab on your computer.?? Now head on over to YouTube, and type in "One-Winged Angel Distant Worlds." Go ahead and click on any of the first three results. See? Iconic.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVZVo2J53TM

8. Albert Wesker - Resident Evil

Looking at Albert Wesker now, it's kind of hard to believe that Resident Evil briefly tried to trick us into thinking he was a nice guy. See those?? sunglasses? Those are very evil sunglasses.

Wesker ?is such a classic villain. He meddles in things beyond his understanding, he gets arrogant about playing God, he throws his bud?dies under the bus. Even his death is incredible - how many guys can make it through multiple self-engineered zombie apocalypses just to get launched into a volcano by a missile explosion? Just one. And his name is Albert Wesker.

[caption id="attachment_358901" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

7. Dr. Wily - Mega Man

Speaking of guys who love to play God, who could forget Dr. Wily? This old weirdo has one of my favorite backstories in all of video games. He had a frie?nd in college, his friend was smarter than him, so he got mad and moved to the ocean to build world-dominating robots. Who wouldn't?

Mega Man games are great on their own, but they're even better for their wrinkly antagonist and his stupid petty robo-army. Now, only one question remains: where is Dr. Wily?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMTizJemHO8

6. Dracula - Castlevania

Maybe it's cheating to include Dracula on this list. I mean, he's Dracula. Of course he's iconic. But Castlevania's version of Dracula is a very specif??ic take on the character, and one who's surely earned his place in the rankings. He's a frightening and sinister foe, and as if his long-standing anti-Belmont policy wasn't bad enough, he's also an awful father.

But, I mean, you've gotta give him credit for that dope line about misera??ble little piles of sec??rets. What a cool guy.

[caption id="attachment_358903" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Valve[/caption]

5. GLaDOS - Portal

I have a feeling that anyone who's ever heard a single line from GLaDOS would include her on this list. You don't need to have finished Portal??, or even played very much of ?it, to appreciate GLaDOS.

Ellen McLain's performance as GLaDOS in the original Portal is one of the best pieces of video game voice-acting ever, and she delivers similarly impressive results in every other Portal project and crossover. She's so deliciously cruel to Chell, both as a demanding taskmaster and as a very rude friend, and the amazingly resentful songs that play over the credits of both Portal games only serve to cement her as one of gaming's greatest ??bad guys.

[caption id="attachment_358905" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Konami YouTube[/caption]

4. Pyramid Head - Silent Hill

..Sorry, Masahiro Ito.

[caption id="attachment_358906" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via The Pokémon Company YouTube[/?caption?]

3. Team Rocket - Pokémon

Team Rocket rules. Why does this organization of super-criminals have such a bone to pick with one random kid? Why is their plan for world domination cent??ered entirely around children's sporting events? What, exactly, are they planning on doing once they've stolen all the most expensive pets in the world? How will that materially help them?

I don't know. But I'm glad they're out there trying, because I think they're very funny. They're also undeniably iconic. While they're only the main villains in two generations, they've been cropping up in remakes for years, and they even made a full reappearance as a secondary villain team in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

[caption id="attachment_358907" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via SEGA[/caption]

2. Dr. Eggman - Sonic the Hedgehog

You can call this guy "Dr. Robotnik"? if you want, but he'll always be Dr. Eggman to me. He's a man who kinda looks like an egg. It just makes sense.

Ever since Dr. Eggman first started putting animals inside of robot suits, he's been one of the most ridiculous villains in the medium. That's fitting, given that his nemesis is a hedgehog who can move really quickly. There have been other Sonic villains, but I'd bet good money that you can't name three of t??hem. Dr. Eggman, on the other hand, is a true icon. He's been given deeper characterization since his first appearance, but players have been enamored by this rotund rabbit trapper from minute one.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=03bAayBtcb0

1. Bowser - Super Mario Bros.

Was this spot ever going to belong to anyone else? Bo?wser, the big lizard who hates plumbers, is one of the greatest villains ever. He's also probably the only character o??n this list my grandpa would recognize, which is a huge argument in favor of his iconography.

Sure, Bowser has oscillated back and forth between "kidnapper" and "reluctant buddy," but at the end of the day, this guy can only be called a villain, and a very good one at that. Any dinosaur who can be a doting dad, a piece of paper, a tyrant king, a go-karting superstar, and Dennis Hopper is okay in my book.

The post 10 most iconic video game villain??s of all time, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Samus has returned a lot

I suspect that there's a pretty sizable chunk of people who would gladly call the Metroidvania their favorite video game genre, but who have never played a Metroid game. That's a problem. Sometimes, when a classic is too classical, it can become ?a bit of a headache. Revisiting a really beloved game can become a chore when you've seen its be??st ideas executed better by games that came later.

Not so with Metroid. Nearly every 2D Metroid game is still a very good time, even when placed next to the wave of wonderful indie Metroidvanias we've seen recently. Unfortunately, "nearly" is the operative word in that sentence. There are definitely downright bad 2D Metroid games, just as there are great ones. So allow me to walk you through every 2D Metroid game, from the clunky to the clever.

Metroid II: Return of Samus (1991)

The original Game Boy was an incredible piece of hardware. It was the first handheld gaming console? to truly demonstrate the types of games people wanted to play on the go. It was home?? to some incredible third-party offerings and some even better first-party Nintendo games.

It was not the right place for Metroid II.

Metroid II: Return of Samus simply doesn't play very well on the Game Boy. Exploring an uncharted planet without any semblance of guidance or direction was already a bit difficult in the original Metroid, but at least areas were visually distinct. Metroid II is beholden to the Game Boy's monochromatic screen, which means it's incredibly difficult to tell where you are most of the time. Metroid II also suffers from clunky controls and enemy desi??gn that makes Samus feel less like a mighty bounty hunter searching for deadly Metroids and more like a random lady who is stumbling on aliens at random. It's a game ??with good ideas that simply couldn't have worked on the original Game Boy.

Metroid (1986)

Metroid is the rare series where even die-hard fans can mostly acknowledge that the first game isn't all that playable. The original Metroid lays some really solid foundations, but a l??ot of the series' biggest problems are at their absolute wor?st here.

The biggest problem with Metroid is a pretty simple one: there's no map. Some franchise purists are surely already readying their explanations ("It's not supposed to have a map," "You should make your own map," and so on), but the simple fact of the matter is, Metroid feels really bad without a map. Exploration doesn't feel at all meaningful when you don't know where you've been or where you're going. It doesn't help that Metroid has a pretty shoddy control scheme? and fairly uninteresting traversal. Maybe I'm just too pampered by modern design philosophy, but this one is not very fun to go back to.

Metroid Zero Mission (2004)

Metroid Zero Mission is a remake of the original Metroid, and hey, we've got a map now! We've also got... map markers. Oh boy. Yes, Zero Mission is a bit of an over-correction. It's more readable than the original Metroid th?anks to its map, and it's certainly more pla??yable thanks to some necessary gameplay overhauls, but it's also just a little too hand-holdy.

Every time you can access a new area in Zero Mission, the game loudly announces that fact with a bright flashing indicator on your map. It doesn't ruin the game by any means (the original Metroid's map is full of off-the-beaten-path things to do) but i?t does hamper the experience of exploration. If the original game was too vague, this one is just a touch too sp?ecific. It's still a very good time, but one that would benefit from a bit less guidance.

Metroid Fusion (2002)

I actually like Metroid Fusion a lot, but it's not a Metroid game. It's a really good 2D platform shooter, and a really smart riff on Alien, but... it's not a Metroid game!

Fusion has almost no exploration to speak of. At its most basic, Metroid is about finding your way around an uncharted place and discovering what lies at its center. It's about coming up with new and interesting ways to use the tools at your disposal to reach previously inaccessible places. If Metroid Zero Mission didn't have enough of that, then Metroid Fusion has absolutely none of it. There is a robot ??named Adam who constantly tells you where to go and how to ge??t there, and he sucks.

Fusion is very good. It's one of my favorite Game Boy Advance games. Every time I decide to replay the Metroid series, though, I usually elect to skip Fusion. In my mind, it's its own (very good!) game with no ??relation to Samus' continued a?dventures.

Super Metroid (1994)

Super Metroid was a pretty incredible leap forward. Three years after Metroid II found itself hampered by underpowered hardware, this undeniable classic took full advantage of the jump to the Super Nintendo. Even now, nearly thirty years?? later, it's still a little hard to believe?? just how big this game is.

Super Metroid brings Samus back to Zebes, the setting of the original game. This time, Zebes is infested by space pirates (the best kind of pirates) who want to use the power of the Metroids for themselves. Zebes is a lot more exciting to explore this time - Samus' toolkit has gotten larger, and every weapon at her disposal feels like a piece in a massive puzzle. Solving that puzzle is the crux of Super Metroid. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Metroid is about exploration, and Super Metroid makes exploring feel great.

Metroid: Samus Returns (2017)

After a decently long time away from the spotlight, in 2017, Samus returned to Nintendo handhelds with Metroid: Samus Returns, a 3DS remake of Metroid II courtesy of developer Mercury Steam. In a lot of ways, Samus Returns is like Metroid II, but it differs in one key area: i?t's really good!

Samus Returns is the first 2D Metroid game where Samus actually feels like a bounty hunter. The majority of the game is spent hunting down Metroids by tracking their DNA. In the original Metroid II, "hunting" the aliens wasn't really possible because there was no way to see where you were. You either walked in on them or you didn't. Here, you can clearly see where the Metroids are hiding, and you can prepare to bring them down. When you catch them, the tools you have for exterminating them are pretty excellent. Samus Returns is one of the only Metroid games with truly great combat, and it makes Samus feel incredibly strong. Samus Returns lacks a bit in exploration, but the issue isn't as bad as it is in Fusion or Zero Mission, and the game makes up fo?r it with incredibly smooth and fun moment-to-moment gameplay.

Metroid Dread (2021)

Recency bias be damned, Metroid Dread really is that good. The first mainline Metroid game in nearly two decades and the first home-console 2D Metroid game since 1994, agains??t all odds, lives up to the hype. Mercury Steam returns here and gives Samus an even heftier arsenal of powerful weapon??s that make this game feel absolutely incredible.

Beyond that, Dread absolutely nails exploration. The game strikes a very impressive balance in that it's very difficult to get lost but it also constantly feels like you're finding something new. It feels like Metroid, but without the headaches people often associate with Metroid. It's the kind of game that I'd recommend to almost everyone - it's a great action game for people who love action games, a great exploration game for people who love exploring, and a great Metroid game for people who love Metroid.

The post Every 2D Metroid Game, Ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

A physical Metroid Dread poster two-pack

[Update #3: We have another restock! On October 7, 2022, the poster became available once again. It's still 1000 Platinum Points.]

[Update #2: Nintendo has once again restocked the Metroid Dread poster as of the evening of November 10, 2021.]

[Update: The My Nintendo Metroid Dread poster just got a restock on October 19, 2021!? This thing has ?been going for $50 or more on eBay as a set (or $25 individually), so maybe consider getting in on it.]

Welcome back to the '90s, where everything is holographic! Nintendo is celebrating the launch of Metroid Dread with a new My Nintendo reward, which has become the new norm for first-party games. Given how popular they are on the shop, it's no surprise that it's a Metroid Dread poster set.

As a two-pack for a whopping 1000 Platinum Points (plus shipping), you can get two holographic foil Metroid Dread poster rewards. Both feature art from the game, including Samus squaring off against two of the main enemies from the game: the mysterious Chozo remnants and the E.M.M.I. robots. The posters are sized at 11.75" x 18", and Nintendo also has a few digital wallpapers on the same reward site.

As a reminder, you?? can find our full Platin?um Point guide here: bookmark it for when you need quick points for a reward, like the Metroid Dread poster two-pack here. A handful of points is incredibly easy to get, as that’s basically just 15 minutes with Super Mario Run, or a quick sign-on to the 3DS or Wii U 3Shop. Also remember that any shipments are bundled together, so you ??can pay a flat rate for multiple items instead of paying it ea?ch time.

Just know that items go out of?? stock on My Nintendo frequently, a??nd some are never restocked.

The post Now that Metroid Dread is ou??t, it has a My Nintendo poster reward (Update) appeared first on Destructoid.

"TBA"

We haven't heard much in terms of the release date of Metroid Prime 4, or any info at all really, but Nintendo did a least mention it in their latest financial briefing.

They mentioned quit?e a few games, actually. Going forward, here is what their first-party major games slate looks like as of August 3, 2022:

• Kirby's Dream Buffet â€?Summer 2022
• Splatoon 3 â€?9/9/2022
• Bayonetta 3 â€?10/28/22
• Pokemon Scarlet/Violet â€?11/18/22
• Breath of the Wild 2 â€?Spring 2023
• Metroid Prime 4 â€?TBA
• Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp â€?TBA

Out of all of these, Nintendo also chose to specifically highlight these to investors: Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass: Wave 2, Splatoon 3, and Kirby's Dream Buffet. All of those are "near future" type products set to release by the end of September. Curiously, though Dream Buffet still just has a "summer" date, they list it under the "by the end of September" category in the brief, hinting at a release window (summer in all likelihood confirmed that anyway, but this seemingly is not going to get hit with a delay as of yet). The company also reminded everyone that a new Switch OLED model was coming on August 26 in honor of Splatoon 3. Metroid Prime 4 is still sadly TBA, as is Advance Wars.

DLC seems to be the plan for long-term growth, as Nintendo pointed out that "sales were also steady for add-on content, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons �Happy Home Paradise" in that same brief, and many of the above g??ames have some form of DLC or season pass content already announced; or likely in the works.

The post In latest financial report, Nintendo confirms Metroid Prime 4 ?is still on the slate appeared first on Destructoid.

"John loves it"

I wouldn't have gone out of my way to make a John Cena Metroid connection, but it's there! You might recall this pre-launch event to promote the Switch five years ??ago, that involved at least one celebrity: John Cena included. Well it turns out that other than being a general Nintendo fan, he was also a Metroid fanatic. According to gam?es writer and former WWE producer Dan Rycker??t, Cena was all about the series.

During the event in 2017, it's reported that Cena "repeatedly" told Nintendo reps that he wished the company would make another 2D Metroid. Ryckert, who had access to WWE talent during his tenure with them, notes that once Metroid Dread actually came out years later, Nintendo sent it to him. Apparently Cena's camp told Nintendo "John loves it." Former Nintendo host and Nintendo PR manager Krysta Yang corroborated the John Cena Metroid story on Twitter, noting that Cena talked about the series at the even?t.

As this John Cena Metroid tale points out, it's hard to believe it's been five years since the Switch came out, given that it's still going strong. But after all this time it's still around, and we got multiple 2D Metroid games in that timespan (don't forget that the 3DS hosted Samus Returns later in 2017!). I assume given the good sales figures for Metroid Dread (comparatively, stacked up against the rest of the series), we'll see another 2D Metroid eventually.

And there's Metroid Prime 4, which totally still exists right?!

The post John Cena repeatedly talked about a n??ew 2D Metroid years ago??, and loved Metroid Dread appeared first on Destructoid.

The sales show how Metroid fits as a whole into Nintendo's IP machine

The Metroid Dread best-selling question is now finally answered thanks to Nintendo's new fiscal year financial results: it's at the top of the mountain. The Metroid mountain that is.

As of March 31, 2022 (leaving some room for an uptick), Metroid Dread has pushed 2.9 million units, sales-wise. The two main contenders are Metroid Prime (clocking in at a staggering 2.84 million in sales), followed by the original Metroid (which hit a historic 2.73 million units sold). Naturally, the popularity of the Switch helped push Metroid Dread over that g?oal here, not to ??mention the positive word of mouth that the game enjoyed for quite some time.

One of the bigger takeaways from looking at the raw Metroid Dread's sales: at its peak, the series is knocking at the door of three million units. There's a lot of gusto behind every Metroid game due to a hungry and loyal fanbase, but in the grand scheme of things, there are wells ??Nintendo is more eager?? to dip into.

And that's fine! That number will climb since the game is still fresh. Plus, while Nintendo is a business, not every game needs to sell 10 million to be a success. And there's that new Metroid Prime we hear about once a year if we're lucky! The series' future seems secure: or at least more secure than it did at one point in time.

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"It didn't deliver"

Penny for your Metroid: Other M thoughts? Well, I'm sure you can spare more than a penny, as people have thoughts on that game, including former president of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime. The Reggie Metroid: Other M well is deep, as he elaborated recently on the Kinda Funny Gamescast [via Nintendo Everything]. Reggie explained:

"I really thought that that was going to be a defining moment for the Metroid franchise. It was giving much more of a perspective about Samus. I really thought that was going to be a killer moment in the franchise’s history, and it wasn’t. It didn’t deliver �not the business resu?lts, it really didn’t ?touch the player the way we hoped it would."

He goes on to say that there was a "large group meeting" of the minds, with Iwata and Miyamoto in attendance, on what happened, as a post-mortem of sorts. Describing himself as the "brash American" of the crew, he made the case that the game "took too long to get into the meat and potatoes," which is absolutely true. He dinged the "first five hours" as treading water without payoff, an??d is "sure [he] pissed? people off in the room." Reggie says he hopes that his advice impacted future development �and to an extent, I think it did, though some Nintendo games still have pacing and over-tutorialization issues.

You can't really predict how anything is going to turn out with the general public in the end, even if you really believe in something. While Other M had myriad issues that prevented it from being a true hit, and suffered from a negative word of mouth, I can see where he's coming from. There are things to like about Other M, but the action gets bogged down by an incredibly polarizing story with unskippable?? cutscenes on the first ??run (a cardinal sin in that era).

Once that word of mouth spread, it was over for Other M. But as I've talked about over the years, it had a lot of thin?gs to offer, particularly from a mechanical standpoint. I hope that with some story refinemen?ts (and skippable cutscenes the first time through!), it sees the light of day again.

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Samus skipped the N64

So why did Metroid never get a Nintendo 64 game anyway? We have a historical reason for that! Metroid 64 was actually considere?d, but Nintendo never pulled the trigger.

Speaking to the magazine Games (via Nintendo Life), series steward Yoshio Sakamoto noted that he was "thinking about the possibility," of it, but when he "held the N64 controller in [his] hands, [he] just couldn't imagine how it could be used to move Samus arou??nd." He further elaborated th?at another company actually turned Nintendo down, straight up:

"Also, I know this is isn’t a direct answer to your question but Nintendo at that time approached another company and asked them if they would make an N64 version of Metroid and their response was that no, they could not. They turned it down, saying that unfortunately they didn’t have the confidence to create an N64 Metroid game that could compare favorably with Super Metroid. That’s something I take as a compliment to what we achieved with Super Metroid."

My two favorite takeaways from this story:

• Yes, Super Metroid was that good
• And we had two opportunities for an N64 Metroid, and it never came to fruition

All that to say, in 2022, a fan-creation has surfaced that provides a look at what might have been. Shown off by Luto Akino on Twitter [Thanks Rick!], we can see a very early version of what Metroid 64 could look like, and I have to say, it's spot-on. I get a massive Mega Man Legends vibe from what we're seeing here. The level ??of authenticity is off the charts, and I hope they're able to keep working on it and shore it up to the level they want it to be.

//twit??ter.com/LutoAkino/status/1519025853560152065

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Rush Hours

So, I betcha think you're pretty damn slick at Samusing, right? Well, the intergalactic terrors of the Metroid franchise have a whole new set of Rush challenges in store for you, courtesy of a brand new Metroid Dread update, available to download ri?ght now, free of charge, on Nintendo Switch.

The meat of Version 2.1.0 lies in three additional modes, pushing our girl to her absolute limits against the gooey, brain-exposing beasties of Planet ZDR. The three "Rush" encounters are?? non-canon modes, created purely to push player skill and endurance to their very limit. Once the update is installed, then you can access the new modes by visiting the "Samus Files" screen and giving the R button a slap.

"Boss Rush," accessible once the main campaign has been completed, will see Samus face off against 12 boss characters with a single life bar �all damage carrying over into the proceeding fight. Should you fall in battle, then the option will be presented to continue from the same spot at the cost of a time penalty. Blast ??through the guardians to score the best time possible and prove yourself one of the galaxy's finest bounty hunters. This mode will also afford the option to practice battling each boss one-on-one.

"Survival Rush," accessible after completing either Boss Rush or Dread Rush, sets the Boss Rush challenge against a ticking clock, as Samus battles to defeat as many bosses as possible within five minutes. Bonus time is awarded as each boss falls, with extra seconds added for Perfect victories. Both the bosses and Old Father Time will be your enemies here, so think fast, move?? fast.

"Dread Rush," accessible after completing the main Metroid Dread campaign on Dread Mode, is perhaps the truest test yet of the player's ability. Much like Boss Rush, Samus will be tasked with punchin?g ??their way through the 12 guardians of Metroid Dread, only this time, Samus must survive the run without taking a single hit! Not one! A meaty task, and I'm looking forward to seeing expert players fighting their way through this particular trial on Twitch... Because lord knows I won't be completing it.

In addition to the new? Rush modes in update 2.1.0, a fix has been applied to a very specific Game Over screen bug.

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I'm glad they're in charge of Prime 4

The Retro Studios Metroid Twitter-verse is heating up, as the company just changed their header image to a new Metroid?? picture. The last tweet was January 27, asking for a tools engineer and a technology engineer, but the header image was recently? swapped.

So this seems like nothing, but a lot of people are excited over this very small banner change that was done without any sort of announcement. It's really one of the first instances of acknowledging Metroid Prime 4 in years, outside of indirect recruiting links and that apology video three years ago.

While it's not totally confirmed (again, there was no announcement), it's very clearly Metroid Prime 4, with its blue hues (the primary color of everything Prime 4 related) and gritty tone. It's not even confirmed that the figure is Samus yet, though it most likel??y is.

//www.tik??tok.com/@destructoid/video/707093721?6083594502

I just have to say, I'm glad that Retro Studios is in charge of Metroid Prime 4. The game could have already been out by now if it was done under the old concept! But if Nintendo wa?sn't even happy with that project internally, who knows what the reception may have been.

To take a trip down memory lane, Nintendo noted openly that the project "has not reached the standards [they] seek in a sequel," which at that time was reportedly under the wing of Bandai Namco. In any case, we could get a Prime 4 update at E3 this year, as Nintendo seeks to hype up future products.

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You start with every power-up and item

In case you missed it, Nintendo just updated the eShop following that recent explosive Nintendo Direct, and there's a few goodies to sift through. One of them includes a Super Metroid SP version.

Remember those? Special editions, or "SPs," have been periodically dumped on the eShop for NES games in the past, and provide cheat codes of a sort for people to dive in and instantly get something done. I didn't even notice it when logging in (thanks, All N: A Nintendo Podcast!), but it's there next to EarthBound! Just look for the "Super Metroid SP [Special]" ribbon when selecting a game.

This sort of thing, as our own Jordan Devore mentioned when he showed me this news, really brings back memories of the "Blockbuster experience." For all you young people out there, folks used to "rent" games physically at stores. Wild! I know you've probably seen Blockbuster in Captain Marvel or ??in one of the few documentaries/John Oliver?? bits, but actually living it was pretty wild.

Amid many other perks (like going out with family, as an event, to pick out a movie or game), the Blockbuster exp?erience also had the added perk of save file roulette. You never knew who was playing a rental before you, so sometimes you'd find endgame save files previous renters preserved �or work toward the end as a group.

One of my favorite variants of this was re-renting a game, only to find out that someone had saved a file adjacent in a separate slot: keeping my original one intact. I once had a chain-game of Chrono Trigger across multiple rentals, with someone else doing the same thing. That all ended in the Pla?yStation era with memory cards (which had its pros and cons). But I'll never forget it!

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Rookie and Dread

The Metroid Dread difficulty update is here, addre?ssing some criticis??m for the game from all sides of the spectrum.

Announced during the Nintendo Direct, the new update (2.0!) is out, and the full patch notes are available. It turns out there are a few ex??tra things beyond the two modes, so let's dig in real quick.

The most important/fully-featured bit is Rookie Mode, which is described as a "mode suited towards new players." Items heal more, bosses deal less damage, bosses are easier to fight in general, you get more missiles to start with, and boss countering ??(melee) is simpler. A lot of the mode is tuned toward boss fights, actually! But the healing and missile count will help overall.

Dread Mode is a "one-hit" death mode (from any dam??age source), and can only be unlocked after you clear hard: so don't expect to play it right away. Both difficulties can be chosen from the new game screen.

Beyond that, you get more info/stats after finishing the game, with the caveat that you need to start a brand new game after the update to see it. In other?? words, if you have a save at the last boss, then fin?ish it, you won't get the new stats. Several bugs have been fixed too.

That's quite a "2.0!"

Metroid Dread difficulty update patch notes:

Ver. 2.0.0 (Released February 9, 2022)

New Difficulties Available

• "ROOKIE MODE" has been added to the game. This is a mode suited towards new players, with the following adjustments:
  • Dropped items from enemies now replenish greater amounts when picked-up.
  • Damage received from Boss attacks has been lowered.
  • Destructible Boss projectiles have been made easier to break than usual (excluding some attacks).
  • Increased number of missiles available when beginning game.
  • Made the finishing counters when defeating some Bosses easier to perform.
    • Selected when starting a New Game, and choosing "SELECT DIFFICULTY".
• “DREAD MODEâ€?has been added to the game. This is an extremely high-difficulty mode, where any damage taken from enemies or traps will lead to an instant Game Over.
  • Can be selected after clearing HARD MODE, when beginning a New Game, and choosing “SELECT DIFFICULTYâ€?

New Details Added to Results Screen

• Several new details have been added to the results screen that appears after clearing the game. These new details will not appear, however, for game files that were started prior to updating the game.

General Fixes

• Fixed an issue where Samus sliding down a surface and touching a frozen enemy would force the game to close, after the message “The software was closed because an error occurredâ€?appears.
• Made several other fixes to improve playability and enjoyment of game.

Demo Update

The following updates to the “Metroid Drea??d DEM?O�are also now available (Ver. 2.0.0).

• The scale of the playable area has been expanded, with the Corpius boss fight now being available.
• Added “ROOKIE MODEâ€? a mode suited towards new players, where dropped items from enemies now replenish a greater amount, and bossesâ€?attack power has been lowered.
  • Added “SELECT DIFFICULTYâ€?options when beginning the demo.

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Something new for streamers and die-hard fans

So much happened at today's Nintendo Direct, even Metroid Dread squeezed in for a moment. If?? you're looking for a gnarly challenge, or perhaps a leg up, there are two new modes joining the game today in a free update: Dread Mode and Rookie Mode.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wIuZp1p7Dg

Metroid Dread's February 9 update:

• Dread Mode â€?one hit, one kill. If Samus takes damage, that's the end of the saga. You'll need to clear Hard Mode first to unlock Dread.
• Rookie Mode â€?an exploration-minded option with more HP from items and less damage from bosses.
• Expanded Mission Results â€?further stats to pore over including "Total Play Time (which includes time spent on the in-game map and all retries), Item Collection Rate, Times Defeated, Total Damage Received, and more."

Another update planned for April:

• Boss Rush â€?a race to clear all of the bosses back-to-back. A genre staple!

One of my favorite parts of Castlevania games is rushing down bosses, so I'll definitely loop back around on Metroid Dread. I'm not in the mood to replay it all �the first playthrough was great, but that was enough, and I'm honestly disappointed that's how things shook out. That said, I pretty much adored the bosses. Especially him.

If you're curious to try Metroid Dread, there is a demo, and in fact, Nintendo just updated it? with the new Rookie Mode and the Corpius boss fight.

I wasn't really expecting to hear anything new on Metroid Prime, so that's fine. And when it comes to Nintendo's track record wit?h content updates for well-liked games with big audiences, well, your guess is as good as mine.?? This ended up being a pleasant surprise.

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When will we see it again?

A new Metroid Prime 4 recruiting ad le??ts us know that the game is still in active development, though it's been a while since we've heard from it.

If you recall, Metroid Prime 4 has had a heck of a development cycle, and we haven't even really seen it yet outside of a logo. Wildly, it looked like Retro Studios was not handling the game when it was announced five years ago. A year after that, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé confirmed that the game was "still in development" and "proceeding well," but we hadn't seen anything public yet. A year after that we were assured it was "well into production," but then something monumental happened; the company seemingly started over.

Senior managing executive officer Shinya Takahashi used the words "restart from the beginning," with Retro Studios taking over because of qual?ity concerns. It was a wild about-face, but it's probably what people wanted anyway with Retro at the helm.

Now in 2022, we're getting another update, although this one is indirect. The Retro Studios Twitter account noted this week through a Metroid Prime 4 recruiting ad: "We are looking for a tools engineer and a technology engineer to join us on our journey to develop Metroid Prime 4!" Retro then provided this link to their job openings site.

At the moment Retro Studios as a whole has openings for a concept artist, an environment designer, a material artist, character artist, UI artist, UI scripter, technology engineer, environmental artist, environmental terrain artist, and tools engineer. It's a lot of openings, and Metroid Prime 4 seemingly has a while to go yet.

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I thought it was fine

The discourse around Metroid Dread difficulty happ??ened fairly quickly into the game's release, and there's a wide range of feelings about it.

While I had an inkling it might be an issue playing through it, for the most part I felt like it fit the design ethos, and the world they were trying to create within the confines of Dread. So when the game's producer says this was the case all along, it mak?es a lot of sense.

Speaking to Famitsu (as translated by Nintendo Everything), Yoshio Sakamoto,?? who has worked with the series for a?? while, addressed those concerns.

When asked about the pacing of the game, Sakamoto had this to s?ay:

"We’ve made a lot of Metroid at this point and thought a lot about what the appropriate tempo for each game is. For Metroid Dread, we tuned the action to be appropriately quick. The game design of each Metroid complements the action and this time, this time it’s very easy to control, something I’m personally a fan of. I think this might be the best action we’ve seen in a Metroid game."

Which, inherently, informed the difficulty range, som??ething Sakamoto also commente??d on:

"We got used to the difficulty during development which made it hard to understand how it would feel as a new player. Balancing is diffi??cult no matter the game, but both Nintendo and MercurySteam were determined to get the action elements feeling smooth. E.M.M.I. is unlike anything that’s been done before and we got lots of people to play it so we could tweak appropriate balance for an action game. One of the things we focused on was to make sure when a player hits a game over, they know what to try on their next attempt."

I get it. As a capstone of a story element in Metroid, and with the word "dre?ad" in the title, it fits that they wanted to add a survival horror-like element to the game, and help e??ase Samus into this adventure without an extreme use of "ability amnesia."

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'Third party code' was to blame

In 2015, it came out that we almost got a Metroid Prime Super Metroid minigame. That is: a fully playable version of Super Metroid inside of 2002's Metroid Prime.

Speaking to Kiwi Talkz YouTube channel, Prime developer David Kirsch [Zoid] explains that originally he and the team wanted to bring Super Metroid in because ?so many people were so passionate about it:

"I kind of missed the whole Metroid train. Once the re-org happened...that was complicated and messy, I got assigned to Metroid. And holy crap I missed [Super Metroid], this game was incredible. I played through it twic??e in three days...now I understand why people want th?is game."

He goes on to explain how that led to an attempt to put it into Prime:

"I ported a SNES emulator to the GameCube and had it running, just for fun, and thought can we make this a thing? And we were like I don't know we can ask. And Nintendo was like 'hey that's third party code' and a bunch of other stuff, so they kiboshed that. But the gear started turning and they did have the NES emulation they had built for the GameCube, and that turned into bringing the original Metroid into the game with the game link...with Fusion."

It wasn't all for nothing, though. The Metroid Prime Super Metroid initiative was scrapped, but the team decided to compromise, and added the first NES game into the mix. As a reminder you can unlock the original through a semi-convoluted process that involves Metroid Fusion and a Game Boy Advance to GameCube link cable. Oh, and you need to beat Metroid Fusion.

The interview broaches a ton of subjects over the course of roughly an hour, so if you're a Prime fan, it's worth checking out.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SREFi9Auos

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It's 500 Platinum

My Nintendo Europe, who sometimes passes over rewards to other regions, just got a Metroid Dread pin set for 500 ?Platinum Points.

The set is made of stainless steel, and comes in a 100mm x 61mm box (with a "viewing window"), containing the memorable "Samus holding her arm" pose and an E.M.M?.M.I enemy ready to pounce. At the moment the set is not available in the US version of My Nintendo, but that could change.

I know what you're thinking: wasn't there another GameStop "exclusive" Metroid Dread pin set? There was! You can view it b??elow. And while sleazy, it's technically "exclusive" because Samus is in a slightly different pose (even if the E.M.M.I. isn't).

As? a reminder, you can find our full Platinum Point?? guide here: bookmark it for when you need quick points for a reward. A handful of points is incredibly easy to get, as that’s basically just 15 minutes with Super Mario Run, or a quick sign-on to the 3DS or Wii U 3Shop. Also remember that any shipments are bundled together, so y?ou can pay a flat rate for multiple items instead o?f paying it each time. Just know that items go out of stock on My Nintendo frequently, and some are never restocked.

//twitter.com/GameStop/status/1419749402609078275

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Iron sharpeneth Iron

In an intriguing meeting of the minds, publisher 505 Games has announced it has entered into a partnership with Metroid Dread developer MercurySteam to co-develop and co-publish a brand new ti??tle, set for?? a "multiplatform global release."

While neither party is quite ready to reveal the intriguing new project just yet, "Project Iron" is expected to be a third-pers?on action-RPG set within a "dark fantasy world." The final release will be held in co-ownership by 505 Games' parent company Digital Bros. and MercurySteam, and is set to?? have a development budget of around $30 million USD.

"We are thrilled to work with the team at MercurySteam, a proven studio that over the years has created numerous phenomenal IPs �including the recent hit release Metroid Dread in partnership with Nintendo," said Digital Bros Group CEOs Raffi and Rami Galante in a press release. "With MercurySteam’s c??reative vision and talent and 505 Games extensive experi??ence, gamers can expect a high-quality, captivating and engaging video game."

It's certainly an exciting prospect. Metroid Dread proved to be a fine release for Nintendo Switch �one of the year's best, in fact �while 505 Games has more than its fair share of excellent IPs and brands within its portfolio, including Remedy Entertainment's Control, Team IGA's Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, All In!'s Ghostrunner, and Ninja Theory's Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice to name but a fe?w. On paper, t??his new collaboration and its resulting title, Project Iron, should prove to be a very exciting prospect.

All that's left is the waiting...

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Metroid Dread sequence breaking is an institution

[Update: You can find the elongated video version at the bottom of this post, which provides the full Metroid Dread sequenc??e breaking context. It starts around 1:36.]

You up for some Metroid Dread sequence breaking talk? Of course you are!

Spoilers for a boss below!

So it all ?started last month when folks found this special mechanic for the Kraid boss fight.?? If you manage to snag bombs before battling it, you can bomb the corner of the room and use a device to zoom into Kraid's belly button, damaging it.

Again, it's something you're not even supposed to be able to do at the time if you play the game "normally," as you wouldn't have the bomb ability. It?'s like a functional Easter egg for?? people to use on repeat runs.

//twitter.com/glaedrax/status/1447157633605984260

This newest Metroid Dread sequence breaking tip comes directly from Twitter user Yassu Yassu, who discovered something else a month later. This one involves flash shifting: another item you normally don??'t have before you square off against the same boss.

In the fight, Kraid's eyes glow in the same way other enemies do when you can counter them, but this one requires a flash shift, which is something most of the playerbase wouldn't have at the tim?e (or even think to use, frankly). Flash shifting into it during that moment will trigger another special animation. Glorious.

//twitter.com/yassu_yassu?/status/1459797684340985858

Sometimes, Nintendo games are the gift that keep on giving! And Metroid Dread sequence breaking definitely fits into that mold. These sorts of things make me want t??o sta?rt another run.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxs0m1kYe70

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'No invincibility run'

Metroid Dread has been out for a bit, and folks are starting to get real comfortable with it. The speedrunning community is alive and well, with the average top time coming out to a little under an hour and a half. Of course, there's obscure glitches to use in some cases, and a new Metroid Dread update is putting a stop to it.

So as a quick rundown, the glitch involves using a morph ball on an EMMI door, then unmorphing right when you touch it. It turns you invincible, which allows you to do all sorts of crazy things like fight a boss early without the Varia Suit. This Metroid Dread update will impact runs in an interesting way, as runners will have to decide if they want to update or not, and will likely differentiate ?their runs as invincibility and no invincibility (as is customary).

Here's a quick preview of the translated Japanese text from the version 1.03 update:

"Fixed ??an issue where Samus's damage chec??k would disappear under certain conditions."

Meaning, Samus would turn invincible when using a glitch. Nintendo of Japan qualifies these patch notes with a note, stating "regarding this matter, there is a possibility that it will occur unintentionally, and if it does occur, it will be a play experience that is significantly different from the original way of playing Metroid Dread, so we decided to correct it."

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