Almost 20 years have passed since Metroid Fusion took the niche Metroid series for a turn with its more linear and atomspheric take on a Samus Aran mission. The series has always been one of the lesser known Nintendo franchises, so when a game like Metroid Dread is teased and mentioned in passing for several years, it creates a thick fog of mystery. I'm honestly shocked Metroid Dread is a real game, even when I was not a fan of the franchise I knew that this elusive title had been in development for many many years and had for some, become merely a dream. Well, props to Nintendo for giving Metroid a chance to shine again, and what a shine it was...

To say Metroid Dread is excellent would be the understatement of the year. It combines every aspect that makes the series great into a sprawling canvas of world, with enough combat encounters, exploration and atmosphere to last dozens of hours. I marveled at the detailed backgrounds, that offer some of the most unique and memorable vistas in the Metroid series to date.

The tutorial area by itself is so extensive and filled with secrets, it only teases the player with how much they will be exploring and experimenting with the mechanics. And oh, how they have improved on these mechanics. Every upgrade feels substantial and opens up a multitude of paths that lead to even more upgrades. This cycle of exploration and reward does not get old and the escalating challenge of the combat.

Metroid Dread was so fun, challenging and suspenseful. The EMMI encounters are terrifying, tense and designed to fulfill multiple strategies This exact same design philosophy is applied to the whole world, with sequence breaks all over, shortcuts and obstacles to overcome. Metroid Dread is the best game in the series, I haven't had this much fun with a game for a long time.

This is the best game on the Switch since launch. Play this ASAP.