Metroid Dread. Wow, what a game. To start things off, I had never touched a Metroid game outside of a bit of NES, Super, and Prime 1. This game was by far more fun than those 3 by a lot. It sets a spectacular standard for an expansive genre and allows itself to spread its wings so freely that it comes off as a very welcoming game right from the get go. I won’t be talking much about the story and more so the gameplay instead.

This Metroidvania definitely surpasses its predecessors in many aspects. It allows you to get a grip of everything going on right from the start, it makes you want to play it for hours on end because of the fact that it's immensely engaging through its interactive environment and an easily explorable nature that makes backtracking not as much of a pain as you think it is, yet still retaining a classic Metroidvania feel that could honestly age as well as something such as Symphony of the Night in about 10 years time. The bosses and enemies you find along the way are fairly balanced, and anytime you die or are frustrated with something in this game, 99.9% of the time it’s on yourself, so don’t hate the game this time and hate the player. You will definitely learn from every battle you come across and use your new knowledge to your advantage in every fight, nothing in this game should be difficult except for your own limitations.

I was personally hesitant on spending 80$ (CAD) on this game due to its length, we’re so used to JRPG’s feeding us with hours of content that this game didn’t seem worth it for me since I thought I’d beat it in a weekend and never touch it again, I was wrong. It took me about 10 hours over the span of two weeks or so as I played with mostly any free time I had. This game is absolutely worth the price, and if you’re hesitant on picking it up, I’d definitely say just go for it.
9/10 for me and game of the year so far.

It isn't the full improvement over the original that I'm hoping will happen, but the Halo series is truly beginning to mold into its own identity and something special as it begins to solidify itself as the gaming icon we see it as today.

From the introduction of the cinematic cutscenes to the larger variety of locations, you can still feel the actiony science-fiction war epic the original was aiming for, but now with even more to love about the universe. The breaking of factions as the Covenant aims to complete its mission of the Great Journey once again as Master Chief is left to orchestrate their destruction offers the same exhilarating feel of Combat Evolved with more to learn and appreciate. It's far less conclusive than CE (The ending in particular I feel pretty lukewarm on) but it gives us more of a reason to completely grasp every side of the picture. While character-wise the Arbiter and his missions weren't as interesting as MC's, the change in pace and objective offered a more introspective look into the Covenant and peaked my interest of the internal battle brewing between the Brutes and the Elites. Seeing it all interwoven so neatly until the last moment was brilliant and I really can't wait to see how the adventure develops further into the future.

The gunplay was already so well constructed in CE, it's no secret, even to Bungie. From the bigger additions like new vehicles and duel wielding to the smaller things like the improved health gauge system and shorter level times, it's the same satisfying combat but even more fast and fluid. Duel wielding two guns and immediately throwing a bomb to bouncing back and taking out a long rifle, it is unbelievable both how well the game holds up and how much of a badass you feel. One thing I loved about CE was how the science fiction and more realistic-war aspects complimented themselves so well, and it could not be more true here even as this grow more experimental.

It's clear that there's still more to improve though. The stronger variety in locations was a pleasant surprise, but the confusing sense of progression in certain levels, broken checkpoint system, and onslaught of repetitive corridors and waves are unfortunately still present. It's an improvement compared to CE but with how progressive everything else feels, it stands out as outdated and the weak link.

At the hands of the grand vastness of outer space, there is no end to war. Master Chief's struggle yet style continues to carry him forward to epic proportions, with even more potential from here on out. I can't wait to continue along the series playthrough.

Masterpiece, Zenith of the medium. Everyone agrees the day time levels are superb, with tight platforming, speed, difficulty and length. Everyone agrees the graphics are far ahead of it's time. Everyone agrees the story is at least great. Everyone agrees the music is incredible and everyone agree this game has massive scope.

I may need a thesaurus, but I know this game has a lot to love. But what about the Werehog? This is where the split begins, do I like it? No. I love it. This may be controversial, but I think this is some of the best combat I've ever played. The amount of combos and strategy involved is insane, you can kill enemies incredibly fast if you know what you are doing. It's some of the most fun I've ever had. However, the Achilles heel is that you need to level up the "combat" skill to unlock the combos. The base werehog is boring, most people wouldn't invest into the combat since most would want to invest into daytime Sonic which is more fun at the start. Without investing into combat, most people resort to spamming Y, which can get you through the game but it's incredibly slow and tedious. I did the same as a child and I hated the Werehog. So if you play this game, invest into the Werehogs skills, especially combat, it makes it a lot better. Is this bad design? Yes, it's one minor slipup which can make or break playthroughs. But this is my subjective review of the game, I'm judging how much fun I had with it, and I had a lot of fun.

There are some criticisms I have though, the performance is pretty abysmal, it is playable but dipping to 15fps is not acceptable, but I look past it most of the time. Some of the Werehogs puzzles like the block pulling puzzles are slow and boring, but these dont take up too much time. Finally, in general, the camera could be better, sometimes mainly during the Werehog the camera can get obscured so it's hard to see anything, it's a minor annoyance.

To go back to positives, the story is fantastic, it's not too lighthearted like the meta era but not super serious, it's the perfect tone, amazing character development, stakes, etc. The voice acting is also peak. The difficulty of this game is also great, it's surprisingly hard which I like, even the daytime levels can be hard to master all these years later unlike Generations. I love the final stage Eggmanland which challenges you in every area with one giant gauntlet. Levels are decently long compared to Generations too, it never ends before it begins to get good, perfect stage lengths.

The final section of this review I want to spend time talking about is the budget and ambition here. The amount of budget in those CGI cutscenes alone must've been insane, it's crazy how much content is in this game and how quality it is. They really gave their all here, didn't cut any corners, and you can tell. It has a lot of heart compared to something like Forces.

To conclude, I didn't go into big depth about the Modern Sonic levels or other obvious positives because most people know about this, I felt like this review's main point was to defend the Werehog and to make others aware how to easily "fix" it. In future, if this gets remastered, the XP should be automatically added instead of manually to make it impossible for the Werehog to be boring to play as. One minor gameplay flaw really did ruin the game for a lot of people, including critics which is unfortunate.

Thanks for reading folks

Despite never playing one, I used to always be turned off by the Metroidvania genre for no good reason. A genre that based itself around backtracking sounded like a nightmare. As I've aged I have become more open-minded to all genres, and metroidvanias were no different. About a month after Dread's announcement at E3, I gave the genre a shot for the first time with Super Metroid. After being blown away by how amazing that was, Dread instantly became my most anticipated game of the year. I thought there was no way that Dread would surpass Super Metroid but Mercury Steam definitively proved me wrong. Dread is a game with amazing exploration, a fantastic movement system, and a surprisingly good story. The exploration feels extremely authentic for the most part. Progression through Dread is anything but hand-holding, but it is very hard to get lost in this game. Unlike Super Metroid, there aren't areas of the game where you have to hit a random, unlabeled block in the wall to continue. The progression manages to be smooth and authentic, without being one-directional. My biggest complaint about the progression is it can feel a little crunchy in the end. There is a point where you are collecting ability after ability in a short amount of time which briefly ruins the natural feel the progression aims for. The EMMI's were great for the most part. It kept me at the edge of my seat during various circumstances. It fell short near the end when the EMMI's started to feel more like a roadblock than a genuine threat. Overall though the EMMI's were great. I could gush about the gameplay all day but it is definitely one of the most satisfying controlling games I have ever played. The movement system is top-notch. When I play some of the other titles It will definitely take me a while to adjust to their movement because of how fire Dread's is. I can't really describe how perfect it is, so I'd recommend you just try it for yourself. The story was really good but I won't get into that to avoid spoilers. Overall an amazing game and a new top 5 addition. I would've never expected a game from a genre I used to dread to show up in my top 5.

I’ve only been a Metroid fan for a little over four years now, but it quickly grew to become my favorite video game series. Despite not being a fan as long as others, it still feels unreal to finally get a brand new 2D game after so long. Better yet, it is said to have been designed after Super Metroid, which I considered to be my favorite game. I was extremely excited for Dread to release, but I was also worried that it would fail to live up to my expectations. After playing the game three times and unlocking all the gallery images, I am luckily able to say that it instead surpassed my expectations in nearly every way.

The game has many interesting environments with extremely detailed backgrounds that make the world feel alive. Players can spend a ton of time just observing the background elements in each room. Gameplay-wise, these areas are all expertly designed, as it always subtly pushes the player in the right direction and provides many hints on where to go next. I also love seeing the sequence breaks or other tricks that were intentionally included in the game, as they add new and interesting ways to play an already amazing experience. The need for backtracking in speedruns is reduced to a minimum, as the developers ingeniously created the world in a way that, if you know what you’re doing, makes it clear which path will lead directly to the next objective. The map contributes to this since it is immensely detailed, to the point where it shows each individual tile and marks special blocks (such as beam blocks or bomb blocks). The world in Dread is gigantic, so having a map as intricate as this is greatly appreciated, especially when going back to collect items that could not be obtained before.

The size of the world can be overwhelming at points, but the movement in the game is so fast and fluid that getting around never becomes an issue. Samus is extremely agile, but yet the controls still allow for precise actions. Every time I made an error it felt like it was entirely my fault rather than some flaw in the controls. I already considered Dread to have my favorite movement in any 2D platformer while I was early on, but it is further enhanced by upgrades unlocked throughout the game. Speed Booster/Shinespark puzzles are extraordinarily satisfying to pull off, and the new Flash Shift ability is very fun to use.

The Flash Shift also improves combat, as it provides a quick way to dodge incoming attacks. This, as well as the free aim and counter, easily makes the combat the best it’s ever been in a Metroid game. Combat has never been a strength of Metroid games before this, but they often include excellent boss fights that are tough but with patterns that can be learned, and this is still the case here. Every boss is expertly crafted so they’re challenging at first but can be taken down quickly once you know what you’re doing. The final boss is a perfect example of this, and it quickly grew to become one of my favorite boss fights. Successfully countering a boss even allows players to do massive damage during a strikingly cool animation. While EMMIs aren’t necessarily bosses, they’re still an excellent addition. Being chased by one always had me on the edge of my seat, and I liked how you can still prevent yourself from being killed by them if you’re skilled enough at knowing when to counter.

Sadly, Dread isn’t without its flaws. Metroid games have always had some of my favorite soundtracks for games, as their music has great melodies while creating a strong sense of atmosphere. Super Metroid in particular does a great job of this, but Dread disappointingly isn’t the same. I can’t think of a single track that I genuinely liked. I don’t hate the music, but I’d say I just tolerate it. I also didn’t like how many rooms there were. In Super, each room feels like it has a specific purpose, but the same can’t be said for Dread. However, each room still has a unique layout and, as mentioned earlier, is enjoyable to go through thanks to the exceptional movement, so it is hardly an issue.

I had high hopes for Metroid Dread, and I am lucky to say that it went above and beyond my expectations. After it came out, I was addicted to the game and played through it three times in the span of a little over a week. Super Metroid is one of the only other games that made me want to replay immediately after beating it. I adored my time with the game, whether it was taking my time to find everything the first playthrough or to rush through to try and get a low time. I definitely plan to play this game on many more occasions. At the moment, I am undecided on which game I prefer, but Metroid Dread currently rivals Super Metroid as my favorite game of all time.

I've felt like I've been in the minority for a while, having loved this game since the WIIU days and not quite understanding the hate it would receive. Now, after finally getting the full 100% playthrough I've aimed for since the original release, I have a newfound appreciation for 3D World, as well as new acknowledgment of its short comings.

Like Mario Kart 8 and other incredibly polished WIIU games, 3D World ushered the 3D Mario series into a new era of polish, being the first HD supported console as well. While it lacks the charming and unique visual styles of previous entries, the upgraded particle/visual effects and clean textures makes it incredibly pleasing to the eye and clearly gave the groundwork to future titles like Odyssey. It's an incredibly vital part of 3D World's identity, and leans more into the controversial side of the argument.

It's undeniable at this point the similarities 3D World shares with the NSMB series, instead in the 3D genre. It's a relatively short and quick experience, that throws as much variety to you in as little time as possible, and never pushes the boundaries to a large degree. Despite the clear comparison in design, the same can't be said in quality. Where NSMB fails in providing a fresh and consistently engaging experience, 3D World never stops being fun. It's so confident in it's bright and bubbly nature, with such vibrant locations and snazzy scores, and never waivers. I loved the different ways it also allowed me to approach each level with the surprisingly unique character selection in favor of a less unique Mario moveset (Not to say it doesn't feel as tight and fun to control as ever; The dive mechanics and speed increase make it somehow even more perfect. I can't ever imagine playing this game again without them.) It really feels like the developers were allowed to have full creative reign with this game's design, and while it led to a less focused experience, it doesn't devalue just how fun of a game it can still be.

On the other hand, the similarities that run between 3D World and the new content expansion, Bowser's Fury, are almost nonexistent. If anything, it's proven to me that we have the most competent and promising 3D Mario team in the history of Nintendo. It's so chaotic in structure and level design; There are no limits in how you approach almost every task ahead of you. It's pure, adrenaline-filled, 3D collect-a-thon enjoyment, with one hell of a final act. It's hard to say whether or not it's better than the base experience, but it easily makes the port rebuy more than worth it.

I'm really happy with how the public perception of this game has changed. Odyssey has filled the need for a new Collect-a-thon 3D Mario game, so 3D World has more room to thrive as its own being. It doesn't push the boundaries of one of the most inventive franchises in gaming history, but it's a shining example of the quality we can still expect from Nintendo blockbusters today.

This game really is something special. It's no secret that SNES games have aged beautifully, both graphically and control-wise, but this game manages to be so ahead of its time that it's better than most games that have been released since its launch in 1994.

The presentation of this game manages to be a strength despite its age. Super Metroid environments are diverse and vibrant. It's hard to get bored when there's an entirely new background setting every hour or so. This game also controls beautifully. It has some movement quirks that will hopefully be fixed in dread, but besides that, its controls hold up extremely well, like 90% of the controls for games in the SNES catalog.

This game refuses to let you be bored. It introduces a new game mechanic/power up everywhere you go, which enables you to backtrack and explore optional areas. It blows my mind how perfectly this was incorporated. The last thing I'll touch on is the boss fights. They were consistently great. The last boss fight/final segment of the game is legit peak gaming and extremely ambitious. Couldn't believe I was playing a 28-year-old game at that final segment. Fingers crossed Dread is anywhere near as good as this near-masterpiece.

Absolute masterpiece of a videogame. Pretty much flawless.

The humor is still great to this day and the co-op is super good, Story and characters are fantastic and the gameplay is so fucking good, Literally nothing wrong with this game. Every aspect is just fantastic. This honestly goes neck and neck with Minecraft for me!

I've played it twice and have the 100% and already plan on playing it a 3rd time soon 🥶