38 thoughts on “Metroid Dread on Switch – The Digital Foundry Tech Review technology background video 4k”
This was one of best reviews on channel, influence of European and Japanese development shown was mind blowing info, apart from usual top notch graphics review. Good thing is that you appreciate graphics as art and not only bells and whistles of 3D, shaders, anti aliasing, ambient conclusion etc. Many people think graphics is photo realism and ray tracing which not the actual case for game to look and play beautiful !!
While it sucks that Metroid has received so little love from Nintendo, compared to their other OG properties like Mario and Zelda, I'm kind of glad that there aren't a hundred Metroid games. Makes each entry feel a little more special, although 19 years for a mainline entry is rather ridiculous.
I'll admit, years ago I got in the habit of listening to music or having shows on in the background while gaming. This is especially so when playing a handheld, which is my primary Switch usage thus far. Point being, I will definitely plug some headphones in and experience the sound this game has to offer.
Now at age 41 I have to be very careful choosing the games I purchase. Very little free time juggling work and married life. Thankfully the Switch gives me the accessibility to sneak an hour or two to play on the train or in bed before calling it a night. This game seems looks amazing and I can’t wait to give it a shot.
One of the most thorough and brilliant reviews I’ve watched/heard in quite some time. I’m also glad the sound design was appreciated where social media has considered it lacking.
The game-feel of this title is amazing. Maneuvering Samus through the world just feels good. Very snappy, quick, and responsive. Mercury Steam did an absolutely marvelous job with this game.
I have to admit, I was a bit worried when they said Mercury Steam was developing this since I found Samus Returns to be rather underwhelming on both a technical and mechanical level. The game felt sluggish at 30fps and I wasn't too keen on the art direction. There was too much emphasis put on using the newly added counter attack ability which had an obnoxious sound effect which quickly became monotonous, and the game's boss fights consisted almost entirely of iterative battles with the different metroid types going through metamorphosis, which I found far less exciting or interesting.
The initial trailer Nintendo released for Dread was 30 fps and there was a lot of focus on the E.M.M.I in the marketing, which had me worried that they were just another iterative boss type enemy that would take the place of actually memorable boss fights that the series is known for. Visually the game looked really appealing but Mercury Steam's track record had me concerned.
But no. Dread avoids all of the shortcomings of Samus Returns. The game looks beautiful, runs buttery smooth 95% of the time and it just sounds incredible. The counter attack is more like a tool in your arsenal rather than your primary means of fighting and the sound effects associated with it are low key enough to not sound grating. The E.M.M.I. don't steal the show and there are some amazing bosses with really cool cinematic pieces that make Samus look like an absolute bad ass.
What a remarkable turnaround. I think Mercury Steam have proven that they are comparable with Retro and I think Nintendo has found another excellent studio to handle Metroid. The series is in good hands!
Got it a few days ago and I must agree with DF, this is a really enjoyable game. I hadn't played Metroid since SM on the SNES and I was instantly feeling nostalgic with the music etc. Great game, buy it!
I was pretty skeptical of this one. The overall quality of Switch titles have disappointed me more often than not, and Metroid Prime 4 seemingly living in dev hell doesn't help. But, so far, it's a real pleasure to play.
But… there are long loading times (between areas especially and no they don't work well) and there are significant framerate drops in some areas. I think people are too blinded by Nostalgia for this game to be objective. I love the game, but it is far from perfect. Edit: OK… he mentioned the frame stutter… so at least there is that.
Have you tried the game on the ryujinx switch emulator? I started the game on my Switch and had a great time, but the low resolution bugged me a bit. Then I found out that the game already runs in ryujinx so I tried that and was blown away. I am now playing the game at an internal resolution of 5120×[email protected] on my 2560×[email protected] screen, using about 70% of my RTX2070 GPU, and the experience is amazing. I am near the end now playing on the ryujinx emulator and I have had not even a single issue. On the Switch the game is great, on ryujinx it is simply amazing.
I understand why Metroid Dread was covered by DF but there is an equally and maybe better game out there called F.I.S.T on PS5 that's been ignored because it's not a mainstream franchise….yet.
The CASTLEVANIA REBOOT is definitelly not a DEVIL MAY CRY, in terms of controlled chaos combat, it´s not a CAPCOM / PLATINUM / TEAM NINJA / SNK game where you can change the destiny of battle in 1/60 second and everything serves to this purpose, nor it's GOD OF WAR the best EURO / USA action series. I love Japanese games, and USA / EURO just hAVE NO BULLETS TO MAKE THEM. So i'm curious how the DREAD went out.
personally , i love metroid dread , but i largely prefer super metroid , metroid fusion and metroid zero mission . the biggest flaw of metroid dread , like metroid samus returns , is the jouability : no playability with the directional cross for a 2,5d game ??? unthinkable !!!
Fantastic review! Now we just need Mercury Steam to port Metroid Samus Returns to the Nintendo switch with improvements like this & give it a chance to actually thrive on. I loved it on the Nintendo 3DS but it needs this treatment. Metroid Dread is doing well & Samus Returns can too.
This was one of best reviews on channel, influence of European and Japanese development shown was mind blowing info, apart from usual top notch graphics review. Good thing is that you appreciate graphics as art and not only bells and whistles of 3D, shaders, anti aliasing, ambient conclusion etc. Many people think graphics is photo realism and ray tracing which not the actual case for game to look and play beautiful !!
While it sucks that Metroid has received so little love from Nintendo, compared to their other OG properties like Mario and Zelda, I'm kind of glad that there aren't a hundred Metroid games. Makes each entry feel a little more special, although 19 years for a mainline entry is rather ridiculous.
I'll admit, years ago I got in the habit of listening to music or having shows on in the background while gaming. This is especially so when playing a handheld, which is my primary Switch usage thus far.
Point being, I will definitely plug some headphones in and experience the sound this game has to offer.
as much as I've been enjoying the game, the resolution isn't great and there are major frame drops from time to time
4:48 yeeeeeah I must be fucking stupid lol. I've gotten lost more times than I can count.
Now at age 41 I have to be very careful choosing the games I purchase. Very little free time juggling work and married life. Thankfully the Switch gives me the accessibility to sneak an hour or two to play on the train or in bed before calling it a night. This game seems looks amazing and I can’t wait to give it a shot.
I just wish the music was better in the game.
Metroid Dread really nails the “game feel.” It hooks you right away with the butter smooth controls and slick presentation.
This game is so polished it doesn’t have a day one patch. That’s not common.
I want to know how the first iterations of dread were like.
This game is the definition of 'those little touches'
One of the most thorough and brilliant reviews I’ve watched/heard in quite some time. I’m also glad the sound design was appreciated where social media has considered it lacking.
The game-feel of this title is amazing. Maneuvering Samus through the world just feels good. Very snappy, quick, and responsive. Mercury Steam did an absolutely marvelous job with this game.
I really enjoyed this game. Very satisfying.
Never played Metroid, but you may have just convinced me.
The HD rumble is some of the best too
A cellphone game.
Metroid dread is absolutely fantastic and everyone should play it
This game is a masterpiece
I would appreciate input lag analysis in future videos, especially side scrollers.
Congrats to Mercury Steam!
I'd like to see them take another Crack at a 2D Castlevania.
Brand new Switch owner (OLED) and first time Metroid player. Absolutely loving the game.
I have to admit, I was a bit worried when they said Mercury Steam was developing this since I found Samus Returns to be rather underwhelming on both a technical and mechanical level. The game felt sluggish at 30fps and I wasn't too keen on the art direction. There was too much emphasis put on using the newly added counter attack ability which had an obnoxious sound effect which quickly became monotonous, and the game's boss fights consisted almost entirely of iterative battles with the different metroid types going through metamorphosis, which I found far less exciting or interesting.
The initial trailer Nintendo released for Dread was 30 fps and there was a lot of focus on the E.M.M.I in the marketing, which had me worried that they were just another iterative boss type enemy that would take the place of actually memorable boss fights that the series is known for. Visually the game looked really appealing but Mercury Steam's track record had me concerned.
But no. Dread avoids all of the shortcomings of Samus Returns. The game looks beautiful, runs buttery smooth 95% of the time and it just sounds incredible. The counter attack is more like a tool in your arsenal rather than your primary means of fighting and the sound effects associated with it are low key enough to not sound grating. The E.M.M.I. don't steal the show and there are some amazing bosses with really cool cinematic pieces that make Samus look like an absolute bad ass.
What a remarkable turnaround. I think Mercury Steam have proven that they are comparable with Retro and I think Nintendo has found another excellent studio to handle Metroid. The series is in good hands!
Kinda glad this review forgets Other M exists. That's the universe I want to live in, too.
The EMMI "battles" make you feel like Ripley in Alien – I've never felt such tension in a 2D game.
Got it a few days ago and I must agree with DF, this is a really enjoyable game. I hadn't played Metroid since SM on the SNES and I was instantly feeling nostalgic with the music etc. Great game, buy it!
I was pretty skeptical of this one. The overall quality of Switch titles have disappointed me more often than not, and Metroid Prime 4 seemingly living in dev hell doesn't help. But, so far, it's a real pleasure to play.
Is my switch just busted? Because I could get constant frame drops in this game. Usually in the same screens so it’s replicable
But… there are long loading times (between areas especially and no they don't work well) and there are significant framerate drops in some areas. I think people are too blinded by Nostalgia for this game to be objective. I love the game, but it is far from perfect.
Edit: OK… he mentioned the frame stutter… so at least there is that.
Have you tried the game on the ryujinx switch emulator? I started the game on my Switch and had a great time, but the low resolution bugged me a bit. Then I found out that the game already runs in ryujinx so I tried that and was blown away. I am now playing the game at an internal resolution of 5120×[email protected] on my 2560×[email protected] screen, using about 70% of my RTX2070 GPU, and the experience is amazing. I am near the end now playing on the ryujinx emulator and I have had not even a single issue. On the Switch the game is great, on ryujinx it is simply amazing.
I understand why Metroid Dread was covered by DF but there is an equally and maybe better game out there called F.I.S.T on PS5 that's been ignored because it's not a mainstream franchise….yet.
The CASTLEVANIA REBOOT is definitelly not a DEVIL MAY CRY, in terms of controlled chaos combat, it´s not a CAPCOM / PLATINUM / TEAM NINJA / SNK game where you can change the destiny of battle in 1/60 second and everything serves to this purpose, nor it's GOD OF WAR the best EURO / USA action series. I love Japanese games, and USA / EURO just hAVE NO BULLETS TO MAKE THEM. So i'm curious how the DREAD went out.
personally , i love metroid dread , but i largely prefer super metroid , metroid fusion and metroid zero mission . the biggest flaw of metroid dread , like metroid samus returns , is the jouability : no playability with the directional cross for a 2,5d game ??? unthinkable !!!
If Nintendo keeps on making games on a low end hardware. Emulation will keep up and thus have a negative impact on sales.
You literally would not have any clue at all, period if you never had that frame rate graph on.
Reminds me old times and Turrican2 on Amiga 500! Btw, none of today's game music beats Turrican2. Chris Huelsbeck was a genius!
Fantastic review! Now we just need Mercury Steam to port Metroid Samus Returns to the Nintendo switch with improvements like this & give it a chance to actually thrive on. I loved it on the Nintendo 3DS but it needs this treatment. Metroid Dread is doing well & Samus Returns can too.
60 fps?
i played it in 4k 120, my nintendo switch is overclocked :^)