Aesthetic & Visuals — 9/10 | Dread features some of the best animations and action sequences in the entire franchise and some of the best looking weapon and suit designs we’ve seen before. The environments, while a mildly same-y at times, are very well designed and the Metroid style is present all throughout.
Gameplay — 10/10 | Combat and movement feel as close to perfect as it can get, and every upgrade has a use throughout the game. Puzzle solving is another element that is at its peak within the franchise, and is a great experience up to the final item. There is plenty of room for creative expression within both puzzle solving and combat, and by the end of the journey you couldn’t feel more powerful. Nearly every element of the gameplay is tuned to precision, and Dread will be without a doubt a staple of speedrunning for years to come.
Narrative — 8/10 | While light on the story like other games in the series, what is present will be a treat for new and veteran Metroid fans alike. The plot is easily followable and features many very welcome surprises and twists that all culminate in a satisfying, memorable conclusion.
Replayability — 9/10 | Dread is a modest 10-20 hour experience on a first 100% playthrough, but the added Hard mode after completion, plus the many possible alternate routes that come from the precision movement and sequence breaking potential make it hard not to pick up again as soon as you finish for the first time. You will no doubt be sad when it is over.
Soundtrack — 6/10 | Most of the OST is ambient background music, and is never very memorable. There are few uniquely recognizable melodies and even boss fight music isn’t anything to write home about. The music does entirely fit the atmosphere of the game, however, and is vaguely reminiscent of many of the past atmospheric tracks in the series.
Overall: 9.5/10
Gameplay — 10/10 | Combat and movement feel as close to perfect as it can get, and every upgrade has a use throughout the game. Puzzle solving is another element that is at its peak within the franchise, and is a great experience up to the final item. There is plenty of room for creative expression within both puzzle solving and combat, and by the end of the journey you couldn’t feel more powerful. Nearly every element of the gameplay is tuned to precision, and Dread will be without a doubt a staple of speedrunning for years to come.
Narrative — 8/10 | While light on the story like other games in the series, what is present will be a treat for new and veteran Metroid fans alike. The plot is easily followable and features many very welcome surprises and twists that all culminate in a satisfying, memorable conclusion.
Replayability — 9/10 | Dread is a modest 10-20 hour experience on a first 100% playthrough, but the added Hard mode after completion, plus the many possible alternate routes that come from the precision movement and sequence breaking potential make it hard not to pick up again as soon as you finish for the first time. You will no doubt be sad when it is over.
Soundtrack — 6/10 | Most of the OST is ambient background music, and is never very memorable. There are few uniquely recognizable melodies and even boss fight music isn’t anything to write home about. The music does entirely fit the atmosphere of the game, however, and is vaguely reminiscent of many of the past atmospheric tracks in the series.
Overall: 9.5/10