Metroid Dread (Nintendo Switch)

Facts

2021-10-23
• [12341]
  You can save at Network Stations.
• [12342]
  White blinking rectangles on the map indicate a secret area.
• [12343]
  You can save at Map Stations.
2021-10-29
• [12362]
  Ability location and order:

  Artaria  : Charge Beam, Spider Magnet, Phantom Cloak
  Cataris -> Dairon
  Dairon   : Wide Beam
  Cataris  : Morph Ball
  Artaria  : Varia Suit
  Cataris  : Diffusion Beam
  Dairon   : Morph Ball Bomb
  Burenia  : Flash Shift
  Dairon   : Speed Booster
  Artaria  : Grapple Beam
  Ferenia  : Defeat the Boss
  Burenia -> Ghavoran
  Ghavoran : Super Missile
  Elun     : Plasma Beam
  Ghavoran : Spin Boost
  Ghavoran : Ice Missile
  Ferenia  : Storm Rockets, Space Jump
  Burenia  : Gravity Suit
  Artaria, Cataris, Artaria  : Screw Attack
  Burenia, Ghavoran : Cross Bomb
  Hanubia, Ferenia  : Wave Beam
  Hanubia  : Power Bomb
  

Analysis

2021-10-29
• [12361]
  I think this game can get frustrating when you don't know where to go next. An example is in the first area, Artaria, where a door that leads to the area boss is covered by the Spider crawl material. If you're looking at the map, it's not at all clear that this particular covering actually is moveable (even though the game featured one moveable horizontal platform of this material). Given how long it takes to navigate between areas, this trial and error process can get pretty frustrating.

Log entries

2021-09-27
• [12290]
  Preordered through the company. Should be out October 8th.
2021-10-20
• [12336]
  I'm on vacation in Campo Grande, and I have played hours of Metroid Dread, which is super cool. I'm actually a little sad that I'm playing on the small screen, I think the detailed and stylish graphics deserves to be seen on the big screen. The map has been an endless source of confusion for me, mostly because I need to learn how to read it in detail. The progression is somewhat complicated, and I have spent some time wandering around without knowing where to go.
2021-10-23
• [12339]
  I met a real live Chozo, who turns out to be a Horus look-alike birdman, with Egyptian pictograms and everything. Apparently, there is an evil Chozo villain, who wants Samus' DNA which has Metroid DNA mixed in. The weird intro sequence has made me doubt whether I'm Samus or a clone or something, but time will tell.
• [12340]
  Off to Burenia .
2021-10-24
• [12345]
  I just got the Ice Missiles and Pulse Radar.
2021-10-29
• [12359]
  I just started a second game at home, recording it. I noted two things: 1) the frame rate seems worse when the game is docked, and 2) the map is still confusing the second time around. After playing for an hour, I didn't know where to go for the first boss. I think I'll play with a guide open to avoid frustration.
1 - NEW METROID GAME
2021-10-30
• [12363]
  I played a couple of hours more, and the upgrade order list really takes the confusion out of the game. I think I'm actually enjoying the game more the second time because I have this list on hand.
2 - Kraid
• [12364]
  I have the Flash Shift now.
3 - Quiet Robe
• [12365]
  I have reached Ghavoran. I defeated the underwater boss Drogyga on my first attempt. It really helps that I know what to do.
4 - Drogyga
2021-10-31
• [12366]
  The Storm Rockets (cluster homing missiles) have become my weapon of choice for boss fights, along with Flash Shift to dodge out of the way.
• [12367]
  With the Space Jump that allows you to jump infinitely, the game seems to have reached the point where it says 'fuck it', let's just let them go anywhere. This, more than anything else makes you feel powerful in this traversal-focused game.
• [12368]
  Oh no! Everything is frozen.
5 - Frozen
• [12369]
  The boss 'Experiment No. Z-57' was awesome looking and fun to play. I like how the giant swipes are clearly marked on the screen, so you know exactly where you can be. The fight even turns into a Space Jump-powered 'Flappy Bird' sequence at a certain point.
• [12370]
  Completed the game. After the final boss, I had to run to the ship. I made it with 0 seconds to spare, which seems nuts. I wonder if they were somehow tricking me with the countdown.
6 - Raven Beak