The game I shall be highlighting for the month of October in 2021 is a title that has been long awaited. The galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter embarks on one more mission.
Before that, though, I do have a few honourable mentions that I would like to make.
First up, my honourable mentions:
– Actraiser Renaissance – A remake of SNES title Actraiser, in which you are a god leading the people of various lands to prosperity. One part fighting hordes of evil, one part simulation as the lands develop under your watchful eye.
– Castlevania Advance Collection – A collection of three Game Boy Advance Castlevania games: Castlevania, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow – plus SNES title Castlevania: Vampire’s Kiss. Some of those titles might vary depending on what region you’re from.
– Diablo II Resurrected – It took me a little while to decide whether I wanted to buy this or not, but in the end I bit the bullet. Never played the original Diablo II before, but I have been enjoying the game so far – this also might be another case where hololive had an influence on me.
Before I want to get to the main event, I do want to mention something. Some time ago, the Nintendo eShop had a feature on Metroidvania titles. What amused me at the time was that there was not a single mention of any Metroid or Castlevania titles (Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was there, though, which almost counts).
As of this month, though, there are now proper Castlevania titles that can be considered, as well as one title from the other one of the genre’s namesakes – and also the very game that I want to highlight as my Game of the Month.
Metroid Dread is set after the events of Metroid Fusion, where it is believed that the X parasite has been wiped out. When a transmission proves otherwise, the Galactic Federation dispatches a group of Extraplanetary Multiform Mobile Identifier robots – or E.M.M.I. – to the planet the transmission originates from, ZDR.
The E.M.M.I. arrive on ZDR, and soon all contact with them is lost. That is when the Federation sends renowned bounty hunter Samus Aran to locate the missing E.M.M.I. and investigate the reappearance of the X parasite.
It’s been a long old while, but Metroid is back and here to show us why it is called the “Metroid”-vania genre. As Samus explores ZDR, she will acquire new abilities that allow her to access new locations. Many of these abilities will be very familiar, but there are some new tricks for Samus to pick up as she explores.
Of course, Samus can never explore a planet in peace, and she will be encountering new and familiar foes. Familiar bosses make their return, and it turns out the missing E.M.M.I. have been corrupted and have only one objective: eliminate Samus Aran.
Seems to me that the E.M.M.I. take their cue from Metroid Fusion‘s SA-X, in being a nigh-invulnerable opponent that you’ll generally want to avoid engaging in combat until you’ve got the right gear.
Very much looking forward to exploring ZDR and uncovering the secrets it holds.
Rory Muses 