Metroid Dread Review: 7 Ups & 2 Downs
3. UP: It's As Difficult As It Should Be
Metroid Dread isn't hard. It's brutal. On your first run, don't be surprised if you rack up a hundred deaths (at least half of which will be caused by EMMI encounters). Finding the right spot to destroy an EMMI can only be accomplished through trial and error. And if you get it wrong, you'll wind up dead.
Now, when you die over and over in a game, it can be really frustrating. But what's important about Metroid Dread is that it never feels unfair even though it's really tough. Every enemy and boss telegraphs their attacks so you can only blame yourself if you bite the dust.
Later in the game, you'll receive a Pulse Radar, which alerts you to any breakable blocks nearby, which helps you find hidden power-ups. If you thought this gizmo would take the challenge out of the game, guess again. Some of the puzzles to obtain these upgrades require so much precision, it can take up to an hour to get some of them, even if you know exactly what to do. Even though Metroid is renowned for its difficulty, Dread is among the hardest entries.