Metroid Dread Review: 7 Ups & 2 Downs
1. UP: It Expands On The Metroid Mythos
From the very beginning, the Metroid series has a had a deep, rich lore. The manuals for each games are brimming with details about the Chozo, the Space Pirates, Ridley, the Metroids, the Mother Brain, and Samus Aran. However, these plot points are mentioned so rarely in the games themselves, you can be a die-hard fan of the series without having a clue about the backstory.
Because Dread's predecessor, Metroid Fusion, came out 19 years prior, one would assume this game wouldn't care much about continuity, in the same vein as The Legend of Zelda franchise. But not only does Dread pick up straight after Fusion, its plot is tied directly to that story.
On top of that, the game develops the Metroid mythos. In fact, it changes some elements that were seemingly set in stone for decades. Without spoiling anything, Dread delves into the history of the Chozo - the race that cared for Samus and transformed her into what she is today. From the opening scene to the ending, the game never stops broadening the over-arching plot and the characters, which fans will heavily appreciate.