Topic: Metroid Dread

@X-Slayer Just beat it. Took a break and when I returned, I beat it in my second (re)try. Thankfully, it has a pretty predictable pattern. But yeah, get stocked!

...A split-second for both attacks is a long wind-up? lol

@Joeynator3000 No, although that one was annoying as the non-counter attacks created those red waves that hurt you even when dodging over the foe. It was another one a little later.

@tekoii Exactly, if the counter window for when you are caught by an EMMI was expanded by just a smidgen, you’d have a better chance of succeeding and it would actually be fun and feel like an accomplishment. Currently, you need to guess when the “flash” will appear. Wait to see it and react and you’ll always be too late. It’s literally luck until you memorise it through trial and error and I’m sorry, that is not fun.

Anyone else playing it like they're playing Fortnite - jumping around everywhere? Gotta fill in every last square of the map somehow...

@FX102A The one with the spear-like weapon? I didn't have much trouble with that one, only died once. o.o

lol, the spear guy was the one with long wind-ups. xD

This game really is like Monster Hunter then, some bosses we'll have issues with while others won't. lol

I sincerely hope that no young child finds this game under the tree on Christmas morning. The difficulty alone would be a massive turn-off and let-down.

@X-Slayer that's about where I'm at too. Nice little power up

@DomGC
Metroid Prime 2 was notably more difficult than this. Like, notably more difficult. And when you died, there was no auto checkpoint. You started back at the last save room, and they were spread pretty far apart.

Honestly, the only thing that really sets Dread aside in terms of difficulty is the EMMI encounters. The bosses are about the same as usual. I beat every boss so far on my first try. But I have died numerous times to the EMMI.

But I think the game is specifically designed around that aspect. You're meant to die frequently from EMMI encounters. You learn from your mistake and try again.

What keeps it from being frustrating is the fact the game provides generous auto checkpoints outside of the EMMI doors, and loading is super fast. So if you die, you're right back in the action just seconds later. No long backtracking to get where you were, no long load times testing your patience. It encourages fast play as there's really not much penalty if you die from an EMMI encounter. That makes it fun, and engaging. It gives you a feeling of wanting to try again, because it's so quick and painless after death.

And as I've progressed more through the game, I've gotten much better about avoiding EMMI. Especially having the Cloak now. I still occasionally run into one but can usually escape. On the off chance I don't, it's no biggie. Cause like I said, you're right back in the action moments later, just outside the EMMI door. Doesn't feel like time is being wasted or significant progress lost.

Ugh, imagine if the maps were set up like Hollow Knight's, and had no temp-checkpoints. lol

@gcunit
Oh my gosh, I actually started doing that about an hour ago. It's addicting lol.

@Joeynator3000
Right. This game has us spoiled. That was one thing I couldn't get on with about Hollow Knight. I need a quality map with markers indicating where you are at all times. And backtracking after a death just gets tedious.

I love how fast you're back in the action in Dread. Especially with EMMI encounters. The game generously auto saves right outside the EMMI door, and save points aren't nearly as spread out as in precious Metroid games.

Really tempted to get this, but the difficulty puts me off a lot. Games like Ghosts N' Goblins I am HORRIBLE at.

Just finished dread. Overall really good but way too short (like all Metroid games). Even though I bought a special edition I can easily say this game is not worth 60€.
Regarding the difficulty I would say the bosses in general are easier than other games on the series as their attacks are quite easy to read at least after one or two attempts (the final boss is a pushover though and a very very long battle).
Would also like to hear the opinion of the counter while moving as I never used it most likely because I liked the one in Samus returns already and here it works like a charm as well ..

Honestly, that just sounds like typical Metroid to me. My mindset is that your reward for finally beating a punishingly difficult boss is getting to actually enjoy the game again.

(I hate boss fights in general. It's not just Metroid.)

@X-Slayer yea I'm loving it. Beautiful game honestly. And all the movements are perfect.

Wow: just finished the first boss fight. You can totally Over power it and end it quickly if you do a few right moves at the right time during one of the phases. Super cool boss fight

I don't find the EMMIs that annoying yet. It takes a bit of planning, and a lot of willpower. It also helps that you can't really do anything about them yet until you can. I'm doing the second boss at the moment, and it's just brutal lol.

@X-Slayer This is a game that gets intense, so I recommend taking a lot of pauses. 👍

@Octane The chained one?

@Quarth Yes.

More comfortable with the controls now, and finished up for the night heading toward the next objective after the third boss. This game has had great momentum since acquiring the Varia Suit, so hopefully the game keeps it up and doesn't get too frustrating. The narrative is shaping up to be very memorable.

@Octane It's a hard one. I beat it after like 20 tries. Take pauses, it's recommended.

Tactics? Most of all, watch out for the hard hitting attacks in the second stage of the battle, especially the pink splashes of goo (jump to the middle before it lands) and the impaling stakes (duck or go into morph mode).