Metroid Dread has finally landed on the Switch this week, and now the experts over at Digital Foundry have shared their own technical analysis of Samus' new adventure.
So, how does it hold up? In docked mode, the game delivers a 1600x900 resolution, and in portable mode, it's apparently just as stunning - running at a "native 720p" - likely to showcase the new OLED display.
In terms of the game's performance, the target frame rate is 60fps, although sometimes there are some slowdowns possibly tied to "background streaming". And cutscenes are capped at 30fps.
Apart from this, one notable inclusion worthy of mention in Metroid Dread is the addition of 5.1 surround sound - something that's rarely heard on the Switch:
"With Metroid Dread, Mercury Steam not only showcases surround sound 'done proper' on the system, it's also something of a masterclass in general for sound design and layout, giving us one of the most powerful aural experiences of the year."
Digital Foundry signs off by saying this is easily the "best game" MercurySteam has ever worked on - breathing new life into the series.
If you would like to learn more about Metroid Dread, be sure to check out our own Nintendo Life review of the game, we awarded it an outstanding 10 out of 10 stars.
[source youtu.be, via eurogamer.net]
Comments 54
2 hours in & totally agree. Loving every minute of Samus’ new adventure
An hour in, it looks and feels great. I now wish I had surround sound to be scared by EMMIs from all directions.
I'm fine with cutscenes at 30fps and 60fps gameplay Nintendo needs to do more of that.
@nukatha I decided I need to break out my headphones for both Dread and tetris effect. Some games just really need the sounds coming at you from more than one direction.
So jealous. I have my digital pre-order but refuse to play it until my delayed OLED arrives!
Not that I don't need to finish GAA... But that doesn't show off the OLED well.
This game deserves every bit of the praise it has gotten. I’m very happy with it so far. The boss fights are so fun. I may be getting a bit ahead of myself but so far I’ve enjoyed this game better than anything else on my switch.
Yeah, this was really interesting. I watched it earlier today. Very good watch.
900p docked with near flawless performance so massive oof to a review I saw that claimed it was 720p docked with performance that mindlessly speculated it was designed to run on “Switch Pro”, the obsession with that one will never end.
@NEStalgia GAA?
This is one of my favorite DF videos. I like the focus on great audio design/work. It can have such a huge impact when playing a game. I've got 5.1 set up, so can't wait to try Metroid 5 on my OLD Switch (haven't been able to buy the awesome OLED yet). It is also cool to see a developer acknowledged for delivering a 60fps experience with such style and awesome animation work. Another really good Digital Foundry video.
I'm like an hour and a half and yes, those damn E.M.M.I's sure scare you, so far I just got rid of the first one. Mercury Steam manage to give us a Nintendo-kinda-polished-game, not an easy feat to do
This is such a great game. The sound, backgrounds, entering a new save room where the lights are off so only her blue lights show. The detail is amazing. Only complaint is QTE in boss fights.
I mean, why would you need cutscenes running at 60p when most movies run at 24p? 30 is more than fine.
@Duffman92 @Zorox88 YES! It honestly bugs me that a lot of 60fps games have the cutscenes running at 60 too. I get it that tech heads will complain about "muh frames!" but it looks awful when you're watching something that is trying to be cinematic and it looks so smooth and artificial. There's a reason the Hobbit caused such a fuss when it released and 48 frames didn't become the new movie standard.
30fps WITH motion blur enabled, please. gameplay is fine at 60 without blur.
Looks like MercurySteam cemented their meal ticket. Good job!
@Chowdaire YES. THIS. 👍
So far it's really good.
This game is a blast! I hate the E.M.M.I.'s, makes my pulse go up, lol. But it's great scary fun!
Man, I really need to put my hands on this game ASAP. So glad we finally have a great brand new Metroid game!!
@Ryu_Niiyama
Not that I'm in favor of bigger companies buying up all the small ones but given how things are going in the industry right now, and that this is the second great Metroid game from Mercury Steam, Nintendo may want to lock that studio up like it did Next Level Games.
@Gamer83 Nah. Nordisk Film just recently purchased majority shares in 2020 and MS’s pedigree isn’t that big. Better to let them keep cutting their teeth and have freedom and come back for those big Nintendo contracts and resources. If Metroid really picks up again or in another decade or so maybe but for now they would be a bad buy. Better as a contact dev.
Nintendo needs to buy Panic Button (not really, but if they could and throw them into a ton of port deals that would be a great alternate universe ) or a port dev.
probably the best game i have played since BOTW
holy sh*t
Shame Nintendo won’t support Dolby or DTS.
Can’t get 5.1 to work.
@SalvorHardin
I think I saw that too. Major L. lol
Just started playing, in love already 😍
@CactusMan I have a Bose 700 soundbar.
5.1 Works perfect on Xbox.
Only stereo on Wii u and switch.
sighs
Surround sound is a nightmare to set up for me, and even when I do get it up and running...my sound bar's speakers like to "turn off" whenever it detects silence for a second, and it takes a couple of more seconds to return. It's so freakin' annoying...and not worth it. -.-
Dolby/DTS would be nice, Nintendo.
@CactusMan think if my TV had earc it would work.
Removed - current gen piracy/emulation
Is anyone playing it on a new OLED switch.
What are the E.M.M.I sections like on it?
Im playing on a V2 (with a colder blue tint screen) and find the strobing lights distracting.
Its like before my eyes can adjust to the lighting it has to re-adjust again (its the best I can describe it)
'Hi. Dave from Digital Floundering here. During our playthrough of Metroid Dread, we ran the game through a $3000 PC, upped the resolution and maxxed out the frame rate at 378 fps. At one point we thought it would be fun to actually count all the pixels on the screen, one by one. You may be wondering why...well...umm...we got lost on level 1 and didn't know what else to do...'
@GrailUK Cool story
@MisstressBrea Ty
@Chowdaire And I still love motion blur to this day after growing up with Shadow of the Colossus! Motion blur and depth of field blur are two things I really love even though some people really harp on them.
thanks for putting up this video NLife. I was extremely lucky this morning to pick up a special edition of this game when I went to grab my OLED I reserved at my local GameStop. I’ve yet to open the box to play because my new Switch has spent the day downloading close to 400GB of games due to system transfer 🤦♂️
I am so thrilled that the incredible legacy of 2D Metroid games lives on with this new entry. I am far behind on completion of any Metroid titles, but I am still stoked to play this one myself since I do like Samus Aran.
I’m loving it so far. It’s hard. Reminds me a lot of Fusion, which weirdly enough is my favorite Metroid game besides Prime 2.
@Burntbreadman
They’re nerve wracking.
Imagine Tyrant or Mr. X but on steroids.
It’s more or less a realization of the terror the SA-X was trying to instill in you. The difference between the two is that the E.M.M.I. rooms require you to plan out encounters since you know where they’re at. The chases can be super long; you really have to have a plan and a backup plan in case things go south. I’ve died probably ten times so far in the E.M.M.I. rooms.
The SA-X in Fusion were set-piece encounters. These are active gameplay encounters. Makes it far more terrifying since you’re usually pretty helpless against them.
5.1 you say! That’s a first for Nintendo?
@120frames-please Great Ace Attorney
@GrailUK You must be that secret member of DF I've heard whispers about! Nice to meet you Dave!
@Quarth Yeah, I'm so glad when I get out of an EMMI zone. I just run blindly, like I'm really being chased by one of those things. Amazing game!
@FishyS Yeah, both are aural masterpieces. I'm so glad I got Tetris Effect on Switch. I've played it a bunch on PS4/PS5, but there's something about good earbuds and holding this sacred Tetris universe in my hands while laying in bed.
@NEStalgia oh, thanks!
Metroid Dread is a masterpiece. Love it. Danger at every turn. A vast world, atmosphere, and environments to explore. This is the biggest, and best entry to date. So worth the wait.
@120frames-please Yeah, you really feel under pressure in this game!
@120frames-please Lol. DF do amazing work. Dave...does not...
Wearing headphones in the EMMI zones and when it locks on to you,that music kicks in....panic stations! 😱
Such an amazing game.
Definitely game of the year for me.
I wasnt sold on Dread when i first started it. I still wasnt 2 hours in to it. 4 hours in and i am. Its really good. I do get stuck tho from time to time and not know where to go.
This game proves once again that the Switch has the hardware capabilities of showing off a beautiful game, only when done right by the developers and not the hardware itself.
@GrailUK There should be a DF side channel called Digital Floundery where Dave constantly gets technical details wrong in the most annoying way. Wrong pixel counts, ignorant frame rate ideas, completely made up ***** ideas about how graphics are or are not functioning in a given game, etc. Could be funny for a tiny, niche audience.
@Quarth I'm loving it so much. I've repeatedly died to the scorpion with two muscular arms/legs, but still had a smile when I gave up (knowing I'd come back excited to try again). Then I watched part of ryukahr's video and saw you can shoot the yellow poison blobs to get health and missiles. I'm gonna get that damn mutant scorpion!
@120frames-please Well, it makes me chuckle hehe
@GrailUK good!
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