For over 15 years, the Metroid franchise remained mostly dormant following the release of fan-favorite Metroid Fusion in 2002. Last October‘s launch of the long-awaited sequel Metroid Dread on Nintendo Switch thankfully ended that lull emphatically. Beyond widespread critical acclaim, the action-packed side-scroller has now sold over 3.45 million copies worldwide – making it the best debut for the series by a massive margin.
To introduce more Nintendo fans to this return to form, Nintendo held its annual "Try Game Before You Buy" North American eShop sale from September 29th through October 25th. The highlight came via the deepest discount ever offered on a marquee Nintendo title barely one year post-launch:
| Game Title | Sale Discount | Platforms | Sale Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metroid Dread | 30% Off | Nintendo Switch eShop (NA Region) | Sept. 29, 2022 – Oct. 25, 2022 |
Selling for just $41.99 instead of the usual MSRP of $59.99, the promotion let Switch owners add this critically-acclaimed adventure to their collections for roughly $18 less. For those still on the fence about diving into bounty hunter Samus‘ latest extraterrestrial escapades, here‘s an in-depth look into what makes Metroid Dread such an essential pickup.
Claiming the Crown as Switch‘s Top Action Platformer
Beyond commercial success, Metroid Dread has earned outstanding review marks including a metascore of 89 on Metacritic based on 104 critics. This places it firmly among the Nintendo Switch‘s top-rated exclusives ever.
Gamers have responded similarly – praising the title‘s gorgeous visuals and animations, enormous interconnected world teeming with secrets, and vastly improved combat mechanics. These upgrades modernize the Metroid formula beautifully while retaining what defined the series across past generations.
Speedrunning and competitive communities surrounding Metroid Dread have already developed as well thanks to the sophisticated level design enabling sequence breaks and exploits for elite players. Thisdeep replay value expands an already lengthy initial playthrough spanning 15+ hours for first timers.
Mastering the Mystery of Planet ZDR
Transporting players to the remote alien world of ZDR, Metroid Dread continues galactic warrior Samus Aran‘s story following the events of Metroid Fusion. The heroine soon discovers many lethal surprises inhabit ZDR‘s varied locales – including remnants of the planet‘s Chozo inhabitants and the menacing EMMI robots that hunt Samus during key stretches.
Novice players will want to thoroughly explore each environment and use map markers to track inaccessible areas for later return. Locating permanent power-up abilities like the Grapple Beam and Flash Shift phasing are critical to opening new paths. Patience and avoiding unnecessary conflicts also help early on when Samus is still underpowered.
With no difficulty setting switches, veterans of action platformers should revel in the hardcore grinding eventually required to overcome intense boss fights against the EMMI and other colossal opponents.
The vibrant sci-fi backdrop pops with color, visible in locales like the purple hued Dairon jungle or the orange Artaria region filled with lava. These alien vistas get even brighter on the Switch OLED screen. The soundtrack also neatly punctuates events, with the emergence of an EMMI triggering ominous beats.
Unbeatable Value – Even Without the Discount
Scoring a 30% discount just a year following release, this eShop sale marked the steepest price cut ever offered on marquee Nintendo IP like Legend of Zelda or Mario outside of Black Friday promotions.
To put into perspective, the original sale price equaled just $1 more than purchasing "Super Mario 3D World + Bowser‘s Fury" bundled with the seasonal Mario-themed Switch console last year. That package came with a game over three years old at the time alongside a full $299 hardware system – illustrating how unmatched this recent Metroid Dread deal proved for just award-winning software.
Of course, even at the full $59.99 typical pricing, no other Switch title matches Metroid Dread for 2D action-adventure value. That accessible entry point plus an engaging sci-fi universe has already propelled the series record sales. Expect more new system owners to be seduced by Metroid‘s mysterious allure thanks to this wider promotional push from Nintendo as well.
For fans that missed the discount opportunity, no need to dread paying full price. Samus‘ latest mission delivers such an essential experience that ★★★★★ reviews are almost unanimous in crowning Metroid Dread an instant classic well worth the investment. This is a digital purchase guaranteed to pay dividends through countless hours spent unlocking the extraordinary secrets scattered across planet ZDR‘s perilous grounds.
