Digital Foundry || Metroid Dread on Switch - The Digital Foundry Tech Review

[ILikeFeet]

A 2.5D platformer with triple-A production values, the collaboration between Nintendo and Mercury Steam produces a stone-cold classic that's a credit to the Switch library that brings back everything great about the Metroid franchise and pushes the series in new directions.

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Metroid Dread - a brilliant game that breathes new life into Switch

It's finally here. After multiple cancelled attempts over the years, Metroid Dread is finally here. Nintendo's collabor…

www.eurogamer.net

• boot up is fast
• loading into the game is fast and few loading scenes are quick
• cutscenes are all real time
• 900p in docked, 720p handheld
• no AA
• the game plays with camera in ways that can only be done in 3D and HD
• movement is great
• lots of animation blending
• fluid simulation looks greats
• environment-based film grain
• particles update at 30Hz
• framerate and frame time is 99% stable
• stutter does happen, possibly due to streaming
• cutscenes are in 30fps
• 5.1 surround sound supported
• John thinks it's the best audio design of 2021
• lots of Another World allusions
• the best Mercury Steam game yet

 

[Dekuman]

Good to see solid 60 fps
I noted DF/John is effusive in his praise of the ambience, effects work and visuals

 

[pswii60]

This is the only game making me consider re-purchasing a Switch. It looks incredible.

Is this running on UE4?

 

[SuperHans]

This is the only game making me consider re-purchasing a Switch. It looks incredible.

Is this running on UE4?

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It's Mercury Steams own internal engine.

 

[Lady Bow]

Gushing praise in almost every area, you love to see it. Seems like Mercury Steam killed it. :)

 

[RojoRedRouge]

The HD rumble is excellent on Dread, but unfortunately no one cares about it, even DF :(

 

[Magic]

Was waiting on this until the Holidays, but the wait just keeps getting harder…

 

[Jaded Alyx]

I knew it wasn't as low as 720p but definitely not 1080p

 

[ramenline]

glad they touched on the sound design, it's fantastic. everything feels super polished

 

[starfoxxxy]

Weird i was actually saying how long the loading times felt to myself last night

 

[chronos4590]

Best audio design of 2021? More than returnal?!
Let me watch this whole thing as i wait for my copy to arrive in a bit
Props to the work they did on performance. Mercury steam x Nintendo seems like such great collaborators

 

[DaveB]

A drop to 30 for cut scenes is a bit of a bummer. Makes them more cinematic I guess. lol

 

[Duffking]

My favourite touch so far is the little "hand above the opening" pose Samus does at narrow space openings. Love that sort of thing.

The flame particle effects look bad though. Weird they didn't pick a nicer asset.

 

[disparate]

This is the only game making me consider re-purchasing a Switch. It looks incredible.

Is this running on UE4?

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MercurySteam's own technology iirc, UE4 is a poorly performing engine typically on lower end hardware, especially on Switch.

 

[giapel]

A design AND technical marvel. A triumph all around.

 

[HououinKyouma]

"Best audio design of 2021" is great to hear. It's a shame I won't be able to use my headphones with the Switch Pro Controller though. Definitely the biggest pain in the ass for me.

 

[ILikeFeet]

A drop to 30 for cut scenes is a bit of a bummer. Makes them more cinematic I guess. lol

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probably because they were pushing effects during those sequences

 

[Mifec]

All this praise and the game is also genuinely fun and good. Not quite the level of the current king but deffo among the top.

I knew it wasn't as low as 720p but definitely not 1080p

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If you wanna go higher you can emulate it easily at 1440p/4k at 60fps if you own a Switch that can dump backups.

 

[Dennis8K]

Yeah baby.

 

[DaveB]

probably because they were pushing effects during those sequences

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No doubt. I was just being sarcastic after the controversy around Uncharted 4 dropping to 30 and the devs saying something about making it more cinematic.

Just finished setting up my OLED Switch, waiting for my copy of Dread to arrive. So psyched!

 

[JCal]

I don't give a shit what anyone says, 900p docked for the Switch is respectable and hitting that res while maintaining a smooth 60fps shows MS worked their butts off to optimize the game.

 

[TornadoDDT]

But but but but who needs Metroid when Indie developers give us games like hollo night 🥴🥴🥴

 

[RoboitoAM]

MercurySteam's own technology iirc, UE4 is a poorly performing engine typically on lower end hardware, especially on Switch.

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Yep unless you want another Yoshi scenario where it plays at like 540p or whatever

No thank you

 

[Bulby]

This is the only game making me consider re-purchasing a Switch. It looks incredible.

Is this running on UE4?

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I was literally about to write, I may have to buy a Switch lite for this.

 

[Skyebaron]

Art style also lets it looks stunning for future consoles. 4K Auto HDR from Ryujinx is stunning.

 

[gogojira]

Game is amazing, what a fucking knockout from Mercury Steam and Nintendo.

 

[a Master Ninja]

I'm just relieved to see stable performance in a recent Switch game.

 

[Jroc]

It's interesting how most Switch games max out around 900p when docked. What is the main bottleneck? I'm guessing the docked clocks don't scale enough for the increased resolution compared to the handheld 720p clocks?

 

[RedHeat]

900p sounds about right, but I wish there was some AA implemented

 

[joe1138]

I don't normally play my Switch in docked mode but if the sound design is that strong, I may have to give this a shot on the home theater.

 

[Jazzem]

Amazing results, especially in handheld mode 🙂

 

[CubeApple76]

Weird i was actually saying how long the loading times felt to myself last night

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If you're used to PS5 or Series X loading they probably will still feel long tbh

 

[SnazzyNaz]

Stoked to hear it's native 720p in handheld. All the more reason to exclusively play it in handheld on the OLED units.

 

[mugurumakensei]

It's interesting how most Switch games max out around 900p when docked. What is the main bottleneck? I'm guessing the docked clocks don't scale enough for the increased resolution compared to the handheld 720p clocks?

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Largely particle and alpha effects have a heavy impact given switch's limited bandwidth

 

[BradleyLove]

I simply adore 2.5D stuff, I wish I had a Switch for this. Makes my craving for a Turrican 2.5D remake even more intense.

 

[Nemesis Warlock]

Hearing this makes me weep for the possibility of Samus Returns HD. (And whatever the heck else These guys are working on.)

 

[HardRojo]

This is going to be a treat to play on the big screen while wearing headphones and all lights off. Can't fucking wait till Sunday when I get the whole day free for this.

 

[Powerofthecloud]

60fps is cool

 

[superpickleman]

The game looks gorgeous on my 65 inch 4K TV. Really impressive work by MercurySteam!

 

[Branson]

I knew it was a good idea to wait until tonight to have it hooked up to my 5.1 system. Can't wait to dig in.

 

[Red]

Great to hear the sound mix is solid. Nintendo's first party title sound mixes are under appreciated. Their visuals may appear dated, but the sound in nearly every one of them—phenomenal. They don't get enough attention.

 

[andymcc]

i remember that dude trying to shit on the performance of this game because of the clips in the trailer lol

 

[sir_crocodile]

can I watch this review without spoilers?

 

[Bunzy]

Best sound design? Damn John that's a high mark to beat with Returnal out there.

 

[nexus]

900p docked? Man it really is time for that pro.

 

[InternHertz]

can I watch this review without spoilers?

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It depends what constitute spoilers for you but he limits the showing to the first two areas. You will however see some bosses and power ups you get in the first few hours.

 

[King_Moc]

900p docked? Man it really is time for that pro.

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Many games that are 720p handheld have been 900p docked literally since launch day with BOTW.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

Best sound design? Damn John that's a high mark to beat with Returnal out there.

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Sounded like he said one of the best, not the best.

 

[Bucca]

what does Nintendo have against AA fr

 

[Bunzy]

Sounded like he said one of the best, not the best.

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Ahh I just read the bullet points from the topic summary. Haven't had a chance to watch yet