Weapon players can expect to play a huge role

[ad_1]

Metroid Dread promises to have a blend of new and iconic Metroid weapons, although Ice Beam may appear in a particularly prominent role.

Metroid Dread is just around the corner, bringing with it new enemies and power-ups that Samus Aran can battle with. Fans are already wondering what could come back and what could be new, as Samus is boasting a new suit with new possibilities. This game takes place after Metroid Fusion, making it the furthest in Metroids that future players have ever seen. Also noteworthy is the fact that Samus Aeion’s abilities from Metroid: Samus Returns have reappeared, acting as modifiers and special modes that Samus can enter that are separate from her usual arsenal. Gamers will likely see an exciting mix of old and new updates once Metroid Dread arrives.

A weapon, however, can be a source of terror rather than wonder. Ice Beam and Ice Missiles have been a staple in the Metroid series for a long time, being more useful as a utility upgrade that creates platforms from enemies than as weapons. However, thanks to the story developments in Metroid Fusion, these ice weapons now play a very different role in Metroid gameplay. Players will need to pay attention to their appearance, as they will likely mark a dramatic turning point in Metroid Dreads’ action.

RELATED: Metroid Dread: Will Ridley Appear?

Ice Beams and the Metroid owners

Ice has always held a special place in the Metroid series, being the weak point of the iconic Metroid enemies of the series. Metros were incredibly dangerous, both in the lore of the series and in the gameplay, thanks to their ability to quickly absorb players’ health. Since Metroid 2 was all about exterminating the Metroids in their home world, finding an Ice Beam was crucial. Freezing the Metroids and then smashing them with missiles was the way to destroy them forever, and the extra platforming opportunities provided by freezing common enemies are a welcome bonus.

All of that changed when Metroid Fusion arrived. Since Samus was infected with Parasite X, a shape-shifting species that kills its host and imitates him, she had to shed her armor and use an experimental Metroid-based vaccine to survive. Now equipped with partial Metroid DNA and Fusion Suit, Samus can absorb X Parasites for strength like a Metroid, but also shares their weaknesses. Samus could no longer stand Ice Beam’s extreme cold, and ended up being used against her by her SA-X doppelganger. This invincible and often lethal foe was what inspired the EMMI robots in Metroid Dread. Samus absorbed the SA-X and her Ice Beam at the end of Fusion, but the final state of her DNA is still unclear.

The ice weapons in Metroid Dread

Metroid Fusion director Yoshio Sakamoto said the unnamed suit made by SA-X at the end of Metroid Fusion restored Samus to her normal DNA structure, allowing her to ignore Metroid’s weakness in the extreme cold. Considering that the Xs would be wiped out at the end of Fusion, it would make sense to get things back to normal. Metroid Dread begins with a mysterious report that claims that the Xs have resurfaced on a planet, and Samus and the EMMI are sent to investigate. Currently, it is ambiguous as to whether this report is accurate or not, but it could have serious repercussions if it were and if Sakamotos’ statement was reconnected.

If Samus can still absorb the X parasites, then logically she would also have a weak weakness to the cold weapons being used on her. The corrupt EMMI would be able to exploit it, with a hypothetical blue variant able to use an Ice Beam like SA-X. This would freeze Samus in place for their instant kill and inflict severe damage even if she escaped.

Samus may in turn regain her ice beam after destroying that particular EMMI, perhaps giving her a way to slow their movements. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Metroid game without the same titular beasts returning somehow. There’s a good chance Metroid-signed ice weapons could play a huge role in Metroid Dread, so fans should be bracing for this possibility.

Metroid Dread will launch on October 8, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.

MORE: Metroid Dread offers the perfect excuse to re-release the Metroid Prime trilogy

Mass Effect fans show off Miranda Lawson cosplay

About the author Liam Ferguson (149 published articles)

Liam is a feature writer for Game Rant. He has been an avid gaming enthusiast from a young age and graduated from Brock University with a degree in Interactive Science and Arts. He has a preference for melee-focused action games and loves analyzing mechanics. Combine this with his interest in writing and use his extensive industry knowledge to talk about a wide variety of games.

More from Liam Ferguson

[ad_2]