Metroid Dread hard mode adds a new veneer of difficulty to the newly-released game. Veteran Metroidvania players will relish the challenge of hard mode, and the new obstacles it brings. However, newcomers to franchise may wonder what differences hard mode introduces. Fear not, as we break down the Metroid Dread hard mode changes, so you know exactly what is different.
What’s different in Metroid Dread Hard Mode?
Unsurprisingly, the biggest change in Metroid Dread hard mode is difficulty. In a game that’s already no walk in the park, hard mode ramps that challenge up even more. Bosses will take more damage, Samus’ health will be reduced, and you’ll have to get your attacks and counters perfect.
Yes, hard mode in Metroid Dread is a challenge that only the most hardened fans of the genre will be able to handle. The base game is notoriously quite hard already, especially for those just joining the franchise. Considering it’s the first Metroid game in four years, you can imagine plenty of newcomers will be testing the series out for the first time. They’ll find it to be a challenge, but hard mode might be one step too far.
That’s because it amps up the gruelling difficulty in every possible way. The boss battles will take a lot more firepower to complete, and will be more unpredictable than before. The same can be said for generic grunts you have to fight throughout Metroid Dread – they’ll take a lot more punishment, too. It’s the ultimate test of your Metroidvania abilities, as Samus’ arsenal will make less impact, and you’ll rely much more on your own skill than before.
However, it’s worth mentioning that Metroid Dread hard mode is only available once you’ve beaten the game on normal mode. As such, you’ll already have run through the game once by the time you get to hard mode. That’ll give you the preconceived knowledge on boss weaknesses and combat tricks – but that alone won’t save you from the challenges of hard mode.
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