Metroid Dread Report Volume 5 Explained

After a terribly long wait (even longer than fans probably realized, in fact), "Metroid Dread" is finally coming to Nintendo Switch on October 8, 2021. The game marks the fifth mainline entry in the "Metroid" franchise, continuing the story from where it left off in "Metroid Fusion." Samus Aran has survived her encounter with the SA-X and the X parasites and has returned to making the galaxy a safer place to live.

The new game will pit the intergalactic bounty hunter against a bevy of new threats, including unstoppable mechanical enemies called the E.M.M.I. In order to survive, she'll need to rely on every weapon in her arsenal, as well as some new abilities. Luckily for fans of the action-packed exploration franchise, Nintendo has been keeping players updated on what they can expect in Samus' next adventure with a series of behind the scenes reports.

In Nintendo's fifth "Metroid Dread" Report, the developers have detailed a number of Samus' new powers and equipment, as well as a peek at the cause of the latest threat to the galaxy. Here's everything Nintendo revealed in "Metroid Dread" Report Volume 5.

In "Metroid Dread," Samus Aran has come prepared with a whole new arsenal, as well as some old tricks that fans will know and love. First, the familiar stuff: Samus will have missiles and beam attacks at her disposal, as well as the Morph Ball ability that lets her roll herself up to move through tight corridors. However, some of these abilities have been given a bit of an overhaul. Unlike in 2017's "Samus Returns," Samus is able to fire off shots at enemies while running, allowing for more strategic battles. The Melee Counter from "Samus Returns" can be used in "Dread" as well, letting Samus stun her enemies with a well-timed strike.

Perhaps most intriguing of all is the addition of Aeion abilities, which are powered by what the dev team refers to as "special, mystical energy." The only ability discussed in the latest report is Phantom Cloak, which allows Samus to turn invisible until her Aeion reserve runs out. Aeion energy builds back up over time, which is good news for Samus. She's probably going to need to be able to vanish from time to time, particularly with the E.M.M.I. constantly on her trail.

The fifth "Metroid Dread" Report, concluded with a clip from the game's introductory cutscene, which provided fans with a clearer picture of how this game's story connects directly to "Metroid Fusion." At the tail end of the latter game, Samus believed every last trace of the X parasites to have been destroyed when she blew up their home planet of SR-388.

The new clip from "Metroid Dread" shows that not only has a specimen survived on the planet ZDR, but it has apparently attacked and corrupted the E.M.M.I. units, causing them to go rogue. This is why Samus is dispatched to ZDR, where she is warned against destroying the E.M.M.I. Of course, things rarely go according to plan for Samus Aran. 

The next time the trailer shows Samus, she's been knocked unconscious on the surface of the planet. Not only that, but her iconic Power Suit looks very different. The developers have indicated that the new look of the suit is a direct result of the events of "Fusion," but fans will just have to wait for the next "Metroid Dread" Report to discover what exactly is in store for Samus on ZDR.