Nintendo decided to reveal the new 2.5D Metroid title at this year’s E3 event, which has been rumored to be in various stages of development for at least the past 16 years. Metroid Dread will serve as a direct sequel to 2002’s Metroid Fusion, and will ultimately end the story that started with the original Metroid.

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According to the official Nintendo blog post, there’s a specific reason why Samus’s Power Suit in Metroid Dread blends an organic and mechanical appearance. Her suit is the same one worn Metroid Fusion, gradually returning back to its “original mechanical Power Suit form” as she takes on the fear-inducing EMMI. As far as what her abilities are, fans can expect the expected, with a few new surprises.

The bounty hunter will have her Power Beam and Charge Beam Arm Cannon attack, along with a finite amount of powerful missiles. Beyond her standard weapons, Samus can power up her physical and special abilities, greatly increasing offensive power and agility.

These power-ups allow Samus to get through previously impassable doors and obstacles, unlocking new areas to explore. Speaking of exploration, the Metroid Dread blog sheds light on how players will be navigating the planet ZDR. Keeping with the “sophisticated, maze-like world” 2D Metroid games are known for, the game’s new map has evolved into a more detailed navigational tool.

Players will be able to zoom and expand both the full map and mini-map, along with the ability to place different colored markers anywhere. The map’s Icon Highlight feature lets players view the same type of icon across all areas, with glowing spots indicating hidden items.

The information released so far has Metroid Dread shaping up to be one of the more significant Nintendo releases in the past few years. From the introduction of new adversaries in the EMMI to completely new skills like the Phantom Cloak ability, Dread is poised to be one of, if not the, most popular 2D Metroid games, and hopefully a fitting conclusion to Samus’s genre-spawning 35-year story.

With the game releasing this fall, fans won’t have to wait too long before taking Samus on her next adventure, setting the stage for the also highly-anticipated Metroid Prime 4.

Metroid Dread launches October 8, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.

MORE: Metroid Dread’s Surprising Sixteen Year History Explained

Source: Nintendo