Metroid Dread has reinvigorated interest in Nintendo's long-running science-fiction shooter series starring the intrepid and often silent bounty hunter by the name of Samus Aran. This game finds Samus going to Planet ZDR on the orders of the Galactic Federation to investigate the loss of contact with the E.M.M.I. research drones on the planet. It's here that she is attacked by the mysterious Raven Beak and separated from her ship and any chance to escape the planet.
Metroid Dread is the latest game in the Metroid timeline, and it holds many references to prior Metroid entries just waiting for those who can find and recognize them. Metroid has a long and often complicated timeline, so not all of these references are easy to understand for the casual player.
Warning: Spoilers ahead
10 The Central Units Greatly Resemble Mother Brains
The Central Units are a recurring mini-boss throughout Metroid Dread. They control the nigh-indestructible E.M.M.I. robots that stalk Samus in certain contained zones. Samus has to break through each Central Unit's armor plating while dodging turret fire, then destroy the brain within to be able to beat the corresponding E.M.M.I.
The fact that the Central Units are large brains with a singular eye in the center is an obvious comparison to the Mother Brain from prior Metroid installments. It seems to imply that the Galactic Federation recreated a version of the Mother Brain to control the E.M.M.I.s.
9 Kraid Is A Longtime Enemy Of Samus Across The Metroid Franchise
One of the most memorable boss battles in Metroid Dread is the fight with Kraid in Cataris. Here, Kraid is chained up and forced to fight Samus by launching his claws, spikes, and stomach bile at her. It's a grotesque yet captivating battle.
Kraid has been an enemy of Samus for decades, having appeared in Metroid, Metroid: Zero Mission, and Super Metroid. He also appears in the background on the "Brinstar Depths" stage in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Brawl, and Ultimate.
8 The Chozo Have A Long And Important History In Metroid
The Chozo are referenced throughout Metroid Dread, with Raven Beak and Quiet Robes both being of the Chozo race. They are usually involved with the backstory of whatever world that Samus finds herself on, as the Chozo themselves are largely extinct. They seem to be a sort of forerunner race throughout much of the known Metroid universe.
Metroid Dread is one of the few times that a Metroid game has shown living Chozo, and it turns out that they have an even deeper connection to Samus than prior games have shown.
7 The Adam AI Is The Legacy Of The Galactic Federation Soldier, Adam Malkovich
The AI that communicates with Samus throughout much of the game is dubbed "Adam." It's named after Adam Malkovich, a Galactic Federation soldier who was Samus' commanding officer back when she was in the Federation's military.
This character actually first appeared in Metroid Fusion as the AI on Samus' ship. Adam the person was a major character in the much-maligned Metroid: Other M game which takes place before both Fusion and Dread.
6 Samus' Chozo-Based Backstory Lines Up With The Metroid Manga
One of the big revelations at the end of Metroid Dread is that Samus Aran was raised by the Chozo and infused with their DNA. This is one of the reasons she is so easily able to interface with her Power Suit and assimilate new abilities.
This is new information for the Metroid games, but it's actually already been established in the franchise as a whole. This backstory was told in the Metroid manga by Koji Tazawa and Kenji Ishikawa starting back in 2002. It was initially published in Magazine Z but was later collected in two volumes.
5 Raven Beak Shows Up In The Chozo Memories In Samus Returns
Raven Beak also has an earlier appearance in the Metroid games than players might expect. This is partly because Metroid Dread has been in the works for a long time. Raven Beak can be seen in the tenth and eleventh Chozo Memories in Metroid: Samus Returns.
Raven Beak's Mawkin Tribe is also established in these memories. They meet with the Thoha Chozo Tribe of SR388 (the main planet from Metroid Fusion). These memories also foreshadow Raven Beak's desire to use the Metroids as a weapon and tool.
4 Samus' Metroid DNA Is A Callback To Metroid Fusion
Much is made of Samus' Metroid DNA throughout Dread. It gives her immunity to the X-Parasites, and it makes her useful to Raven Beak. Furthermore, it mutates her armor in the final battle against Raven Beak.
Samus having Metroid DNA is due to the events of Metroid Fusion when she was inoculated against the X-Parasites with a Metroid vaccine. Given that Metroid Fusion is almost 20 years old, it's understandable if people playing Dread either don't remember that or never even played Fusion. It's further muddled by the fact that Fusion takes place after every other Metroid game except for Dread.
3 The X-Parasites Are Also A Holdover From Metroid Fusion
The X-Parasites as a concept were first introduced in Metroid Fusion. One attacks Samus early on, forcing the scientists she was tasked with protecting to inject her with Metroid DNA. X-Parasites are the natural prey of Metroids, so Samus having Metroid DNA inside of her keeps her from being assimilated by the X-Parasites.
The X-Parasites were thought to have been wiped out after Samus crashed the orbital research station into SR388 in Fusion, but they apparently were locked away inside Planet ZDR as well.
2 The Omega Cannon Is A Weapon That Samus Used In Metroid Prime: Hunters
The Omega Cannon, the weapon that Samus gets after killing a Central Unit in Metroid Dread, has appeared in another Metroid game, Metroid Prime: Hunters. In Dread, the Omega Cannon is the only weapon that can kill an E.M.M.I. unit. In Hunters, it is the final upgrade Samus receives, allowing her to kill the final boss, Gorea.
It was established in Hunters that the Omega Cannon is an unstable weapon, which explains why it dissipates after only a couple of uses each time in Dread. It's also implied that it's a nuclear weapon, as it emanates gamma radiation.
1 The Corpse Of Draygon Is In The Background Of An Early-Game Zone
In Dairon, there is a silhouetted figure in a tank in the background of a room in the upper-left section of the zone. This hasn't been confirmed officially, but many longtime Metroid players have pointed out that the creature looks like Draygon, a boss from Super Metroid. Draygon was an aquatic creature and one of the commanders of the Space Pirates in Super Metroid. He hasn't been seen in a game before or since then.