Like the many Nintendo properties around it, the Metroid franchise is known for its iconic assortment of characters. From the resilient Samus Aran to the titular Metroid parasites, the series has largely relied on a very consistent cast of characters. Now with Metroid Dread on the horizon, fans of the franchise are ready to get back to the main series for the first time in almost twenty years. After all of that time, one of the biggest questions now is which villains will be featured in the game, and there's one name in particular that stands out among the rest.
Out of the many villains that have been featured in Metroid games over the years, arguably the most iconic is the space pirate Ridley. The fire-breathing dragon has been an integral part of the series since the very first Metroid, but since his last chronological appearance in Metroid Fusion, there are some doubts on whether or not Ridley will make an appearance in Metroid Dread. The game certainly seems to be doing some unique things with the franchise for its big return to consoles, so it's worth evaluating just how likely it is that Ridley will make an appearance.
The State Of Ridley Going Into Metroid Dread
As one of Samus' most persistent villains, Ridley has undergone a number of evolutions to keep up with Samus' evolving skill set. The first game featured Ridley in his plainest form, just a big purple dragon that jumps around and shoots fireballs. As the games progressed, however, Ridley began to transform after each defeat, giving Samus and the player a different challenge with each Metroid title.
Looking at the most recent Metroid game in the timeline, Metroid Fusion, the Ridley featured in that game isn't even technically the same Ridley that players faced in the original game. This version is the corpse of a Ridley clone that is being imitated by the X Parasite, now called Neo Ridley. Like all subsequent versions of Ridley, this mimic is ultimately defeated by Samus, seemingly ending any reincarnations of Ridley for the foreseeable future.
Ridley's Penchant For Cheating Death
While the death of Neo Ridley in Metroid Fusion may have seemed like the definitive end of the character, many Metroid fans know that Ridley usually doesn't stay dead for long. Ridley has cheated death using cybernetic enhancements, cloning, and other miraculous means, helping him become one of Samus' most pesky rivals. Given this track record, it's not completely impossible to believe that Ridley could appear in Metroid Dread in some way or another. It would certainly take a lot of explaining as far as the narrative reasoning is concerned, but Ridley has almost always shown that if there's a will, there's a way.
Does Metroid Dread Need Ridley?
As tempting as it would be to bring back Ridley in Metroid Dread as a bit of fan service, the character might not be all that necessary. Trailers for Metroid Dread have already shown that the game is introducing a lot of new elements into the series, most notably the relentless EMMI robots that hunt down Samus on sight. If this is really the return of the Metroid franchise, it might be wise to leave Ridley in the past and try to do something new with the game's villains. That's not to say he can't be referenced at some point in Metroid Dread, but it might be wise if the game moved on to give new villains a chance to shine.
Aside from the terrifying new EMMI and some other monsters, not much has been shown regarding Metroid Dread's main cast of villains. The game certainly has a lot of expectations to meet considering it will end a Metroid story that's over thirty years in the making. Whether or not Dread includes Ridley, it will likely have gameplay features and story elements that both franchise veterans and newcomers can get behind.
Metroid Dread releases October 8 for Nintendo Switch.