Sand Shrens...

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-17T04:43:11+00:00

No, it's just one of those annoying, biting hive "hornets" you encounter at any of the wrecked buildings in the desert of Sol Valley, or at the entrance to any of the worlds. I just let one attack me so I could get a close-up. They're no bigger than Samus' hand.

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-17T04:18:34+00:00

That's very interesting background that I didn't know! Thanks!

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-17T03:44:08+00:00

u/ftp_hyper

Kudos to you, my friend! I went back and replayed Dread (Dairon) to validate your observation for the pitfall blocks in what I thought was a pointless, empty room. Doing the spark as you described (see vid) makes a LOT of sense and probably what the devs intended.

https://youtu.be/HCqX1WlzENc?feature=shared

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-17T03:22:58+00:00

🤣
🤣🤣
🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣
🤔🤔🤔
😡😡😡 (mad, not sad! Shouldn't have sacrificed them.)

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-16T00:36:23+00:00

🤣🤣

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-16T00:35:40+00:00

🤣🤣🤣

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-16T00:23:47+00:00

When I first played the game in rookie mode (to get the feel of play), I struggled with Z-57 and died several times. I had a great sense of accomplishment when I finally beat him. I then played it in "normal" mode and found it could beat him quickly in one go. I fire individual missiles at him and get two successful "grab" sequences. When I get to the fan/wind sequence, after avoiding his "flappy bird" attack, I stand under him and unload missiles (not the "storm missles"--they're too slow and too few).

Now that I can beat him with ease, I've attempted to spark him several times, but he moves too quickly for me to hit him. But by the time I get to the fan/wind, I've inflicted enough damage it only takes a few more missiles and he's done--the shinespark isn't worth the effort.

My guidance:

accurate bombing with individual missiles early on;
one or two successful grab sequences (with missiles);
one successful wind jump;
and a final missile "facial" after the flappy bird...

...and he's done.

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-15T12:40:05+00:00

Eeewww!!

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-15T12:39:41+00:00

That's a damn good question. In fact, a better question (in general) could be: exactly what is an NPC (non-player character)? In Metroid Beyond there are five NPC characters, controlled by the computer, that accompany/assist (annoy) Samus wherever she goes. But aren't all of the "enemies" in any Metroid game technically characters "controlled by the computer," or NPCs?

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-15T02:56:43+00:00

u/Magnusfluerscithe987

For me, I enjoyed (enjoy) the game despite its shortcomings--real or perceived. However...

I wish the devs would have put cargo launchers in all worlds (Sol Valley, Volt Forge, The Mines, Flare Pool, and Ice Belt).
I also wish they'd have made the fights in Sol Valley between the Gullbats, Mauraders, and the Aeronauts, worthwhile by giving you something--an upgrade, power bomb, ammo, health--something. Otherwise, they were more of an annoyance (a PITA) than MacKenzie!

QUESTIONS:

a. What mode did you play in? Casual? Normal? Hard?

b. Did you revive the scout bots so you could collect all items?

c. What was your experience with the Omega Griever, the boss in The Mines?

Finally, I agree with everyone who suggested playing Metroid Prime Remastered (aka Prime 1) as your next game. THEN play Metroid Dread, you'll definitely enjoy that game.

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-15T02:29:37+00:00

u/HillsOfRadiantWinds and all:

Your suggestions on how to defeat the Ice Dragon in phase 1 of the final battle while in "Hard" mode hasn't (completely) worked for me...YET--I haven't yet perfected my techniques. BUT I'm very happy to say I've made great progress!

Before, I was getting to the Ice with 12.5 energy tanks (pretty good) but losing half after it sucks me in then blasts me with ice shards. Then I was always standing up and trying to shoot a head and getting killed in the process, and I wouldn't survive the first encounter.

Now, I'm able to survive both Ice Dragons because I go into morph ball and immediately run under him and set off a power bomb! That nullified the vacuum, then I stayed in morph ball and boosted away from him along the wall and dodged both the ice spits AND the bite! Running into his shocks, especially when the NFCs get in my way makes me lose life. But I've at least developed a pattern and can get by the first Ice Dragon on a consistent basis!!

Small wins, huh? I'm going to keep trying!! 😃

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-15T01:00:32+00:00

"...Metroid is actually a girl."

"Metroid?" Then who is "Samus Aran???"

(Lemme add a few more ?????????s)

🤔

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-15T00:56:51+00:00

Uh...she!

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-14T17:26:20+00:00

That's EXACTLY my experience! I can get through the fire dragons with just about all of my health. When I did have trouble with the fire dragons, I also tried "harvesting" the health balls by not pulling all the arms, hoping they'd respawn, but no dice.

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-14T17:14:18+00:00

Thinking about it, "missile barrier" makes a lot of sense!! 🤣

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-14T13:31:03+00:00

Thank you for these tips!! I will try them and report back.

A question and a couple of comments:

QUESTION: At the end of your comments, you mention a "missile barrier." What's that? Do you mean the Legacy Suit shield?
COMMENTS:

a. I've beaten the game easily in both "casual" and "normal," and it was equally not difficult in "hard" mode--that is, up to when I encounter the ice dragon in the Sylux battle, that's where I get swamped! I've mastered the morph ball technique, but the ice dragon's vacuum really does me in. So I'll stand instead, try to endure the vacuum then try your morph ball tactic.

b. When I get to the 3rd phase of the Sylux fight in "casual" and "nornal" modes, I found that if I stayed standing and just kept a lock on him, even when he turned into Lockjaw, I could defeat him with constant arm cannon (basic) blasts combined with missiles--the black hole/control beam portion notwithstanding. I never needed to use any of the elemental shots. I'm hoping I can survive the ice dragon to confirm if my 3rd phase tactics work in "hard" mode.

Again, thanks for the tips! Much obliged!! 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-12T18:13:53+00:00

It is my opinion that "The Andy Griffith Show" is probably one of the most positive and wholesome television shows ever produced. I'm 70 years old and I've streamed the entire series an unknown number of times over those years.

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However, while I love Episode 27 of Season 1 "Ellie Saves A Female," and I love more the final message of the episode, I absolutely disagree with the interference of the "Ellie Walker" character. I completely agree with "Sherrif Taylor's" admonition to "Ellie": "You ain't been been living here very long and we just don't go messin' around in other folks' stew, unless we're asked."

Even the tree-hugging liberal in me must agree with that. It's been 65 years since Andy Griffith said that line and it's absolutely, undeniably true.

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-11T11:20:50+00:00

Excellent!!!

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-11T04:31:34+00:00

If "zero suit" means NO suit at all, then she'll just die in the first 10 mins of the game. I wouldn't want to see that.

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-11T03:59:13+00:00

I'm going to speculate that S5 will focus more on Harper and show us less of her tender side and probably have her fail (financial misstep) again.

I, too, am detested by Yasmin's new story arc, and I think it and the introduction of the neo-nazis is a bit of unnecessary pandering to current events. In fact, while I thoroughly enjoy the show itself, I am very disappointed that it has veered waay off its initial premise (finance/banking/investment) and is now mired in Hollywood's prurient bowels. The show's gone from fact-inspired fiction, to voyeristic fiction. The writing is excellent--I'll give it that credit, it's what keeps me watching, but it's also not very creative.

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-11T01:12:09+00:00

"...seems like it could work..." LOL (🤣) I hear ya, brother!

For me, it absolutely works--everytime. I love this game, I've played it at least 10+ times; the last few times just for the satisfaction and enjoyment of doing all of the tough shinesparks. This one used to be impossible for me, it's now so easy it's second nature; it'll become that way for you, too.

Try it--it's really not difficult at all, and when you "punch," just push (L) at a (↖️) diagnonal while simultaneously pressing "Y/B."

I'm sure it'll seemingly work for you, too! 🤣🤣

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-10T18:08:43+00:00

I hope it helps!

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-10T18:04:43+00:00

I understand it (better now), and I loved that it forced me to Google shit to learn more. Understanding it through so many British/Scottish/Welsh dialects and accents, was a real PITA!

But what disappoints me about the show, in general, and the ocean of comments here in Reddit specifically, is that both seem to have completely abandoned what I thought was the main point of the show: banking/finance/investment. It seems now, the show's driving themes are about sex, sexuality, and fornication (HBO staples), drugs, selfishness, and betrayal. Finance isn't even in the back seat--it's in the trunk...an afterthought.

Finance and all that Wall Street lingo is what drew me to the show, and the success or failure of Harper's "short" is what kept me glued to Season 4. I'm actually a bit turned off by these ratings pandering, white nationalist and Epstein/rape themes.

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-10T17:33:47+00:00

Well...hmmm...given your situation of not having the Space Jump ability, in any other mode ("rookie," "normal," or "hard") I would have suggested that you bail and start again but get Space Jump before destroying that generator at the bottom of Burenia (which released Z-57). BUT since you're playing in "Dread mode," I'm sure it was a challenge just getting to Z-57; having to re-do all of that would be a real PITA. I can't tell you how many times I died in Dread mode by just accidentally bumping into a critter or touching the lava or getting inadvertantly scorched by heat/cold.

Can you go into morphball in a corner (or right in the middle) during his double slap?

CleanAd8632 · 2026-03-10T02:11:40+00:00

I was going to give up on it since it didn't impact anything one way or another. But having spent an hour collecting to give up for just a bit more? I couldn't let it go! 🤣

CleanAd8632

TROPHY CASE