Metroid Prime 4: Post Review: It excels when it’s actually a Metroid

when Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Good thing, it’s good. The latest in Nintendo’s sci-fi exploration franchise, the The first since then Metroid Dread In 2021, behind It captures the moody feeling of isolation and discovery that was essential Metroid Since its debut in 1986. Those quiet moments really make you feel alone on a harsh alien planet, interspersed with intense action scenes and some amazing boss fights. At its peak, the game is considered among the best in the series. The problem is that Nintendo added a whole bunch of stuff on top of that – including chatty sidekick characters and a boring, empty hub world – that gets in the way.

Even though there is a number 4 in the title, behind It is a largely independent experience. The latest in bounty hunter Samus Aran’s many adventures begins in the midst of a war with some space pirates, before she finds herself mysteriously transported to a distant world. Typical planet Metroid Stuff: Once home to an advanced civilization, it’s now covered in dormant ancient technology, and all sorts of dangerous creatures. Samus learns early on that the only way to return home is to find a series of “transport keys” and take them to a giant tower. Oh, and the dead alien race, who resemble talking sea urchins, view her as a chosen being meant to right the wrongs that led to their downfall, extending their quest even further.

Doing all of this involves standardization Metroid formula. You start with just a few abilities – a gun and the ability to transform into a small ball – and you constantly gain new abilities, allowing you to explore further. Joy in a Metroid The game comes through by revealing its intricately designed levels, spaces full of secrets and the connections between them that usually only become clear once you have the right ability or knowledge. You’ll regularly see doors that can only be opened with a weapon you don’t have yet, or ledges that are too high to reach with your current abilities.

Instead of messing with what works, behind Just does it really well. The levels challenge your mind and the atmosphere completely immerses you. Sometimes this comes in the form of small details, like scurrying alien insects or packs of wolves watching your every move. Other times, it’s more detailed. In an abandoned factory level, you wander through creepy corridors filled with decommissioned security robots. It’s very unsettling, and then, after you’ve solved some complex technical challenges to get things up and running, the mood completely changes when the robots come to life and attack you. behind It has an excellent balance between solo exploration and action, with a few large-scale battles, including some boss fights. It also adds some new tools to Samus’ arsenal with psychic powers that allow her to manipulate certain objects and slow down time to bend shots around obstacles.

If that’s exactly what behind It would be a great game and a welcome addition to the game Metroid Canon, one that was worthy The almost decade-long wait from announcement to launch. Unfortunately, Nintendo also decided to add some new and very unusual elements.Metroid Game elements that dampen the experience.

First are the new companion characters. It’s not as if Samus has always worked alone, as she once had an AI guide Metroid FusionFor example – but here the other characters are more involved. Over the course of the game you’ll discover a few soldiers who have likewise been transported to the planet, and you’ll spend most of the game working alongside them to get back home.

This has a huge impact on the game: while the story is usually its core material Metroidwhere you can search as much or as little as you want, here it is more present because Samus is not alone. She’s still a silent heroine, but her new crew—each of whom is a generic sci-fi archetype, from the obsessed geek to the gruff sergeant—can be quite talkative. This is mostly attributed to cutscenes in which people are constantly risking their lives for Samus, although they will regularly chime in over the radio to offer hints as well. The dialogue doesn’t overwhelm the experience, but it also doesn’t add much to it; The characters are so forgettable that I found myself ignoring them.

Even more disappointing is the new hub area. While much of your time is… behind It is spent in these well-designed levels, connecting each one to a vast expanse of desert, which you traverse on AkiraMotorcycle style. At first, it was pretty cool; Cruising down the highway while heavy metal bolts and lightning strike bizarre, gothic towers in the distance is an excellent introduction to cycling. But eventually it becomes clear that the desert is a barren and boring place. There are some basic shrines where you can solve simple puzzles to unlock new powers, some space junk and other points of interest to investigate. Mostly, though, you’re just speeding through an empty lot while getting stuck in boring vehicle battles.

This problem gets worse as you progress due to the game’s structure, which requires a lot of backtracking. So, every time you need to return to an area to use one of your new power-ups or talk to a character, it means a long trek through nothing. The game eventually turns into an inevitable huddle near the end, which really kills behindMomentum as you approach the end.

These parts of the game are particularly frustrating because they are otherwise behind It does a lot well. While Metroidvania has become an inescapable genre,… prime minister Still, games are unparalleled when it comes to bringing this style of exploration-heavy gameplay to a 3D world. behind It’s a decent follow-up, but you really have to make some dull and unnecessary additions to see its best moments.

_{Metroid Prime 4: Beyond It will be released on December 4 on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.}