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Winter is coming, and Nintendo has delivered an epic Switch game to get lost in this season. After a week of playing Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, I know this is what I’ve been waiting for. It’s full of space motorcycles, space relics, psychic powers, and lots of puzzle solving.
It’s been a long time since I’ve played a Metroid Prime game. I was wandering around my GameCube in California, playing the first game. I’ve never gotten into 2D Metroid games, but Prime’s mysterious caves and worlds felt like exploring space graveyards. It’s always had a bit of a 3D Zelda vibe to me. The Prime games felt more intense and more immersive than the 2D games, even Dread. (the The original Prime is on Switch Also, remastered and worth playing.)
With Prime 4, it took me a while to get back into it. But now that’s all I think about playing. My recommendation is just go for the experience. You don’t know anything, and you’ll probably skip everything in this review, or any other. Mystery is Metroid’s calling card. Your big adventure on Switch is here.
The atmosphere is so great in this.
If you’re new, here’s the deal: 3D Metroid is a first-person shooter adventure, but with more emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving than on head-to-head combat. Once again, you play as Samus, a bounty hunter quietly exploring her world. Enemies and bosses appear, and they can be difficult, but expect challenges similar to boss battles in a Zelda game. Just like all other Metroid games, you’ll lose your various powers and have to find them again, piece by piece. Besides running, jumping and shooting, you can transform into a ball. Or, this time, ride a Tron-like space bike called the Vi-O-La.
I wasn’t sure if Prime 4 would be right for me, or if I’d feel lost in lore I’d forgotten or didn’t understand (since I hadn’t finished Prime 2 or 3, and I barely remember what happened in Prime). decent. This game assumes you may be clean, although knowledge of the Metroid series will help.
Hollywood flair, but not much
It’s also clear that Nintendo is pushing the Metroid series into the mainstream. With Nintendo now making theme parks and movies, Metroid seems like a future candidate for another spin-off franchise. The game’s gorgeous opening video sequences feel like they’ve been pushed into Star Wars, and yes, new talking side characters are interspersed throughout. Some are annoying, some are a little corny, but they all seem to be auditioning for roles in future entertainment.
That annoying guy who seemed to always be barging in during early game demos a few weeks ago? It doesn’t bother me much. Sure, there’s a lot of chatting at first, but it calms down later. The good news: Even now, after hours of play, these characters don’t bother you all the time. In fact, on most maze-like maps, they’re offline, and you’re on your own. Don’t worry, the secluded atmosphere of Samos is still there.
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Just enough lost feelings really
Samus ends up isolated on a new planet, Viewros, which is filled with ancient artifacts from a civilization called the Lamorn that needs to be awakened. You don’t know why you’re there, and you don’t know where to go. I mean there are maps and suggestions, and sometimes the game will send you a specific goal on the map. But the game doesn’t hold your hand very much. I often wondered what to do next, which is not a bad thing at all. There are suggestions and clues within the game, and the design also lends itself to more suggestions.
Get ready for desert biking.
Semi-open world
What I keep thinking about is the vast desert world of Viewros, which is housed within a huge map with specific areas to visit scattered throughout. The desert appears largely empty, but there are mysterious objects to be found in it, some of which cannot even be accessed at first. Underground caves that resemble a shrine. Pieces of rubble. Strange machines.
And the motorcycle you discover and ride – the Vi-O-La, also known as the Zelda Horse of Metroid Prime 4 – adds to the great open-world feel here. Not a huge one yet, but enough to give the game dimension. it’s not Breath of the wildbut it’s a bit like Ocarina of Time’s take on space. I love riding this Tron bike, and I want all Metroid games to add this kind of layer. (Will there be a flying spaceship? Will there be one later in this game? I don’t know yet.)
It’s cool (on key 2)
I didn’t play Metroid Prime 4 on the original Switch, but I absolutely loved it Pokemon Legends ZAboth the Switch and Switch 2 are playable. The Switch 2 version has a very smooth 60fps (or 120fps at a lower resolution) and a fun mouse mode with the Joy-Cons, but I barely used it. I just find the standard controls great just the way they are.
You do a lot of object scanning in this game, using the Psychic Visor mode that sometimes activates relics, or scans and indexes objects, items, and artifacts. This left trigger is probably the most used button in the game.
The game plays great both docked and handheld, which is good news because I’ll be traveling with this game for a while. I’m nowhere near finished (sorry, I’m a slow player), but it’s hype, even if it’s not a complete reinvention of the controls and gameplay. Now clear your mind of everything I said and dive into it. It is better to know nothing at all.