It feels like forever since I played a new Metroid Prime game, but I realize that’s because it’s been so long since I picked up the game. Aside from 2023’s clearly superior Metroid Prime Remastered, our last exposure to this particular series was Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, which released on the Nintendo Wii in 2007. It wasn’t the best, but it was a solid sequel that probably deserves a follow-up a little (or much) sooner.
But here we are. Almost 20 years later, Metroid Prime 4: BEYOND is here. It definitely makes sense considering the Nintendo Switch 2 was released this year, but ultimately it’s nice to see Samus back in this form. This sequel may not be the best in the series, but it certainly excels in many ways, from solid gameplay and level design to decent performance on new hardware.
metroid prime time
Samus Aran was sent to the planet Buros and returned after an attack by space pirates. She soon learns that her rival Cyrax, along with an army of Metroids, is working on a new mind control device that will wreak havoc on various planets. Stuck in Buros, Samus must find a way to stop Syrax and return home, and in the process uncover the secrets of Buros’s inhabitants, the Lamron race.
There’s definitely an emphasis on mental abilities and themes to help with the overall gameplay and enhance Samus’ abilities, but I’d be lying if I said the story surprised me at any point. There’s some decent setup and some big stakes towards the end of the story, but the gameplay mostly takes a backseat for the majority of the running time.
Credit: Nintendo
It’s not bad, per say, but it’s completely lacking in any real emotional beats or memorable performances. Of course, Samus is still silent here, so I don’t think she’s part of the problem, but given that this stranded Samus spends most of her time alone, I wonder if the team at Retro Studios could have made this a more touching and introspective story.
All in all, the 10-15 hour story moves along fairly briskly depending on your intent to explore the game’s hidden areas, but it definitely doesn’t overstay its welcome, which I commend.
blast away
Samus is still equipped with her trusty arm cannon and will soon be infused with new superpowers. There’s also the introduction of the Vi-O-La bike, which helps you traverse the game’s larger open-world sections. The rest of the gameplay will be familiar to most fans of the series, offering a balanced blend of combat, puzzle solving, and exploration.
The combat in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond continues to be great. The arm cannon is punchy and responsive, allowing players to tap the A or ZR button to fire individual shots from the cannon, or hold the button down to charge and send out a powerful explosion. Samus can still free aim, but she can also lock on to enemies and aim within that specific area. However, in moments like these, the gyroscopic motion controls can get in the way. I primarily played this game on my TV using a Switch 2 Pro controller, and I preferred aiming with the stick rather than tilting the controller in a certain direction.
Credit: Nintendo
During the course of the track, Samus also gains access to various elemental abilities. This primarily affects artillery and helps make the battles deeper, as you have to adapt and choose the appropriate elemental abilities for each enemy. Combat is mostly successful based on how good it feels, but I like how all the abilities and upgrades stay relevant to the process.
Samus also has access to a handy scanner that can be used to scan various important items in an area, giving you hints on how to utilize those items. Scanners can also be used on enemies and certain bosses, helping to reveal weaknesses and effective attacks. Similar to previous Metroid Prime games, Samus unlocks various abilities throughout the game. These abilities are typically acquired by progressing through each area. These abilities help many people feel at home by helping them access places that were previously out of reach or inaccessible.
Most of these new abilities are based on the aforementioned psychic powers, allowing Samus to telekinetically move items around her or send telekinetic blasts from her arm cannon, slowing time in the process. These are just a few of the abilities you get early in the game, but I really like how they tie into the level design and general puzzle solving. There’s still a fair amount of backtracking involved, but it never feels pointless and you’re always moving toward the next goal.
Credit: Nintendo
As you might expect, Samus can also activate her morph ball form. This allows her to access smaller areas and is at least partially essential for solving most puzzles. Samus can also drop Morph Ball Bombs to access higher ledges or eliminate enemies in her way. What’s more, these Morph Ball Bombs are also infused with unique supernatural powers, forming bombs that linger for a while before exploding, allowing Samus to return to her normal form and fly around her.
Within the first few hours of the game, Samus unlocks a Vi-O-La motorcycle that allows her to travel through Sol Valley, a large, open desert outpost that connects many of the game’s levels and environments. Unfortunately these parts are not useful for me. The bike itself is great to ride, fast and smooth, and packed with unique combat weapons and mechanics to shoot your enemies from the air.
Still, the wider Sol Valley feels lifeless. Yes, it’s a desert, but there’s not much to do during the ride other than head to the next main area. There are certain temples of Ramone that Samus has to go to to unlock the Arm Cannon elemental ability, but they’re practically essential to the basic experience, so supplementary options feel pretty sparse in a large hub that doesn’t get too intrusive. But what I don’t understand is why there is no music or soundtrack as you traverse the long desert. It turns out it exists and is locked after you purchase the Amiibo, which I find odd.
Credit: Nintendo
Finally, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond allows players to take advantage of the Switch 2’s mouse controls, with generally successful results. Like other games, Joy Con works on any surface, including on your lap. This explains why some of the game’s main controls are mapped to two buttons on the controller. This format is fine in the sense that it’s responsive and fully playable, but the problem is that the mouse controls feel clunky when you’re not in the right position to use them. If you’re at a desk or table, it definitely makes more sense, but since I’m always sitting on the couch, controller-based alternatives are much more comfortable.
look at the part
I reviewed the game on the Switch 2, and I have to admit that it runs very well. The player can choose between a quality mode that outputs at 4K/60fps when docked and 1080p/60fps in handheld mode. Alternatively, there is a performance mode that outputs 1080p/120fps when docked and 720p/120fps when in handheld mode.
Credit: Nintendo
For the most part, this is pretty consistent across the board, with the only minor issues occurring when it gets a bit crowded in more open areas. Visually, however, there’s no getting around the muddy textures in certain parts, making the game feel a bit older than it really is.
final thoughts
Overall, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond may not be the best in the long-running series, but it definitely stands out as a solid sequel after years of anticipation. Combat is solid and deeper than ever thanks to new elemental and psychic abilities. The puzzle solving is consistently clever and well-paced, and even when you’re going backwards, you always feel like you’re moving forward.
While the story takes a backseat at times and certain muddy textures make the game’s visuals look a bit bad, there’s no denying how good Return of Samus looks, especially on newer hardware.
4 stars (out of 5)
Highlights: Solid combat. Lots of clever puzzles. The abilities feel balanced and well implemented. Visuals and performance are perfect
Highlight: Open world areas feel lifeless
Developer: Nintendo, Retro Studio
Publisher: Nintendo, Nintendo of America Inc.
Compatible models: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch2
Available: Currently
Review was conducted on Nintendo Switch 2 using an activation code provided by the publisher.
A featured header image is also provided by the publisher.
