Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Review – Good Game, But Not A Good Metroid Prime Game

It’s easy to say now, looking back, but Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was always going to face an uphill battle.

The game’s development has been famously troubled. Originally announced by Bandai Namco in 2017 and reportedly far along in 2018, it was completely restarted at Retro Studios in 2019. Beyond the difficult development process, there were also concerns about whether the gameplay, similar to the original Metroid Prime, would still feel fresh and engaging to players today. While games like Metroid Prime have inspired many popular ‘Metroidvania’ titles, some felt the original’s style might seem a little outdated by modern standards.

Then 2023’s Metroid Prime Remastered blew us all away and emphatically said, “Yes, I’m still the GOAT. My gameplay is still fun today.”

It’s disappointing that more people didn’t play the Metroid games. While the series has historically struggled with sales, Metroid Dread is its most successful title, selling over 3 million copies. However, that still puts it behind other Nintendo Switch games like 1-2 Switch, Mario Tennis Aces, and even Suika Game. And while Suika Game is really fun, Metroid should be one of Nintendo’s biggest and most important franchises.

Honestly, I’ve been thinking a lot about Metroid Prime 4, and while it’s a fun game, something just feels…off. It seems like the developers made some choices to try and appeal to a wider audience, which I get, but it ended up sacrificing what makes a Metroid game truly special. It’s good, sure, but it doesn’t quite feel like a proper Metroid Prime experience to me.

The Friends We Made Along The Way

Let’s address the biggest concerns first: the non-player characters, or NPCs, like Myles MacKenzie. They received a lot of negative feedback early on, and I understand why. They seem to clash with the core qualities that make the Metroid series so enjoyable.

Despite being critically acclaimed, Metroid games consistently struggle with sales numbers. It’s odd, especially considering the huge success of games like Hollow Knight: Silksong, but Metroid titles just don’t seem to perform well in stores. One potential explanation is that they can feel difficult or confusing for new players.

For me, one of the best things about a Metroid game is just wandering around and figuring things out. You land somewhere new, get a feel for the place, and slowly piece together where to go next just by exploring and noticing things. With Metroid Prime 4, they tried something different by adding characters who basically tell you what’s going on – it’s like they’re there to ask the questions we, the players, would be asking, similar to how some characters work in the Marvel movies. Honestly, though, it doesn’t really work in this game. Sometimes that approach can be good, like in Shang-Chi, but here it just feels off.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a good game, but it’s not necessarily a good Metroid game.

Myles isn’t the worst character Nintendo has ever created, and honestly, he can be avoided if you know how to play. I’ll even admit he occasionally helped me out. The bigger issue is that he, and other characters, will try to talk to Samus, but she never reacts or acknowledges them, which feels strange and breaks the immersion.

Okay, so it’s not like Samus never talks, and I’m not just bringing up Other M here. It feels like with Prime 4, the developers really wanted a more story-driven, cinematic experience, which is cool. But it’s weird because they still mostly keep Samus silent. It honestly feels like the game can’t decide what it wants to be – it’s trying to be both a story-focused adventure and a classic, silent Metroid, and it ends up feeling a bit split. It’s like they had two really good ideas, but couldn’t fully commit to either one, and it holds the game back.

Despite This Glaring Issue, Still Understands What Makes It Great

So you can understand how upset I was when Metroid Prime 4 perfectly captured the feeling and tone of the original Metroid Prime.

The game features diverse areas that strongly resemble locations from past Metroid games. While not groundbreaking, this familiar approach works well. However, the game feels more straightforward than previous installments, which is a bit of a letdown. Despite this, exploring each area still captures the classic Metroid feeling of adventure.

One of the most impressive aspects of Metroid Prime 4 is its skillful foreshadowing. It doesn’t just hint at areas you’ll access later with new abilities; it weaves storytelling into the environments themselves. By scanning objects and uncovering lore, players get a sense of what’s coming, subtly encouraging the exploration and discovery that are hallmarks of the Metroid series. It’s a clever touch that really enhances the experience.

Okay, so I need to talk about Sol Valley. It’s this big desert area you drive around on your bike, and while it has some cool spots to find that make you want to explore – kind of like the Shrines in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom – it just feels…empty. Honestly, riding the bike is a blast, but the world itself is the real problem with Metroid Prime 4, even more than the story or the characters. It just lacks any real personality, and that’s what’s holding the game back.

Feels Like It’s Actually Two Games Fighting Against Each Other

Metroid Prime 4’s levels feel a bit inconsistent. They’re structured in a straightforward way, but the game also tries to offer a somewhat open world experience in Sol Valley, creating a sense that it couldn’t fully decide what kind of game it wanted to be.

Considering how popular open-world games have become, it’s natural to wonder if Nintendo is trying to capitalize on that trend with its major franchises. While Metroid Prime 4 isn’t simply a copy of Breath of the Wild, other Nintendo games are clearly moving in that direction.

Recent Nintendo games like Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart, and Donkey Kong Bananza all feature expansive, open-world designs. However, the open world in the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 feels very different – and isn’t as impressive as even the weaker open-world elements found in games like Mario Kart World.

Metroid Prime 4 tries to be two different games at once, and while both ideas have potential, the game doesn’t fully commit to either one, preventing it from reaching its full potential.

If the developers had fully committed to a clear vision for Metroid Prime 4, I believe the game would have been much stronger. While the Zelda series has evolved, its current formula is successful – offering a large world to explore, a compelling story, and a protagonist who doesn’t need to constantly talk. For the next Metroid, simply avoid making players endlessly re-craft equipment, and we’ll be on the right track. I surprisingly enjoyed the exploration in Sol Valley, particularly riding the Vi-O-La Bike, but I wish the desert area offered more meaningful reasons to venture out.

Metroid Prime Remastered proved how strong the series still is, and a large, interconnected map would have fit perfectly. Thankfully, that’s exactly what we get in Metroid Prime 4! I especially love figuring out the puzzles, finding hidden areas, and battling enemies – it’s incredibly satisfying.

You can definitely see two interesting ideas at play in the game, and they hint at what could have been. Unfortunately, these ideas never quite come together, and the game feels incomplete as a result.

The Gameplay Loop Remains As Fun As Ever

If anything, I wish they ventured more into expanding Sol Valley and its “shrines.”

The puzzles are brilliantly designed, both in this game and across the entire experience, and they really satisfy my desire for adventure and discovery. Metroid Prime 4 prominently features a new tool called the Psychic Visor, and the developers aren’t shy about using its unique abilities. Thankfully, these abilities are implemented with such creativity and cleverness that I’m happy to see Retro Studios celebrate their success – they’ve earned it. However, the most impressive part of the game is the combat, especially the challenging and exciting boss fights.

Metroid Prime 4 feels fantastic to play, with smooth controls that feel current and responsive. It even brings back the motion aiming from the Wii’s Metroid Prime 3, which is a real standout feature. This leads to some of the best combat and overall gameplay the Metroid Prime series has ever offered, especially during the intense and exciting boss battles. Each time a new arena opens and a cutscene starts, it’s genuinely thrilling.

Reviewing Metroid Prime 4 is tricky. If it weren’t connected to such a beloved series, I think most people would enjoy it more. Every game has flaws, but this one is judged against some of the greatest Nintendo games of all time, and it doesn’t quite reach that level of excellence.

Looks Great On Switch 2, But Could Have Been So Much Better

Okay, so the graphics in Metroid Prime 4… they’re good, but you can definitely tell this game was made with the Switch in mind. It’s not always the visual feast we were hoping for, and you can see Retro Studios had to make some compromises to get the game running smoothly on the hardware. There are moments where it looks fantastic, but it’s clear they were working within the Switch’s limits.

You can choose to play the game prioritizing either visual quality or performance. Quality mode runs at a sharp 1080p resolution with a smooth 60 frames per second, while performance mode boosts the frame rate to 120 FPS but lowers the resolution to 720p. I mostly played in quality mode and found the gameplay incredibly smooth. The game has a great cinematic style, which is a plus, but unfortunately, this doesn’t quite make up for some of the frustrating visual issues.

Metroid Prime 4 has received a fantastic score, living up to expectations for the series. It truly captures the essence of what makes a Metroid game great, creating a deeply immersive and atmospheric experience that easily overshadows any minor issues it may have.

You really notice something’s missing once you get into Sol Valley – there’s just no music. That sums up the game’s progress: for every two improvements, there’s a setback. Metroid Prime 4 often starts strong, but struggles to maintain that excitement.

Closing Comments:

Even with its flaws, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is still an enjoyable game, and a strong title for Nintendo to release in 2025. While it can be frustrating at times, it’s worth playing, especially for those new to the Metroid series – it’s more approachable than games like Metroid Dread. However, with the excellent Metroid Prime Remastered already available, it’s hard to say if this is an essential game for the Nintendo Switch 2. Overall, Metroid Prime 4 is a good game, but it had the potential to be truly great.

2025-12-11 22:12