Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Review Scores – Was It Worth The Wait?

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Reviews for Metroid Prime 4 Beyond are beginning to appear, and critics are sharing their thoughts on the game. This is the first completely new Metroid Prime adventure since Metroid Prime Corruption came out for the Wii in 2007 – although Nintendo did recently re-release the original game on Switch. The big questions are: how does Beyond stack up to the classic Prime games, and is it a worthwhile purchase?

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Review Scores – 80 on Metacritic

As of December 10, 2025, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond has a Metacritic score of 80, based on 86 reviews. It’s available now on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

PC Magazine awarded the game a perfect score, calling it the best single-player shooter in years and a major win for the game’s lead character. Reviewers were impressed with the game’s visuals and shooting mechanics, as well as its interesting environments. They especially liked the new abilities given to the character, such as psychic powers. The only criticism was that some of the supporting characters weren’t very well developed.

Nintendo Life scored the game a 9 out of 10, praising how it captured the wonder of the original GameCube version while also introducing exciting new ideas. The reviewer enjoyed exploring the game world on Vi-O-la, Samus’ motorbike, despite some online criticism. Similar to other critics, they found Myles’ frequent talking annoying.

Okay, so Forbes gave Metroid Prime 4 a 9 out of 10 – pretty awesome, right? They basically said it was totally worth the years-long wait. I’m super hyped about the graphics, especially that performance mode that lets you play at a smooth 120fps at 1080p. They weren’t huge fans of the desert areas or the bike sections, saying they didn’t really need to be there, but they did like the new psychic powers. Sounds like a really solid game overall!

Metroid Prime 4 received a score of 8.75 from Game Informer. Reviewers praised the exploration of the planet Viewros and enjoyed traveling with Vi-O-la, though they noted some repetitive gameplay. While the story and ending were considered somewhat disappointing, the game’s enjoyable world ultimately made for a positive experience.

GameSpot rated the game an 8 out of 10, praising its high points as being on par with the series’ best installments, despite acknowledging some unevenness. The reviewer particularly liked the game’s world, atmosphere, and boss fights, as well as the story of the Lamorn and the overarching plot. However, they found the characters from the Federation unengaging. They enjoyed riding Vi-O-la, but felt the driving segments between missions were repetitive and boring.

IGN scored Metroid Prime 4 an 8 out of 10, calling it a generally excellent return to the series, though somewhat inconsistent. The reviewer praised the game’s immersive atmosphere and sense of isolation when playing as Samus. They did criticize the lengthy desert areas, feeling they were unnecessarily drawn out. Ultimately, the game shines brightest when it captures the spirit of the original Metroid trilogy.

The Guardian rated the game 4 out of 5 stars. They generally liked it, though some of the new additions weren’t as strong as the classic elements, which they felt remained excellent. They appreciated the game’s familiar feel to the original titles, even if it could be a bit slow, challenging, and occasionally frustrating.

Destructoid scored Metroid Prime a 7.5 out of 10, saying it largely lived up to expectations after a long wait. Reviewers praised the game’s graphics on the Switch 2 and the engaging mix of fighting, navigating, and scanning. However, they found combat outside of boss fights to be somewhat simple and the open world felt empty at times. Overall, they enjoyed the game but felt it didn’t quite reach its full potential.

Metroid Prime 4 received a 3.5 out of 5 rating from GamesRadar+. Reviewers praised the game’s levels as incredibly immersive and a standout in the first-person exploration genre. However, they found the open areas to be overly large and lacking content, and the psychic abilities a bit awkward to use. Despite these issues, they were impressed with the game’s atmosphere and graphics on the Switch 2.

VGC scored the game 3 out of 5, describing it as caught between old and new ideas. While they praised the gameplay, atmosphere, and boss fights, they found the characters and story lacking. They also felt the game’s new features weren’t as impactful as those in previous Metroid games like Prime Remastered, and ultimately struggled to recommend it to players new to the series over Metroid Dread or Prime Remastered.

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Review Score Roundup – Is Metroid Prime 4 worth it?

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond appears to be a welcome new installment in the Metroid series, particularly for longtime fans who’ve eagerly anticipated its release.

The game feels true to the series’ core style, and the new additions blend in seamlessly. The psychic powers open up interesting puzzle possibilities within a stunning and visually impressive world.

This game is one of the most beautiful on the Nintendo Switch, especially outside of the desert areas. Each location feels distinct and offers its own challenges with unique enemies, puzzles, and dangers. The game is full of variety and encourages you to revisit areas with new abilities you unlock.

The open-world motorbike sections featuring Vi-O-la weren’t well-received by all players. They mostly involved simply finding items and battling enemies while traveling between points, and while Vi-O-la itself is an interesting idea, it likely needed more refinement in its implementation.

The companions feel out of place, particularly in a game focused on solitude and limited conversation. If the developers wanted more dialogue, it would have been better suited to the style of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption or Metroid Dread. The current, more chatty approach feels inconsistent with the game’s dark and immersive atmosphere.

Despite some flaws, most Metroid fans and critics seem to agree the game is enjoyable. The strong gameplay, engaging exploration, and compelling story more than make up for any weaknesses.

Honestly, if you’ve liked the previous games, I think you’ll really dig this one. And hey, it’d make a pretty awesome Christmas present too!

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2025-12-10 20:10