Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Review, Gameplay Impressions, Videos and Top Features

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was worth the wait.

First revealed in 2017 for the Nintendo Switch, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond releases for both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 with lofty expectations to meet as the fourth installment of one of Nintendo's most groundbreaking and beloved series. Releasing more than two years since Metroid Prime Remastered (2023) and 18 years since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007), Metroid Prime 4 not only meets expectations but is the premier single-player experience to close out the Switch 2 launch window. 

Whether jumping into the Metroid Prime series for the first time or a veteran of the series, Metroid Prime 4 is a must-play for gamers.

Gameplay Impressions

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is an epic space adventure that modernizes the Prime series for the current generation while maintaining the compelling exploration the series is known for.

Throughout the campaign, players will explore distinct biomes set in an open-area zone to explore at their own pace while unlocking new techniques along with many upgrades. The core gameplay loop from the original Metroid Prime that set a high standard for first-person action adventure games remains intact but with a natural progression that pushes the series forward.

Similar to when Batman: Arkham Knight introduced the Batmobile as a way to enhance the Arkham series, Metroid Prime 4 introduces a fast, agile and powerful motorcycle named Vi-O-La to traverse the open-zone area en route to different biomes, side quests, battles, items, upgrades and more secrets. Controlling Vi-O-La is smooth and often exhilarating as protagonist Samus Aran speeds through the open desert and jumps off ramps while picking up items.

The open-area is large enough to have a presence and allow the player to explore but isn't big enough to where it's annoying when needing to go from one biome to the next because re-exploring previous biomes is a staple of the Metroid series as new weapons and upgrades are unlocked to open new paths and discover secrets. 

Compelling level design is a defining feature of the Metroid franchise and Prime 4 delivers with cohesive levels that make sense and aren't disjointed. When Samus is alone, players can feel the tense and creepy isolation in these distinct atmospheric biomes.

Developer Retro Studios does an amazing job building tension thanks to sound effects and a soundtrack that may be the best in the series. Enemies may pop out of nowhere to battle Samus and there's environmental hazards that the player must be mindful of. Given that everything is out to get Samus, every save station feels like a reward, similar to the Resident Evil franchise.

Given the maze-like nature of the individual biomes in addition to the open-zone area, it's important to highlight how well the minimap and overall map are presented for the gamer. Whereas other franchises have had difficulty presenting easy-to-read maps, Metroid Prime 4 has an excellent map system that makes it easy to follow and understand where to go next and what the objective is. Similar to the recent Resident Evil games, the map clearly highlights necessary information so that the player doesn't need to become unnecessarily frustrated because of a needlessly obtused design choice. 

This extends to the puzzles as well because they are often clever but never daunting, too obscure or obtuse. At times, the stoic Samus will be accompanied by a companion from the Galactic Federation. Much has been made during the preview window about the inclusion of these characters but they aren't overbearing. Instead, these characters offer a sense of community and high stakes to the story because they're important to enhancing Samus' journey to help them. When they tag along, companions may offer minimal advice or tips but they never outright provide solutions to a puzzle. If the gamer needs help with a puzzle or an objective, the gamer often needs to be the one to initiate conversation and the companion may offer a vague hint alluding to something that was previously mentioned or a traversal/combat technique.

Throughout the journey, Retro presents incredible scale throughout the world reminiscent of the Xenoblade series but still with the familiar isolation of the Metroid series. Metroid Prime 4 boasts arguably the best graphics ever on a Nintendo platform. The fidelity, textures and art style are on full display, especially playing in the 4K, 60 FPS mode available on the Switch 2. There's epic and incredible set pieces and the awe-inspiring. jaw-dropping cutscenes may very well be the most cinematic creations in a Nintendo game.

Most importantly for the Prime series, though, is the smooth gameplay that the original game expertly featured. In Prime 4, everything just works. There's effortless transitions between first-person shooting and the iconic third-person morph ball. Switching at an instant while the camera zooms in and out is always impressive. Prime 4 controls like a dream as the control scheme is similar to other modern first-person shooters while still providing gamers with a multitude of techniques to have at their disposal to explore, traverse and battle grunts and bosses. 

The boss fights are true spectacles that feature unique gameplay elements for the player to discover. Oftentimes, scanning an enemy or other environmental hazards will assist with this, but during boss fights it isn't always immediately clear. The trial-and-error nature of the boss fights to determine which of Samus' weaponry or techniques will unlock the key to defeating a boss is when Prime 4 is at its best. Here is when the fantastic pacing and progression is on full display as invigorating gameplay, intense music, stunning visual effects, jaw-dropping scale and smooth technical performance morph into a powerhouse showcase. 

Overall, whether running in 4K, 60 FPS mode or 1080p, 120 FPS mode, or playing handheld or on a TV, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is an exceptional display of game creation for the Nintendo Switch. In addition to those performance modes, gamers can also play using different styles of control schemes, such as the amazing Pro Controller or on Switch 2 utilizing the Joy-Cons like a mouse. While most will likely play with the Pro Controller or Joy-Con grip, it's impressive how Retro incorporated different ways to play. Most importantly, Prime 4 runs smoothly without any hiccups or stutters, which is essential for such a fast-paced first-person shooting game. The overall polish and ability to maintain peak performance is phenomenal. 

Conclusion

When Metroid Prime first released in 2002, it was a groundbreaking instant classic because it managed to replicate the 2D action in a 3D, first-person adventure while maintaining its core gameplay elements. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a worthy successor that takes the best elements of the Primes series and incorporates modern accessibilities and improved quality-of-life features to create an extremely enjoyable experience. 

Featuring arguably the greatest graphics seen on a Nintendo console, epic cutscenes, compelling lore, an amazing protagonist and engrossing gameplay, Metroid Prime 4 is an incredible showcase for the Switch family of consoles. Simply one of the best games for Nintendo this year and also among the very best in the Metroid franchise, Prime 4 delivered for fans who have been waiting years and is one not to be missed. Even for those who would be playing a Metroid game for the first time, Prime 4 is a title that gamers need to experience.