After 18 years of whispers, delays, and sky-high expectations, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally lands on Nintendo Switch 2. As someone who grew up with Samus’ adventures, booting this up felt like reuniting with an old friend who’d gotten a dazzling sci-fi makeover. From the opening chaos of Sylux’s assault on a Galactic Federation base to the haunting silence of Viewros’ alien ruins, Beyond delivers the isolation, wonder, and tactical combat that define the series. But it’s not flawless. New ideas like the desert hub Sol Valley and chatty NPCs sometimes clash with the lonely magic of classic Prime. Over 20 hours of playtime, I uncovered every secret, battled every boss, and rode that slick Vi-O-La bike across dunes – here’s why this journey is unforgettable, even when it tests your patience.
Gameplay Mechanics
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond nails the core loop that made the series legendary. Exploring its handcrafted biomes – like the neon-drenched Volt Forge or the frozen labs of Ice Belt – feels like solving a 3D puzzle box. You’ll scan environments for lore, uncover hidden paths with Samus’ new psychic powers, and backtrack with upgrades that transform old obstacles into playgrounds. The psychic abilities are a smart twist: guiding energy shots around corners with the Control Beam or hurling Morph Ball bombs telekinetically adds fresh strategy to puzzles and boss fights. Combat remains deliberate and satisfying, demanding you lock onto enemies, dodge telegraphed attacks, and exploit elemental weaknesses.
But the new open-world hub, Sol Valley, is a double-edged sword. Riding the Vi-O-La bike is undeniably cool – boosting over dunes, sliding into drifts, smashing through energy crystals – yet the desert itself feels barren. Long treks between biomes grow tedious, and collecting crystals for endgame progress feels like padding. Worse, engineer Myles MacKenzie constantly chimes in with unsolicited hints. Thankfully, diving into settings to disable tutorial prompts silences most of his interruptions, letting purists explore undisturbed. NPC companions in story missions also dilute the isolation; reviving downed soldiers mid-fight feels more like babysitting than bounty hunting.
Graphics
Playing on Switch 2’s Quality mode (4K/60fps docked, 1080p/60fps handheld) is a revelation. Viewros is a visual masterpiece: jungles pulse with bioluminescent flora, ice caves refract light through crystalline walls, and Lamorn ruins glow with ethereal purple energy. Samus’ suit dazzles – rain slicks her visor, frost gathers on her cannon, and particle effects erupt during psychic power surges. The art direction shines brightest in enemy design; bosses like the magma-spewing “Ignis Rex” or the cyborg horror “Necro-Queen” are grotesque, unforgettable spectacles.
That said, Sol Valley’s sprawling emptiness highlights the game’s cross-gen roots. Textures on rocks or distant structures lack polish, and pop-in occasionally breaks immersion. Still, these are minor gripes. When Beyond leans into its claustrophobic dungeons or jaw-dropping vistas – like a lightning storm over a derelict factory – it’s arguably Nintendo’s best-looking game to date.
Sound
The audio design is a masterclass in sci-fi atmosphere. Each biome pulses with its own soundtrack: ethereal choirs in frozen wastes, throbbing synth beats in industrial zones, and haunting piano melodies in Lamorn temples. Combat sounds pack a punch – the Power Beam’s resonant crack, missile impacts shaking the controller, and enemy screeches that’ll make you flinch. Ambient details sell the isolation: distant machinery groans, wind howls across deserts, and dripping water echoes in caves.
Voice acting is solid but uneven. Galactic Federation troops sell urgency during firefights, but Myles’ over-eager nerd schtick grates. Samus’ silence remains divisive; her stoic nods during emotional scenes feel awkward when allies bare their souls. Yet the score compensates, blending classic Prime motifs with bold new themes that’ll linger in your head long after credits roll.
Fun Factor
Beyond is at its best when it embraces Prime’s roots. Unraveling the Lamorn civilization’s tragedy through psychic recordings is gripping, and discovering a missile tank behind a cleverly hidden wall delivers that classic dopamine rush. Boss battles are showstoppers – outwitting a teleporting drone master by freezing its minions or using the Psychic Lasso to rip shields from a mechanized titan left me cheering. Even Vi-O-La’s arcadey handling brings joy early on, especially when pulling off “Akira slides” during chases.
But the fun dips in Sol Valley. Grinding for green crystals to unlock the final act feels like a chore, and backtracking through empty dunes to revisit areas tests patience. Pacing stumbles in the last few hours, with forced fetch quests muddying an otherwise tight 15-hour campaign. Despite this, the highs outweigh the lows. Scanning a room, spotting a weakness, and executing a perfect combat sequence remains utterly addictive.
Performance and Optimization
On Switch 2, Beyond runs like a dream. Quality mode maintains rock-solid 60fps at 4K resolution, with no drops even during explosive boss fights or dense particle effects. Performance mode (1080p/120fps) offers buttery smoothness for precision aiming, but the visual downgrade isn’t worth it – stick with Quality for the full spectacle. Load times are cleverly masked via elevator sequences or motorbike launch animations, creating a seamless flow. Handheld play impresses too, with crisp 1080p visuals and flawless performance. I encountered zero crashes or game-breaking bugs, though minor physics glitches (like enemies clipping terrain) occurred rarely.
Conclusion
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a triumph that honors its roots while taking bold risks. Its stunning biomes, refined combat, and psychic power twists deliver the Prime experience fans craved, and the Lamorn mystery adds emotional depth. But Sol Valley’s repetitive traversal and NPC missteps hold it back from perfection. If you can overlook the desert slog and tweak hint settings to mute MacKenzie, you’ll find one of Switch 2’s finest adventures. For newcomers, it’s the perfect gateway to Samus’ world; for veterans, it’s a heartfelt return with enough innovation to feel fresh. Despite flaws, Beyond proves Metroid’s magic is timeless – and I’m already craving the next chapter.
Highly recommended for sci-fi explorers and Metroid faithful.
Pros:
- Jaw-dropping biomes with intricate level design
- Psychic powers add creative puzzle/combat depth
- Tight, tactical combat and epic boss fights
- Gorgeous 4K/60fps visuals in Quality mode
- Immersive sound design and atmospheric score
- Rewarding exploration and lore discovery
- Vi-O-La bike is a blast to control (initially)
Cons:
- Sol Valley hub feels empty and padded
- NPC dialogue can intrude on isolation (adjustable)
- Crystal collection grinds halt pacing
- Underutilized Vi-O-La mechanics
- Minor texture pop-in in open areas
Rating
Graphics: 9.5/10
Fun Factor: 8.5/10
Gameplay: 9.0/10
Sound: 9.5/10
Performance and Optimization: 9.5/10
FINAL SCORE: 9.2/10
