Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

After years of waiting and a divisive fan reception, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally here, and I couldn't be happier with the finished product. While there are some issues with the overabundance of dialogue and certain elements of exploration, the overall approach to gameplay and the narrative does a great job of evolving the series while staying true to what made it special in the first place. As someone whose wanted to get into the series for years, I am pleased to say that Prime 4 has f...

Metroid Prime 4 has finally arrived after eight years of anticipation. Now subtitled “Beyond,” the latest chapter in Samus’ journey takes her to a mysterious new planet where she comes face-to-face with dangerous enemies both new and old. It’s a grand FPS experience that highlights all of the Switch 2’s enhancements while also delivering the gritty Metroid Prime experience that fans have been waiting for.

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond is a worthwhile return to form for the first-person Samus Aran titles. Viewros is beautifully designed, the combat is quick and intense, and yes, the Galactic Federation soldiers absolutely add to the story. Ignore the hate posts online and enjoy the ride.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is certainly a bit different from what I expected, but it’s largely a strong next step for the series. Though some bizarre padding and an oddly empty open world keep the game from being a stone-cold classic, Metroid Prime 4 is still a great experience that manages to mostly live up to its long wait.

Your objective: Explore the mysterious planet Viewros and find your way home. Step back into the suit as Samus Aran, one of the greatest bounty hunters in the galaxy, and scan your surroundings for clues on how to move forward. Battle abhorrent alien creatures who inhabit the planet, use mysterious psychic abilities to clear the path forward, and traverse the environment on the technologically advanced bike, Vi-O-La. The Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game is available ...

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a hugely entertaining experience with a gorgeous atmospheric world, but it just doesn't quite feel enough like Metroid.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond nails the fundamentals with excellent sound design, striking visuals, tight controls, a strong art style, and rock-solid technical performance, but the level design doesn’t hit the same highs, and the NPC chatter can start to grate.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is just fine—a whiplash of an experience that has some really memorable moments and others that are just grating.

At the end of the day, a bad Metroid Prime game is still a good game and one that I'll happily play any day of the week. As frustrating as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond can be, it's still worth playing and a solid way for Nintendo to end 2025. Is it a must-own Nintendo Switch 2 game? That's something I'm honestly not sure about. On the one hand, I can see it being a great way to introduce people to the Metroid genre in a way that's more accessible than, say, Metroid Dread. On the other hand, Metroid Prime Remastered is right there. Ultimately, Metroid Prime 4 is a game that's worth playing, but it c...

The core exploration and combat mechanics of the Metroid Prime franchise are fun and engaging. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience is marred with bizarre story beats, awkward character moments, and forced interaction with an empty, boring open world. Metroid Prime 4 had all the elements to be a slick, cohesive experience, but the game feels like the dev team maliciously complied with a mandate to make the game open-world. It’s still a Metroid Prime game, and there’s fun to be had, b...

Almost exactly what fans didn’t want from a new Metroid Prime but while it is widely inconsistent the majority of the game is undeniably entertaining.

Despite the fumble here, I think that an open world Metroid Prime game can work, but it can't be a half-measure like Beyond is. Beyond could have been a revolutionary step forward like Breath of the Wild was for Zelda, but instead it's a weird in-between that is only fun when it is recycling its old ideas and everything new it tries falls flat on its face. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has an identity crisis and the result is a baffling open world surrounded by solid dungeons that still fall short of what came before.