Nintendo have had a strong 2025, from the launch of Nintendo Switch 2 to a run of first-party titles that reinforce why they continue to do what others do not. And, they have one last banger up their sleeve for 2025, and one that has been a long time coming. How long? About 18 years, give or take. It was back in 2007 that we last saw a brand-new Metroid Prime game with Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Fast-forward to today and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has finally landed, bridging that near-two decade gap and presenting Samus’s first outing on the Switch 2.
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If you are new to the series, the timeline can be confusing. The Metroid Prime games sit between the original Metroid from 1986 and 1991’s Metroid II: Return of Samus.
It is worth noting that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond takes place after the Nintendo 3DS spin-off Metroid Prime: Federation Force from 2016, a game you may or may not remember, but one that is rarely discussed.
Aran Arís
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond once again puts you in the boots of Samus Aran, everyone’s favourite interstellar bounty hunter. She is hired by the Galactic Federation to help apprehend extra-terrestrial threats and maintain order across the galaxy.
Things soon go sideways. Samus is transported to Viewros, an alien world, after a clash with a rival, who is leading an assault on a Galactic Federation base.
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Stranded, she must explore the ruins of the ancient Lamorn civilisation, gain new psychic abilities and uncover their lore. And, eventually, find a way home while confronting Sylux’s forces and ever-deadlier threats.
It is a solid tale that holds everything together, but it is not told especially well. Samus is almost mute for most of the game, and many cutscenes feel as if your presence barely matters. Too much of the story is delivered through supporting characters and constant in-game radio chatter.
Prime Player
Gameplay, however, is tight, with excellent feel and a wide range of control options. The new Joy-Con mouse functionality is implemented seamlessly. Flip your Joy-Con at any time and the game instantly reads it as mouse input without interrupting the action.
This is also the first real use of the Switch 2’s new features outside tech demos or games built entirely around them. Moment to moment, the game is smooth and fast-paced, letting you move, strafe, and aim far more quickly thanks to the system.
Linearity
Fans may be surprised by how linear the game can be. Its core structure is a hub area connected to five outlying dungeons. You complete each biome, grab an upgrade, and move on to the next. It is quite Zelda-like when you think about it. There is some backtracking for secrets, of course, as this is the series that birthed the Metroidvania genre.
This format covers roughly three-quarters of the game and keeps you moving forward with plenty to do. The final quarter, though, fumbles badly. It shifts from exploration and backtracking to fetch-and-collect quests that kill the momentum.
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You may already have heard about the mission where you must collect crystals in the open desert of Sol Valley while riding your bike, a new addition to the series. It quickly becomes a grind and makes you wish you had farmed more earlier.
Amiibo Question
Then there is the Amiibo-shaped elephant in the room: the music. In Sol Valley, the soundtrack is initially minimal. Pay £25.99/€29.99 for the Samus & Vi-O-La Amiibo and you gain access to soundtrack customisation and specific tracks locked behind that purchase. You can unlock the music in-game, but only with 100 per cent area completion, which is a slog, especially when the Amiibo offers an immediate shortcut behind a paywall.
Throughout my playthrough, I kept getting strong Halo vibes. After looking into it, this made sense. Retro Studios hired talent from the Halo franchise, most notably Kyle Hefley, a senior character modeller for Halo 4, Halo 5, and Halo Infinite, who joined as Lead Character Artist. This influence shaped my overall impression of the game. In many ways, this feels like Nintendo’s Halo, which is high praise given how much I love that series.
Switch 2 Showcase
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond may be the best-looking Switch 2 title so far. The environments are varied and detailed, and small touches like lighting and water dripping down your visor and arm cannon make it a visual standout.
The sound design is also excellent, drawing from the series’ heritage with grand scores and moody ambient tracks that greatly enhance immersion.
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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond gets a lot right and is an amazing game, but it also gets a few things wrong, and those issues will divide fans. It is something new for the series, but it is fragmented too. It is the best-looking Switch 2 game by far, yet its final act may leave you cold, as the experience comes off the rails and ultimately feels less than the sum of its parts.
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