Samus Aran, Nintendo’s lesser-known heroine armed with a cannon, often takes a backseat to Princess Zelda, despite being a strong playable character rather than a damsel in distress.
The Metroid series featuring Samus is known for its mature themes compared to other family-friendly Nintendo franchises, offering sci-fi action-adventures with a moody, exploratory vibe on alien planets.
However, initial impressions of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond raised concerns among fans. Previews highlighted a segment with a talkative sidekick named Myles, criticized for disrupting the game’s atmosphere with comedic commentary.
The full game, with an average completion time of 15 hours, delivers a satisfying experience for longtime fans, blending familiar elements with new additions.
Despite its strengths in level design and boss battles, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond stumbles in introducing innovative features, leading to frustrating and disappointing moments.
Years in Development
The original Metroid Prime launched in 2002 for the Nintendo GameCube, praised for its successful transition of the series into 3D without sacrificing its core essence.
Announced in 2017, Metroid Prime 4 encountered development challenges, including a complete restart. After a prolonged period of silence, a trailer in January 2024 paved the way for its imminent release on the Switch and Switch 2.
Beyond commences as Samus responds to a distress call from a besieged base under attack by space pirates. Following a confrontation with the enigmatic Sylux, she finds herself stranded on an unfamiliar alien world due to an anomaly.
Similar to past Metroid installments, Samus starts with limited abilities, embarking on a quest to recover her strength while unraveling the mysteries of her new surroundings.
Staying True to Roots
Metroid Prime 4 mainly adheres to its predecessors’ formula, drawing inspiration from the revered original Prime game.
Players traverse exotic alien environments on the planet Viewros, engaging in combat against hostile creatures and robots using Samus’s versatile arm-mounted cannon.
Besides combat, players utilize Samus’s scanning visor extensively to document alien life forms and ancient structures left behind by the planet’s extinct inhabitants.
Traditional backtracking is integral, as newfound abilities enable exploration of previously inaccessible areas.
Unlocking doors with specific weapons or reaching distant platforms with gadgets like a grappling hook adds depth to the puzzle-solving experience.
New psychic powers introduce intricate puzzles, requiring players to manipulate energy beams and projectiles to progress.