Back behind the visor, better than ever
By Paul Hunter
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond feels like a proper “welcome back” for Samus, with the game nailing the fundamentals of what makes this series so incredible. Retro Studios, with Nintendo publishing, delivers another first-person adventure built around exploring interconnected regions, scanning everything that looks suspicious, and pushing deeper once your toolset grows.
Metroid Prime 4 keeps that foundation and layers in some excellent new mechanics. Psychic-style abilities give you fresh ways to solve problems and handle threats. A desert hub adds a different kind of travel between major locations, and you can tear across it on a futuristic bike. You’ll also run into a small group of friendly Galactic Federation characters along the way, used in short bursts so the game can still lean into that classic lone-wolf vibe.
On Nintendo Switch 2, you’re getting the enhanced version of the experience. There are two main display options, 4K at 60fps or 1080p at 120fps, plus a bunch of control choices like sticks, gyro aiming, and optional mouse-style controls.
So, does Metroid Prime 4: Beyond earn its spot next to the Prime classics? Let’s find out!
The turning point comes when a strange ancient artifact gets disturbed during the chaos. In seconds, the situation goes from “hold the line” to “what secrets does this artifact hold.” Samus is thrown across the galaxy and stranded on Viewros, a hostile world built on the remains of the Lamorn, a civilization that’s long gone but still leaves a heavy footprint behind. Viewros isn’t just a backdrop, the planet feels integral to the story, with ruins and abandoned systems that keep pointing you toward bigger questions.
Sylux also ends up on Viewros, which keeps the tension high. You’re not only trying to understand where you are and what the Lamorn left behind, you’re also dealing with the fact that your rival is out there, moving around with sinister intentions.
The small group of Federation survivors who turn up throughout the campaign eventually cluster around a home base. When you do cross paths put in the open, the game uses those moments to give the mission a bit more structure and to remind you what’s at stake beyond Samus herself.
The story is an intriguing, steady mystery: learn what happened here, figure out why you were pulled in, and gather what you need to activate the Lamorn's Chrono Tower, which may hold the secret to getting everyone off this planet.
Viewros is built around the familiar Metroidvania formula, and it stays satisfying because the upgrades feel substantial. The Scan Visor is your go-to tool for spotting room details and finding secrets, and the Morph Ball routes keep turning small spaces into real paths. What’s fresh is how Metroid Prime 4 adds in psychic-style abilities. You’re not just shooting switches anymore, you’re also manipulating objects at range to solve puzzles in interesting new ways or using telekinesis to toss objects towards tricky targets.
The other big addition is Sol Valley, a desert hub that links major areas together. Your bike, called the Vi-O-La, makes it fun to move through as it handles smoothly and comes with boost options. I had a stretch where I hopped on Vi-O-La “just to head back,” and that detour turned into a full sweep of side paths and hidden pickups before I even remembered my original goal.
Combat stays tight, with bosses designed to push you to utilize your full toolset. Metroid Prime 4 is also aimed at completionists, as you'd expect, letting you hunt down upgrades for your missiles and shots, and late-game Scout Bots can help flag what you missed to avoid any frustrations.
The biomes all look fantastic and feel unique. Fury Green looks stunning with dense colour and layered foliage, Ice Belt focuses on colder industrial spaces, and Volt Forge stands out as a favourite because it's deceivingly linear at first but later opens up in multiple branching paths.
Audio is also a big standout with each area having its own musical score that sets the mood, for example your base camp has a calm track that feels relaxing after intense battles or long stretches of exploration. The sound also sells isolation with distant movement and humming tech often lingering in the distance.
On the technical side, I stuck with Quality most of the time, which offers 4K at 60fps. I love how flexible the controls are too, I started the game using twin sticks, but a good middle portion chunk using the new mouse-style aiming.
Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Developer: Retro Studios
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action Adventure
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond feels like a proper “welcome back” for Samus, with the game nailing the fundamentals of what makes this series so incredible. Retro Studios, with Nintendo publishing, delivers another first-person adventure built around exploring interconnected regions, scanning everything that looks suspicious, and pushing deeper once your toolset grows.
Metroid Prime 4 keeps that foundation and layers in some excellent new mechanics. Psychic-style abilities give you fresh ways to solve problems and handle threats. A desert hub adds a different kind of travel between major locations, and you can tear across it on a futuristic bike. You’ll also run into a small group of friendly Galactic Federation characters along the way, used in short bursts so the game can still lean into that classic lone-wolf vibe.
On Nintendo Switch 2, you’re getting the enhanced version of the experience. There are two main display options, 4K at 60fps or 1080p at 120fps, plus a bunch of control choices like sticks, gyro aiming, and optional mouse-style controls.
So, does Metroid Prime 4: Beyond earn its spot next to the Prime classics? Let’s find out!
Story and Narrative
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond wastes no time putting you in the middle of trouble. Samus responds to a Galactic Federation emergency that quickly turns into a full-on strike led by Sylux, with Space Pirates and captured Metroids in the mix. It’s a dramatic opening that sets the stakes, and it reminds you that Sylux isn’t just a cameo villain here. He’s a real deal problem.The turning point comes when a strange ancient artifact gets disturbed during the chaos. In seconds, the situation goes from “hold the line” to “what secrets does this artifact hold.” Samus is thrown across the galaxy and stranded on Viewros, a hostile world built on the remains of the Lamorn, a civilization that’s long gone but still leaves a heavy footprint behind. Viewros isn’t just a backdrop, the planet feels integral to the story, with ruins and abandoned systems that keep pointing you toward bigger questions.
Sylux also ends up on Viewros, which keeps the tension high. You’re not only trying to understand where you are and what the Lamorn left behind, you’re also dealing with the fact that your rival is out there, moving around with sinister intentions.
The small group of Federation survivors who turn up throughout the campaign eventually cluster around a home base. When you do cross paths put in the open, the game uses those moments to give the mission a bit more structure and to remind you what’s at stake beyond Samus herself.
The story is an intriguing, steady mystery: learn what happened here, figure out why you were pulled in, and gather what you need to activate the Lamorn's Chrono Tower, which may hold the secret to getting everyone off this planet.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's gameplay nails what matters most: the moment-to-moment exploration, combat, and upgrades that keeps letting your progress further. You’re constantly scanning rooms, testing suspicious walls, and remembering locked doors for later, because you know your next tool is going to open up the map even more.Viewros is built around the familiar Metroidvania formula, and it stays satisfying because the upgrades feel substantial. The Scan Visor is your go-to tool for spotting room details and finding secrets, and the Morph Ball routes keep turning small spaces into real paths. What’s fresh is how Metroid Prime 4 adds in psychic-style abilities. You’re not just shooting switches anymore, you’re also manipulating objects at range to solve puzzles in interesting new ways or using telekinesis to toss objects towards tricky targets.
The other big addition is Sol Valley, a desert hub that links major areas together. Your bike, called the Vi-O-La, makes it fun to move through as it handles smoothly and comes with boost options. I had a stretch where I hopped on Vi-O-La “just to head back,” and that detour turned into a full sweep of side paths and hidden pickups before I even remembered my original goal.
Combat stays tight, with bosses designed to push you to utilize your full toolset. Metroid Prime 4 is also aimed at completionists, as you'd expect, letting you hunt down upgrades for your missiles and shots, and late-game Scout Bots can help flag what you missed to avoid any frustrations.
Presentation and Audio
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is easily the best looking and smoothest game I've played yet on Nintendo Switch 2. Retro Studio’s art direction is bold, with massive alien structures, a lush and beautiful world, and skylines that make Viewros feel wide and imposing. Up close, the detail holds too. Samus’ suit has a shiny metallic finish, enemy models look great in motion, and the world is packed with little visual nuances that reward you for slowing down and looking.The biomes all look fantastic and feel unique. Fury Green looks stunning with dense colour and layered foliage, Ice Belt focuses on colder industrial spaces, and Volt Forge stands out as a favourite because it's deceivingly linear at first but later opens up in multiple branching paths.
Audio is also a big standout with each area having its own musical score that sets the mood, for example your base camp has a calm track that feels relaxing after intense battles or long stretches of exploration. The sound also sells isolation with distant movement and humming tech often lingering in the distance.
On the technical side, I stuck with Quality most of the time, which offers 4K at 60fps. I love how flexible the controls are too, I started the game using twin sticks, but a good middle portion chunk using the new mouse-style aiming.
The Verdict
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is an excellent entry that gave me what I was looking for: deep exploration that rewards curiosity, smart upgrades that reshape how you move through the world, new Psychic abilities that spice up the gameplay, and a steady mystery that keeps the story momentum high. Viewros is a great setting, Sylux adds interesting new lore to the franchise, and your Federation crew supports the mission without becoming overbearing. Best of all, on Nintendo Switch 2 the game looks, runs and sounds its best, giving fans a compelling reason to up to Nintendo's new console.Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond details
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo SwitchDeveloper: Retro Studios
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action Adventure
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.