Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Review

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 1 & 2

When Metroid Prime launched on GameCube, it did the unthinkable by successfully translating Nintendo’s atmospheric 2D series into a fully realised 3D world. What could have been a risky experiment became an outstanding trilogy, celebrated for its clever environmental puzzles, tight shooting mechanics, and phenomenal world-building. Each entry respected the series’ sense of isolation while expanding the scope of Samus Aran’s adventures. Then, eight long years ago, Metroid Prime 4 was announced at E3, causing fans of the series to go absolutely wild. After being stuck in development hell, including fully restarting the project, Samus is back, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally here. What’s it like? Grab your suit, charge your arm cannon, and prepare to ride as we review Metroid Prime 4 on Nintendo Switch 1 and 2.

Metroid Prime 4 starts by telling a story about how Sylux has taken control of the Space Pirates, launching a series of raids on Galactic Federation facilities using Metroids that can fuse with other creatures. The Federation sends Samus Aran to stop him as he assaults a research facility in the opening moments of the game. She joins the Federation Marines to protect a mysterious Artifact, and after a battle with a massive Metroid-fused Pirate, a stray shot hits the Artifact. It activates, unleashing a blinding light that consumes the entire base. Samus awakens at Chrono Tower, a mysterious desert location on an unknown planet, with many of her Power Suit systems offline. Inside the tower, she discovers a Psychic Crystal that embeds into her helmet, granting new psychic abilities and updating her suit’s database with information about the planet through the Psychic Visor.

As the story unfolds, Samus eventually encounters a contingent of Galactic Federation troops operating on the planet. Their inclusion has proven divisive among both fans and critics, with some feeling their presence clashes with the series’ traditional sense of solitude. Personally, I found the opposite to be true. The way these soldiers talk about Samus, often with a mix of awe and admiration, gives her an added sense of mythology within the universe.

Rather than diminishing her role, they help frame Samus as a legendary figure, reinforcing her status as someone who operates on an entirely different level. Now, some people say that the way the Federation troops admire Samus is completely unrealistic, as they are trained soldiers, but I feel this opinion is most likely based on military movie tropes, where soldiers talk in nonsensical jargon. I found the encounters to be refreshing, especially with a specific Federation Troop exclaiming “She went into her Morph ball!” with giddy excitement during gameplay.

And excited by the gameplay you will be, as Metroid Prime 4 delivers on its legacy with fantastic world-building, satisfying shooting mechanics, and clever puzzles. If you loved the Metroid Prime series, I’m pleased to say you will love this one. Gunplay and puzzles are well designed, while scanning to uncover information about your surroundings builds tension and encourages exploration. Even sections with the Vi-O-La, Samus’ motorbike, are mostly fun and exciting, adding a fresh layer to traversal and combat.

Bosses in particular shine. Some are more straightforward, requiring you to dodge attacks while focusing fire, while others are multi-phase encounters that demand precise timing and patience. The Vi-O-La also brings new twists to certain boss fights, expanding the scale and intensity in ways that feel fresh without straying from the series’ core formula.

Another divisive element in Metroid Prime 4 is the Sol Desert, and I have to agree that this area disrupts the otherwise stellar pacing. There were moments in the game that delivered real emotion and gravitas, keeping me glued to the screen to see what happens next, only for gameplay to resume in the Sol Desert. This section forces you on a lonely five-minute trek across a barren wasteland with no music or environmental cues to maintain immersion, just to return to base and continue the story.

The pacing issue becomes most noticeable in the final acts, where the stakes are high and tension is at its peak, only to be interrupted by a green crystal collection task that can take roughly two hours to complete. While the game does eventually give you an item to help locate these crystals, it only becomes available once you’ve collected over 75% of them, making this section feel like a grind. Moments like these are what make Metroid Prime 4 so hard to rate, with sequences that could easily be 10/10 followed by stretches that feel like a 4/10 desert slog.

Now, while this judgement sounds harsh, it doesn’t ruin the game, merely the momentum that the story and gameplay expertly build, and I think it would have been better to simply move on ot the next cutscene at the home base in the interest of keeping everything moving forward.

Metroid Prime 4 continues the series’ tradition of breathtaking environments. Each area is distinct, from alien ruins to lush forests, frozen ice research bases, and bases drowning in lava, all packed with detail that rewards careful exploration, bringing the world to life by giving Samus items to scan that provide information and exposition. Samus’ suit models are crisp, her allies look great when unmasked, and lighting and particle effects enhance the atmosphere without ever feeling overdone. Environmental storytelling is strong, with every corridor and chamber offering hints about the planet’s history and the forces at play.

Performance-wise, Metroid Prime 4 offers a variety of performance modes, giving players options to prioritise frame rate or visual fidelity. Both on Switch 1 and Switch 2, the game runs smoothly, with stable framerates and no technical hiccups. Textures, lighting, and effects look great across both platforms, and the experience feels consistently polished whether you’re docked or playing in handheld mode.

The standout elements in Metroid Prime 4’s audio are the Federation troops’ voice acting and the orchestral score. The soldiers’ dialogue adds weight and personality to the world, making their interactions with Samus feel meaningful and, at times, even awe-inspiring. Meanwhile, the orchestral soundtrack is nothing short of phenomenal, elevating exploration, combat, and key story moments alike. From tense, suspenseful tracks to sweeping, cinematic cues, the score reinforces the stakes and pulls you fully into the adventure.

For bounty hunters interested in accessibility, Metroid Prime 4 does not offer any dedicated options. The game uses standard FPS-style controls and also supports mouse mode for those who prefer it. As always, I recommend doing further research to determine whether Metroid Prime 4 meets your specific accessibility needs. At just under $110 AUD, Metroid Prime 4 delivers a 20–40 hour epic that fully lives up to the Metroid Prime namesake. Between the main campaign, exploration, puzzles, and optional content, the game offers plenty of value and is well worth the price of entry for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Despite the solitude of the Sol Desert and the occasional pacing hiccups, the eight-year wait for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was absolutely worth it. The game delivers everything fans have come to expect from the series: atmospheric exploration, smart puzzles, satisfying combat, and a world that feels alive and meticulously crafted. Federation troops add an intriguing layer of mythology around Samus, the orchestral score elevates every moment, and the Switch 1 and Switch 2 versions both shine technically. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a triumph for the franchise and an essential experience for anyone seeking a deep, rewarding adventure on Nintendo hardware.

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