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It’s hard to believe that after all this time we’re finally about to get Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in our hands, and I got the chance to go hands-on with the longest demo yet before launch. This was actually my third time playing the game, and the first little bit was that same intro section that I’d played at both Nintendo Experience events (and was also available at Pax last month), however I did get to play this in handheld mode which marked the first time that the game had been played this way.
Unsurprisingly, it runs super well in handheld mode and looks just as good as it does on TV, without losing any frames. Really, this is the case for the entire game, and without doubt, this is Nintendo’s most ambitious game graphically yet. It is just absolutely stunning and the art really shines here with every little piece of flora and fauna coming to life. This also marked (to my knowledge) the first time that I was able to play in 4K/60 FPS (as opposed to the 1440p/120hz mode) and it did not disappoint. I really think you’d be a disservice to yourself to not play this on a Switch 2 particularly if you’re a diehard Metroid fan.
The main portion of this demo took place in an overflowing jungle like location called Fury Green. Upon being transported to this location, the music sets in, and it finally hits – Metroid Prime is back. The track that plays while you explore Fury Green feels classic Metroid. It has the alien and operatic undertones that make the tracks instantly recognisable as not just Metroid, but Metroid Prime specifically. In this sense, it really feels like Retro has nailed the feel of Prime over two decades on.
It’s not just the presentation that feels familiar either. Samus moves just like you’d expect her to and all of her basic abilities are here – though with some new twists. My opening moments I took some time to feel how the beam and charge beam works and, just as you’d expect, they feel the same. More importantly, the way Prime 4 controls feels familiar, but there are a bunch of new control schemes available here too. You can opt for the classic controls, turn a joy-con on the side for Switch 2 mouse style controls or even a control scheme that is more reminiscent of the New Play versions of Prime on Wii.
I often found myself flicking between the WiiMote pointer style controls and mouse controls and the great thing is that you can just go between the two without having to change a setting, so if you want to put your Joy-Con down for a bit to use it like a mouse, that works fantastically here (it’s absolutely the best use so far), and similarly, if you want to use traditional controls or use your Joy-Con like a pointer htey both work great too.
Whilst this is a Metroid Prime game through and through, the more I played, the more it was obvious that there’s absolutely some changes here. Whilst it’s early days, it appears that Samus only has two visors now – Combat and Psychic. Combat is the standard view you’ll be using most of the time, while Psychic rolls a whole bunch of features into one, allowing Samus to manipulate latent psychic energy around Viewros while also allowing her to scan, a series staple at this point. Switching between them with a single button feels good enough, especially as you’ll have to juggle them in combat at some point.
And combat is what you’ll be doing a lot of, at least in these early opening moments. Perhaps what will be one of the numerous points of contention between series purists and more casual fans will be Prime 4 willingness to just pit you in an arena against waves of enemies. It’s feels like a tone similar to Corruption, with more numerous battles to fight in, though I’m willing to chalk this up to being a fast-paced introduction to the dangers of Viewros more than anything else.
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The other, more obvious point of contention in Metroid Prime 4 will no doubt be Myles Mackenzie. He’s a mouthy engineer working for the Galactic Federation that Samus encounters during her time exploring Fury Green. Presumably stranded on Viewros too, Mackenzie asks to tag along with Samus. Samus agrees, but then Mackenzie is constantly hootin’ and hollerin’ as she battles enemies and solves puzzles. If you’re a Metroid fan who cut your teeth on anything besides Other M or Corruption, you’ve probably got your eyebrows raised at this point, and you’d be right. Having Mackenzie tag along, be downed, and require revival, feels anything but Metroid, but there is hopefully light at the end of the tunnel.
On one hand, I like the idea that we get to finally see what grunts think of Samus and people are paying her the respect she deserve as a character. The inclusion of Mackenzie means does give somebody to bounce off of Samus’ stoic, speechless personality in a way that can be comical. On the other, his interruptions during his first introduction feel anything but Metroid and he is in stark opposition to the tone of a Metroid game. It appears that Mackenzie might get left behind in a hub area while Samus gallivants around Viewros as she finds her way off the planet, but it also won’t stop him from radioing her at any given moment. It’s too early to say whether this will end up being a good thing in regards to the story and overall tone of Metroid Prime 4. It’s obviously a bold choice and one that we’ll have to wait to see in terms of whether it pays off.
The other major change to Prime 4 is the new Psychic Abilities that Samus comes across on in Viewros. Harnessing the latent energy floating around the planet, the Psychic abilties allow Samus to see platforms that aren’t normally there, manipulate switches from a distance and act as a conduit to move energy from one area to the next. They’re a cool idea, but they also feel a bit gimmicky at times. The Control Beam, a controllable projectile that Samus can shoot and control remotely while slowing down time, feels just like the Beetle from Skyward Sword.
This was most used in the second boss battle that I got to undertake in the game, a plant-based beast named Carvex who continually grows more tentacles as time goes on, with Samus needing to shoot the armour off of them, and then use the Control Beam to get around obstacles and take all of them out so they don’t regenerate before you can take out the rest. It made great use of the Control Beam, and again, it’s one that we’ll need to play the entirety of the game to see whether these new abilities feel like a great addition.
And that is ultimately the big concern with Metroid Prime 4. It’s shaping up to be an incredible game but there are some elements here that might hold it back from standing so confidently aside both Metroid Prime 1 and 2, particularly the open hubs which I didn’t get to experience in this demo. While Corruption was by no means a bad game, it did feel notably scaled back from the games that came before it. While there are no more motion controller gimmicks to hitch its space boots on this time around, Prime 4 does have a huge task ahead of itself. And we can only hope it’ll achieve it come December.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches on December 4th for Nintendo Switch 1/2. The cheapest copy is $84 with free shipping at Amazon.
