Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - They Tricked Us (In the Best Way Possible, Mate)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Looks like *Metroid Prime 4: Beyond* is pulling a classic bait-and-switch, starting with an action-packed FPS sequence before stripping Samus of her powers and diving deep into the glorious, puzzle-filled Metroidvania gameplay we all adore. Get ready for stunning Switch 2 visuals, clever new tools, and a surprisingly goofy new character, all meticulously crafted after a public development reboot.
Right, so remember that feeling when a game gets announced, then disappears for ages, only to pop back up looking like it accidentally swallowed a whole new console's graphics card? That's kinda where we're at with *Metroid Prime 4: Beyond*. And bloody hell, it sounds like Nintendo pulled a fast one on everyone, but in the most gloriously 'Metroid' way imaginable.
I’ve been tinkering with the initial buzz from Polygon's preview (big thanks to Ari Notis for the intel!), and honestly, for about a quarter of an hour, I was properly baffled. Picture this: Samus Aran, our favourite galactic bounty hunter, flies her helmet-shaped ship straight into a cosmic dust-up, guns blazing. We're talking missiles, energy cannons, somersaulting into a morph ball to drop bombs, even a giant robot Samus joining the fray. It sounds less like *Metroid* and more like *Halo* decided to have a baby with *Titanfall*. My brain was doing cartwheels, thinking, "What in the name of cosmic space-magic is happening here?!"
But here’s the clever bit, mate. The absolute stroke of genius. Almost immediately after that exhilarating, almost *too* bombastic opening, Samus gets unceremoniously stripped of all her fancy kit. Every. Single. Bit. Lost all her abilities, got called the 'chosen one' by a mysterious alien hologram (you just *know* that’s gonna lead somewhere juicy), and then... it's time to backtrack. Methodically. Through labyrinthian environments. To unlock everything she just had. *That*, my friends, is the sound of Metroidvania returning to reclaim its throne, complete with a dramatic swelling of orchestral space-tunes.
Now, for a bit of industry context: this game has been a long time coming. First announced way back in 2017, Nintendo pulled the plug on its initial development in 2019, stating it 'fell short of company standards.' Talk about a public admission! But that's when Retro Studios, the legends behind the original *Metroid Prime* trilogy, stepped back into the pilot's seat. And based on what Polygon saw, this isn't just a rehash. It's got new tricks up its sleeve, a bit sillier in places, a touch more gruesome in others, but unmistakably *Metroid*.
The preview session, apparently running on a Switch 2 (more on that graphical wizardry in a sec), was split. First, the 'pew-pew-boom' space combat. It was described as genuinely shocking in moments, with Space Pirates bleeding out, still aiming their weapons like wounded soldiers fighting to the last gasp. Gritty stuff, a bit darker than you might expect, but Samus still doing her FPS hero thing. Then came the good stuff.
After some narrative shenanigans that Nintendo's keeping under wraps (presumably involving Samus saying 'bugger it' as her suit powers down), she lands in Fury Green. This place sounds like a visual feast. Think lush, vibrant jungle, a delightful contrast to the 'grey-is-the-new-black' aesthetic too many sci-fi games fall into. Bulbous purple flowers, emerald ferns, amber sunlight piercing misty clouds – like a wizard’s garden, but in space. It's being touted as potentially the first game that *truly* looks like a proper Switch 2 game, and honestly, if the visuals are *that* striking, fair play to them.
Here’s where the classic *Metroid* loop truly kicks in. Samus has next to nothing. Trying to double-jump off a cliff? Nope. Fire a missile? Nada. But morph ball? Yes! Except, no bombs. It's that beautiful, frustrating dance of being tantalisingly close to a solution but lacking the key. The trusty scan visor quickly becomes your best mate, revealing not just enemy info but puzzle hints. It'll tell you that 'Lamorn door' needs a 'shocking ability' or point out those barely-there purple platforms that clearly need some special boots. "Sure wish I had explosive force for this amber wall! Like, I don't know, *missiles*?!" Yeah, we've all been there, Samus.
Then comes the Psychic Glove. You’d think with a name like that, it'd let Samus punch through walls like she's got Thor's hammer attached to her arm. Ha! Good one. Instead, it lets her collect psychic motes (little purple orbs, rather like health drops) and slot them into orb-shaped receptacles to unlock doors. It’s elegant, it’s clever, and it opens up new paths, sometimes requiring a bit of backtracking – the very soul of *Metroid*.
But the biggest surprise? Myles MacKenzie. An engineer who is, apparently, a comically bumbling idiot. He sounds like he's wandered in from a Looney Tunes short, flailing his arms, dropping his pistol when six-legged, razor-toothed creatures swarm him. Talk about a tonal shift! And what does this hapless blighter offer after Samus rescues him? Missiles! See, that amber wall? It's about to learn some manners.
Another clever upgrade, the Control Beam, doesn't let you mind-control enemies (a missed opportunity for some chaos, perhaps?), but it lets Samus fire a guided projectile. Think *GoldenEye* rockets, but for puzzles. Maneuvering it through a crack to flick a switch, or using it to take down the tentacled boss Carvex. It adds layers, doesn’t it?
This, mate, is the brilliance of *Metroid*. You learn a bit, you apply it, you learn more. It's mastery through observation and exploration, not just twitch reflexes. Many games get praised for combat, but the silent hero is often the navigation – the pathways and locked doors that are just enough to make you scratch your head, but never enough to make you lob your controller across the room. *Metroid Prime 4: Beyond* seems to be hitting that sweet spot.
So yeah, it starts like a high-octane FPS romp, but it quickly reveals its true, beautiful, labyrinthine colours. The 'Metroid' in 'Metroidvania' is clearly there for a reason, and it looks like it's about to remind everyone why. *
*Original article by Ari Notis, published on Polygon.
Tags: Nintendo Switch, Metroid Prime 4, Action-Adventure, Metroidvania, Gaming Preview
Original article: Polygon