Review: Metroid Prime 4 – Beyond makes Nintendo's longest wait worth it
Seven years after it was first announced, Retro Studios delivers a sequel that scales up the series without losing the solitary tension it's known for.
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First announced in 2017 and rebooted from scratch two years later under Retro Studios, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond arrives carrying a weight of expectation few games ever have to shoulder. On Switch 2, Samus Aran gets her scan visor back, an adaptive trigger, and — most importantly — stays true to herself.
Exploration that finally goes vertical
The planet Viridian unfolds across several strata connected by organic elevators unlocked as you progress — the classic Metroidvania formula, but with a camera that finally allows real vertical sweeps thanks to the console’s added power. The sense of isolation that has defined the series since the first entry remains intact despite a map that’s noticeably more generous than Prime 3’s.
The scan visor finally matters in combat
The real addition is a psychic beam that lets you scan an enemy mid-fight to reveal a temporary weak point — a system that forces you to slow down in a genre that usually rewards charging in headfirst. The first hour is a little confusing while you get used to the gyro aiming, but once mastered, it genuinely changes how boss fights play out.
Verdict
Not quite the revolution seven years of waiting might have suggested, but it’s the most ambitious entry in the series since Prime 3. Fans won’t be disappointed.
