“Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” Review by Nick Navarro
The original “Metroid Prime” is one of those games that permanently shaped how I look at first-person adventures, so stepping into “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” came with a mix of excitement, nostalgia, and admittedly unrealistic expectations after nearly two decades of waiting. “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” carries the enormous burden of reviving one of Nintendo’s most beloved series after years of uncertainty, delays, and a complete development restart (I know this review is also delayed, since the game finally released late last year, but better late than never). Considering everything this project endured behind the scenes, it’s honestly remarkable that the final product feels this polished and confident. Retro Studios clearly understood that fans weren’t asking for a total reinvention of the Prime formula. They wanted that unmistakable atmosphere, methodical exploration, environmental storytelling, and satisfying sense of discovery that made the original trilogy special in the first place. Thankfully, Beyond delivers on nearly all of those fronts, even if it occasionally plays things a little too safely.
The game once again places you in the armored boots of Samus Aran as she becomes stranded on the mysterious planet Viewros following a confrontation with Sylux and the Space Pirates. The setup is intriguing enough, especially for longtime fans eager to finally see Sylux take center stage after years of teasing. Viewros itself quickly becomes the real star of the experience though. Retro Studios absolutely nails the feeling of exploring an alien world packed with ancient ruins, dangerous wildlife, hidden pathways, and eerie silence. There’s a constant sense that every corner of the planet hides another secret waiting to be uncovered. Exploration remains the heart and soul of the experience, and this is where Beyond shines brightest. Slowly unlocking new abilities and revisiting previously inaccessible locations scratches that classic Metroid itch perfectly. Few games handle progression quite like this series, and Beyond constantly rewards curiosity. Finding hidden missile expansions, uncovering lore through scans,
and piecing together the mysteries of the extinct Lamorn civilization gave me that same addictive “just one more area” feeling I remember from the older games.
Retro also deserves a lot of credit for how stunning the world looks visually. Whether I was wandering through dense jungles, ancient technological ruins, or massive desert landscapes, the environmental detail consistently impressed me. The lighting, reflections, and atmospheric effects create an immersive science-fiction world that feels both beautiful and hostile at the same time. On Nintendo Switch 2 especially, the presentation feels like a major leap forward for the franchise and even for Nintendo themselves. The art direction captures that lonely, isolated tone the Prime series is known for while still allowing each biome to feel visually distinct. Combat remains satisfyingly familiar while introducing a few new mechanics to spice things up. Lock-on targeting still feels fantastic, and the core shooting mechanics retain the smooth, deliberate pacing that separates Metroid Prime from faster first-person shooters. The new psychic abilities are easily the biggest gameplay addition, allowing Samus to manipulate objects and guide beam shots in creative ways. While these powers don’t completely reinvent the formula, they add enough variety to make encounters and puzzle-solving feel fresh throughout much of the adventure.
That said, some of Beyond’s new ideas feel more interesting in concept than execution. The motorcycle, for example, initially sounds like a major evolution for the series, but the actual open hub areas rarely justify its inclusion. Traversing the larger environments sometimes feels more tedious than exciting, especially when certain regions lack meaningful interaction or memorable discoveries. There were stretches where I found myself simply driving across empty terrain wishing the world design felt denser and more purposeful. The pacing also starts to wobble during the latter half of the campaign. Earlier sections constantly introduce exciting new environments, upgrades, and discoveries, but some later areas drag longer than they should. A handful of open spaces begin to feel repetitive once fully explored, and certain combat encounters lose their intensity as enemy variety becomes more limited. Beyond rarely becomes boring, but there are moments where the adventure loses some of the momentum that made the opening hours so captivating.
Narratively, the game is solid without ever reaching the heights longtime fans may have hoped for after such a lengthy wait. Sylux is an intriguing presence, and the central mystery surrounding Viewros provides enough motivation to keep pushing forward, but the story never develops the emotional or thematic depth needed to truly elevate the experience. Some supporting characters feel underdeveloped, and a few story beats arrive without enough payoff. Compared to the haunting isolation and subtle storytelling of the original Prime, Beyond occasionally feels a little too eager to explain itself. Still, what kept pulling me back was the atmosphere. Few developers understand environmental immersion quite like Retro Studios. Simply existing within Viewros is compelling. The sound design, ambient music, alien architecture, and lonely sense of exploration all combine into something incredibly special. Even when certain gameplay ideas stumble, the overall experience remains difficult to put down because the world itself is so absorbing.
What impressed me most is that Beyond never feels like a cynical nostalgia project. Even though it heavily respects the blueprint established by previous entries, it still understands why those games worked in the first place. Retro Studios wisely resisted the temptation to overload the game with modern open-world trends or unnecessary gimmicks. Instead, they focused on delivering another carefully crafted Metroid Prime adventure, and for the most part, that approach succeeds. “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” may not become the untouchable masterpiece some fans dreamed about during its long development cycle, but it absolutely succeeds as a worthy continuation of the franchise. It captures the atmosphere, exploration, and immersion that made the trilogy beloved while introducing just enough new ideas to keep things interesting. Some pacing problems, underwhelming narrative elements, and overly safe design choices prevent it from surpassing the series at its peak, but Retro Studios still delivered an excellent return for Samus after all these years. After waiting nearly two decades, I can confidently say it was worth coming back to this universe again.
8/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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