After nearly two decades of waiting, journalists finally got their hands on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for extended gameplay sessions. The verdict? This feels like a proper Metroid Prime game while introducing mechanics that genuinely change how you approach combat and exploration. Here’s what actually playing the game is like based on early hands-on impressions.
The Atmosphere Hits Immediately
The moment you step into Fury Green, one of the forest areas available in the preview build, the signature Metroid Prime atmosphere wraps around you. The hypnotic ambient music, the otherworldly visuals, and the sense of isolation all feel exactly like returning to Tallon IV or Aether. Veterans will immediately recognize that distinctive audio design, including the iconic chime that plays when you solve a puzzle.
The game takes place on Viewros, a mysterious planet where Samus crashes after an unexpected accident. Early areas showcase lush forests with alien flora, while later sections reveal vast desert environments. Everything feels meticulously designed to create that sense of wonder and danger that defined the original trilogy.
Combat Feels Familiar But Enhanced
You still have your trusty Morph Ball, Missile Launcher, and Scan Visor. The lock-on targeting system returns, letting you strafe around enemies while maintaining your aim. But the combat has been modernized in ways that make it feel more dynamic without losing the Metroid Prime identity.
Your standard shot works as expected, but you can long-press to charge up a more powerful explosive blast. This becomes crucial for taking down tougher enemies or breaking environmental obstacles. The combat encounters lean more action-heavy than some previous entries, with multiple enemy types attacking simultaneously and requiring quick thinking to manage.
Psychic Powers Change Everything
The real game-changer is Samus’s new psychic abilities. What initially seems like a simple gimmick quickly becomes the heart of the entire experience. You can manipulate objects through telekinesis, interact with Lamorn technology scattered throughout the planet, and fire a mind-controlled beam that you guide in slow motion.
That last ability deserves special attention. When you activate it, time slows down and you can manually steer your psychic beam to hit switches, attack multiple enemies, or solve environmental puzzles. It’s not just a combat tool. It fundamentally changes how you approach exploration and puzzle-solving throughout the game.
Boss Fights Require Actual Strategy
Preview builds included fights against bosses named Carvex and Aberax, and both showcased how boss encounters work in Beyond. These aren’t simple bullet sponges. They’re genuine puzzles that require you to use everything you’ve learned.
Carvex features tendril tentacles and spawns smaller tracking enemies you need to deal with while avoiding ground slams and spike attacks. The trick is breaking the spiky outer shell on its tendrils to reveal weak points you can actually damage. You have to think during these fights, combining evasion, environmental awareness, and your full arsenal of abilities.
The Aberax fight demonstrated how the new mouse controls work with boss battles. You lock onto the boss with the left trigger, then freely aim within a bounding box to hit specific weak points while strafing. This hybrid approach between classic lock-on and modern free-aim feels surprisingly natural.
The Mouse Controls Are Surprisingly Good
One of the most talked-about features is the Joy-Con 2’s mouse mode support on Nintendo Switch 2. For a Metroid Prime game, this initially seemed weird. The series has always been about lock-on combat, not precision aiming. But in practice, it works beautifully.
The mouse controls give you PC-style precision for scanning, environmental interaction, and hitting specific weak points during boss fights. You can still use traditional controls if you prefer, but the mouse option adds a level of responsiveness that feels fresh for the series. Multiple previews described it as “mind-bendingly good” and a genuine evolution of the formula.
Performance Modes Make A Real Difference
On Nintendo Switch 2, you get two visual options. Quality Mode runs at 4K resolution with 60fps, delivering punchy colors and rich detail especially in forest environments. Performance Mode drops to 1080p but cranks the frame rate to 120fps, making movement and combat feel incredibly smooth.
Both modes maintain brief load times and stable performance. The HDR support makes environments pop with vibrant colors and deep contrast. For a franchise known for its atmospheric presentation, the visual upgrade is substantial without losing the artistic direction that made the originals memorable.
The MacKenzie Problem
Not everything is perfect. Samus is accompanied by a mechanic character named MacKenzie who provides hints and technical support. While some players appreciate the companionship, others find the frequent dialogue breaks the traditional Metroid isolation and atmosphere.
There’s also an escort mission segment where you protect MacKenzie, which drew criticism for feeling out of place in a Metroid game. The series has historically featured minimal voice acting and relied on environmental storytelling. MacKenzie’s presence represents a tonal shift that not everyone is embracing.
Does It Feel Like Metroid Prime
Despite being 18 years since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Beyond feels remarkably faithful to the series DNA. The exploration loop of scanning everything, finding hidden passages, and slowly unlocking new areas remains intact. The audio design captures that same hypnotic quality. The sense of being alone on an alien world still permeates every moment.
But it’s also clearly a modern game. The combat is more intense, the psychic powers add complexity, and the performance options cater to current expectations. It’s Metroid Prime for 2025, respecting what worked while pushing the formula forward in meaningful ways.
FAQs
How long is the game?
The full length hasn’t been confirmed, but preview sessions covered about two hours of gameplay including intro sequences and the Fury Green area. Based on previous Metroid Prime games, expect 15 to 20 hours for a thorough playthrough.
Do the psychic powers feel gimmicky?
No. Initial impressions suggested they might be a simple novelty, but hands-on time revealed they’re central to combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving throughout the game. They fundamentally change how you interact with the world.
Can you turn off MacKenzie’s dialogue?
This hasn’t been confirmed. The character appears to be integral to the story, so it’s unlikely you can completely disable the dialogue, though audio settings might allow you to reduce it.
Does it run well on the original Switch?
Preview builds focused on Nintendo Switch 2 hardware. The game will launch on original Switch as well, but performance details for that version haven’t been extensively covered yet.
Is the Vi-0-La motorcycle fun to use?
The motorcycle wasn’t available in most preview builds, which focused on the Fury Green forest area. It appears prominently in trailers and is confirmed for desert exploration sections.
What enemies did previews encounter?
Previews showed Space Pirates, various alien creatures on Viewros, and bosses including Carvex and Aberax. The rival bounty hunter Sylux appears in trailers but wasn’t part of hands-on sessions.
How does scanning work?
The Scan Visor returns with the same functionality as previous games. You scan objects, enemies, and environmental details to learn lore and find hidden information. With mouse controls, scanning feels more precise and responsive.
Conclusion
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond feels like the return fans have been waiting for. It captures the atmospheric exploration and thoughtful design of the original trilogy while introducing psychic powers and modernized controls that genuinely enhance the experience. The combat is more dynamic, the boss fights are clever puzzles, and the visual upgrade on Switch 2 is substantial. Some narrative choices like MacKenzie might divide fans, but the core Metroid Prime gameplay loop remains as compelling as ever. December 4 can’t come soon enough for anyone who’s been waiting 18 years for this moment.