Metroid Prime 4 Beyond launches December 4, 2025, ending an 18-year wait since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Reviews dropped December 2, and the verdict is complicated. The game currently sits at 81 on Metacritic based on 71 critic reviews – officially “generally favorable” but also the lowest-rated entry in the entire Prime series. Critics praise the classic exploration, atmosphere, and level design that made the franchise legendary. But a controversial open-world desert hub with mandatory motorcycle traversal, chatty companion characters, and pacing issues keep it from greatness.
The Metacritic Reality Check
An 81 Metacritic score sounds respectable until you compare it to the rest of the series. Metroid Prime (2002) sits at 97 on GameCube. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes earned 92. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption scored 90. Even Metroid Prime Remastered, a 2023 Switch port of a 21-year-old game, achieved 94. Metroid Prime 4 Beyond represents the first time a mainline Prime entry failed to crack 85, let alone 90.
The review scores range from 50 to 100, showing massive disagreement among critics. Giant Bomb gave it 5 out of 5, calling it “the closest the series has ever felt to the original Metroid Prime, in terms of tone, gameplay, and quality.” Nintendo Life awarded 9 out of 10, declaring it “quite possibly the boldest, most well-realized Metroid game to date.” But plenty of outlets landed in the 7-8 range, with criticisms focused on specific design choices that feel at odds with what makes Metroid Prime special.
IGN gave it 8 out of 10, summarizing the mixed feelings perfectly – “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond tries to be so many different things. There were moments where I thought it might be the strongest Prime since the very first, and others where it felt like the weakest.” That statement captures the consensus. This is a game of incredible highs and frustrating lows, with quality varying wildly depending on which section you’re playing.
What Everyone Loves
The Classic Prime Experience
When Metroid Prime 4 Beyond focuses on what the series does best – isolated first-person exploration through alien environments – it absolutely delivers. IGN praised “tense exploration through haunting locations highlighted by amazing worldbuilding, breathtaking art direction, new twists on classic abilities, and flawless technical performance.” Game Informer called it “a pristine, rock-solid science-fiction exploration experience” with “unmatched sense of alien ambiance.”
The individual biomes represent some of the best level design in the series. GamesRadar highlighted “immersive first-person exploration like nothing else in the genre, with some of the greatest levels in the series to date, dripping with potent atmosphere.” Whether you’re navigating frozen bio-lab chambers learning about failed experiments or exploring lush alien forests, the environmental storytelling and visual design reach series peaks.
Critically, Retro Studios understands that Samus works best alone. Despite adding companion characters, a significant chunk of the 15-hour campaign still features pure solitary exploration. The scanning mechanics return, rewarding players who read every data log and examine every detail. This commitment to atmosphere over handholding makes Beyond feel authentically Prime when it matters most.
Psychic Powers That Work
Samus gains psychic abilities after being transported to the planet Viewros, and reviewers consistently praised how these powers integrate into classic Metroid gameplay. Instead of simply regaining her traditional arsenal, she unlocks psychic variations – Psychic Beam, Psychic Bombs, Psychic Spider Ball – that function similarly but with fresh twists.
The Psychic Bomb, for example, works like standard Morph Ball bombs but can be charged to create floating versions you manipulate telepathically, solving puzzles inaccessible to traditional bombs. The Control Beam lets you remote control objects and enemies, useful in boss fights and environmental puzzles. These additions feel natural rather than gimmicky, expanding Samus’s toolkit without breaking the series formula.
Boss Fights and Technical Excellence
Multiple reviews highlighted exceptional boss encounters. Game Informer noted the game “delivers some of the best boss fights in the series.” The combination of psychic powers, classic shooting mechanics, and thoughtful arena design creates memorable battles that require strategy beyond circle-strafing and shooting weak points.
Technical performance earned universal praise. The game runs flawlessly on both Switch and the newly launched Switch 2, with higher graphical fidelity on the latter. GamesRadar specifically mentioned that while louder FPS games may have higher-resolution graphics, “Metroid Prime 4’s levels are more evocative, and boast superior visual design because of it.” Art direction trumps raw horsepower.
What Everyone Hates
The Desert Hub World Nobody Asked For
The most consistent criticism centers on the open-world desert hub connecting the main biomes. Instead of using traditional elevators or doors like previous Prime games, Beyond forces you to ride the Vi-O-La motorcycle across empty desert between missions. The Verge called this “more aggravating,” noting that “although you spend a significant amount of time in the meticulously designed levels, they are connected by a vast desert expanse.”
The motorcycle traversal feels cool initially – racing through storms with metal music blasting looks cinematic. But the novelty wears off fast when you’re forced to bike across empty sand for the twentieth time just to revisit an area for a collectible. NPR bluntly called it “a technical marvel and game design nightmare,” arguing the desert hub “makes it even more annoying to revisit past areas.”
This design choice fundamentally conflicts with Metroid’s DNA. The series thrives on interconnected labyrinths where shortcuts and secret passages reward thorough exploration. Separating everything with a hub world destroys that cohesion. IGN described it as “an outdated open-world hub” that “mostly feels like padding.” Game Informer tried to be diplomatic, saying it’s “the perfect size” but that qualification itself suggests compromise.
Chatty Companions Breaking Immersion
Metroid Prime 4 adds Federation trooper companions who communicate with Samus throughout missions, and opinions are deeply divided. IGN admitted these “talkative companions drop a few too many hints and one-liners” but found them “redeemed by some memorable story moments and mostly charming personalities.” Others weren’t so forgiving.
The core problem is that Metroid works best when Samus is alone. The crushing isolation, the sense of being a solitary explorer on hostile alien worlds – that atmosphere defines Prime. Constant chatter from companions explaining puzzles, cracking jokes, and commenting on situations breaks that spell. Some reviewers warmed to the characters eventually, but the consensus is that they talk too much during moments that should be pure environmental immersion.
Uneven Pacing and Structure
Multiple outlets mentioned that Beyond feels structurally uneven, like it underwent significant rewrites during development. Polygon suggested “Prime 4 likely underwent some drastic rewrites after its reboot, leaving fragments of a long-lost story behind.” The result is a game that doesn’t flow as cohesively as its predecessors.
Engadget noted that Beyond “executes the template for a Metroid Prime game extremely well” but lacks reinvention – “it’s everything you’d expect from a Metroid Prime game, no more, no less.” That sounds like a compliment until you realize the hub world and companion systems suggest they tried adding more, but those additions clash with the classic template rather than enhancing it.
The Development Hell Context
Understanding Beyond’s mixed reception requires acknowledging its troubled history. Nintendo announced Metroid Prime 4 at E3 2017 with no gameplay, just a logo. Bandai Namco Studios handled development under series producer Kensuke Tanabe. Then in January 2019, Nintendo did something unprecedented – they publicly announced development was scrapped and restarted from scratch with original Prime developer Retro Studios.
That restart cost years of progress and unknown millions of dollars. The game Nintendo showed in June 2024 with its first gameplay trailer represents Retro’s vision, not whatever Bandai Namco attempted. Polygon’s comment about “drastic rewrites” and “fragments of a long-lost story” suggests Retro salvaged elements from the scrapped version while building something new around them. That patchwork approach could explain the uneven structure.
The question haunting Beyond is whether the final product justifies the development hell, or if Nintendo should have delayed further to smooth out the rough edges. An 81 Metacritic after 18 years and a complete restart feels underwhelming compared to what Prime veterans expected. But perspective matters – most franchises would kill for 81 Metacritic. The problem is that Metroid Prime set impossibly high standards.
Switch 2 Performance
Metroid Prime 4 Beyond launches simultaneously on original Switch and the new Switch 2, representing one of the first major cross-generation titles. Reviews confirm the game runs smoothly on both platforms but looks significantly better on Switch 2 with higher resolution, improved lighting, and better texture quality.
This dual release creates an interesting situation. Switch owners get the full experience without needing to upgrade, but Switch 2 owners see Beyond’s visual design in full glory. The art direction praised in reviews truly shines with enhanced graphical fidelity, making alien environments feel more tactile and immersive. For anyone debating which version to buy, critics universally recommend Switch 2 if you have access.
Community Reactions
Reddit discussions about the reviews show fans processing mixed emotions. Some defend the 81 score as perfectly respectable, arguing that unrealistic expectations set the bar impossibly high. Others express disappointment that after such a long wait and development restart, Beyond couldn’t match or exceed the original trilogy’s quality.
The hub world remains the most controversial element in community discussions. Fans who loved Prime’s interconnected world design view the desert as a fundamental betrayal of series identity. Others argue it provides welcome variety and that the motorcycle is fun enough to justify its inclusion. This split mirrors the review scores – people who value cohesion hate it, people prioritizing moment-to-moment gameplay tolerate it.
Interestingly, many comments express relief that Beyond is at least good, even if not perfect. After the 2019 development restart announcement, fears spread that the game might never launch or arrive broken. An 81 Metacritic with strong core gameplay beats worst-case scenarios where Metroid Prime 4 became vaporware or launched as a disaster.
FAQs
What is the Metacritic score for Metroid Prime 4 Beyond?
81 based on 71 critic reviews as of December 2, 2025. This makes it the lowest-rated mainline Metroid Prime game. For comparison, the original Metroid Prime scored 97, Echoes got 92, and Corruption earned 90.
When does Metroid Prime 4 Beyond release?
December 4, 2025, for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. This marks 18 years since the previous mainline entry, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, launched in 2007.
What are critics saying about Metroid Prime 4?
Reviews praise classic exploration, atmosphere, level design, psychic powers, and boss fights. Criticisms focus on the open-world desert hub with mandatory motorcycle traversal, chatty companion characters, and uneven pacing.
What is the motorcycle in Metroid Prime 4?
Vi-O-La is a motorcycle Samus uses to traverse the desert hub world connecting the main biomes. Critics are divided – some find it fun initially, others say it breaks the interconnected world design that defines Metroid.
What are Samus’s psychic powers?
After being transported to planet Viewros, Samus gains abilities like Psychic Beam, Psychic Bombs, Psychic Spider Ball, and Control Beam. These function similarly to classic Metroid powers but with fresh puzzle-solving applications.
Why did Metroid Prime 4 take so long?
Announced in 2017, development with Bandai Namco Studios was scrapped in 2019. Nintendo restarted from scratch with Retro Studios, adding years to the timeline. The game represents Retro’s vision after the failed first attempt.
Should I buy Metroid Prime 4 on Switch or Switch 2?
Reviews recommend Switch 2 if you have access. The game runs fine on original Switch, but Switch 2 offers significantly better graphics, resolution, and visual fidelity that enhances the art direction.
How long is Metroid Prime 4 Beyond?
Approximately 15 hours for the main story. Length varies based on how thoroughly you explore and hunt for collectibles using the classic Metroid progression system.
Are there companion characters in Metroid Prime 4?
Yes. Federation troopers communicate with Samus throughout missions. Reviews are mixed – some find them charming with memorable moments, others say they talk too much and break the series’ signature isolated atmosphere.
Conclusion
Metroid Prime 4 Beyond is a good game trapped in the shadow of legendary predecessors. The 81 Metacritic score accurately reflects a title that nails classic exploration and atmosphere when focused, but stumbles with controversial design choices like the desert hub and talkative companions. After 18 years, a development restart, and impossibly high expectations, Beyond delivers enough peak moments to satisfy starving Metroid fans while leaving them wondering what could have been if Retro had more time to smooth the rough edges. The game launching December 4 is worth playing, especially for series veterans desperate for new Prime content. But it’s not the masterpiece that would have justified nearly two decades of waiting. Instead, it’s a compromised but competent continuation – flawed enough to disappoint perfectionists, strong enough that most players will enjoy the ride despite its issues. Sometimes that’s the best you can hope for when a game spends this long in development hell.