A worthy but uneven return to Metroid

? Modernity isn’t for everyone. After 18 years, Samus Aran’s first-person adventures resume with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — a game that delivers the atmospheric exploration and intricate world-building the series is beloved for, while stumbling over its attempts to modernize the formula.

When MP4B leans into what made the original series special, there’s not much that compares. The individual locations — gothic factories humming with industrial menace, frozen laboratories harboring dormant horrors, volcanic facilities pulsing with molten energy — rank among the series’ finest. Retro Studios hasn’t lost its touch for crafting spaces that feel tangibly real, where every room tells a story through careful environmental design and optional lore scans.

The core gameplay loop remains satisfying: lock-on shooting, methodical exploration, and the signature sense of isolation as you piece together the fate of the extinct Lamorn civilization. Samus controls beautifully, with snappy dodges and easy maneuverability. Boss battles are creative and challenging, requiring you to identify weaknesses before unleashing the appropriate arsenal. The new psychic powers — telekinetically manipulating objects, firing time-slowing charged shots — add fresh wrinkles to familiar puzzles without straying too far from a tried-and-true formula.

Technically speaking, this may be Nintendo’s most impressive exclusive. Running at a flawless 4K/60fps with a 120fps option (on the Switch 2, at least), MP4B showcases jaw-dropping art direction, gorgeous lighting, and the iconic visor effects that fog up in extreme temperatures. It’s a visual stunner that proves art design trumps raw graphical horsepower.

Where it fumbles: MP4B’s ambitions frequently clash with its execution. The game’s biggest misstep is Sol Valley, an open desert hub connecting the main areas. Clearly inspired by Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this barren wasteland feels like an Ocarina of Time-era Hyrule Field rather than a modern open world. It’s mostly empty, housing a handful of uninspired shrines and forcing you to collect green energy crystals in what amounts to tedious busywork. The Vi-O-La motorcycle controls well, but rarely justifies its inclusion beyond basic transportation.

It’s not just unnecessary, it’s a hindrance. The structure suffers from this hub design — accessing areas requires navigating multiple load screens, which discourages the backtracking and exploration that defines Metroidvania gameplay. It’s padding that makes a 15-hour game feel unnecessarily bloated.

Then there are the companions. Galactic Federation allies like engineer Myles MacKenzie adopt another Ocarina fault, peppering the adventure with Navi-like hints that, while less intrusive than we feared, still interrupt the lonely, contemplative atmosphere that makes Metroid special. While their limited presence and decent voice acting prevent them from ruining the experience — some of them even have charming moments — they represent a fundamental misunderstanding of what gives this series its haunting power.

But when MP4B focuses on what matters, it recaptures the magic that made this subseries legendary — navigating intricately designed facilities, scanning mysterious alien technology, battling imposing creatures in spectacular arenas. The game is more linear than its predecessors, with clear progression paths that make it an excellent entry point for newcomers, but perhaps disappointing veterans seeking labyrinthine complexity without having to complete the first run to unlock Hard Mode. It’s a strong — if uneven — comeback that reaches incredible heights in its best moments.

? Rating: 8/10 on IGN, 94% audience rating

⌛ Hours of gameplay: 11–15 hours

? Replay value: 7/10 — After your first run, Beyond unlocks a Hard Mode — a more challenging version for veterans

? Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

? Price: USD 59.99 on the Nintendo Switch, USD 69.99 on Nintendo Switch 2