Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Review

Samus returns in a bold, beautiful, action-packed adventure that dazzles on Switch 2, even if a few new gameplay aspects don’t quite land, my full review.

I’ve been living inside Samus Aran’s helmet whenever one of her intergalactic adventures beckons. From the sprite-based adventures on the NES to the first time Metroid Prime dropped me onto Tallon IV. This series has been one of my favourite sci-fi experiences. That history made the wait for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond extremely tough. Years passed. Studios reset. Expectations ballooned. What developer Retro Studios ultimately delivered is a confident, deliberate experience that embraces a few bold design choices, even if not every new gameplay element resonated with me, I loved the experience.

"What developer Retro Studios ultimately delivered is a confident, deliberate experience that embraces a few bold design choices, even if not every new gameplay element resonated with me, I loved the experience."

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is unmistakably Metroid: moody, beautiful, and mechanically sharp, but it also experiments more than any Prime before it. Some of those ideas feel inspired, pushing the series into bold new territory, while others aren’t what I expected from a Metroid experience. Let’s dive into Samus’ latest adventure and explore how Beyond honours the legacy of the Prime trilogy while daring to reshape it.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Details

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2

Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch 2

Developer: Retro Studios

Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: First-person action-adventure

Available game modes: Single-player

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Storyline — Mind Over Matter

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond begins with an epic battle on a space colony, with Samus ultimately getting pulled to a mysterious world by an alien relic. After being teleported, Samus finds herself on a hostile world that is shrouded in mystery. It’s beautiful as it is deadly, with some genuinely stunning environments and incredible art direction that keeps you wanting to explore every nook and cranny.

"It’s beautiful as it is deadly, with some genuinely stunning environments and incredible art direction that keeps you wanting to explore every nook and cranny."

The narrative leans into psychological and telekinesis themes, introducing new abilities that let Samus manipulate objects and environments in ways that feel both empowering and unsettling.

Unravelling the mysteries of an ancient civilization

I appreciated how restrained the storytelling is, allowing you to pull back layers and really enjoy the stunning environments. Like other Prime games, Beyond trusts environmental storytelling, Chozo relics, and subtle visual cues to do the heavy lifting. The planet’s lore unfolds slowly, and while a few late-game revelations feel rushed, the overall tone is more mature and introspective than past entries. I really enjoyed the quieter, more cerebral approach to storytelling, and there’s still plenty of action to go around. It’s about perception, control, and isolation, not just space pirates and explosions.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Gameplay — Peak Prime Time

At its core, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond feels phenomenal to play. Combat is tight, responsive, and instantly familiar in the best way. There have also been key quality-of-life improvements, like faster access to your visor HUD, which makes scanning and tactical switching feel seamless, and elemental weapons add meaningful strategy without being overwhelming. Boss fights are once again a highlight with cleverly designed encounters that reward observation and experimentation rather than just button-mashing and brute force. When the game focuses on exploration and combat, it absolutely sings and is an incredible highlight of the experience.

Navigating Sol Valley’s Open Zone

One of the biggest and boldest changes to the gameplay formula is the open-world experience in Sol Valley. Designed as a sprawling traversal space, Soul Valley introduces Samus’ motorcycle and a shrine-like progression system involving glowing green crystals. In theory, this is meant to expand the sense of scale and freedom. In practice, I found it sparse and lifeless compared to the rich, curated environments you experience on foot. The motorcycle is fun, but it feels underoptimized with very repetitive segments and has little mechanical depth.  

"In practice, I found it sparse and lifeless compared to the rich, curated environments you experience on foot."

The Prime experience thrives on carefully gated progression and tightly designed spaces. Sol Valley trades that for openness, and the result is a hub that feels borrowed from other modern games rather than built from Metroid’s DNA. I didn’t dread my time there, and I appreciate the creative swing, but I found myself wanting more of the traditional FPS Prime experience.

Graphics and Performance on Nintendo Switch 2

Visually, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on the Nintendo Switch 2 is nothing short of stunning. I can confidently say this is one of the most beautiful and technically impressive games Nintendo has ever released. Each world is distinct, richly detailed, and filled with lore that rewards exploration.

"Each world is distinct, richly detailed, and filled with lore that rewards exploration."

Lighting and visor effects are particularly impressive, creating a sense of depth and immersion that feels genuinely next-generation.

Performance Options in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond 

On Switch 2, the game offers two technically impressive modes: Quality Mode, which is upscaled to 4K/60fps docked, and Performance Mode, which offers 1080p at 120fps docked. Both support HDR, and both look fantastic. I spent most of my time in Performance Mode, the smoothness during combat and traversal is incredible. Quality Mode delivers breathtaking clarity and extra detail to the already incredible environments. Handheld play is super impressive, offering 1080p/60fps or 720p/120fps depending on mode. This is a technical showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2, plain and simple.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Audio and Sound Design - Echoes of Isolation

The audio design is classic Prime excellence. The soundtrack leans into sweeping, almost classical arrangements that enhance the scale and mystery of each alien biome. Ambient sounds, distant creatures, mechanical echoes, and environmental hums do as much storytelling as the visuals. I often found myself standing still just to listen.

The sound design does an incredible job of reinforcing atmosphere rather than demanding attention. If anything, a few combat tracks could have been more dynamic, but that’s a minor complaint in an otherwise exceptional audio package.

Sometimes, Silence is Golden

One area where less audio is more is with some of the CPU controller companions you meet. Metroid Prime has always relied on isolation, the quiet hum of Samus’ suit, the tension of being alone in an alien world. The companions, while not poorly written, frequently disrupt that atmosphere by over-explaining puzzles, commenting on the environment, or reassuring you. While it’s not an immersion-breaking experience by any stretch, I found taking in the environmental sounds and score far more enjoyable.

Final Thoughts on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond 

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a powerful return for one of Nintendo’s most important franchises. It’s beautiful, atmospheric, mechanically satisfying, and deeply respectful of what makes Prime special. At the same time, its experiments, particularly Sol Valley, some companions’ dialogue occasionally work against the experience.

Still, I absolutely loved many aspects of the game, and they were high points for the legendary series. I felt the magic again. And despite its flaws, Beyond proves that Metroid Prime still belongs in the modern FPS conversation. For longtime fans, this is an essential play. For newcomers, it’s a stunning, if slightly imperfect, place to start that I still think you’ll really enjoy.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond PROS

+Excellent combat and boss design

+Stunning visuals and performance on Switch 2

+Deep atmosphere and sound design

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond CONS

-Sol Valley hub world lacks inspiration

-Motorcycle mechanics feel underdeveloped

-Companion dialogue can disrupt the experience

Overall Assessment of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Gameplay: 8.5 /10

Graphics: 9.5 /10

Sound: 9 /10

Lasting appeal / Replayability: 8 /10

Overall Rating of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: 34 /40 (85%)

Nintendo provided a copy of the game to conduct this review.

About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina

Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a video game and tech industry veteran who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. In addition to being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on multiple social platforms with the handle @dapper_tux via X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and join in on the fun!

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