During the unveiling of Nintendo Switch 2, there were plenty of thrilling new reveals, but for me, the highlight had to be a familiar face: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
As a long-time fan of the series, I had the chance to delve into the demo of Metroid Prime 4, and it felt like slipping into a pair of well-worn boots. While this particular segment seemed to showcase the basics, free from any major new upgrades—I suspect it’s from the game’s early stages, before Samus gets her power suit decked out with telekinetic abilities—it was still a thrill.
In a classic base-under-siege scenario, Samus was equipped with her trusty arm cannon, missiles, scanner, morph ball, and bombs. Nothing too groundbreaking there, which gave the initial impression of a straightforward sequel. Yet, savvy viewers know from prior footage that plenty more innovations await. But for now, with this hands-on at the Switch 2 event, we stuck to the basics.
Nintendo and Retro Studios seemed intentional in selecting this part of the game. It’s quick, straightforward, and highlights the Metroid Prime core experience on the new hardware. The real kicker? The rep at my demo was eager to point out, right as I sat down, something uncharacteristic for Nintendo: “This is running at 120 frames per second,” they declared. And honestly, the performance is jaw-dropping.
Metroid Prime 4 on Switch 2 feels like a remastered marvel running on far superior hardware compared to the older stats attributed to Nvidia’s estimates of the original Switch’s power. Boasting a native full HD resolution (with 4K at 60fps available), the game is butter-smooth at 120fps. In comparison, it runs circles around what the original Switch could manage, though the latter wasn’t on display for direct comparison. Seeing such fluid gameplay from Nintendo feels nearly out of character, a pleasant surprise for seasoned fans.
Then comes a gameplay revelation: using the innovative Joy-Con controls as a mouse. I mentioned in my coverage of the Switch 2 that you can place the Joy-Con on various surfaces to mimic mouse controls, and Metroid Prime 4 takes this feature to an impressive level. While Civilization 7 comes to mind as an obvious game to utilize such controls, Metroid Prime’s first-person shooter mechanics benefit hugely from this flexibility.
The ability to seamlessly switch from using the Joy-Cons like a regular controller to adapting them for mouselook on a whim is masterful. Just set the right-hand Joy-Con down, and voilà, the game knows exactly what you’re after. This adaptability without any menu hassle is intuitive and elevates the experience significantly.
Combat in the demo segment, which highlights this control versatility, becomes something of a dance. When navigating the environment or engaging in puzzle-solving, I opted for the traditional grip. But when things heated up, the mouse mode came into play naturally, blending the best parts of console and PC gaming worlds.
A boss fight further underscored this dynamism. With the enemy’s weak points sporadically exposed, the precision of mouse control allowed for efficient takedowns, proving far superior to those sticking strictly to conventional controls.
The fluid 120fps performance enhances this precision control style, presenting an experience that feels almost illicitly advanced for a Nintendo game. It redefines what we can expect from a title initially limited by Switch 1’s hardware, which often struggled in performance despite delivering fine visuals for a hybrid device. If Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a glimpse into the Switch 2 future, I’m eagerly anticipating what’s next—a blend of performance-driven upgrades and fresh content.
With the game’s release later this year, players might find an original Switch version available. But for those willing to embrace the future—and if you can manage it financially—the Switch 2 is shaping up to be the definitive place to experience Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, living up to the promise of a true next-gen upgrade.
