PLATFORM: SWITCH | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Metroid Prime fans have had a heck of a long wait for a new instalment. Prime 3 was released all the way back in 2007, and although a further entry did appear on the 3DS (the much-maligned and oft-forgotten Federation Force) in 2016, for a long time it seemed like the series might be on an indefinite hiatus as far as major home console releases were concerned. When Metroid Prime 4 was announced in 2017, fans were hoping that it would appear sooner rather than later, but a troubled development period saw some behind-the-scenes reshuffling lead to the project being completely restarted in 2019, now with the team responsible for the original Prime series back at the helm. Finally, six years later, Metroid Prime 4 is in players’ hands, arriving a whopping eighteen years after its predecessor.
MP4: Beyond once again asks you to take control of the intergalactic bounty hunter, Samus Aran, during a mission that goes awry within the opening moments of the game. While attempting to prevent the Space Pirates from stealing an important artefact, Samus encounters the Pirates’ leader, Sylux, whose actions result in Samus being teleported to the unknown planet of Viewros. Here, she discovers a holographic recording left by a priest of the planet’s now-extinct race, the Lamorn, who talks about their plans to preserve their legacy on a new planet. Resolving to help the Lamorn with their final request, Samus must now explore several distinct locations around Viewros to acquire new abilities and psychic powers that will allow her to complete her mission and find a way home.
Gameplay is very similar to previous Prime titles, although maybe a bit more linear than fans of the wider Metroid series might expect. After travelling to a location, you’ll explore the area, pick up as many upgrades and abilities as you can find, take down a boss, then move on to the next location. There are five main places of interest, all with sections that are inaccessible until finding abilities in later areas, meaning you’ll be revisiting each place at least one more time, but there aren’t really any hugely massive areas that you’ll get lost in. The smaller locations, combined with advice from the handful of NPCs you’ll meet along the way, make MP4 feel much easier and straightforward than its predecessors. The locations you need to visit are placed in the four corners of the in-game map, you’ll spend a lot of time driving through the desert (on a new arrival for the series, a motorbike equipped with combat capabilities) between each area. Apart from a few shrines here and there, all of which contain puzzles that lead to handy upgrades, the desert is mostly a barren wasteland that perhaps could do with a few more activities to liven things up a bit, in what is really MP4‘s only underwhelming aspect.
There are plenty of inventive puzzles to solve, almost reminiscent of old-school Legend of Zelda, particularly when using the new psychic powers that give Samus a handful of new ways to interact with her surroundings. Combat is simple but satisfying – as is series tradition, Samus is able to lock onto her enemies and then blast away with single bullets or charged shots, while also utilising a variety of elemental missiles for extra damage. The inclusion of NPCs might be a bit jarring at first, particularly when your first “colleague” appears to be overly quippy and chirpy, but they settle down quickly and are nowhere as overbearing as they initially appear. MP4 is absolutely at its best when your companions leave you alone though, allowing you to embark on a solitary adventure through some really quite stunning and atmospheric locations, with only the sound of your weapons and the game’s excellent OST to accompany you. All in all, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is an absolute treat for longtime fans of the series who perhaps thought the game might never arrive!
