Review: Metroid Prime 4 Beyond is a Barren Land with Good Ideas

Key Takeaways

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  • Metroid Prime 4: Beyond offers an immersive experience with enhanced graphics and improved sound design, making it the best-looking game on Nintendo Switch 2.
  • The game introduces a new planet, Viewros, inhabited by an ancient civilization, where Samus Aran must explore, battle creatures, and find her way off.
  • Players can utilize various equipment such as the Suit, Scan Visor, Wavebeam, Super Missiles, Missiles, Morph Ball, and new Psychic Skills to survive on Viewros.
  • While praised for its visuals and gameplay, the game received criticism for frustrating moments due to difficult encounters, confusing psychic powers, and a storyline with questionable focus, particularly regarding the villain Sylux and narrative direction.

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Metroid Prime 4 Beyond: A Renewal with Questionable Focus on Viewros

Pedro and Paulo Zambarda de Araujo’s review of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, released on December 4, 2025, calls the game “somewhat empty, yet a necessary renewal in the franchise.” The review is available at Dropando a Real 58. Set in the first-person perspective of the Prime series, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond sees Samus Aran face new challenges after her battle with Sylux. According to Nintendo’s website, the clash with the “mortal elite shooter” activates an artifact that transports Samus to Viewros, a mysterious planet inhabited by an ancient civilization. The game, released on Nintendo Switch 2, features enhanced graphics and tweaked gameplay. Samus also gains access to a new piece of equipment called ViOLa. However, the game presents frustrating moments due to difficult encounters and confusing psychic powers. Some may find Sylux an underwhelming villain, and the storyline’s direction lacks focus. Stranded on Viewros, Samus must explore, battle strange creatures, and ultimately find her way off the planet. This requires scanning the surroundings for clues, maximizing equipment and weapons, and using her new psychic abilities to manipulate the environment.

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond: Immersive Gameplay with Enhanced Visuals and Abilities

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is considered the best-looking Switch game to date, boasting detailed environments and visual enhancements such as lighting and water effects on the visor and arm cannon. Reviewers have also praised the sound design, including the music and background tracks, for enhancing the immersive experience. To survive and escape Viewros, Samus has access to: The Suit: A customizable exoskeleton that provides protection and access to various abilities. The Scan Visor: Collects and processes information from the surroundings. The Wavebeam and Super Missiles: Unleash fast or charged shots. Missiles: High-precision tracking projectiles. Morph Ball: Transforms Samus into a mobile and compact sphere. Psychic Skills: Mysterious ancient abilities gained during her journey. (Note: This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Portal Uai.)

In Case You Missed It

If you’re craving some insightful gaming reads, we’ve got you covered! Kick things off with Bruno Pferd’s article, “Retro Continued Halfway-Completed Metroid Prime 4,” published on December 26th. Here, Bruno takes an in-depth look at the challenges faced by Retro Studios in reviving the beloved Metroid Prime series, from inheriting a halfway-completed project to keeping up with evolving player expectations for open-world games Retro Continued Halfway-Completed Metroid Prime 4. Next up, our gaming guru Carlos Mendoza shares his latest post, ‘Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Brings Modernity and Nostalgia’, published on December 17th. If you’re excited about Lara Croft’s upcoming anniversary year or curious about what’s in store for her new adventure, dive into this exciting preview of the upcoming game. Carlos explores how Crystal Dynamics is blending nostalgia with modern gaming elements using Unreal Engine 5 and shares the latest scoop on reimagined combat and movement – all set to release in 2026! Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Brings Modernity and Nostalgia. And finally, Sophie Laurent takes a deep dive into the world of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in her latest post from December 26th, “Metroid Prime 4 was Conceptualized as Something Memorable”. Discover the development process with Retro Studios, learn about their ambitious plans for Samus and Sylax’s relationship, and find out why they believe the game’s graphics are its biggest selling point, despite mixed reviews. Fans have been raving about this first-person adventure – check it out here: Metroid Prime 4 was Conceptualized as Something Memorable.


Specification
Official NameMetroid Prime 4: Beyond
Brief SummaryDeadly sharpshooter Sylux has finally caught up with renowned bounty hunter Samus Aran! After an unexpected accident in the wake of their clash, Samus finds herself transported to Viewros— a mysterious planet once inhabited by an ancient race. Now she must explore this planet, all while battling the strange creatures that inhabit it, to find her way home.

Scan your surroundings for clues, make the most of your equipment and weapons, and use Samus's newfound psychic abilities— and her technologically advanced bike, the Vi-O-La— to traverse and explore the environment. Operate mechanisms, control your charge beam, and more— you'll need every tool at your disposal to survive and escape Viewros!

PlatformsNintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch
ReleasedDecember 4, 2025
GenreShooter, Platform, Adventure
Play ModesSingle player
Content RatingT
LanguagesFrench, Japanese
GenreNintendo, Retro Studios, Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 6
GenreNintendo
Ratings83/100 (16 reviews)

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