For seven years, Metroid Prime 4 was simply a emblem. Fans obsessively tuned into each Nintendo presentation hoping for an replace on the game to no avail till 2024 when a trailer was lastly launched and pictures of the game in movement was truly revealed. This yr, not solely is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond getting launched but it surely’s additionally getting some actually attention-grabbing visible and gameplay upgrades on Nintendo Switch 2. We’ve performed Retro Studio’s latest installment within the traditional sci-fi action journey sequence on Switch 2 and we have now heaps to let you know about. Read on to search out out more.
Beyond Beautiful
The very first thing we observed with Metroid Prime 4 was how beautiful it was. It’s bought an extremely clear and trendy aesthetic and Nintendo was promoting it as operating in 120 frames per second on Switch 2. This gained’t be the case on Switch 1 and it’s powerful to trace how a lot Nintendo will have the ability to keep on with that quantity on the complete game, but it surely’s an bold goal both method. So far, Prime 4 has a actually great sense of scale. We fought a bunch of grunt-like enemies, noticed a huge, hulking mech strut into the battle, after which took down a massive boss that featured a number of totally different assault phases. The space we demoed was simply a small glimpse at what the complete game may offer so we’re hoping we see some grander setpieces and enormous, open environments, some of which have been teased already in trailers.
But Metroid video games are additionally about cramped tunnels and darkish corridors and we bought to see a few of these, too. Like earlier Prime video games, a fast button press immediately pops Samus from first-individual aiming into third-individual morph ball mode, permitting her to traverse some areas she will’t attain in any other case. We bought to check this out a bit and it really works great so we will’t wait to go looking each nook and cranny of this game in search of missile upgrades, power tanks, shortcuts, and more. This is probably the most detailed Metroid game but and these sections are no totally different, giving us a glimpse of battles occurring between warring factions occurring beneath you as you roll round in tunnels above them. But wait, how does all of it play?
Samouse Aran (Or, Of Mice and Metroids)
One of probably the most fascinating additions to Metroid Prime 4 on Switch 2 is the non-obligatory mouse controls. Looking back, the Prime sequence has experimented a ton with distinctive control choices throughout varied video games. The first two Metroid Prime video games had been constructed across the pretty conventional Nintendo GameDice controller (though there was nothing conventional about turning a traditionally 2D sidescrolling game into a first individual action journey game with third individual ball rolling mechanics) however after that, all bets had been off. Metroid Prime: Hunters on Nintendo DS had contact display controls. Metroid Prime 3 on Nintendo Wii had pointer and movement controls. Metroid Prime Pinball on DS shipped with a Game Boy Advance cartridge formed rumble pack. We don’t speak about Metroid Prime: Blast Ball on Nintendo 3DS.
And now, Metroid Prime 4 on Switch 2 helps you to flip your proper Joy-Con 2 sideways, place it on a flat floor, and control Samus’ aiming with a snappy and exact mouse pointer full with haptic suggestions for each shot. Even neater, the game seamlessly lets you swap from conventional stick controls to mouse controls on a whim, with no need to pause to enter the settings. We might see a lot of people deciding that is their most popular solution to play Metroid Prime 4, and the benefit of which you’ll be able to swap back and forth between mouse and pointer controls makes it so you possibly can select to solely plop the Joy-Con 2 on the desk when it’s time for a severe fight sequence, and use conventional controls for the more chill exploration segments Prime 4 will certainly ship. Or possibly you’ll need to play the entire game in handheld mode or with a Pro Controller. Either method, you’ve bought choices.
The "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" Upgrade Path
One factor Nintendo isn’t being completely clear on simply but is the place Prime 4 sits of their awkward transitional Switch 1 to Switch 2 titles record. While some authentic Switch video games like Echoes of Wisdom and Link’s Awakening are getting free improve patches for Switch 2, others like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are charging $10 for visible upgrades (and a few bells and whistles) whereas some video games like Kirby and the Forgotten Land will obtain $20 upgrades that improve visuals and add new content material. Which of these classes will Metroid Prime 4’s mouse controls and 120FPS choices be in once they come to Switch 2?
Well, like its release date and base game price, we simply don’t know but. You’ll have the ability to purchase the bottom game and the “Switch 2 edition upgrade pack” individually or as a bundle in a vibrant pink Switch 2 branded field however as of now, we have now no concept how a lot any of these will price you. Our greatest guess is that it is going to be $10 more for the Switch 2 model provided that it’s not coming with an enlargement like Mario Party’s “+ Jamboree TV” and Kirby’s “+ Star-Crossed World”, however we’re not 100% sure but. Samus has unlockable psychic powers in Prime 4 so we would simply must ask her. She’s normally not very talkative, although.
Metroid Prime 4 doesn’t have a release date simply but but it surely’s coming to Switch 1 and Switch 2 in 2025 so hey, at the very least we gained’t have to attend seven years again to search out out more. Keep it locked to IGN for all issues Metroid, and be sure to learn up on our arms-on protection of the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Mario Kart World.
Brian Altano and Logan Plant love Metroid and speak about it steadily on Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN's weekly Nintendo podcast. Check it out on Fridays on IGN.com, YouTube, and podcast companies.