Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Review: After Years of Waiting
It's been 18 years since the last mainline Metroid Prime game, and now we finally have the fourth installment, Beyond, on the Nintendo Switch 2. The developers have kept the series' soul intact, letting you explore and enjoy its rich science-fiction world. Like any game, it has its highs and lows and isn't without flaws, but the scales tip heavily in favor of its strengths.
Let's dive into the Metroid Prime 4 Beyond review. Join us as we take a closer look.
Environment and Graphics of Metroid Prime 4 Beyond
Well, this is one of the game's strong points. The developers have truly gone all out, presenting you with beautiful environments that could rank among the best in terms of graphics and visual effects. The variety of areas is immense, and you can experience their expansiveness—from pristine and wild landscapes to somewhat simpler ones.
Gameplay and Controls (The First-Person Action Experience)
What the developers have maintained is the engaging gameplay of the past. However, new abilities added to the game make it much more captivating, and you must gradually acquire them.
The stages are designed in such a way that you cannot complete everything on your first attempt. Instead, after obtaining new abilities, you must return to the same areas to finish exploring them fully.
The diverse environments in this game are crafted with great appeal and variety. You'll encounter vast deserts, beautiful forests, and industrial complexes and factories. This environmental diversity creates an incredible appeal that keeps the player from getting tired throughout the stages of the game.
Negatives and Frustrations:
As I mentioned at the beginning, alongside its many charms, this game has some drawbacks that might not provide an enjoyable experience for players.
The biggest issue can be seen toward the end of the story, where the game suddenly slows down—as if the developers don't want you to finish it quickly, forcing you to spend a lot of time finding certain resources. Additionally, given the game's beauty, you might expect a much more thrilling ending, but the conclusion doesn't meet expectations and is somewhat underwhelming.
Another problem is that once the game is over, you cannot freely roam the same world to complete leftover tasks. You must start the game over from the beginning on a higher difficulty level. This is not what you or any other player would expect from this genre. Discovering unknowns is very engaging, and we may have missed some places, but you lose this opportunity after finishing the main story.
Another issue lies in the game's combat system. In Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, you have a few allies who join you in some battles, but they suffer from poor artificial intelligence, perish quickly, and you must play the role of their protector—which contradicts the expectation of having supportive allies.
Is Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Really Worth Buying?
Despite its negatives, this game has its own unique beauty. You can search and adventure through its captivating environments, engage in exciting battles, and solve mind-bending puzzles. Consequently, a few negative points cannot diminish its overall value, and yes, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond is worth it.
