My Issue With Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

By Nintendo - https://www.ign.com/games/metroid-prime-4-beyond, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79570449

I just finished playing Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and I know that there has been much chatter about the game about what it is and what it should be. I ignored the talk as much as I could and just played the game, and I have some thoughts about Samus's latest adventure.

Despite the criticism, I do not think this is a bad game. In fact, I think Metroid Prime 4 is a solid Metroid title. My biggest compliment on the game is that the visuals look great on the Switch 2. I like all the different landscapes that you travel through as Samus, and it contributes to the atmosphere well. I also enjoy the music of this game as well, and it fits with the sci-fi, space fantasy aesthetic that the game is trying to go for. Regarding the gameplay, if you enjoyed the combat and exploration of the previous Metroid Prime entries, then you will get the same offering in this game as well.

With that said, I want to highlight some strange aspects of Metroid Prime 4. There is more of an emphasis on companion characters in this game, which is different from what I would expect from Metroid Prime entries. I do not personally find Myles Mackenzie or any of the other side characters to be annoying, and I think the writing and dialogue of the characters is good enough. It is just that I would expect this kind thing in other Nintendo titles rather than Metroid, where there is a focus on isolated exploration. Another thing I want to mention is that there is an open-world component to Metroid Prime 4, and I think the open-world is bland, dull, and boring.

Here is where I will mention my biggest issue with Metroid Prime 4, and this is because of my expectations of the game. Metroid Prime 4 is a video game that severely lacks innovation and evolution. I hated that when I was playing this game, I felt like I was playing a watered-down version of the first Metroid Prime game. I understand that this game was in development hell for a while, but I wanted to see Metroid Prime 4 as an evolution of the Metroidvania genre, just like what Metroid Prime was on the GameCube over 20 years ago, and what the numerous indie Metroidvania games did, such as Hollow Knight, and the Ori games. I was hoping that Metroid Prime 4 would push the series in a bold new direction like what The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Kirby and the Forgotten Land did for the Zelda and Kirby series, respectively. Instead, you have a game that uses the same gameplay mechanics and game design ideas from 20-25 years ago, and do nothing to improve, innovate, and modernize for today's audience.

I still maintain that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a good Metroid title and a good Nintendo Switch title, but I cannot help but feel disappointed for what this game could have been.