Preview: Metroid Prime 4 Impresses on Switch 2

The Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Switch 2 edition begins with a flash of nostalgia. Samus descends top of her ship to a planet surface below. An artifact is in danger, and she’s one of the few that can help protect it. And, since this is the updated Switch 2 version of the game, she’s doing so at 120fps and 1080p, complete with optional mouse controls. After going hands on with part of it, it certainly feels comfortable. The Uto Research Station is under assault by space pirates as I arrive. My goal? Protect the mysterious artifact they are attempting to steal. As this demo contained a slice of gameplay from early on, it included every tutorial. Except in the case of Metroid Prime 4, it didn’t really feel like a tutorial. Instead, it was more like a reminder of how mechanics I was well acquainted with work. See enemies? Hold the left trigger to lock onto it, then fire. Hold down the fire button, and it charges up for a stronger attack. Press down on the left Joy-Con D-pad? It’s rocket time! Happen upon a door or thing that can be scanned? Bring up the visor to take a look. Though, in the case of this early sample, the only scanning of note involved checking two doors to find the four points I needed to shoot on them to unlock them. One of the standout portions during this segment involved the introduction of Samus’ Morph Ball feature. As usual, with a press of a button she becomes a more compact ball that can move about the area and drop bombs with a push of a button. This allows not only access to new areas, but in the case of the demo’s boss fight also let me perform some evasive maneuvers to get around a certain type of attack. But when it’s first introduced, it involves dashing along a “track” in the vent and ceiling area above rooms space pirates are scouring and destroying. While there’s no immediate danger to her, the atmosphere in this portion is fantastic, lending a sense of urgency due to the fantastic story being told in the background as someone moves from point A to point B. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmwAhBxakw4 It all felt reassuringly familiar, however the Metroid Prime 4 Switch 2 edition also made me wonder if the system’s mouse controls would be the ideal way to possibly play. When going through this slice of the game, I could place the right Joy-Con down at any time to immediately start playing with a control scheme that involved moving, locking on, and controlling ammo with the left controller, but using more precise aiming, shooting, and swapping to Morph Ball and back with the right “mouse.” In every situation, it worked. It felt completely natural. The only downside is that when I was going to attempt to use a more standard control scheme… it seemed like maybe the effortless swap between Joy-Con and mouse control got in the way. This is because the way I held the right controller meant that my finger was actually getting in the way of the sensor because of the way I was gripping it. Now, I could easily see this eliminated by using the adapter, playing in handheld mode, grabbing a Pro Controller, or using the mouse control scheme that seemed like an excellent fit. But I do wonder if the full game will allow an option to turn mouse controls off for people who do want to go with a more traditional option, but don’t have the holder for the Joy-Cons or a Pro Controller. My Metroid Prime 4 Switch 2 Edition preview session ended with a boss fight. Samus reaches the artifact! But the space pirates are also there, led by Aberax. Again, as it is an early fight, it feels like it is introducing us to what Samus can do. There are four clearly marked weak points on the foe’s chest, which you need to hit with weapons. However, as you do, Aberax might put up shields to guard some of them, shoot back at you, grab you if you get too close, or send out rays of energy you must jump over to evade. Once all four of those are hit, a fifth weak point appears. Samus can dash closer to strike it. However, that means also potentially being grabbed. Not to mention the AOE attack includes basically walls of energy that must be double-jumped over or ducked under by transforming into a ball. It’s all manageable, of course, and feels like a great test of the mouse-based control scheme for hitting those precise spots or getting used to Samus’ maneuvering and dodging options. I am so excited about Metroid Prime 4: Beyond after playing it on a Switch 2. I knew I was interested. It seemed impressive in early trailers. However, it was just so fluid seeing how strong it looked at 120fps. The opening segment I experienced felt so natural and involved the strong mechanics I knew and loved. The mouse control scheme worked so well when I chose to use it. Metroid Prime 4 seems not only exciting, but like a great showcase of the Switch 2 capabilities. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will come to the Switch and Switch 2 in 2025. The post Preview: Metroid Prime 4 Impresses on Switch 2 appeared first on Siliconera

Apr 3, 2025 - 15:07

Preview: Metroid Prime 4 Impresses on Switch 2

The Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Switch 2 edition begins with a flash of nostalgia. Samus descends top of her ship to a planet surface below. An artifact is in danger, and she’s one of the few that can help protect it. And, since this is the updated Switch 2 version of the game, she’s doing so at 120fps and 1080p, complete with optional mouse controls. After going hands on with part of it, it certainly feels comfortable.

The Uto Research Station is under assault by space pirates as I arrive. My goal? Protect the mysterious artifact they are attempting to steal. As this demo contained a slice of gameplay from early on, it included every tutorial. Except in the case of Metroid Prime 4, it didn’t really feel like a tutorial. Instead, it was more like a reminder of how mechanics I was well acquainted with work. See enemies? Hold the left trigger to lock onto it, then fire. Hold down the fire button, and it charges up for a stronger attack. Press down on the left Joy-Con D-pad? It’s rocket time! Happen upon a door or thing that can be scanned? Bring up the visor to take a look. Though, in the case of this early sample, the only scanning of note involved checking two doors to find the four points I needed to shoot on them to unlock them.

One of the standout portions during this segment involved the introduction of Samus’ Morph Ball feature. As usual, with a press of a button she becomes a more compact ball that can move about the area and drop bombs with a push of a button. This allows not only access to new areas, but in the case of the demo’s boss fight also let me perform some evasive maneuvers to get around a certain type of attack. But when it’s first introduced, it involves dashing along a “track” in the vent and ceiling area above rooms space pirates are scouring and destroying. While there’s no immediate danger to her, the atmosphere in this portion is fantastic, lending a sense of urgency due to the fantastic story being told in the background as someone moves from point A to point B.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmwAhBxakw4

It all felt reassuringly familiar, however the Metroid Prime 4 Switch 2 edition also made me wonder if the system’s mouse controls would be the ideal way to possibly play. When going through this slice of the game, I could place the right Joy-Con down at any time to immediately start playing with a control scheme that involved moving, locking on, and controlling ammo with the left controller, but using more precise aiming, shooting, and swapping to Morph Ball and back with the right “mouse.” In every situation, it worked. It felt completely natural.

The only downside is that when I was going to attempt to use a more standard control scheme… it seemed like maybe the effortless swap between Joy-Con and mouse control got in the way. This is because the way I held the right controller meant that my finger was actually getting in the way of the sensor because of the way I was gripping it. Now, I could easily see this eliminated by using the adapter, playing in handheld mode, grabbing a Pro Controller, or using the mouse control scheme that seemed like an excellent fit. But I do wonder if the full game will allow an option to turn mouse controls off for people who do want to go with a more traditional option, but don’t have the holder for the Joy-Cons or a Pro Controller.

My Metroid Prime 4 Switch 2 Edition preview session ended with a boss fight. Samus reaches the artifact! But the space pirates are also there, led by Aberax. Again, as it is an early fight, it feels like it is introducing us to what Samus can do. There are four clearly marked weak points on the foe’s chest, which you need to hit with weapons. However, as you do, Aberax might put up shields to guard some of them, shoot back at you, grab you if you get too close, or send out rays of energy you must jump over to evade. Once all four of those are hit, a fifth weak point appears. Samus can dash closer to strike it. However, that means also potentially being grabbed. Not to mention the AOE attack includes basically walls of energy that must be double-jumped over or ducked under by transforming into a ball. It’s all manageable, of course, and feels like a great test of the mouse-based control scheme for hitting those precise spots or getting used to Samus’ maneuvering and dodging options.

I am so excited about Metroid Prime 4: Beyond after playing it on a Switch 2. I knew I was interested. It seemed impressive in early trailers. However, it was just so fluid seeing how strong it looked at 120fps. The opening segment I experienced felt so natural and involved the strong mechanics I knew and loved. The mouse control scheme worked so well when I chose to use it. Metroid Prime 4 seems not only exciting, but like a great showcase of the Switch 2 capabilities.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will come to the Switch and Switch 2 in 2025.

The post Preview: Metroid Prime 4 Impresses on Switch 2 appeared first on Siliconera.