Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has arrived on storefronts, introducing Samus Aran as the leader of a Galactic Federation squad on an alien world. While the game's companions draw mixed reactions for their stereotypical designs, critics highlight Samus's continued silence as a key narrative issue. The title builds on the series' isolation theme but incorporates team dynamics for the first time in the Prime subseries.
Release Overview
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo, officially launched on December 2, 2025. The game places players in control of bounty hunter Samus Aran, who becomes stranded on a distant planet and assembles a team of Galactic Federation marines to combat threats. This marks a departure from the series' traditional solitary exploration, emphasizing squad-based missions in its dungeon-like levels.
Companion Characters
The supporting cast includes five marines, each embodying familiar archetypes. Myles, the bespectacled engineer, serves as a base operator, offering radio hints, progress guidance, and gear upgrades using resources Samus collects. Other members feature a scarred sniper, a gruff black commander, an excitable young female recruit who idolizes Samus, and a robot companion. These characters are described as caricatures designed for quick familiarity, given the game's limited dialogue overall. While some previews noted initial annoyance with Myles, the full experience portrays them as inoffensive and potentially endearing to fans, possibly inspiring fan content like art and fiction.
Narrative Critique
A central point of discussion is Samus's silence, which contrasts with her team's chattiness. Unlike previous entries like Metroid: Other M (where she speaks extensively, albeit controversially), Zero Mission, Fusion, and Dread (featuring logs, monologues, or spoken lines), Samus utters no words here. Interactions feel one-sided, with marines addressing her as if in conversation, leading to awkward moments such as silent gestures in response to questions or threats. The author argues this undermines the story of team-building and leadership, making Samus appear cold or robotic, especially without acknowledgment of her quiet nature. Comparisons to Halo's Master Chief suggest sparse dialogue could humanize her while preserving stoicism. Ultimately, the piece posits that either removing the companions or giving Samus minimal speech would better serve the narrative, avoiding a contrived feel in group scenes.