Recent previews and an extended trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond showcase Samus Aran's new psychic powers and companions on the planet Viewros. The game introduces Galactic Federation troopers as allies, including the talkative engineer Myles MacKenzie, sparking concerns about disrupting the series' signature isolation. Set for release on December 4, 2025, for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, the title promises smooth performance and innovative controls.
Overview and Story Setup
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond begins with Samus Aran responding to a distress call at a Galactic Federation research center, which comes under attack by her rival Sylux and Space Pirates. An ancient artifact causes a temporal explosion, transporting Samus and some Federation troops to the hostile planet Viewros. Without her ship, Samus must navigate biomes including abandoned factories and a central desert hub, following distress signals to aid stranded troopers.
New Abilities and Gameplay
Samus retains her standard arsenal while gaining psychic and telekinetic powers via a new purple visor, granted by a mysterious alien race. These abilities enable precise shot direction and machinery operation. Exploration involves solving puzzles, scanning environments, and battling enemies in first-person view. A motorcycle, the Vi-0-La, allows traversal of the open desert, switching to third-person perspective. Previews highlight rewarding combat, hypnotic atmosphere, and silky performance on Switch 2.
Allies and Criticisms
The trailer introduces multiple human companions, one per biome, who provide upgrades and assist in battles. Myles MacKenzie, an engineering specialist, accompanies Samus early on, offering quips like "You're alone, on a planet, with no hope of survival. But, you're also not sitting next to Phil anymore in that cubicle…So…Win?" Critics from IGN, VGC, and Eurogamer note his constant chatter, obvious tips, and escort mechanics as disruptive to Metroid's sci-fi horror isolation, comparing it unfavorably to silent exploration in past entries. Options to mute voice acting exist, but no specific companion toggle was found. Despite concerns, core gameplay elements like puzzles and shooting receive praise.
Technical Details
On Switch 2, Performance Mode runs at 1080p 120fps docked or 720p 120fps handheld, while Quality Mode offers 4K 60fps docked or 1080p 60fps handheld. Mouse controls via Joy-Con 2 enhance aiming, with seamless swapping to standard schemes. Switch 1 performance remains unshown.