Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Preview Roundup: Prime Perfection... Except for That One Guy

Metroid Prime 4 Previews Hit Just Weeks from Launch

After years of waiting, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally set to arrive on December 4th for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Now that we are only a few weeks away, Nintendo brought in some gaming outlets and gave them about 90 minutes of early hands-on playtime, and they all published their previews this week. We thought it would be a good idea to roundup all the previews and see what the critics thought of this pre-release look at Nintendo’s last big game of 2025. Let’s see what they enjoyed about their time with Samus, and what they could have done without.

Samus is Back, With Some New Tricks

So what’s the consensus? Metroid Prime’s core gameplay shines brighter than ever. Combat is "responsive and frenetic," blending lock-on shooting, missiles, and bombs against enemies and massive bosses that demand strafing, dashing, and weak-point precision beyond what we have seen in the series before.

The classic interconnected exploration also thrives in lush jungles, ancient ruins, and bioluminescent caves. It’s all here, backtracking after gaining new powers, scanning for secrets, and now solving puzzles with Samus’ new psychic powers. The Psychic Glove allows you to grab and move items in the game world and the Control Beam basically gives Samus the ‘Psycho Gun’ from Space Adventure Cobra! When fired, you can slow down time to steer the charged shot around obstacles, and through multiple enemies in one blast.

Several previews also had high praise for the new mouse controls available for Switch 2. They enable you to smoothly aim with such precision that you can target specific limbs or weak spots on each enemy without a second thought. You an also switch between control setups on the fly, although you may not want too since the mouse controls are described as "mind-bendingly good."

Technically the game also feels rock solid on Switch 2. With options for 4K at 60 fps or even 1080p at 120 fps you'll be able to pritorize how the game looks based on your own preferences. As expected, the atmospheric sound track is first rate and helps to root you in the game world just like previous entries in the Prime series. It's all on point.

The Myles MacKenzie Controversy: Immersion Breaker?

So everything is great right? Enter Federation engineer Myles MacKenzie: a rescued NPC who starts tailing Samus early in the game and handing out hints and comic relief. Most previewers felt that it didn’t fit the usually isolated atmosphere we expect in a Metroid game. From what I’ve seen in footage, it feels like a tutorial section to help new players get up to speed, and one I assume will end fairly quickly.

Hopefully it doesn’t portend bad decisions for the rest of the game, but I’m willing to give Retro the benefit of the doubt at this point. I’m also happy to see them changing up the formula and not just delivering the same experience again after all these years.

Preview Roundup

So outside of some questionable NPCs it looks like Samus is coming back in style. Here are some quotes from various outlets to give you an idea of what the opinions are around the industry.

Polygon Metroid Prime 4 is not just a rehash of Retro’s original run. It’s a tonal divergence, a bit sillier in places, a bit more gruesome in others. But Metroid Prime 4 still plays the series’ greatest hits. - Full Preview

IGN Retro’s art direction is still great, and Prime 4 is shaping up to be a really beautiful game. - Full Preview

Nintendo Life ... the game is absolutely stunning. The lighting engine doesn’t always hit the mark (as shown in the trailers within a desert area, which was sadly not a part of this preview), but when it does, it really does. The audio design is also stellar, especially the soundtrack. That mysterious, lonely vibe that is quintessential to the Prime series is here in full force, and I am unbelievably grateful for that. - Full Preview

Eurogamer While you can play Metroid Prime 4 in a variety of different control setups, making use of things like gyroscopic tilting and such - or indeed just play it on a controller with a scheme that resembles the GameCube Prime controls - it's difficult to not think mouse is the way to play. Playing a Nintendo game at 120 frames per second with a mouse feels like you should be looking over your shoulder to check Nintendo's lawyers aren't approaching - and yet here it is, properly supported. Legal. - Full Preview

We Won't Have to Wait Much Longer

Based on the previews it looks like Metroid Prime: Beyond is going to be an excellent send off for the Switch, and thanks to the upgrades, a showcase for the Switch 2. Let's hope the issue with Miles and the other NPCs doesn't ruin what otherwise looks like another Retro triumph. We'll find out for ourselves on December 4. See you then.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is set to release on December 4th for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. The Switch 2 physical edition includes both a Nintendo Switch cart and a the Switch 2 upgrade, so it is playable on both systems. We'll have all the latest as it happens so stay tuned to GameMinr