Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Is Out Now: Samus Aran's Galactic Return on Switch & Switch 2!

The wait is over, bounty hunters! It's been 18 years since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption released on the Wii, but today Retro Studios and Nintendo finally unleash Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Samus Aran suits up for her most ambitious adventure yet, blending classic Prime isolation with bold new mechanics on the mysterious planet Viewros. Check out the official launch trailer below and then we'll take a look at the latest Prime adventure.

It's Time to Explore, Scan, and Conquer Viewros

We finally get to step into Samus' visor once more in this new first-person action-adventure that many are comparing to the original Metroid Prime and classic 3D Zelda titles. After being transported to the ancient and alien world of Viewros, Samus uncovers ruins, battles grotesque aliens, and allies with new friendly faces to find her way home. She'll also face off against rival bounty hunter Sylux, who seems to be able to control Metroids in a way we haven't seen before.

In a series first, you'll be riding across an open desert hub on the new Vi-O-La Bike as you move between the planet's biomes. This is one area that seems to remind reviewers of the Zelda classic Ocarina of Time with many saying it feels like riding across Hyrule field to travel from one area to another. But each distinct area of Viewros is still an interconnected puzzle waiting to be unlocked.

All of the classic Prime gameplay is back in this one, and enhanced by the power of the Switch 2. In docked play you'll be able to choose between a 4K/60fps Quality mode or a 1080p/120fps performance mode for silky smooth gameplay. Whether you're a Prime veteran or someone new to the series, Beyond packs in 20-30 hours of exploration, combat, and puzzle solving gameplay along with that classic Metroid atmosphere.

Review Roundup: A Great New Entry, But Maybe Not the Pinnacle

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond currently stands at an 81 on Metacritic with over 80 reviews for Nintendo Switch 2. It has earned high praise for its atmosphere, controls, and innovation, with many saying it is the best Prime game since the series began. Here are a few different reviews to give you some varied viewpoints on Samus's latest adventure.

PCMag - 100/100: "Gorgeous, highly entertaining, and a thrill to unravel, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Switch 2 is the best single-player shooter in years and a triumph for gaming's coolest heroine." - Full Review

Giant Bomb - 100/100: "Despite a few tweaks and new features – motion controls, psychic powers, a nonlinear hub world, and the occasional side character – this is Metroid Prime through and through. It’s without a doubt the closest the series has ever felt to the original Metroid Prime, in terms of tone, gameplay, and quality. Time will tell where I place Metroid Prime 4 in the ranking of the overall series, but fresh off my first playthrough I feel comfortable putting it among the likes of Super Metroid and the original Metroid Prime. It’s the best Switch 2 title yet, and I have to imagine that fans of the series will find themselves captivated by Metroid Prime 4." - Full Review

Nintendo Life - 90/100: "After 18 years of waiting, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond manages to replicate that magical sense of discovery from the GameCube original while pushing the series in some incredible new directions. Separating the main biomes with a vast open world sounds ridiculous on paper, but the slick traversal provided by Vi-O-La makes exploration more satisfying than ever…Combine this with the stunning art direction, ferocious new boss characters, and a surprisingly endearing squad of Federation troopers, and Beyond is quite possibly the boldest, most well-realised Metroid game to date. Make no mistake, the long wait has been more than worth it. Welcome back, Samus." - Full Review

Game Informer - 88/100: "My annoyances with Beyond are vastly overshadowed by a pristine, rock-solid science-fiction exploration experience. Discovering all Viewros has to offer is incredibly rewarding and delivers an unmatched sense of alien ambiance. The wait for a new Metroid Prime has been long, but it only takes a few minutes in Beyond to remember why we have been so eager to re-enter this universe for the past 18 years." - Full Review

Gamespot - 80/100: "Metroid Prime 4: Beyond sometimes feels like a product of its notoriously long and troubled development. At moments it serves as a time capsule for gaming trends that have come and gone over the last decade, like a sparse open world and a squad shooter with AI teammates. Those elements are decently made, but not as expertly crafted as the more traditional Metroid Prime exploration and storytelling. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is uneven and messy in some respects, but at its best it meets or exceeds the best moments the series has to offer." - Full Review

It's interesting to see several outlets praise Prime 4 as the best game since the original Prime, or even describe it as an Ocarina of Time and Prime 1 blend, and then other outlets pan elements of it's design. It certainly seems to be a game that speaks to people in different ways.

I can't wait to get back into the suit and see what Retro have cooked up for us after so many years. I'll make sure to post an update on my own time with the game once I've had a chance to make some serious progress. It definitely sounds like a great adventure to pull us through the cold winter months though. Samus is ready, are you?

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is available now, exclusively for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. If you purchase the Switch 2 physical edition the cart will work in both Switch and Switch 2 systems, and the Switch 2 Edition upgrade is available on the cart as well.