More than eight years after its original announcement, **Metroid Prime 4: Beyond** is finally set to launch on the Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2 this December. Ahead of its global release, I had the opportunity to play over an hour of the game’s Switch 2 Edition in both handheld and TV modes—and it was glorious.
In Samus’ latest adventure, she finds herself stranded on the mysterious planet of Viewros. In search of a way home, she battles dangerous alien creatures and unravels the planet’s enigmatic history. From the very start, I was reminded just how cool Samus is as a character. She exudes power and confidence, perfectly exemplified in the game’s aspect ratio-shifting opening cinematic.
During the story, we see Samus interact with a companion character, and her stoic demeanor led to some unexpectedly hilarious moments during their conversations. This glimpse into the narrative only heightened my anticipation for what’s to come.
### Stunning Visuals and Smooth Performance
Metroid Prime 4’s visuals are nothing short of gorgeous, standing out impressively in both handheld and TV modes. Playing on the Switch 2 handheld, the game ran smoothly with vibrant colors that really popped on the device’s display. Load times were quick, although I couldn’t test battery life due to my limited handheld session of about 15 minutes.
The same praise applies to the TV mode, which dazzled on the massive screens provided at the event. Whether playing in Performance or Quality mode, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is easily one of the best-looking games I’ve seen on the Nintendo Switch 2. It made me wonder why Nintendo hadn’t showcased the game more heavily as a technical showpiece during its reveal.
### Classic Gameplay with New Psychic Powers
From a gameplay perspective, Metroid Prime 4 offers the classic first-person adventure experience that fans of the series know and love. This time around, Samus gains psychic powers that can be used in both combat and puzzle-solving.
Some of her new psychic abilities include a slow-motion blast that players can manually control—similar to a homing missile—as well as the power to telekinetically grab, pull, and throw certain objects. These additions bring fresh dynamics to the established Metroid formula.
### Innovative Control Options: Mouse Mode
One exciting new feature exclusive to the Switch 2 is **Mouse Mode**, which allows the Joy-Con 2 to function as a mouse for aiming and shooting. I would argue that Metroid Prime 4 makes the best use of this feature out of any Switch 2 game I’ve played so far.
Aiming and firing with the Joy-Con as a mouse felt completely natural, even if the button layout takes some getting used to. As someone who primarily plays shooters on PC, Mouse Mode is a massive improvement over traditional analog stick aiming. However, your comfort with this mode will depend heavily on your personal gaming setup.
Alternatively, gyro controls are available through both the Pro Controller and standard Joy-Cons, giving players multiple control options to suit their preferences.
### Deeply Satisfying Combat
Combat in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is fast-paced and satisfying, especially once you start unlocking Samus’ new psychic abilities. I frequently found myself jumping and strafing while combining shooting and missiles to take down groups of enemies. When things got too intense, I’d drop into the morph ball and zoom away to safety.
Enemies are constantly on the move, which means you have to stay on your toes or risk being overwhelmed. The combat really shined during two boss battles I experienced.
– The first boss was a strange alien creature adorned with large, bulbous eye-like orbs. I had to shoot the orbs as they opened, exposing its vulnerable core.
– The second boss had three tentacles that attacked relentlessly. Each had weak spots that you could destroy by shooting, but the tentacles regrew quickly. To counter this, I used a telekinetic blast to slow down time and hit all the tentacles in one shot—a particularly satisfying moment.
### Classic Metroid Exploration and Puzzles
True to Metroid form, the game is filled with environmental puzzles, many of which require revisiting earlier locations. You’ll often scan locked doors or mysterious objects to find out what abilities or items you need to progress. This encourages exploration and backtracking, enriching the overall adventure.
Samus’ psychic powers play a large role in solving puzzles this time around. For example, I opened doors by dragging knobs along specific paths using the Joy-Con in Mouse Mode. In other areas, I grabbed psychic nodes from statues using telekinesis to unlock new pathways.
The morph ball also returns as an essential tool for navigating tight corridors and reaching otherwise inaccessible areas.
### A Switch 2 Showcase and a Killer App
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is perfectly suited to the capabilities of the Switch 2, and it’s shaping up to be one of the platform’s killer apps. From stunning visuals and smooth performance to innovative, PC-like control options, Samus’ next adventure can’t arrive soon enough.
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*This preview is based on an early build of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond played at a private press event. The game launches on December 4, 2025, for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.*
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146828/metroid-prime-4-beyond-impressions