If Metroid Prime 4 hasn’t clicked for you yet, you’re definitely not the only one

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I finally bought Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for the Switch 2, even though I was hesitant. I’d been debating whether it was worth the money after reading mixed reviews. As a longtime fan of the Metroid Prime series, I hoped I’d still enjoy it, especially since it seemed to be going back to its roots. Unfortunately, I’m not really connecting with the game so far – something just feels off.

The first time I started the game, the sights and sounds instantly transported me back to 2002, when I first played the original Metroid Prime on GameCube. It was a truly immersive experience. However, the more I play Metroid Prime 4, the more disappointed I become. It just doesn’t feel like the game I remembered, and I keep wondering if this is all there is after so many years. If you feel the same way, know that many others do too.

Metroid Prime 4 Feels Like a One-Way Nostalgia Trip

Nostalgia is a surprisingly tricky emotion. It can powerfully remind you of past joys, like playing a game such as Metroid Prime, and briefly make you feel as if you’re reliving those times. However, it’s impossible to truly recapture the past, and recognizing that can be bittersweet. Ultimately, you’re left with the desire to find new experiences that can create the same feelings.

Much of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond feels like a trip down memory lane, with moments of excitement that don’t last. It truly captures the spirit of the original Metroid Prime, which is both a good thing and, surprisingly, a weakness. While the game successfully evokes nostalgia, that feeling fades quickly, leaving the experience somewhat underwhelming.

Image via Retro Studios

After a long development process, Metroid Prime 4 feels surprisingly similar to previous games in the series. It seems the developers played it safe, sticking to familiar ideas perhaps out of concern about alienating longtime fans. While understandable, this Metroid Prime had the potential to revitalize the series with new concepts while still honoring its core design. Instead, it often feels like a visually stunning but ultimately straightforward alien shooter – enjoyable, but lacking the innovation the series is capable of.

So far, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has largely relied on nostalgia, delivering brief moments of excitement that unfortunately don’t last, and often give way to disappointment.

Many players seem to be having a mixed experience with Metroid Prime 4. I’m not the only one feeling this way, and others are voicing similar opinions. One Reddit user, Affectionate_Emu_818, praised the game’s graphics and atmosphere but criticized the excessive guidance and a dull companion character. The discussion revealed a common sentiment: the game has moments of brilliance alongside frustrating lows, with some players admitting they aren’t enjoying it. Another user, Iggy_Slayer, even agreed with my feeling that the game feels strangely outdated.

It’s okay to appreciate the past, but it shouldn’t prevent progress. Typically, you know within the first hour if a game is worth playing, and unfortunately, I found Metroid Prime 4 boring much earlier than that. I’ve now played for about 15 hours and can see the game trying new things, but even those attempts ultimately fall short of their potential. It feels like the game hints at something amazing, but then stops just before delivering it.

I’m Convinced Metroid Prime 4’s Sol Valley Desert Is a Metaphor

The Sol Valley area in Metroid Prime 4 feels like a missed opportunity. While not every game needs an open world, Metroid Prime, with its focus on beautiful environments and suspense, could have really benefited from it. This area had the potential to be amazing, building on what the series does best, but unfortunately, it feels empty and underutilized – almost as if the developers focused too much on creating a literal ‘valley’ and not enough on filling it with content.

Sol Valley feels incredibly empty – a true desert landscape. While it has collectibles and upgrades, they’re spread out with very little interesting content in between, and are easy to obtain. The puzzles aren’t challenging, and traveling between objectives is a dull and unrewarding experience. Honestly, the game often feels like a long loading screen. It’s frustrating that even using the radio on Samus’ Vi-0-La requires purchasing the Metroid Prime 4 amiibo, especially since the rest of the game feels like a classic title from over a decade ago.

I’m increasingly convinced that the Sol Valley desert in Metroid Prime 4 represents a missed opportunity, even if the developers didn’t plan it that way. It perfectly illustrates the game’s ambition to innovate, while simultaneously failing to fully commit to those ideas. There are glimpses of genuinely new directions for the series, but these moments never develop into anything meaningful. Sol Valley feels like a space designed for something great, with all the groundwork in place, but ultimately it remains empty. Exploring it leaves you dwelling on what could have been, rather than appreciating what is, and that’s perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the game so far.

A common criticism of Metroid Prime 4 has been the desert area, and I usually prefer to form my own opinions before listening to critiques. However, I now find myself agreeing with those who dislike it, much like Arceorenix explained in a Reddit post. They specifically called Sol Valley the game’s biggest flaw, and I’m inclined to agree—even though I usually think that kind of harsh judgment is excessive. Many commenters in the thread echoed Arceorenix’s view, with some calling the desert unnecessary filler and others, like CahuelaRHouse, arguing that the open world and vehicle don’t fit the Metroid style.

Adding Sol Valley didn’t have to be a mistake. Open-world games have a proven track record of success when done right, despite initial doubts about the concept. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Elden Ring demonstrated that a large map doesn’t necessarily ruin a game. While Metroid Prime 4: Beyond isn’t fully open-world, the Sol Valley area could have been better designed. It’s disappointing, especially after such a long wait.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Leaves Me Wanting More

Game Rant | Image Sources: Nintendo

Ultimately, while I don’t regret playing Metroid Prime 4, I do wish it had felt more complete. I was hoping for a game that captured the feeling of the original Metroid Prime while also pushing the series forward with new ideas. Instead, I found a lot of concepts that didn’t quite reach their full potential, and that was disappointing. Metroid Prime 4 feels like a lesson in how you can’t rely on nostalgia forever – eventually, you need to embrace new directions.

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2025-12-14 15:05