Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Proves Something That Hardcore Fans Have Known All Along – The 2D Games Are Better

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After a long wait, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is out, but while I was really looking forward to it, I’m a little disappointed. It’s not a bad game by any means, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Several key elements didn’t really click with me, and it’s made me appreciate the 2D Metroid games even more.

I first got into the Metroid series with Metroid Fusion on the Game Boy Advance and immediately loved it. I’ve also been a big fan of the Metroid Prime games. I really connected with Samus as a character and always enjoy revisiting the Metroid universe. But even though Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a good game, it reminded me that the series truly shines when it’s a 2D adventure.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s More Experimental Additions Take Away From the Franchise’s Best Features

Let’s Talk About the NPCs…

While Metroid Prime 4: Beyond isn’t the first Metroid game with non-playable characters, I struggled to connect with characters like Myles MacKenzie. He doesn’t appear often enough to significantly impact the gameplay, but I didn’t enjoy the interactions with him. The moments where he and Nora Armstrong excitedly met Samus felt overly influenced by the style of Joss Whedon, which didn’t quite fit. I really appreciate the isolated and lonely feeling of the original Metroid games, and adding several companion characters diminished that eerie atmosphere.

Adding these supporting characters makes Metroid Prime 4: Beyond feel uncertain about what kind of game it wants to be. The game shines when it focuses on Samus exploring alone, but the new characters suggest Nintendo is trying to broaden the game’s appeal, potentially moving away from what makes Metroid Prime so successful. While it’s understandable Nintendo wants to attract many players, trying to please everyone often leads to a story that feels disjointed. The game’s open world also contributes to pacing problems, disrupting the flow of the adventure.

Image via Nintendo

Every NPC Companion and Skill in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Companion Skill
Myles MacKenzie Specialist Engineer skilled at weapon/vehicle repair and maintenance
Reger Tokabi Galactic Federation sniper
Ezra Duke An experienced Galactic Federation sergeant
Nora Armstrong Galactic Federation pilot skilled at machinery
VUE-995 Battle android created to pilot heavy mechs

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s Open World Traversal Makes Me Long for Tight Corridors

Despite trying some new things, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond largely stays true to what makes the Metroid Prime series great, especially with its puzzles. The game shines when it focuses on classic Metroid Prime elements. While I appreciate the attempt to innovate, the open-world bike sections and desert areas feel tacked on and don’t really add much to the experience. I was initially excited about the idea of Samus having a motorcycle, but unfortunately, riding around the desert isn’t as engaging as I’d hoped because there isn’t much interesting to discover during those moments.

Many games have tried to create large, open worlds recently, but it doesn’t always work. Metroid Prime doesn’t seem like a natural fit for this style. While future installments could pull it off, in this game, the open-world exploration actually slows down the experience, just like the non-player characters do. The level design is strong when Samus isn’t forced to travel across the map, but having to drive or fly from place to place becomes frustrating instead of fun.

Scanning two different Amiibo figures with Samus’ Vi-O-La unlocks special rewards. The Samus Aran Amiibo adds a jukebox with three songs to the game. Scanning both the Samus and Vi-O-La Amiibo provides daily benefits like a Boost Recovery, tracks your progress with an odometer, and lets you unlock new skins every 50,000 meters.

The Next Metroid Game is Hopefully Less Prime and More Dread

I still love the original 2D Metroid games, but I think Metroid Dread is actually my favorite now. While it’s technically 2.5D, it perfectly blends the classic Metroid gameplay with new ideas. It’s incredibly fun to play, looks great, captures the series’ signature mood, and offers a good challenge without being frustrating.

Look, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a good game, but playing it really made me realize what I love most about Metroid is still those classic 2D side-scrolling adventures. It’s just where the series feels most at home, you know?

It’s unclear what Nintendo has planned for the future of the Metroid series, but there’s a possibility we’ll see more Prime games. Rumors about Metroid Prime 5 starting development surfaced earlier this year, though all leaks should be taken with a grain of salt. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond definitely leaves the door open for future stories. If Metroid Prime 5 does happen, hopefully it will build on the new features introduced in the fourth game, making them feel integral to the experience rather than just added to attract a broader audience.

The Metroid series began as a 2D adventure, and its most memorable qualities actually benefit from those original limitations. While Metroid Dread shows that 3D elements can be effective, the best Metroid games generally stick to a 2D style – it’s where the series truly shines and where it first made its mark.

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2025-12-10 19:05