Following an accident, Samus makes an emergency landing on the enigmatic planet Viewros. Here, it is imperative to meticulously analyze the environments, uncover every available clue, and leverage the full potential of both her arsenal and equipment. With her newly awakened psychic powers – and the highly advanced motorcycle Vi‑O‑La – she navigates a truly hostile world. To survive, traverse, and ultimately escape, she must utilize all resources at her command.

The Long History of the Metroid Series

The **Metroid** series now spans *twelve* titles, and with a 40-year history, maintaining a clear understanding of the timelines and prior events can be challenging. **Metroid Prime 4: Beyond** is positioned as a direct sequel to **Metroid Prime 3: Corruption**, originally released in 2007. Notably, **Metroid Prime: Federation Force** was released for the **Nintendo 3DS** in 2016, a title we reviewed on senses upon its release.

Prior Knowledge and Control Scheme

Lacking personal connection or nostalgia for the Metroid series, this reviewer approached the twelfth installment without prior narrative familiarity. Players are immediately immersed in the action, and as the game is developed for the **Switch**, the control scheme clearly reflects this design focus. It supports play with a traditional controller, but also allows for separate **Joy-Con** use, leveraging gyro functionality for in-game movement, particularly beneficial in ball mode.

This reviewer personally found the gyro-based controls cumbersome and consequently preferred a traditional controller. The game is visually appealing, though its aesthetic is notably clean, perhaps unusually so for a first-person shooter. The controls are intuitive, and the game offers clear tutorials that provide ongoing guidance on progression.

Gameplay Feel and Design Choices

Initial impressions upon starting the game indicated that it did not quite achieve the feel of a cutting-edge first-person shooter. There was a discernible awkwardness and lack of precision in the handling that was difficult to pinpoint. Initially, the controls felt imprecise, hindering accurate aiming and fluid character movement. However, through calibration and adjustment of the settings, a satisfactory level of control was achievable.

Enemy AI also exhibits notable inconsistencies in their behavior. Some adversaries remain stationary, offering minimal resistance, while others move with such agility that targeting them becomes exceedingly challenging.

Performance on Nintendo Switch 2

Testing was conducted on the **Nintendo Switch 2**, confirming its optimization for this console. In docked mode, **Quality Mode** delivers a consistent **60 FPS** at **4K** resolution. In handheld mode, it maintains **1080p** resolution and **60 FPS**. While a higher frame rate is typically preferred over enhanced visual effects, **Performance Mode** offers **120 FPS** at **1080p** in docked mode and a notable **120 FPS** at **720p** in handheld mode.

A drawback is the concomitant reduction in resolution from 4K to 1080p when prioritizing frame rate, resulting in noticeably less sharp textures on a larger display. Consequently, **Quality Mode** was selected for docked play, while **Performance Mode** was favored for handheld sessions. The fluidity of gameplay at such high portable frame rates is exceptional.

The Difference from the Regular Switch

On the original Switch, the game is capped at 30 FPS, rendering its performance considerably less robust than on the newer console. Owners of the game on the original Switch can upgrade to the Switch 2 version for approximately one hundred dollars, which is a highly recommended enhancement.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond comes highly recommended. It serves as a strong showcase for the new console’s capabilities, and while acknowledging the resolution compromise in Performance Mode, the experience of a Nintendo title at 120 FPS is exceptionally enjoyable. Furthermore, the game’s optimization for Switch 2 is evident, with very short loading times even in handheld mode.

We encourage players to experience the latest chapter in the Metroid series, a release long anticipated by fans. Alternatively, it serves as an excellent entry point for newcomers.

Nintendo sent a review code for this test. Senders of material have no editorial influence on our tests.