During the excitement of the Nintendo Switch 2’s gameplay reveal, while many were drawn to brand-new adventures, I found myself captivated by a familiar title: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
As a long-time fan of the series, I noticed the demo’s setting felt very reminiscent, likely plucked from the early stages of the game. It lacked the advanced features we know Samus will eventually gain, such as those intriguing telekinetic abilities. In this “base-under-siege” scene, she’s equipped with her trusty arm cannon, missiles, scanner, morph ball, and bombs. This familiarity might make Prime 4 seem like a straightforward continuation of its predecessors, yet I know there’s more depth awaiting us, though it wasn’t part of this particular demo on the Switch 2.
Nintendo and Retro Studios seem intentional in their choice of this segment for the showcase. It’s straightforward and engaging, designed to highlight how the core elements of Metroid Prime perform and feel on the new hardware without overwhelming players with new complexities.
Upon beginning the demo, the Nintendo rep at my station was quick to point out, “This is running at 120 frames per second,” making it clear that performance was a key focus. It’s a rare shift for Nintendo, who typically steers clear of talking frames and resolutions. However, the reasons are evident once you see it in action.
The Metroid Prime 4 on the Nintendo Switch 2 feels like a significant upgrade from its predecessor, aimed at hardware that’s allegedly much less powerful if Nvidia’s somewhat questionable data is to be believed. The visuals are stunning, running at full HD and reaching 120fps, though 4K is available at 60fps. The visual leap is immediately noticeable compared to what I’ve previously witnessed online from the original Switch versions.
And then, there was the moment to stop—well, not really stop playing, but to try the mouse-like controls. The Switch 2 introduces an innovative feature where you can place the Joy-Con flat on a surface and use it as a mouse, a function that shines in certain games.
There was also the inclusion of titles like Civilization 7 at the event, using similar controls to its PC iteration. With Metroid, these controls feel like a natural fit since at its heart, Prime is also a first-person shooter.
In Metroid Prime 4, the mouse controls are ingeniously implemented. They’re not a simple switch; rather, you can seamlessly transition by changing the position of the Joy-Con. Hold them normally for a traditional control experience, or place the right one down to switch to mouselook seamlessly. No need for menus, just instinctive play.
For those familiar with how mouse controls should feel, Metroid Prime 4 delivers. It’s responsive, fast, and just works. But what’s truly revelatory is toggling between these modes.
The demo I played was combat-heavy, missing some of the iconic puzzles Metroid is known for, but it didn’t take long to find my rhythm. When exploring or using traversal mechanics like the morph ball, I’d hold the Joy-Cons typically. Yet, when battles intensified, my right hand naturally shifted the Joy-Con into mouse mode, letting me dive into a more precise shooting experience reminiscent of PC gaming.
This fluid transition was particularly advantageous during a boss fight, where accuracy in targeting weak points made all the difference. The responsiveness of the mouse controls was clear, dramatically improving my performance compared to traditional control setups.
Paired with the fluid 120fps performance, this experience felt almost surreal, a far cry from the typical Nintendo presentation. It’s a significant leap forward from the often underwhelming performance of the original Switch, especially in graphics-heavy first-party games. If Metroid Prime 4 is a taste of what’s to come, I’m eagerly awaiting the performance-focused future of games on the Switch 2.
So, when Metroid Prime 4: Beyond releases later this year, there may be a version for the original Switch, but if you want to experience the game in its full glory, the Switch 2 is the only way to go. Is there anything more you could ask for from a next-gen upgrade?
