Metroid Prime 4 Finally Drops and Nintendos Playing it Too Safe
So Metroid Prime 4 Beyond finally came out December 4th and honestly? Im not sure how to feel about this one.
Look I waited nearly two decades for this game. TWO DECADES. And what Nintendo gave us is… fine. Its fine. But “fine” isnt exactly what you want after that kind of development hell, you know?
The game looks gorgeous on Switch 2, Ill give them that much. The 4K at 60fps is smooth as butter and those environmental details are genuinely impressive for Nintendo hardware. But heres the thing that keeps bugging me – this feels like Nintendo played it way too safe with this one.
Remember when the original Metroid Prime completely reinvented what a first person adventure could be? That game took risks. It trusted players to figure things out without holding their hand every five seconds. Prime 4 though… man theres so much handholding its almost insulting. The game literally tells you where to go constantly. The exploration that made the series special feels like its been focus grouped into something more “accessible” which is code for dumbed down.
And dont even get me started on Myles MacKenzie the new companion character. I get that Nintendo wanted to add some story depth but did we really need a chatty sidekick constantly breaking the isolation that made Metroid work? Some of us liked the lonely atmospheric exploration. Now weve got someone yapping in our ear about lore dumps every ten minutes.
The bike traversal mechanic is actually pretty cool though. Zipping across those massive open areas feels good and its a smart solution to the pacing issues the series sometimes had. But it also highlights how Nintendo seems more interested in checking boxes than pushing boundaries anymore. The Switch 2 hardware can clearly handle ambitious stuff so why does this game feel so conservative?
Heres what really gets me. The Game Awards just happened and we saw all these studios taking massive creative swings. Meanwhile Nintendo who has one of the most beloved franchises in gaming delivered something that feels like a committee designed it to offend nobody. Wheres the edge? Wheres the innovation?
The boss fights are decent enough. Nothing revolutionary but theyre competently designed and the new abilities Samus gets throughout the game open up some interesting combat options. The problem is none of it feels particularly fresh. Its like Nintendo looked at what worked in the previous games and just did more of that without asking if maybe the series needed to evolve.
And can we talk about the Space Pirate alliance with Metroids plot point? On paper it sounds cool but in execution it just feels like a retread of ideas weve seen before. The whole Sylux storyline that theyve been teasing for years finally shows up and its… underwhelming. After all that buildup I expected something with more impact.
According to GameSpot this was one of the most anticipated games of December and I can see why people are excited. But I cant shake the feeling that Nintendo prioritized playing it safe over taking the creative risks that originally made this series special.
The soundtrack is beautiful though Ill give them that. The atmospheric music nails the mood and theres some genuine standout tracks that capture that sense of alien mystery. Sound design in general is top notch with every weapon and environmental effect feeling weighty and satisfying.
Maybe Im being too harsh. Maybe after waiting so long my expectations were just too high. But when you look at what other developers are doing in 2025 taking genuine creative risks and pushing their franchises forward Metroid Prime 4 feels like a missed opportunity. Its a good game dont get me wrong. Its just not the great game it couldve been if Nintendo wasnt so afraid to shake things up.
For longtime fans itll scratch that Metroid itch. The core gameplay loop of exploring finding upgrades and backtracking still works. But for anyone hoping this would recapture that magic of playing the original Prime for the first time? Temper those expectations. This is Nintendo in their current era – polished professional and terrified of taking real chances.
Still gonna play through it again though because Im a sucker for this series. Just wish Nintendo trusted us enough to give us something bolder.
