During the recent Nintendo Switch 2 gameplay reveal, several fresh and exciting experiences were unveiled. However, for me, the standout wasn’t brand new, but rather a familiar face: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
The demo of Metroid Prime 4 available at the event felt incredibly familiar for series fans like myself. It showcased an area that seemed bare of new elements, possibly an opening sequence before Samus upgrades her power suit with telekinetic abilities.
In this brief segment, styled like a base-under-siege scenario, Samus had her trusty arm cannon, missiles, scanner, morph ball, and bombs—but nothing beyond that. This choice made Prime 4 appear as a straightforward sequel, but we’ve caught glimpses from other footage hinting at exciting new features and abilities yet to come. Sadly, those weren’t part of the demo on the Switch 2.
It feels intentional, though, that Nintendo and Retro Studios chose this specific segment. It’s quick, engaging, and doesn’t distract from showcasing the fundamental aspects of Metroid Prime on the new Switch 2 hardware.
As I settled in to try the demo, the Nintendo rep next to me was quick to point out, “This is running at 120 frames per second.” Typically, Nintendo doesn’t spotlight performance metrics, so it was a notable change. But seeing the game run, it made complete sense.
Metroid Prime 4 for the Nintendo Switch 2 is quite the upgrade from its predecessor, optimized for hardware reportedly ten times less powerful. Running in full HD at a silky 120fps—the game looks fantastic, even without seeing it alongside the original Switch version. This focus on frame rate is uncharacteristically un-Nintendo, and it’s impressively smooth.
Switching gears during gameplay brings another innovation. As mentioned in my overview of the console and the peculiar Welcome Tour mini-games, the Switch 2’s new gimmick is its ability to use Joy-Cons as a mouse. This feature works perfectly in games like Civilization 7 and, of course, Metroid Prime 4.
This mouse control integration in Metroid Prime 4 is fascinating. You can hold the Joy-Cons like a traditional controller, but if you place the right Joy-Con on a surface, like your thighs or a mat, it automatically switches to mouse controls. No menu navigation is needed. It’s seamless and intuitive.
The mouselook control feels just as it should—quick and responsive. Having the ability to switch instantly between traditional and mouse controls is a revelation.
In the demo, which leaned heavily towards combat rather than Metroid’s traditional puzzle-solving, I quickly found my rhythm. While scanning or utilizing the morph ball, I’d use the Joy-Cons traditionally. But when things heated up with intense combat, sliding the right Joy-Con to mouse position transformed the experience, leveraging my instincts from PC gaming. It merges the best elements of both control worlds.
Facing a boss battle, I switched completely to mouse controls. The precision allowed me to target the creature’s weak spots efficiently, a far cry from those around me using standard controls.
Paired with the smooth 120fps, the experience felt almost illicit, reminiscent of performance feats only available through hacks. This addresses a frequent gripe I’d had with the original Switch’s performance, especially in first-party titles.
When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond hits later this year, it might appear on the original Switch, but the Switch 2 promises the optimal experience. This upgrade aptly exemplifies what you’d want from next-gen gaming hardware.
