The gameplay reveal for the Nintendo Switch 2 brought a slew of exciting experiences, but one that truly captured my attention was an old favorite: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. As a fan of the series, the demo felt like a nostalgic trip, showcasing a stripped-down area that likely comes from the very start of the game, before our heroine, Samus, upgrades her power suit with telekinetic abilities.
What we got to see was a classic base-under-siege scenario with Samus wielding her trusty arm cannon, missiles, scanner, morph ball, and bombs. These familiar tools made Metroid Prime 4 come across as more of a straightforward sequel at first glance. However, the additional footage circulating indicates there’s a lot more up its sleeve, with fresh abilities and mechanics that weren’t part of the Switch 2 preview.
Nintendo and Retro Studios seemed to be making a point by choosing this particular segment for the demo. By keeping it simple and quick, they highlighted how the core essence of Metroid Prime translates to the beefed-up Switch 2 hardware.
The very first thing I learned as I started the demo was that it was operating at a staggering 120 frames per second. This was highlighted by the Nintendo rep, an unusual emphasis for a company that doesn’t typically delve into performance stats. But with this demo, it’s easy to see why they made an exception.
Metroid Prime 4 for the Switch 2 is essentially a turbocharged version of a game initially slated for hardware allegedly ten times weaker (thanks, Nvidia stats). Running natively at full HD and even offering 4K at 60fps, the experience is as smooth as butter at 120fps. The visuals are more impressive compared to what I’ve seen on streams of the original Switch variant, which wasn’t available at the event. The consistently high frame rate seems like a significant break from Nintendo tradition. But the experience doesn’t end when you set the controller down.
Switch 2 introduces a new gameplay twist with its Joy-Con controllers. The innovation here is the ability to use the Joy-Cons like a mouse, similar to PC gaming, which fits perfectly with games like Civilization 7 and, of course, Metroid Prime 4, given its first-person shooter style.
What’s truly remarkable about Prime 4’s mouse control feature is its integration. It doesn’t require any toggling. Simply place the right-hand Joy-Con down like a mouse, and the game automatically switches you to mouse mode, streamlining the entire process without any menu navigation needed.
The mouselook configuration is intuitive and reactive, mirroring the precision expected from a classic mouse game. It’s a seamless transition that enhances gameplay, but the real magic lies in the ease of switching back and forth.
During my hands-on, I found myself quickly adapting, using the Joy-Cons in controller mode for exploration and scanning, and switching to mouse mode for intense combat. This flexibility allowed me to feel at home, especially when facing a boss with the classic glowing weak spots. The accuracy provided by the mouse controls made defeating it considerably easier, a stark contrast to others sticking with traditional gameplay controls.
The 120fps performance elicits a feeling of disbelief, akin to doing something usually deemed as bending the rules in a Nintendo game. It remedies one of my biggest gripes with the first Switch generation, where performance often lagged despite decent visuals. This demo proves that Switch 2 could potentially deliver seamless performance while keeping graphical elements in check.
With Metroid Prime 4: Beyond set for release later this year, there might still be a version for the original Switch. But with everything in mind, if you’re looking to immerse yourself fully in this next-gen experience—and can handle the price tag amidst the current economic climate—Switch 2 is undoubtedly the place to be. It’s the definitive upgrade we’ve all been waiting for.
