Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Releases Overview Trailer, Covering Gameplay Features

The release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is getting closer. Overcoming years of development and philosophy changes, Retro Studios and Nintendo provided a seven minute overview trailer for this long-awaited follow-up, broadening the scale and gameplay abilities of this open world exploration game.

Based on the trailer, after Samus responds to a distress call from the Galactic Federation. Becoming entangled with fierce rival Sylux, Samus ends up seemingly warped to a mysterious planet called Viewros. Through exploration, battle, and survival, Samus looks to overcome these enigmatic obstacles to find a way home. Along with the ability to scan environments and enemies to learn more information, new to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are Samus' abilities to utilize psychic powers. It looks like a solid return to form for those itching for the urge to explore a vast planet with deep forests, arid wastelands, abandoned factories, and icy tombs.

It appears that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond may break the isolation tone the series is known for. Based on a gameplay preview from IGN's Logan Plant, Samus gains an ally in Myles Mackenzie, a Galactic Federation specialist that gets stranded along with Samus on Viewros. He appears to aid you in the customary introductory segment that a lot of modern video games incorporate. I understand that with more elaborate game features, getting a new player accustomed is bound to be a formality. Sure, I miss the days of just picking up a controller and figuring things out for oneself, but no sense dwelling on the past.

While it appears he's very talkative, and some of his quips appear to be rather overbearing, I think it's not too bad of an idea to integrate noted NPCs to advance the plot forward. Samus Aran has always been a stoic character, very short on conversation, and in my opinion, not strong enough of a dynamic presence to carry a narrative. Hopefully, interactions with NPCs are kept brief, and the player is allowed to establish a relationship with the stimulating gameplay, having allies chime in when necessary, and adversaries showing up when the action intensifies.

Metroid Prime 4 is set to launched exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch December 4th, 2025.