The reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 brought with it a host of fresh and thrilling experiences, but for me, the highlight of the showcase was something with a familiar ring to it: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
As a long-time fan of the series, stepping into the demo for Metroid Prime 4 felt like a trip down memory lane. It presented a stripped-down version of the game, likely pulled from its early moments, before Samus equips her power suit with telekinetic upgrades.
During this short stint, Samus wields her arm cannon, missiles, a scanner, morph ball, and bombs—nothing groundbreaking here for those who have journeyed with Samus before. Initially, this makes Prime 4 come across as a seamless continuation of its predecessors. Yet, if other footage is to be believed, there are plenty of new mechanics and capabilities waiting in the wings, just not in this particular hands-on experience.
The decision to showcase such a familiar segment seems intentional on Nintendo and Retro Studios’ part. By playing it simple, the focus zeroes in on the look and feel of Metroid Prime on the new Switch 2 hardware.
Upon sitting down for the demo, the Nintendo representative makes a point of telling me, “This is running at 120 frames per second,”—a rare move, as Nintendo seldom highlights performance specs. After playing, it’s easy to see the significance.
The Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Metroid Prime 4 benefits from the upgraded hardware, reportedly much more powerful than its predecessors. Running at full HD with the option for 4K at 60fps, the visuals are smooth at 120fps and far more polished than anything I’ve seen on the original Switch, though we didn’t have a side-by-side at the event. Moreover, the emphasis on frame rate feels refreshingly uncharacteristic of Nintendo.
Switching gears, let’s talk about the controls. The Switch 2 introduces a novel feature where you can use a Joy-Con as a mouse by placing it sideways on a surface, like a table or even your leg. This works seamlessly, particularly in games that benefit from precise controls.
While playing, I noted another standout title at the event, Civilization 7, which uses these mouse controls as a natural fit. For Metroid fans, applying this concept in a first-person shooter like Prime 4 is a real game-changer.
The implementation? Smooth as butter. Instead of toggling settings, you simply reorient the Joy-Con and the game picks up instantly. No muss, no fuss—it just flows.
Playing Prime 4 with mouse controls is a blast—it feels intuitive and responsive, akin to playing on a PC. The real triumph is how seamlessly you can switch between traditional and mouse controls during gameplay.
During my session, the combat took center stage, overshadowing the traditional puzzles Metroid enthusiasts adore. As I got acclimated, switching between controlling modes became almost second nature. Handling basic tasks like scanning or morph balling felt right with the Joy-Con in hand, but when battles intensified, the mouse control was a godsend.
In one epic boss encounter, a range of glowing weak spots posed a challenge, but being able to precisely target them with the mouse made tackling the boss almost effortless compared to those around me opting for a conventional play-style.
The 120fps experience, combined with the accuracy of the controls, was almost surreal—it felt like an advantage you’d only get bending the rules. Importantly, it addresses an old gripe with the original Switch: while games visually stood their ground as a hybrid console, performance often lagged. With Metroid Prime 4 hinting at the future of gaming on the Switch 2, I’m eagerly anticipating both upgraded titles and new releases that opt for fine-tuned performance over just graphical flair.
As Metroid Prime 4: Beyond sets its sights on a release later this year, there may very well be a version for the original Switch. However, if circumstances allow, the Switch 2 clearly emerges as the definitive platform to experience Samus’s new adventure in its full glory. Just what you’d hope for in a next-generation upgrade.
