During the Nintendo Switch 2’s gameplay reveal, a lot of attention was drawn to fresh, new gaming experiences. But for me, the highlight was something familiar: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
As a long-time fan of the Metroid series, playing the demo for Metroid Prime 4 felt like coming home. The area showcased in the demo seemed deliberately chosen to keep things basic, likely from early in the game, before our hero Samus fully unlocks the potential of her power suit with telekinetic upgrades.
This particular segment had Samus equipped with her usual arsenal: arm cannon, missiles, scanner, morph ball, and bombs—nothing out of the ordinary for seasoned players. While it might make Prime 4 appear like a straightforward sequel to its predecessors, we know there are more surprises in store thanks to other footage; they just weren’t part of this hands-on experience with the Switch 2.
Nintendo and Retro Studios, the game’s developer, likely picked this part of the game on purpose. With its quick and manageable gameplay, the focus remained squarely on demonstrating how the classic Metroid Prime elements look and perform on the Switch 2 hardware.
One of the first things the Nintendo representative pointed out as I sat down for the demo was that the game runs at 120 frames per second. It’s an unusual announcement since Nintendo doesn’t typically emphasize technical specs, but here, it’s noteworthy—and for good reason.
Metroid Prime 4 on the Nintendo Switch 2 truly feels like a next-gen experience, designed to make the most of hardware that’s reportedly vastly superior to its predecessor, depending on how much stock you put in Nvidia’s slightly sketchy figures. Running at a native full HD resolution, with an option for 4K at 60fps, the game is not only stunningly smooth at 120fps but also visually superior to the original Switch version—though the latter wasn’t available for comparison during the event. This focus on frame rate is almost unprecedented for Nintendo. And as compelling as it all is, the moment you put the controller down, there’s another surprise waiting.
You might wonder why I’d stop playing, but here I’m referring to the new mouse control functionality. The biggest novelty the Switch 2 offers is its ability to use a flat-surfaced Joy-Con as a mouse, akin to PC gaming. This feature is proving to be a game-changer, particularly for titles like Civilization 7, which are also showcased at the event and utilize this form of control. Metroid Prime, inherently part first-person shooter, benefits too.
The introduction of mouse controls to Metroid Prime 4 is fascinating. Its brilliance lies in its immediacy: there’s no toggle switch to worry about. You hold the Joy-Con like you would any traditional controller, and when you set it down in the right position, the system seamlessly transitions to mouse mode, allowing you to aim with precision and ease—absolutely no need for menu navigation or adjustments.
For seasoned gamers familiar with mouselook mechanics, the transformation feels natural. It’s intuitive, snappy, and aligns well with how mouse aiming should function. But beyond the mechanics, this back and forth between controller and mouse is what stands out.
The demo I experienced leaned heavily on combat, with little of the classic puzzle challenges Metroid is known for. Yet, as I played, I found my groove. I’d hold the Joy-Con like a controller for scanning or morph ball activities, smoothly transitioning to mouse when the action intensified. It’s genuinely the best of both worlds.
The true test came with a boss battle, where accuracy was key. The boss had traditional weak points that were intermittently vulnerable, and the precision afforded by mouse controls allowed me to target these with lethal efficiency, outperforming peers who opted for traditional controls.
The fluidity of the 120fps gameplay, paired with this innovative control scheme, felt somewhat surreal—almost like having access to gaming tech you’re not supposed to. It’s the kind of optimized experience once thought exclusive to modified gameplay, addressing a common gripe about the original Switch’s performance limitations. If Metroid Prime 4 is where Switch 2 gaming is headed, I’m already anticipating those performance-focused upgrades for more titles.
When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches later this year, there could still be a version for the original Switch. However, if you can manage it, especially with all the hoopla surrounding new console releases, the Switch 2 appears to be the definitive way to play. And isn’t that exactly what we want from the next leap in gaming hardware?
