Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Launches on Switch Consoles

Nintendo has launched Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the long-awaited fourth installment in the acclaimed first-person adventure series, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 consoles. Released after nearly a decade of development delays, the game places players in the role of bounty hunter Samus Aran as she explores the alien planet Viewros, battling rivals and uncovering secrets in a nonlinear Metroidvania-style world.

First announced in 2017 under a different title, the project faced multiple setbacks, including a full development restart in 2019, before reaching completion. Players guide Samus through diverse biomes, from the desert expanses of Sol Valley to the frozen Ice Belt, acquiring upgrades like the Fire Shot arm cannon to melt icy barriers and progress. Early in the game, after establishing a base in Fury Green and obtaining the ViOla motorcycle in Volt Forge, Samus encounters environmental challenges, such as collecting green crystals scattered across Sol Valley. These crystals, smashed with the motorcycle, provide essential upgrades at base camp and prevent later grinding for the final mission.

Gameplay emphasizes exploration and combat, with tips from...