Review: ‘Metroid Prime 4’ mostly sticks to a familiar formula

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Retro Studios broke conventions and reimagined the adventures of Samus Aran as a first-person shooter with the wildly successful “Metroid Prime.” The studio has followed that up with several sequels that build on elements that adapt the classic 2-D sci-fi side-scroller to a three-dimensional world.

The team has tried to expand on the storytelling, adding more characters, and pushed new features such as a multiplayer mode, but the developer could never hit the same impressive bar of the 2002 original. The problem is that the “Metroid Prime” series is stuck within the same conventions of the genre. It’s always following a rote path.

After a clever adaptation, the sequels stayed within the trappings of a “Metroid” game while other franchises adopted similar formulas (look at the revamped “Tomb Raider”) and found more success. “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” is an attempt to nudge the franchise forward.

THE STORY SO FAR

It follows Samus, who aids the Galactic Federation in the middle of a battle between the Space Pirates, who are after an artifact found on the planet Tanamaar. During the confrontation, the alien relic is activated, sending the bounty hunter, the villain Sylux and other troopers to the uncharted planet of Viewros.

It’s home to an extinct but technologically advanced species called the Lamorn, which has pinned its hopes of preserving a legacy on a foretold Chosen One, which happens to be Samus. They ask her to gather five keys and harvest a seed that carries their memories so it can be planted on a new planet.

Players will gather these keys, which will open a way home, and in the process, they’ll learn about the mysterious fate of these psychic-enhanced aliens.

A FAMILIAR FORMULA

As in all “Metroid” games, Samus begins the campaign with few abilities, but as she ventures through the five biomes and the overworld, she gains new abilities that unlock more areas. Players will run across obstacles that are seemingly impossible to overcome or find power-ups locked behind a door they can’t open, and they’ll have to backtrack to unlock them when they discover an accompanying power. It’s a design hallmark that reinforces exploration.

The big difference this time around is that Viewros is a larger world, and it requires a motorcycle called the Vi-O-La to traverse the barren wastes of the Sol Valley. Samus also runs across five allies, who provide help in the five biomes containing those keys. They accompany the protagonist as sidekicks in places, and in some instances, they’re pivotal to progress through a level.

All of these elements try to traverse new ground, but the pull of the franchise’s familiar gravity pushes “Metroid Prime 4” down a well-worn path. Retro Studios had the opportunity to explore new powers or to take a different approach, capitalizing on Lamorn’s psychic abilities that Samus inherits. Instead, the protagonist gains old abilities such as a Spider Ball or grappling hook.

That’s not to say Samus doesn’t have new powers. She has a Psychic Beam that players can control to hit distant targets. Players also gain access to fire, electric and ice beams that are needed to bypass obstacles and handle the weak points of certain enemies. They can switch among these weapons on the fly, but they don’t add anything novel.

WHERE IT FEELS NEW

Even the motorcycle elements don’t add much to the formula. It’s a more convenient way to travel from Point A to Point B, but it doesn’t add to the gameplay aside from a few boss battles. The Vi-O-La is the best way to deal with some of the more annoying wildlife that attacks Samus while exploring Sol Valley.

The only parts that feel refreshing are when “Metroid Prime 4” feels like it goes off script. The Great Mine has more set pieces that creatively push storytelling and exploration. The tracks at the Volt Forge are notable but underused. Baby-sitting allies and healing them can be irksome, but at least it’s different.

One of the problems when it comes to the design is that the title feels sandwiched between generations. “Metroid Prime 4” is made for the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, which puts limitations on what the developers could do with the game. That’s evident in the numerous transition cut-scenes as players move to different parts Viewros.

The hardware limitations of the older system seem to have constrained the scope of an adventure that wants to push beyond the boundaries and have more ambition. Let’s hope that if another sequel arrives, Retro Studios can stray more for the formula and give fans a truly fresh experience.

‘Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

2½ stars out of 4

Platform: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch

Rating: Teen