The Nintendo Switch 2 event was a highly anticipated showcase, and while it introduced several fresh experiences, for me, the highlight was revisiting a familiar universe with “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.” This title, already known to Metroid fans, was intriguing to see in action on the new console.
During my hands-on with Metroid Prime 4, I found myself in a comfortable zone. The demo was clearly set up in a section of the game designed to feel familiar to series veterans like myself. It seemed to be an early part of the adventure, pre-upgrade for Samus’s iconic power suit and its new telekinetic abilities.
In classic Metroid fashion, the demo put me through a tight base-defense sequence where Samus had her staple arsenal: arm cannon, missiles, scanner, morph ball, and bombs. These classic elements made the demo feel like a straight continuation from previous titles. Yet, Nintendo had carefully chosen this segment, possibly to emphasize the core Metroid Prime experience enhanced by the new Switch 2 hardware, even if the full game promises fresh mechanics and abilities we haven’t seen yet.
Immediately as I settled at the demo station, the Nintendo rep pointed out, “This is running at 120 frames per second.” It’s worth noting since Nintendo usually steers clear of performance talk. But here, it was crucial, and the smoothness was palpable.
Metroid Prime 4 on the Switch 2 is essentially an upgrade from a game originally tailored for weaker hardware, if Nvidia’s numbers are any indication. Yet, it’s running beautifully, in full HD, with an option for 4K at 60fps. The improved visual fidelity and the seamless 120fps left quite an impression. Having experienced only streams of the original, the upgrade was clear, and the shift to such high frame rates felt delightfully out of character for Nintendo.
The real game-changer, however, was how Nintendo had adapted its Joy-Con system for new gameplay styles. During the broader Switch 2 reveal, this mouse control feature stood out. By placing the Joy-Con on a surface, it can mimic a mouse on PC, a feature demonstrated exquisitely in Metroid, a series that thrives as both a metroidvania and a first-person shooter.
The innovation here was seamless. You could play using Joy-Cons like a regular controller and smoothly switch to mouse controls by merely repositioning the right Joy-Con on a surface. It was intuitive, no need to dive through menus—all the brilliance of mouselook made accessible instantly.
No doubt, the demo leaned heavily on combat, and traditional Metroid puzzling was scarce, but it was enough to find the sweet spot. I quickly adapted my style, holding the Joy-Con like a standard controller for navigation and scanning, and transitioning to mouse mode when the action heated up. It offers the fluidity of both control styles without compromise.
Facing a boss, I relied fully on this setup. The precision of mouse controls allowed me to target weak points with deadly efficiency, a distinct advantage over the more traditional approaches of my peers at the demo.
With the Switch 2’s performance running so smoothly and at such high fidelity, it felt surreal. Achieving this level of precision and clarity was once the preserve of unofficial modifications. The Metroid Prime experience showcased here potentially sets a new standard for Switch games, balancing graphical presentation with stunning performance upgrades.
As we look forward to its release later this year, it’s likely Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will also appear on the original Switch. However, for those aiming for the ultimate experience, the Switch 2 is clearly the console of choice. This is exactly the kind of leap you’d hope for with next-gen upgrades.
