Metroid Musing: Is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond the Foundation for Future Games or a Cautionary Tale?

It was clear from just the trailers that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was going to experiment with new ideas for the franchise. How big those changes were and whether or not they would be controversial or not didn’t become known until after release. Critically, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is the most controversial in the Prime series.

New features such as the open-area desert provide a first for the franchise in exploration. The amount of character interactions is also turned up dramatically compared to previous entries. The core of the gameplay Prime fans came to know and love was still there but after almost 20 years between entries it was clear that there was some going to be some firsts.

Nintendo themselves have branded Metroid Prime 4: Beyond as the start of a new story for Samus but how much from the game will carry over to the next? Will Retro Studios build on the ideas introduced in the game and try to improve them? Or is this a similar moment for the franchise as The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was for that franchise. After Skyward Sword, Nintendo turned the 3D Zelda formula on it’s head and delivered one of the most universally loved games of all-time, The Legend of Zelda; Breath of the Wild.

So what direction will the next Prime games take. Is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond the foundation for future games, or is the series due for an overhaul? Let us know in the comments below or in our Discord server!

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Rez

Hello, my name is Ryan, or Rez on socials. I’m interested in pretty much all forms of fiction in media whether it’s games, movies, anime, TV, books, or manga. I love to talk or write about my interests whenever I can.