During the Nintendo Switch 2 showcase, there were plenty of fresh gaming experiences to get excited about, but one game that really caught my attention was Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, a familiar name for fans of the series.
As a long-time follower of Metroid, I found the demo for Metroid Prime 4 quite reminiscent of past games, even though I’m sure the final version will offer much more. The demo highlighted a stripped-down area that I suspect is from the very beginning of the game, even before Samus has any upgrades to her power suit, particularly the telekinetic powers.
In this base-under-siege segment, Samus wields her classic tools—arm cannon, missiles, scanner, morph ball, and bombs—but nothing beyond that. These are all tried-and-true elements, making Prime 4 seem like a straightforward extension of its predecessors. But footage from outside this demo suggests there’s a lot of new content and features to uncover. Unfortunately, those weren’t on display during this specific hands-on with the Switch 2.
It’s apparent that Nintendo and Retro Studios intentionally selected this segment for the showcase. Its straightforward and rapid gameplay highlights exactly what they want: how the core of the Metroid Prime experience looks and feels on the new Switch 2 hardware.
A Nintendo rep was quick to point out, “This is running at 120 frames per second,” which isn’t something you often hear from Nintendo—known for sidestepping specific performance metrics. But here, it was essential, and the reason became obvious quickly.
Metroid Prime 4 on the Nintendo Switch 2 is not just an upgrade of a game originally designed for the older, less powerful Switch (often cited to be ten times weaker according to some debatable Nvidia stats). Running in full HD, with an optional 4K at 60fps, the game is buttery smooth at 120fps—surpassing what we saw on streams of the original Switch version, which wasn’t available for comparison in person. This silky performance is not very Nintendo-like, but when you finally set the controller down…
I don’t mean that I quit playing. I’m talking about the new mouse controls. As I noted in my rundown of the console and its intriguing Welcome Tour mini-game lineup, the Switch 2’s standout feature is its Joy-Cons’ ability to operate like a PC mouse. Simply lay one side of the Joy-Con on a surface—even your lap in some cases, though Metroid requires a mat—and you’re immediately in mouse mode.
Elsewhere at the event, games like Civilization 7 perfectly leverage this mouse control capability, mirroring the PC experience, which works especially well for Metroid Prime 4. While the game is a metroidvania—a genre that involves exploration and action—it’s also rooted in first-person shooter mechanics.
Using mouse controls in Metroid Prime 4 is intriguing. Remarkably, it switches modes seamlessly: grab a Joy-Con in each hand like a traditional controller to play Metroid as usual, but put the right Joy-Con down on a surface, and it automatically switches to mouse look. No menu navigation needed—it just works.
You know how mouselook should feel, so I won’t belabor the description: it’s responsive and natural. The real eye-opener lies in the seamless transition between control styles. While playing, especially during combat-heavy moments short on the series’ typical puzzles, I found myself smoothly adapting—using controller-style when scanning or traversing with the morph ball, and flipping to mouse controls in intense combat situations. It felt like harnessing the advantages of both traditional and new control techniques.
In a boss fight sequence, the advantages of mouse precision shone. Targeting its temporary weak points efficiently, I dispatched the creature significantly quicker than those sticking to conventional controls.
Coupled with the fluid 120fps visuals, it all seemed almost too good to be true. This kind of performance and accuracy reminded me of experiences typically locked behind unofficial methods, addressing previous Switch limitations. For those craving both high-performance and classic Nintendo vibes, Metroid Prime 4 sets an exciting precedent, hinting at future releases prioritizing performance.
As Metroid Prime 4: Beyond prepares for its release later this year, it’s likely to debut on both systems. However, with such enhancements on the table, playing on Switch 2 is undoubtedly the best choice if you’re able, embodying what you expect from a next-gen update.
