""Metroid Prime 4: Beyond" has had an uncharacteristically troubled development cycle. After it was completely rebooted in 2017, we've finally gotten the next mainline "Metroid Prime" game, 18 years after "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption." But something feels off about "Metroid Prime 4." Even after 8 years of development, the game lacks a cohesive vision. It's a cobbled mess of uninspired ideas with flashes of brilliance. Biomes are stunning, and exploration feels exciting, but the game has the blandest open world in recent memory, along with a boring cast of supporting characters."
"You have the nerdy engineer Myles, the weary sniper Reger, the gruff sergeant Ezra, the energetic soldier Nora, and the curt robot VUE-995. These Galactic Federation members constantly spout Marvel-like sarcastic quips and idolize Samus, but it's incredibly awkward when all she does is stay silent and occasionally nod. In many past adventures, Samus is a lone agent and doesn't interact with others much. Even though she was silent, her unwavering confidence gave her a badass personality. Prime 4 attempts to be more cinematic and character-driven, but the supporting cast doesn't really develop beyond one-note personalities. By the end of the game, it's hard to care about them."
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond experienced a complete reboot in 2017 and reached release after eight years of further development. The game pairs impressive biomes and moments of exploration with an overall lack of cohesive design and many uninspired ideas. The narrative sends Samus Aran and Galactic Federation members to Viewros, where the Lamorn task Samus with collecting five keys to teleport a device. The supporting Federation cast constantly quips and idolizes Samus, clashing awkwardly with her silent, confident presence. The Lamorn grant Samus psychic abilities that enable new traversal options, but characterization and open-world execution weaken the experience.
Read at Roger Ebert
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