Metroid Prime 4: A Game of Changes and Choices

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has sparked quite a bit of debate. While some consider it one of the best games on the Switch 2, others aren't so sure. With a score of 79 on Metacritic, it's clear that opinions are divided.

The Long Development Cycle

Metroid Prime 4 is not your typical Metroid game. It's different. And Nintendo has a theory about why that is. They think the game's long development cycle might have something to do with it.

• First announced in 2017
• Reset and restarted in 2019 with Retro Studios

The Evolution of the Game

In a recent chat with Famitsu, a Nintendo spokesperson shared some insights. Initially, there was a lot of buzz about making Metroid an open-world game, inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, Metroid is all about unlocking new areas as you go, which doesn't align with the open-world idea of being able to go anywhere from the start.

The Plan

They came up with a plan:

• Create a central hub area that you could explore freely.
• Connect other areas to it.
• Include a bike to zip around in the hub area.

The idea was to make exploration less tense and more enjoyable.

The Shift in Gaming Trends

By the time they were done, the gaming world had moved on. Players' tastes had changed. With the game already being rebooted once, they decided to stick with their original vision. They also chose not to incorporate some of the newer trends in shooting and action games, like faster gameplay. This was a conscious choice, but it also means that Metroid Prime 4 might feel a bit outdated.

Retro Studios' Perspective

It's interesting to note that Retro Studios might not have been thrilled about inheriting a design they didn't have much control over. This interview seems to support that idea.