Topic: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

In the interest of fairness I should have stated the game isn't working flawlessly but when you take a screengrab its clear the visuals are hugely upgraded and definitely better than Switch 2 however they are still working on full compatibility but they have gone from only small sections working to pretty much the whole game working with glitches and it probably won't be long before the game experience is flawlessly emulated. Pretty much every Switch 1 game looks better emulated than on Switch 2 even with upgrade packs because you can get 4K 60fps and it just gives you a amazing visual upgrade. However personally I'm not the sort of person that always has to have the best graphics. My PC isn't top end, its more mid-range lower spec. It's enough to run Switch 1 games at 4K 60fps but if there are mods/patches that require further power from the host pc perhaps mine isn't quite up to it.

@NintendoByNature You'll have to cross the lava on a vehicle … but ViOLa can't do it (yet).
Too little or too much of a hint?

Btw: Does anyone know how to conceal spoilers in comments?

apologies for mentioning this again but thought that now that people have had a chance to play the game more would be a better way to find out...

but has anyone ended up being able to unlock the radio feature without the amiibo, since ive heared conflicting info, around launch people were saying that you could unlock the feature by through in-game methods however ive also heard that all that does is unlock more songs for the radio and in order to actually unlock it you need said amiibo.

@jfp
If you want to conceal spoilers, you can use the following command. Write [spoiler], at the start of the content you want to conceal. And write [/spoiiiler] at the end of the spoiler. Of course, you should write spoiler, at the end, instead of spoiiiler. I did it, because I did not want to trigger the spoiler command.

@Jhena Thanks a lot!

@jfp thanks, I did some reading last night as well. Sounds like I’m not even in the right area at this time and have to trek back to a previous location? Kind of odd you can visit pool twice but need to leave because you aren’t equipped yet. Wondering if I should just ditch flare pool for now and go to a different key location?

@Araquanid Yeah Nintendo and deep stories don't belong in the same sentence. That's why I was left wondering what this person ment with a deep story/plot

@NintendoByNature
Have you been paying attention to Myles when out in Sol Valley? He won't chime in with a hint for the next area you should go to unless you've been out there for 4-5 min, but you should be doing that anyways to get those green crystals. Every time you head to a new area, take 5-10 min to cruise around and get more green crystals, no only to make the end game fetch quest irrelevant but because as you fill up the tank back in Fury Green you gain upgrades to your shot. Really slick upgrades- and the sooner you get them the better.

The other benefit is Myles will chime in during that time. I think there was a time or two he wouldn't tell me specifically where to go- he'd just say, "maybe you should explore previous areas now", but after 10-15 min he finally said, "have you tried Volt Forge?"

@JaxonH ahhh so he will eventually tell you. I have been cruising around sol valley actually after reading about the fetch quest. I actually enjoy it to tbh. I’m just glad I didn’t miss something that was right in front of me. I’ll head back to green fury for upgrades then make my way to volt forge

I've had a pretty good experience with not having to backtrack so far. I guess I am taking my time - because so far (in the volcano) I've had no issue knowing where to go. I'm glad that I've read from others that you can get upgrades by visiting the main hub, returning the crystals as you progress...I would have otherwise missed doing this. One thing that I've noticed - in past Prime games it was pretty obvious where to go - but I would have not thought that I needed to go to Volt Forge to get the Viola Suit Upgrade . But after going there, it makes sense.

@Lazz
I think that's why having Myles chime in after a bit is so clutch.

Back in Prime Remastered, I remember not knowing where to go next, and I ended up exploring the underwater section, making my way deep, deep into that area, only to be blocked off by a ledge too high for me to jump up or grapple to. It was 45 minutes I explored, and then I had to backtrack all of it once I turned around. That sort of thing permeated the prior trilogy.

This game can be just as obtuse with regard to not knowing which specific area to head to next, but where Prime 4 succeeds when prior games didn't is respecting the player's time. Myles will at the very least indicate the area to explore. You'll have to get there and explore it on your own, but it's not completely hands off to where you could waste an hour or two exploring the wrong areas because how could you possibly know...

Btw, what specific beam upgrades do you have thus far? I got a more powerful beam shot, which I should have gotten way sooner but I hadn't been dumping off my crystals, making several bosses way more difficult than they should have been. I also got a way to speed up my psychic control beam by like 5 fold. It's crazy fast now if I hold the B button to speed it up.

Oh, and I've found upgrades for all my beam weapons, not just the initial upgrade to do a charge shot worth 5 ammo but a super shot that costs like 10-20. And I've discovered 3 additional Vi-O-La boosts which, when combined with the ultra-fast regen from the amiibo good once per day and only expires if you leave Sol Valley, I'm essentially boosting from one end of the desert to the other non-stop.

@JaxonH I've upgraded from gems once - one beam boost. I've found 3 boosts I believe, for Viola. I've upgraded the Ice and Fire beams once, but no large charge shots yet. And my psychic control beam is still base level. But, I'm only in the Volcano - quite a bit behind you.

Also, I saw another post about music in the desert. I was listening to IGN's voice cast this week, and they mentioned that there is no way that they have found to unlock the radio outside of the Amibo. It was an interesting listen, as two of the hosts really liked Prime 4, while Logan, I believe, hates it. I appreciated challenges to his complaints (normally they do not really challenge each other) - but it was an interesting take. I'm surprised this game is as divisive as it is...but that's what 18 years of waiting and expectations will do.

@Lazz
Logan loves it. It was Seth who hated it. But his take was completely unhinged. He was flying off the handle because you scan stuff. Like lol... come on dude.

He was losing his mind over the most benign things- things that are what makes the game good, and not only not liking them, but sent into a fit of rage about it. And that's when I realized people like him... I hate to say it, but it's time they hang up their hat and exit the fanbase stage left. I'm not denying his right to how he feels, but clearly this series isn't for him, at all, so it's time to pack it up and leave the franchise to those of us who don't get triggered into a derangement syndrome over basic gameplay aspects like scanning and backtracking.

What really got me was when he was criticizing masked loading screens, and seriously throwing a tantrum about it, when Logan challenged him and said that's how the series has always been. He praised Prime Remastered and said nothing of the masked loading transitions! His response? "Well that game was decades old- we shouldn't have to deal with that in 2025". And I thought... hold up. Even if that's true, the fact is it didn't bother you in Prime just a couple years ago. And now you fly off the handle about it? Would you rather stare at a black screen instead? We haven't progressed to the point of ZERO loading in games, contrary to popular belief. They are a reality. Hating a game for having loading, and masking it so you're not staring at a loading screen, is the most asinine thing I've ever heard.

They said Brian Altano is loving the heck out of it, and that's who I really wanted to hear from, but for whatever reason he wasn't able to come on. The other guy who usually does PS/Xbox discussions, with the mustache, who is a big time Metroid fan, they said he's also loving it.

@Lazz
There's 2 kinds of gamer.

The one judges every game based on what they expect it to be in the circus of their imagination. Before a game even releases, they say to themselves, "It better conform precisely to W, X, Y and Z... any deviation from that is anathema and I will consequently fly off the handle about it."

While others judge games based on what they actually are. They say, "Ok, I loved the last game which was W, X, Y and Z, but I'm open to anything as long as it's fun". And when the game releases and they realize it's W, X, A and B, they judge it by how much they enjoy WXAB, and don't go into the game with prejudice against A and B simply because it's not Y and Z.

Now. If you asked, they'd tell you they didn't go into it with prejudice against A and B. They'll 100% act as if they judged it fairly for what it is and simply didn't like it. But you can see through it when they expound upon their summary opinions, and consequently state how they wish it were Y and Z instead. Someone who truly goes in open minded would say, "Ya know, I didn't like A, and B was decent- in the next entry I'd like to see them drop A altogether and perfect B, then introduce C, and maybe bring back Y with a new twist".

Just finished it. Overall, very enjoyable game. Ending made me feel hollow which makes sense given you essentially abandon your friends to their deaths.

Gameplay was good, I enjoyed the psychic powers more than I thought. I liked the characters that were introduced even if one or two came off slightly annoying to begin with. The cinematics were nicely done. The ViOla was fun to drive around though sadly, I think the novelty wears off a little too quick. Green energy crystals suck. Sylux sadly also sucks? I don't know, just didn't gel with me, though for context, I have not played prime hunters.. I can only hope that a Prime 5 doesn't take as long to be released. That said, although I have gotten close to beating it, I still haven't finished Prime 1, and not even started Prime 2, so might finally go do that. Prime 3 I have 100% and enjoyed very much.

@MS7000
I don't think it'll be as long. Hopefully the rumor is true that Nintendo already signed off on Prime 5, and Retro is well into development as we speak.

@JaxonH ahhhh, right - it was Seth. I agree, his critiques just didn't add up to me. He's entitled to his opinion, but they were a bit flimsy.

Deep into the Ice Belt dungeon now, which is pretty fun: reminds of something from a Resident Evil game. Generally pretty happy with the 'dungeon-based' approach of this game, since I feel like there's a lot less getting lost in this game, and can focus on enjoying the superb atmosphere and art design more than just constantly and often fruitlessly backtracking.

The characters don't detract from the experience at all for me.

Probably the prettiest game on the Switch 2 to date. Retro does amazing work!

@JaxonH I certainly hope so. Prime 4 appears to be divisive from what I have seen, but I think they did a good job. Although having played this, I really want to know what the original plan was with the original development with Namco. I know Nintendo weren't happy, but that just makes me more curious.

If you game in mouse mode or want to game in mouse mode without swapping back and forth into controller mode like I tend to do in Tomb Raider and Red Dead Redemption, there's a new 3D printed mouse accessory that pushes the face buttons way out to the side, making them so much easier to press as your thumb naturally rests on them.

Perfect for Metroid Prime 4 where you wouldn't need to do all kinds of button remapping. It's on Etsy if anyone is interested.