Topic: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

@JaxonH I had no idea the transition scenes were skippable, cheers.

Out of curiosity: Did you guys who bought the physical Switch 2 edition need to download a upgrade-pack or was it on the cart? I bought the physical Switch version, then bought the upgrade-pack. When downloading it also immediately downloaded the day one update, I think you can't download the upgrade-pack without the latest updates (so keep that in mind if you still want to jump on the wagon).

On a sidenote: Loading my save-file (I had saved at a save-station) it took VERY long, and that on Switch 2 playing the upgraded version. 1 or 2 minutes!! I thought the game had crashed!

@Henmii
The NS2 version has the upgrade on cart. All NS2 Editions are like that.

Idk about your saving. Doesn't take me long. Could be your micro SD, or a random anomaly. Hard to say.

@Henmii Your sidenote is normal. Switch 1 physical + upgrade pack route means while you get the performance improvements of the Switch 2 version, the load times are slower than the Switch 2 version directly because you're running the game from a Switch 1 cart.

@Grumblevolcano
Wow... That's right. You're exactly right.

Switch 1 game carts transfer data at the speed of litigation, whereas NS2 game carts transfer at 400 MB/s, which is almost as fast as SATA SSDs. Because I never buy NS1 game carts to play, I forget there are still people out there who do.

Any time you're buying a Switch 1/2 game physically that has a NS2 Edition, buy the NS2 Edition. It still runs the NS1 version on a Switch, but also runs the NS2 version at speeds of 400 MB/s on a Switch 2.

@Grumblevolcano

Okay, that makes sense I guess. I thought everything would improve. Well, I can live with that.

@JaxonH

So it was on the card after all! I did have my doubts because of all the ugly text and QR-codes you find on the Switch 2 edition boxes.

@Henmii
Ya, the text actually says it includes both the NS1 and NS2 versions, placed as an informational disclaimer so people know the cart actually has both versions on cart and can play both versions depending which system you insert it in.

Lesson learned, right? Personally I really love digital- well, for several reasons but one of which is the insane transfer speeds. If you think NS2 carts are fast at 400 MB/s, try playing games running from micro SD express that run at 900 MB/s, or Switch 2 internal memory which is 2,100 MB/s. Compare that with NS1 cartridges which run at 60-90 MB/s, which to me is an exercise in frustration.

So I just got through the Mines last night, and wow. I wasn't sure how it would be as I saw more than a few people saying it was a "slog" to get through and such.

I enjoyed it a lot though, and a pretty epic boss battle.

@eldersnake
Just wait. You've got several more fantastic boss battles ahead of you. Metroid Prime 4 dunks on the entire industry with its boss battles.

@JaxonH That's encouraging. I've enjoyed most (if not all) the boss battles so far; some games at this point can get a little anti-climatic but it does feel like things are still just ramping up.

How does anybody activate cargo launcher???????????????????????????????????????

WHAT THE............

This is insanity. I watched a youtube and I still can't replicate it.

That boss before the first cargo launcher was too hard for me too, and I'm on casual. I guess this game is too hard for me? Somehow

edit: Google helped me figure it out. I shouldn't have needed to do that. That was painful.

Mackenzie didn't bother me. Although, it seems obvious his character voice acting is styled around deadpool ryan reynolds, not a bad thing.

Man, idk… the mines are extremely tough. Literally had to retry multiple times in certain sections that had onslaughts of enemies bum rushing you and your team. There were too many, too often and save stations were far and few between. First time all game I was ready to drop the difficulty or chuck the controller. Those exploding enemies are pure rage bait.

@jaxonh thanks . I'll take a look at obstructions in the line of site. It's up on a shelf though. It's an inconsistent issue. I don't use them on many games so I haven't noticed this in any other game. I use the pro controller most of the time.

@NintendoByNature
How many energy tanks do you have? I had 9 extra tanks going in to the Great Mines. And use your Ice Beam on them to freeze them, then a few normal shots to finish them off. Freezing also stops them to maintain crowd control, and you can just use gyro to nail them with Ice Beam shots non stop, dont even bother with normal shots because once they unfreeze and you freeze again they'll die once thawed.

Even so, I died at least 3 times in the Great Mines before I even got to the boss. Absolutely abuse that Ice Shot and make sure gyro is activated under CAMERA, but disabled under CURSOR so when you lock on, controller movements don't throw your aim off due to the free aiming mechanic.

I didn't find the mines too bad in terms of the mobs, but like JaxonH I had farmed a whole heap of the available energy tanks beforehand which helped. But yeah Ice Beam is your friend.

For me it was a lot less punishing than say... the "Gauntlet" run section of the Phazon Mines in MP1 lol

I just gotta glaze for a while. I can't keep it bottled up.

For all the talk of not having much story, which even I myself said, this game had the best story of any Metroid game I've ever played, and to be perfectly honest, one of the best endings of any game I've played in recent memory.

Sometimes it's not about how much story there is, or how complex the narrative, it's about a simple, straightforward arc with compelling characters and events which tug on your emotions. It's highly effective and I freaking love it.

And let me say, that was THE most difficult final boss I've played in the series since Metroid Prime 2. I'm not counting 2D because Dread final boss was also insane. I beat him on my final life tank on the 3rd phase. Holding my breath in a contest of sheer determination, trading blows as we each had a sliver of life left, to see who would remain standing.

And the game absolutely sets up Prime 5. I'm 95% convinced of that leak that Nintendo signed off on 2 games. Cause there's no way they would have had such an emotional cliffhanger without a follow up in the works.

I don't care what insults people end up throwing my way for this opinion. I'm not gonna shy away from honesty to lobby goodwill from others. I think this is one of the best games I've ever played. I know not everyone will feel that way and that's perfectly fine. As long as you enjoyed it, I'm happy for you. But Prime 2 was and has been in my top 5 of all time. And this game just trounced all over it.

@JaxonH I think I have 8 life tanks at this point. Nonetheless, I managed to just finish the mines boss and holy cow, white knuckling the entire time. I know I left an energy in the ice belt that needed the upgraded grapple so I may go back for that. Just a lot of trekking to find where that was. Not sure how people are finishing this game in 10ish hrs, I’m pushing 12 and I’m sure I have at least 3-4 hrs left unless I’m mistaken. It’s starting to get fairly difficult in my eyes.

@NintendoByNature
It does get difficult. It's arguably as difficult as Prime 2, to be perfectly honest.

You'll definitely want to go back through the Ice Belt for that tank. I remember going back for that one. And you'll want to go back through Great Mines once more, and Flare Pool and Volt Forge for energy tanks and shot upgrades and missile upgrades, and you'll want to find and complete every shrine in Sol Valley to upgrade your beam weapons.

AND.

The Samus amiibo is good for one full health refill + extra energy tank shield every day. If you have 12 extra energy tanks and wait til you're on your last one, then use the amiibo, you essentially have 23.

Feels good though doesn't it? Now, get ready to enjoy some much needed relaxation back tracking to power up, then grab those mech parts and wrap up your crystals and shrines, then enjoy the most seriously awesome finales you'll experience this year.

@JaxonH no doubt. I have to think where the spider ball can be used in those locations. Other than struggling in the mines, I’ve loved the game and can’t put it down. Definitely my favorite game Nintendo put out this year. Better than DK and MKW. I haven’t touched age of imprisonment or legends ZA yet though.