Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Direct 9.12.2025 – YouTube
Early reactions were mixed. The desert hub is expansive but also feels empty in places, evoking some of the weakest open-world design missteps in recent memory. That sense of barrenness has left many long-time fans wary of the new direction.
“I don’t really know what to think of this, I’m kind of stunned. Like this was not what I was expecting at all and not in a good way,” wrote crawfish on Reddit.
“Please dont let the selling point be ‘it’s open world’ holy fuck,” added Cheap_Trick148 in the same thread.
There are more positive takes as well, such as this comment from Guglio08: “I suppose I will be the lone person here who thinks this is a bold vision and am excited af. The graphics for the bike section could be better, but frankly this is a Switch 1 game that’s been ported upwards.”
the way that Metroid Prime 4 went from being my most anticipated game to Metroid Prime who? upon seeing that trailer
open world games are like my least favorite genre of games, I bounce off of them so hard— @metroidcrime.com (@metroidcrime.com.bsky.social) 2025-09-12T17:17:47.665Z
anyway if i waited that long for metroid prime 4 and like a month before it releases they suddenly reveal its an open world game and not a game with, like, level design, i would be fucking pissed
— @beareatsalmon.bsky.social (@beareatsalmon.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2025-09-12T17:17:47.700Z
One of the major things I liked about Metroid was the feeling of Samus being lonely and isolated. I’m worried that the open world stuff in Prime 4 will ruin that.
I haven’t completely written off the game. If the motorcyle is just for short segments between areas, then it might be OK.— @mecha-bunny.bsky.social (@mecha-bunny.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2025-09-12T17:18:22.044Z
Across reactions—hopeful and doubtful alike—the core question is what the bike actually contributes to Prime 4. Will it undermine the series’ trademark feeling of solitude and careful exploration, or will it provide a fresh pacing and traversal option that enhances discovery?
Perhaps the simplest take is the one from a YouTube commenter, davidchidester5463: “Samus bike will either be incredible or the worst decision they’ve ever made. No in between.”
Metroid Prime 4 is one of the biggest upcoming Switch 2 games.
Source: gamesradar.com
