Experiencing Metroid Prime 4 with Mouselook and 120fps: An Almost Illegally Thrilling Adventure

At the recent reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, there were plenty of fresh, exciting experiences on display, yet one of the most captivating moments for me was a familiar one: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

As a devoted fan of the series, I felt right at home with the demo of Metroid Prime 4, even if the final game will likely bring unexpected changes. The section shown seemed to spotlight an early part of the game where Samus hasn’t yet unlocked her new telekinetic powers. It’s a familiar start, with Samus relying on her trusted set of abilities: the arm cannon, missiles, scanner, morph ball, and bombs.

This focus made the demo seem like a straightforward sequel, showcasing tried-and-true mechanics. However, I know, based on other footage, that there’s more under the hood of Prime 4, including new abilities and mechanics. It’s clear Nintendo and Retro Studios chose to spotlight this opening segment to hone in on the essentials of the Metroid Prime experience and how they look and feel on the Switch 2 hardware.

When I sat down to play, the Nintendo representative was quick to point out the performance, “This is running at 120 frames per second,” they said, which was striking since Nintendo usually doesn’t emphasize technical specs. But as soon as you start playing, you see why.

Metroid Prime 4 has indeed been optimized for the Switch 2, upgraded from original hardware claimed by some estimates to be ten times weaker. Playing in full HD at 120fps, the game looks and runs more smoothly than ever. It outshines what the previous Switch offered, at least from what I’ve seen in streamed content, as there wasn’t an original version handy to compare side-by-side.

Beyond just the visuals, there’s a fascinating new control feature with the Switch 2 that’s worth mentioning. This new console allows the Joy-Con to function as a mouse when laid on a surface. Think about games like Civilization 7 which harness mouse controls to great effect and you’ll get the idea. Metroid Prime 4 also takes advantage of this by letting players use both traditional and new input styles seamlessly.

The integration of the mouse-like controls is particularly impressive. You don’t need to fiddle with any on-screen menus. You simply place your right Joy-Con on a surface in the proper position, and the game shifts smoothly into a mouse-control mode. It’s intuitive and enhances that classic first-person shooter feel without missing a step.

Even though the demo focused predominantly on combat over exploring or puzzle-solving, it still showcased the versatility of controls beautifully. As I toggled between scanning, using the morph ball, and engaging in intense shootouts, I effortlessly shifted between the classic and mouse-like controls.

Entering a boss battle, the practicality of the mouse controls shone brightly. Targeting weak points with precision meant the fight ended quicker with the enhanced aim. Coupled with the stunning 120fps, the whole experience was incredibly responsive, almost feeling illicit in its smoothness – the kind of gameplay fluidity Nintendo games previously lacked unless you tampered with them.

The leap in performance highlights a significant improvement over the original Switch, which often struggled with frame rates despite its appealing hybrid design. From what I’ve seen, Metroid Prime 4 hints at a promising future full of performance enhancements that surpass visual ones.

As the year concludes, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond may still appear on the original Switch. But with these advancements, the Switch 2 seems to be the definitive platform to experience Samus’s latest adventure. It’s the kind of step forward you expect from a next-gen upgrade, positioning the Switch 2 as the go-to for enthusiastic gamers.