New powers have been bestowed to Samus, and it changes a ton for the newest instalment of the Metroid series.
There’s a new trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and it has given players more details about the game, including Samus’ new abilities.
Publisher Nintendo and developer Retro Studios released the trailer on Thursday (27 March) during the surprise Nintendo Direct broadcast. New screenshots and official key artworks were also shared on the Nintendo website. However, the devs did not share a release date yet.
In the trailer, Samus is unexpectedly transported to another unknown planet named Viewros. As she explores the planet, she tries to find a way out by scanning certain relics and symbols. Then, the trailer featured some of the alien creatures from the planet, along with some first-person combat gameplay.
Samus gains psychic abilities
But as she continues to explore Viewros, Samus gains psychic abilities. The trailer shared that “these powers will allow her to operate mechanisms, open doors," and “control the trajectory of her beams with the power of her mind.”
Samus’ psychic powers open many doors in how the new Metroid game is meant to be played. There are many more opportunities to solve puzzles, and scenarios where even in combat, players may have to think about how Samus should control the trajectory of her beams to hit targets.
The question is—why was she given these powers, and who is this celestial figure calling her the “chosen one?" Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has had a turbulent journey since its initial reveal at E3 2017, where only a title logo was shown. The game then infamously disappeared for years, underwent a change of developers, and finally resurfaced last year with its first gameplay showcase.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was nominated for the Most Anticipated Game at the 2024 Game Awards but lost to Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI.
A final release date hasn’t been shared, however, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is confirmed to release in 2025 on the Nintendo Switch.
