The scenario is all ready now, isn’t it? After a very long wait, which felt like forever, Nintendo finally revealed the big news and informed us about the release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Officially, it was stated that the game is playable now on Nintendo Switch and also on the new Nintendo Switch 2. The company sent out a simple tweet with a nice picture, ‘The stage is set… Help Samus rise above.’ The moment this was posted, an earthquake hit the digital world. The only thing, however, is that while the gamers are eagerly waiting for the game, they have already switched the topic of discussion. The conversation is no more centered on release. The players are already at the bottom of the game, imagining what the future holds. Or sometimes they are thinking about what wasn’t included in this game.
Let’s rewind the time a little. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Just the title indicates that it goes beyond the already known. And it seems to be the case with all the early reports—it is living up to that realism. Paul Gale of PaulGaleNetwork tweeted that the game was really fun and shared some insane stats from his playthrough—he played for over 35 hours, found 200% of the crystals, and got 100% of the items. That guy was really into it. Another user, Ruleof2Review, described it as ‘an amazing experience’ and expressed his gratitude to Nintendo for resurrecting Samus. So the main game? It has got to be a hit, particularly in regard to the graphics. User ichibadassTV remarked that it is ‘a gorgeous game, especially in docked mode,’ which is a positive sign regarding the capabilities of the Switch 2 version.
Nonetheless, this is just the starting line. If you go through the replies to Nintendo’s announcement, you can catch a glimpse of the hype that the others are bringing. It feels as if every gamer has already played the game, completed it, and is now posting their wish lists for the next one. Is there a common factor among these wish lists? Sylux. Who exactly is Sylux? Those who have not played the earlier Primes or Hunters would not know that he is the enigmatic bounty hunter from the DS game Metroid Prime Hunters, and he also had a secret ending in Prime 3. He is regarded as a central character in Beyond, and the gaming community has different views about him.
One player, Jet, sent a direct message to Nintendo with a request: ‘Please enhance Sylux in the next game. His motives are just too feeble.’ Yikes! That’s some super blunt criticism right there. But there is not only the user who is sympathetic towards the blue character. The replies are filled with people like CassiusRobo, MaidB0pperz, and The_Hypist, who are already screaming, ‘Take Sylux to Smash 6!’ Through them, it is practically a full-blown campaign. The gamers are not simply resigning to the new baddie, but rather they are demanding his further development and even his inclusion in the ultimate Nintendo crossover. That is indeed futuristic thinking.
The story debate is another layer. This is where it really gets fascinating. A player called joel_delage1 asked a question that many might have had in mind: ‘Is it only me that thinks this game is part one of a two-part story?’ He later explained in a different post that the ending was a cliffhanger, with Samus leaving her companions and a final baddie still around. ‘We hardly got to know anything about the foe except for one brief scene at the end,’ they said. ‘Looks like the tale is unfinished.’ Another player, RegLock53, responded claiming that since this is part 4, it is just the next installment of a series of stories. Yet, the feeling of an incomplete saga is very much in the air. So much that Zeldameister quipped, ‘Just wait till everyone goes nuts when Nintendo announces Metroid Prime 5 next year!’ Would anyone actually be surprised at this point?
Moreover, the requests are not just about new story and characters. The legacy of The Prime series is bringing back fears of revivals. Nu Merick tweeted, ‘I’m in for Metroid 4,’ and then said, ‘Also, please, a 2D Metroid on the Switch 2’ right after he crossed his fingers for ‘Metroid Prime Hunters 2 for the switch 2.’ That’s history! The first Hunters was a multiplayer-oriented DS title, and seemingly the emphasis on Sylux’s role has triggered the nostalgia for that. Other requests are quite diverse – LOSTLEAD8R wants Nintendo Switch 2 Achievements (a timeless demand), CIRC0L0C0 just wants to see more games on PlayStation and Xbox.
