PAX Aus 2025: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond hands-on impressions

Do you remember a time before Metroid prime 4 was announced? Neither do we. We’re not being facetious when we say we’ve been waiting a very long time for this latest entry in this action series. For the record, it was first announced in 2017 at E3. Yes, that long ago.

But we’re done complaining about the wait, because that’s almost over. In fact, we even have a release date that’s only a couple short months away now; December 4 to be prcise. Not only are we being treated to dedicated Switch and Switch 2 versions of the game itself, but we even have some nifty new amiibo to look forward to.

Most exciting of all? We got to try the game firsthand at PAX Aus 2025 this past weekend. 

The excitement surrounding this game is palpable. Feedback from the floor was positive. The queues were insanely long. At one point, people were waiting up to two hours for their chance to experience this long-running game. Let’s delve into the details.

The demo itself lasts a decent 15 minutes, running you through what appears to be an early level of the game. The demo is timed, so you can push through as far as possible in your allocated 15 minutes before a polite message thanks you for playing. It’s enough time to work your way through a facility until you meet (and hopefully defeat) a giant boss at the end. 

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s start with the basics: the controls.

Metroid Prime 4 was set up differently to every other Switch 2 game on show at PAX Aus. While the likes of Kirby Air Riders, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and Pokémon Legends Z-A were all playable by standing in front of big screens with a Switch 2 Pro Controller in hand, Metroid Prime 4 was played seated. And there were only four kiosks on the floor.

What this means in practical terms is that the wait time was much longer for this title. More importantly, it also means you could enjoy the game using the Joy-Cons and the mouse controls they come embedded with. And rest your legs while you’re at it..

The set up is very neat. It’s basically four long desks, each with a TV perched on top, two on each side. Large screens, of course. The Switch 2 is actually nowhere in sight, hidden tidily beneath the benchtop. A large mousepad sits in front of you, discrete in its neutral color and general thinness. This setup helps immerse you in the game; there’s only you, the controls, and the screen. It’s time to get down to business.

The level begins with Samus outside on an alien planet. There’s a short spiel to catch you up on Samus’ whereabouts, but all you need to know is that she’s ready to face off against some space pirates. She makes her way through some rough terrain before infiltrating some kind of base along with other Federation troops. The skirmish sees our heroine shooting her way through this group of nasty aliens, unlocking doors, morphing into a ball, and navigating the hallways of the facility until she reaches a port. Another shootout leaves her stranded as a brain is deposited into the shell of a giant beast. Let the boss fight commence.

This battle is with a large, monstrous foe known as Aberax. It features a tough shell, arm shields, and several circles on its chest. These spots seem ripe for shooting, and they change color depending on when the creature is susceptible. A health bar along the top of the screen lets you know how you’’re tracking with your hits.

Of course, this creature isn’t sitting there taking this attack lightly. It boasts a powerful energy beam, which it isn’t shy about sending your way. It also sends out waves of energy, which are very difficult to avoid. Typically, you can either jump over them or morph under them. 

This player was relieved to scrape through the battle  – while not unscathed, at least ready to fight another day. All’s well that ends well, I suppose.

The Metroid Prime 4 demo looks sharp, with crisp, clear environments that show off the Switch 2’s prowess when it comes to graphical capabilities. The demo incorporates a modern-looking facility full of the typical tropes of metal walls, sliding doors, and aircraft hangars. Everything looks terrific, but we know from previous trailers there’s more impressive visuals and varied environments on offer in the full game. For those, we’ll just have to wait and see. For now, the game’s fast-paced and fluid action is spot on. We can’t wait to see more.

The mouse controls are the other main talking point. I stuck with these for the entire session, even though you can pick up the Joy-Con and use it like a controller if you prefer. This reporter found the first-person precision of directing my weapon towards enemies much easier. I felt accomplished in my foray into this gritty battle, leaving me with enough adrenaline to want to take out more bad guys. Unfortunately, my 15 minutes was up. 

I guess I’ll just have to wait until December 4 to continue my journey with Samus.