Metroid Prime 4: A Game of Changes and Choices

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has sparked quite the debate among gamers. Some are thrilled, while others are left wanting more. With a Metacritic score of 79, it's evident that the game has its fans and critics. The game's journey has been anything but straightforward. It's not your typical Metroid game, and Nintendo has some thoughts on why that is. The extended development time might have something to do with it. First announced in 2017, the project hit a snag in 2019 when Nintendo decided to restart it with Retro Studios. In gaming years, that's a significant delay. In a recent interview with Famitsu, a Nintendo representative shared some insights. Initially, the team was excited about transforming Metroid into an open-world game, drawing inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, Metroid's core gameplay revolves around gradually unlocking new areas, which doesn't align perfectly with the open-world concept of exploring everything from the start.To bridge this gap, they created a central hub area that players could explore freely, with other areas connected to it. They also considered adding a bike for faster travel within the hub. The aim was to make exploration more enjoyable and less stressful. But here's where things get interesting. By the time the game was nearing completion, gaming trends had evolved. Player preferences had shifted, and with the game already undergoing a reboot, the team decided to stick with their original vision. They chose not to incorporate some of the newer trends in shooting and action games, such as faster-paced gameplay. This was a conscious decision, but it also means the game might feel a bit outdated. It's also worth considering that Retro Studios might not have been thrilled about taking over a project they had little control over. This perspective is hinted at in the interview.