A while back, Nintendo and Retro Studios totally dropped a bombshell on Metroid fans. Outta nowhere, they just dropped a remastered version of the 2002 GameCube gem, Metroid Prime. Just like that—bam! Announced during a Nintendo Direct in February 2023, it hit the digital shelves on the Switch that same day. The physical copies followed not long after. Now, when folks got their hands on it, the consensus was kinda like, “Whoa, this isn’t your average remaster.” Nope, they really cranked up the graphics and tossed in new Color Assist options and, oh boy, some sweet new control schemes.
Looking at the numbers, Metroid Prime Remastered was no slouch. Over 1.3 million copies flew off the shelves in just five months! Critics and fans alike couldn’t stop gushing about it. Sites like OpenCritic showed some serious love with a near-perfect 94/100 and a 100% Critics Recommend rating. Even though it’s basically a spruced-up 23-year-old game, it fits like a glove on the Switch. But, imagine this—if they pushed it to the next console, the Switch 2, with one killer feature in tow? Okay, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Alright, let’s chat about this Switch 2 thing. It’s sort of a souped-up version of the good ol’ Switch. One shiny new thing? Mouse Mode. Yep, the Joy-Con 2 controllers—they flip sideways and suddenly you’re playing with mice. Now, not every game’s gonna jump on this feature, but when they do, it’s smooth as silk. Switching between traditional controls and Mouse Mode? A breeze, no menu diving required.
So, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is in the pipeline, and yep, it’s gonna rock the full mouse control on the Switch 2. This is huge, man! First-person shooters are usually best with a mouse and keyboard, but thanks to the Switch 2’s Mouse Mode, precision aiming is in the bag, even without a PC.
Now, let’s talk editions. Cross-gen titles on the Switch 2 will come in Switch 2 Editions or plain old ports. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond? It’s slated for both the Switch and Switch 2 in 2025, and it’ll have a beefed-up Switch 2 Edition, rolling out Mouse Mode and smoother frame rates. Sure, these editions might pinch the wallet a bit more, but if you already own the Switch 1 version, there’s an upgrade pack waiting for you.
Some folks might grumble about Nintendo’s pricing, but come on—a Switch 2 Edition or patch for Metroid Prime Remastered would be like a fan’s wildest dream. Playing the first Metroid Prime in Mouse Mode? You’re getting a whole new level of experience, making aiming so much more precise. If Nintendo showed it the same love as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the Switch 2 would become THE place to dive into both titles.
And there we have it, a little taste of the wild chaos surrounding Metroid Prime and its exciting future.
