"Samus Unveils Psychic Powers in Metroid Prime 4 on Viewros"

During today's Nintendo Switch Direct, we were treated to another exciting glimpse of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, showcasing new psychic-infused gameplay and introducing a striking red-and-purple suit for Samus Aran. The showcased footage highlighted a variety of psychic abilities that Samus will employ to navigate the game's environments when it launches later this year. This new feature has a distinct BioShock-like vibe, as our beloved space bounty hunter uses her abilities to scan ancient stone figures and engage new adversaries on the mysterious planet Viewros with controlled bursts of purple energy.

Little is known about the enigmatic jungle world of Viewros, to which Samus has been "unexpectedly transported." However, it's evident that intelligent life has long been centered around the massive tree at its heart. Nintendo remains discreet about the exact release date of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond within the 2025 window, but today's gameplay reveal did shed light on how these novel abilities function. Players will be able to use these powers not only to manipulate mysterious mechanisms but also to strategically guide energy shots through the planet's unique wildlife.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has experienced a tumultuous development journey. Initially announced with a simple title logo at E3 2017, it disappeared from the public eye for years, underwent a developer change, and finally resurfaced last year with our first glimpse of gameplay. With today's Direct focusing exclusively on the current Nintendo Switch, there are still many questions about whether Metroid Prime 4 will receive any enhancements for the rumored Nintendo Switch 2. What we do know is that the game will be playable across both platforms.

For a comprehensive overview of all announcements from today's Nintendo Switch Direct, be sure to check out the full coverage [ttpp].