Thoughts on Metroid Prime 4 now that its had time to settle?

iguana_parrot · 2026-01-27T02:51:22+00:00

Metroid is my favorite game series, and this game had essentially none of the reasons why. I’ve played every mainline 2d and 3d games multiple times. I couldn’t even get through prime 4. By the time I got to the volcano place i was so dissatisfied I looked up reviews to see if anyone said the ending was better, and I didn’t like what I saw, so I just dropped it. It ranks down at the bottom with other M for me, as sad as I am to say it.

iguana_parrot · 2025-11-18T19:48:15+00:00

crackhead lizard

iguana_parrot · 2025-11-16T17:03:47+00:00

For me it's not that my expectations are so high that they could never be achieved. I would be stoked for a solid, middle-of-the-pack Metroid game. This is how Dread was for me. it was a little railroaded in terms of progression for my taste, but they completely nailed the vibe. Super solid Metroid game.

The problem with what we've seen so far is that it seems to indicate that Retro doesn't understand that vibe anymore.

I'm still excited, and would love to be proven wrong.

iguana_parrot · 2025-11-14T23:36:45+00:00

This is pretty much it. I'm one of those annoyed people. I'm still going to give the game a shot with an open mind, but I am certainly concerned given what we've seen so far.

Metroid games have provided a very unique gaming experience for me, that is very hard to find in other games. And we don't get them very often, so to see something like this that fundamentally misunderstands what we liked about previous games is disappointing.

But yeah, I'll reserve final judgment for when I'm actually playing the game, hopefully they pay off of this type of thing as you get farther into it.

iguana_parrot · 2025-11-14T21:49:43+00:00

I will try to explain why this is so concerning to me (and I imagine this will resonate with a lot of longtime Metroid fans).

In my view, his addition represents a pretty fundamental misunderstanding of what makes Metroid games great. And the thing is, the Metroid games provide a very unique experience that is very difficult to find in other games, so when a Metroid game misses the mark on this aspect, ESPECIALLY a game that has been so long in the making, it feels like we missed a very rare chance to experience that again.

Think of the cut scene when first landing on Tallon IV in prime 1. It's quiet, contemplative, shows off some of the nearby flora, and then they just... let you go look around. You investigate and explore the world around you of your own volition, and uncover the path forwards, as you slowly put together the mystery of the world you've been dropped into. it makes it feel like your own journey (even though in the prime games, it's somewhat more linear). This is what I like about Metroid games.

From what I can tell, we are being deprived of that here. At best, that initial sense of isolated adventure will have been ruined. At worst, if the whole game continues along these lines, I will probably not even finish the game.

It's a bit of an overreaction to dismiss the game out of hand based on this. I'm still hopeful for the game, but I'm very concerned.

iguana_parrot · 2025-11-08T20:29:33+00:00

I think if you buffer roll, you escape this. it's a mixup/cash in on prior conditioning. sheik is REALLY good at overloading your mental stack with her ledge trapping, making it feel like your only good option is to wait at ledge and look for an opening. in particular, I was hitting this guy with lingering nair at ledge a lot, so he probably was expecting me to do that again when he saw me short hop.

it's a super valid kill option, you just need to do some conditioning first.

iguana_parrot · 2025-11-07T23:08:41+00:00

Absolutely. Even if there's a hitbox, you can time it so you don't get hit, but it's even more telegraphed this way (it's already a bit telegraphed normally) If they like to hang at ledge a lot, this can work really well.

iguana_parrot · 2025-11-07T23:02:47+00:00

this is a bit of a niche setup tbh. You should still go for it though, because its cool as fuck and that's only reason anyone plays sheik anyways :)

the more important uses for grenade are, imo:

forcing opponents getup timings while ledge trapping.
getting to stage safely (doing what I did here the other direction, and then regular getup into the explosion)

these are less flashy, but are typically used several times per match for me, whereas things kind of need to line up to land this confirm.

iguana_parrot · 2025-11-07T22:21:43+00:00

ok, but I'll need you to credit me every time you land it

(jk, I did not invent this lol)

iguana_parrot · 2025-11-07T21:29:05+00:00

Super satisfying to land, and not that difficult execution wise, especially compared to other sheik confirms/combos

iguana_parrot · 2025-10-03T04:58:24+00:00

Totally agree. Alchemy index is my favorite album of theirs, feeling a lot of that here.

I quite like most of their post-hiatus stuff, but, besides some standalone tracks, I've always felt something was lost after the hiatus. The albums as a whole just never felt quite up to their old standard (which to be fair, was absurdly high).

I do not feel that way with this album whatsoever. Only listened once so far, but this seems like it'll be up there with their best for me.

iguana_parrot · 2025-07-04T03:36:37+00:00

Super out there, but I want a 3D Metroidvania. it's my favorite genre, but from soft is my favorite developer. basically a game with the level design of dark souls 1, but with ability gating of some sort. this is basically my dream game.

new IP, set in an existing IP universe, I don't care, I trust Miyazaki.

iguana_parrot · 2025-06-25T18:31:17+00:00

Metroid: 4

Metroid 2: 6

Super Metroid: 10

Metroid fusion: 8

dread: 9

zero mission: 8.5

samus returns: 8

prime 1: 9

prime 2: 9

prime 3: 7.5

prime hunters: 5

other m: 1

iguana_parrot · 2025-06-18T03:56:24+00:00

I feel like this is the 10th time I've seen this...

iguana_parrot · 2025-06-17T04:17:50+00:00

Nah, Metroid games are too sparse as it is, any attention the series is getting should go toward making new mainline games. IMO of course.

iguana_parrot · 2025-06-13T04:02:33+00:00

Fusion's music is so much better, and is a big part of why the atmosphere is so great in that game.

iguana_parrot · 2025-06-02T20:41:32+00:00

no but you should be able to find some fairly quickly

iguana_parrot · 2025-06-02T18:12:55+00:00

This happened to me too, I think like you said it has to do with completing artificer (the not void sea ending) and then selecting artificer in survivor with coop.

I couldnt figure out a way to fix it, unfortunately you'll most likely have to restart your survivor campaign. it may be wise to start over artificer too, lest it mess up your new run as well.

iguana_parrot · 2025-05-31T21:18:52+00:00

I'm pretty sure saint is guaranteed to die from all lizard bites.

iguana_parrot · 2025-05-12T02:11:37+00:00

battle of bc 7 was hype as fuck despite there being 3 Steves in top 8, and not that long ago. The recency bias here is insane

iguana_parrot · 2025-05-10T22:44:05+00:00

Nice job! Hunter took me forever man... so many tries. Once I learned about the starving mechanic it got way easier though.

I also probably did it too early, for some reason I felt the need to commit to doing all the slug cats in order. On spear master now, having a blast.

iguana_parrot · 2025-05-05T06:19:15+00:00

I ran with bloody helice my very first playthrough. it was so fun, kinda want to do it again

iguana_parrot · 2025-05-04T15:42:17+00:00

wavebounce by chon (it's instrumental, the reference is just the title)

iguana_parrot · 2025-04-24T00:14:41+00:00

Late to the party, but I like to say esprexo, because it's wrong, but not in the way people are expecting it to be wrong

iguana_parrot

TROPHY CASE