After what's felt like a lifetime of waiting, the newest entry in the Metroid Prime series, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, finally has a proper trailer and release window. Unveiled in the latest Nintendo Direct, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's trailer concluded seven years of agony for fans who had all but lost hope for the project. After lengthy periods of radio silence from Nintendo on Prime 4's status, few ever would have expected the next game from developer Retro Studios to steal the show. Now that Metroid Prime 4 is both real and coming as soon as next year, fans can start building hype ahead of its 2025 release.

Many fans could surely be sated by pouring over Prime 4's gameplay trailer for months on end, especially with how much content Nintendo was generous enough to share. However, Nintendo could give fans far more to get excited about before Prime 4 hits store shelves. Back when Prime 4 was a proverbial white whale, many Metroid fans were also holding out hope that the original Prime trilogy would receive a remaster of sorts. As has been the case with the Metroid franchise as of late, a remaster of the first entry was unexpectedly released early last year, and now Nintendo has just two more boxes to check before Prime 4.

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The Clock For Metroid Prime 2 & 3 Remasters Is Ticking

A Metroid Prime trilogy remaster had been rumored to be in the works for years, and though a singular remaster of the first game was unexpected, it certainly wasn't unwelcome. Metroid Prime Remastered proved just how well the original game has held up, and how much potential Metroid Prime 4 could have. Retro Studios further illustrated its mastery over the series as well, implementing several quality-of-life improvements that made the game feel like a fresh experience as opposed to a remaster for remaster's sake.

Now that Metroid Prime 4 finally has a timetable, the time is now for Metroid Prime 2 and 3 to get the remaster treatment. An ideal situation would be for the two titles to be released in one package, allowing players the opportunity to get caught up as quickly as possible. This would also likely be more consumer-friendly, especially if the bundle fell around Metroid Prime Remastered's $39.99 USD price tag. Regardless of how they're released, giving players the opportunity to play the Metroid Prime trilogy in its entirety would be an excellent way to prepare for one of the franchise's most highly-anticipated titles in recent memory.

The Switch Could Become The Ultimate Metroid Machine

In addition to serving as the perfect preamble to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, getting a Prime 2 and 3 remaster on the Switch would be a significant milestone for the console. As it currently stands, Metroid fans are able to play almost every mainline entry in some form. Metroid and its remake Zero Mission are available, as are Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, Metroid Dread, and Prime Remastered. After years spent playing second fiddle to the likes of Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda, it's a welcome change of pace for the franchise, and Prime 2 and 3 remasters would punctuate its resurgence.

To say Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has been a long time coming would be an understatement. Between all of its delays and general lack of updates over the last seven years, Prime 4's Nintendo Direct trailer release was like a dam breaking. For its release to truly feel complete, however, it's essential that Nintendo finds room for Prime 2 and 3 remasters beforehand. After such a long development journey and so much time sitting in the backseat of Nintendo's catalog, remastering the whole Metroid Prime trilogy would only serve to perfect Prime 4's release.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Franchise

Metroid

Platform(s)

Switch

Developer(s)

Retro Studios

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Genre(s)

Action

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