This week’s Nintendo Direct was pretty lackluster, but fans were happy to see a new Metroid Prime 4: Beyond trailer. While we didn’t get a release date, it seems that Nintendo is sticking with a 2025 window, and Switch owners will be able to get their hands on the shooter this year.
But now that Beyond has been confirmed for a 2025 release window, fans are wondering why Metroid Prime 2 and 3 haven’t been re-released for Switch.
After the first Prime Remaster shocked fans with a stealth drop and amazing visuals, many hoped its sequels would follow. Rumors quickly spread that Prime 2 and 3 would be coming to the Switch, though they suggested this would be a straightforward re-release instead of a revamped remaster.
Now that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is getting closer to release, fans are wondering why the second and third entries haven’t made their way to the system yet.
Simply put, there is a big story gap between the first Prime and Beyond. While the Metroid games aren’t always known for their plot, having the other games on Switch would complete this series, making for some fun game binging. It also lets fans appreciate how the series evolves with each entry, another reason why game preservation is essential.
Remastering Prime 2 and 3 would have been nice, giving the series a consistent look. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Prime Remastered use the same graphics engine, so seeing these two games also use it would add to that consistency. However, we understand that making a new graphics engine isn’t easy, so straightforward HD remasters of Prime 2 and 3 would have worked just fine.
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+ 2Considering how Nintendo released a straightforward port of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword with button controls and some QOL features, fans would have been okay if they did the same with Prime 2 and 3.
Knowing Nintendo, they probably want to sell both games separately to double their profits. That sounds dirty, but remember that they sold Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD by itself when a collection with the first game would have been better.
click to enlarge + 2It’s a shame that the Switch will seemingly have Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Prime Remastered without Prime 2 and 3. While Nintendo could always surprise fans by stealth dropping both games, that doesn’t seem likely with Beyond’s release closing in.
Metroid Prime Beond will definitely be a quality product and will make many fans happy, but having every entry in this series on the same system would make them even happier.