Metroid Prime 4 Is a Time Capsule from 2017 — Did Nintendo Forget to Innovate?

《密特罗德Prime 4》像是来自2017年的时光胶囊——任天堂忘了创新吗？

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After an eight-year wait and a full development reboot, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally drops — only to feel like a relic from the Switch’s early days. Nintendo’s open-world formula powered breathless adventures in Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, but here, it’s a lead balloon. Exploration in Beyond isn’t rewarding; it’s filler. You’ll ride across barren deserts chasing smoke plumes, only to find… nothing. Again.

在历时八年、经历一次完整开发重置后，《密特罗德Prime 4：超越》终于上线，却仿佛来自Switch早期的遗物。任天堂的开放世界公式曾在《旷野之息》和《超级马里奥：奥德赛》中造就了令人屏息的冒险，但在这里，它成了拖累。《超越》中的探索毫无回报感，只是填充内容。你会骑着摩托穿越荒芜沙漠追逐浓烟，结果却发现……什么都没有。又一次。

Even worse? The game pretends you have freedom while funnelling you into linear paths. Your companion Mackenzie declares you can ‘go anywhere,’ but try it and you’ll hit a wall of fire. Classic bait-and-switch. And don’t get me started on the psychic lasso — it’s just a glowy grapple beam with delusions of grandeur. After Odyssey’s Cappy and Tears of the Kingdom’s Ultrahand, this isn’t evolution. It’s regression.

更糟的是？游戏假装你有自由，实则把你引入线性路径。你的同伴麦肯齐宣称你可以‘去任何地方’，但你一尝试就撞上火焰墙。经典的话术欺诈。还别提那个心灵套索——它不过是个发光的抓钩，却妄想高大上。相比《奥德赛》的卡比和《王国之泪》的究极手，这根本不是进化，而是退化。

Capybara in Zelda Cosplay (穿着塞尔达服装的水豚)

I’ll admit: the art direction is stunning. The lighting, the armor sheen, the way VI-O-LA crunches over sand — it’s peak Switch beauty. But beauty can’t save bad design. You know what else looks good but feels empty? A screensaver.

我承认：美术风格惊艳绝伦。光影效果、装甲光泽、VI-O-LA摩托压过沙地的质感——简直是Switch的视觉巅峰。但颜值救不了糟糕设计。还有啥长得好看却空无一物？屏保。

Gameplay Purist from 2002 (2002年的玩法纯粹主义者)

You people are missing the point. Metroid was never about open worlds. It’s about isolation, puzzle-solving, and slow, deliberate progression. This game’s real sin? Trying to be something it’s not.

你们都搞错了重点。密特罗德从来就不是开放世界游戏。它关乎孤独感、解谜和缓慢而坚定的推进。这游戏真正的罪过？是试图变成它本不是的东西。

Indie Dev Dreaming Big (怀揣大梦想的独立开发者)

As someone who’s made a Metroidvania in Unity, I get why they went open-world. They wanted to compete with God of War and Horizon. But forcing that structure on Metroid is like putting wings on a tank. It doesn’t fly, and now it’s slower.

作为一个在Unity里做过类密特罗德游戏的开发者，我理解他们为何走向开放世界。他们想和《战神》《地平线》竞争。但在密特罗德上强加这种结构，就像给坦克装翅膀。它飞不起来，现在还更慢了。

Companion Hater (同伴厌恶者)

Mackenzie needs to be court-martialed. ‘Oh Samus, let me remind you how to scan things again.’ NO. She’s not a tutorial NPC. She’s the galaxy’s deadliest bounty hunter. Let her breathe.

麦肯齐该被送上军事法庭。‘哦萨姆斯，让我再提醒你一遍怎么扫描东西吧。’ 不。她不是新手教程NPC。她是银河系最致命的赏金猎人。让她喘口气吧。

Nintendo Stans Only Watch (只有任天堂粉丝才看的频道)

Y’all are too harsh. It’s still fun! The boss fights slap, and the shooting feels tight. Not every game needs to reinvent the wheel.

你们太苛刻了。这游戏还是有趣啊！Boss战超赞，射击手感也很扎实。不是每款游戏都得重新发明轮子。

Player Two Agree Button (玩家二号同意按钮)

This. Not every game has to be Breath of the Wild 2.5.

就是这个。不是每个游戏都得是《旷野之息2.5》。

Metroid Lore Archivist (密特罗德剧情档案员)

The real tragedy? Viewros could’ve been amazing with tighter level design. Instead, it’s a sandbox with nothing to build in.

真正的悲剧是？维罗斯本可以凭借更紧凑的关卡设计变得惊艳。结果它成了一个空沙盒，无物可建。

Cinematic Cutscene Enjoyer (电影式过场爱好者)

Look, I just want to see Samus take off her helmet once. Is that too much to ask?

听着，我就想看萨姆斯摘一次头盔。这要求过分吗？

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