My Take on Metroid Prime 5

According to Nintendo, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was the beginning of a new tale after the Phazon saga from the original Metroid Prime Trilogy, where they may have already plans to continue this tale sooner than later. So, let's explore the possibilities. Spoilers for the game's ending right ahead!

The biggest indicator that they are far from done is the game's antagonist himself, Sylux. He has been 20 years in the making, ever since his introduction in Metroid Prime Hunters, only to take a backseat to the story on the planet Viewros. And he doesn't truly get defeated either, where the team of Galactic Federation soldiers has to hold him back, so that Samus can escape from Viewros on her own.

We learn a little more about Sylux in a secret gallery scene, which reveals that he used to work for the Galactic Federation at some point, but explains little as to why he holds such a gigantic grudge against them and Samus. If anything, he comes off as narcissistic, blaming them for his own failures or being jealous of Samus.

There is a lot to interpretation here, but there is something about this scene that doesn't add up in any case and that's the time frame, because the depicted events appear to take place sometime around Metroid Prime 4, where he already should have stolen his suit long ago and should be in command of the Space Pirates that he is fighting. So, there is clearly something off here with the timeline of events.

And maybe this is fully intentional. Producer Kensuke Tanabe has been known to be very diligent about such details, where he may not be done with the character just yet. In an interview with Eurogamer from ten years ago, which was about a potential Metroid Prime 4, he expressed ideas about a planet where you can change its timeline. Clearly, this hasn't made it into the final product, but it's probably not a coincidence that we're left with such a riddle at the end of Prime 4.

Well, he also shared doubts about the idea at the time, because players found the dark and light world mechanic in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes too difficult, where maybe he didn't want to go for it right away in a new game. Alternatively, it might have been something that was dropped during the game's development reboot in early 2019, almost seven years ago.

Maybe they also had too many ideas for Metroid Prime 4 and split these in half. The bike, the psychic abilities, and the Galactic Federation allies made it into the game, while stuff like a timeshift mechanic or the true backstory of Sylux might have been reserved for Metroid Prime 5, with its development starting right away at Retro Studios. We could be looking at a duology this time, potentially even another trilogy, following the example of Star Wars.

But let's focus on Metroid Prime 5 for now. In an article about Prime 4 from eight years ago, I had suggested that it should be subtitled "Rivals" for when it focuses on Sylux. Nintendo has even labeled him as "archrival" in their overview trailer, so this suggestion still stands firm – Metroid Prime 5: Rivals.

However, my ideas have evolved a bit since then. I first and foremost want to see another Metroid Prime game where you can play as Sylux, next to Samus. He was already the final boss of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which was quite spectacular. Plus, you fight a mimic of him twice (or thrice) in the game, where there is only so much they could do to evolve Sylux here as a boss and a villain.

However, what if you actually get to play Sylux's origin story? You could gradually unlock new abilities for his stolen Power Suit, making him the villain that he becomes at the end. It could also go hand in hand with the whole idea of time travel, where Sylux is stuck in the past, making changes for or against Samus in the present. They could have a psychic connection and are in a situation where they have to cooperate to make things right. But this is also where Sylux becomes the villain we know of in the first place.

But that's just an idea, one of many you could have. Generally, I would also love to see the other hunters from Metroid Prime Hunters return, and/or have some new hunters to be introduced. I also always liked the concept of a bounty system, where the different hunters are in competition with each other. And I'd love to have another Arena Shooter-style multiplayer mode.

Hopefully, the mediocre reception of Metroid Prime 4 won't stop Nintendo and Retro Studios from pursuing new ideas for the series, ideally in the next years on the Nintendo Switch 2. It would be a shame if we had to wait another decade or two for the next installment...