Summary
After seven long years,Metroid Prime 4: Beyondhas finally seen its first substantial update, and the recent trailer for the title showcased what players can expect from the highly-anticipated title. While this new trailer forMetroid Prime 4: Beyondgave players a solid look at the game’s first-person shooter gameplay and detailed environments, it kept most of its story cards close to its chest. However, one plot element was clear from the trailer, setting the stage forMetroid Prime 4: Beyondto feature a returning antagonist.
TheMetroid Primeseries is a subseries of the greaterMetroidfranchise and features its own set of mainline titles and spin-offs. While players might be familiar with the numbered entries in theMetroid Primeseries, there are a couple of spin-offs that are lesser-known:Metroid Prime Hunterson the Nintendo DS andMetroid Prime: Federation Forceon the 3DS. These titles might be somewhat controversial amongMetroidfans, but they may play a bigger role in the greaterMetroid Primeseries than players might expect givenMetroid Prime 4: Beyond’s tease of Syluxas the game’s antagonist.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Sets Up Sylux as a Major Antagonist
Sylux’s History with the Metroid Prime Series
While Samus is the most famous bounty hunter in theMetroidfranchise, there are others who have been introduced over the years, including the mysteriousSylux who debuted inMetroid Prime Hunters. Sylux’s motivations and origins are shrouded in mystery, but they are known to be a sworn enemy of the Galactic Federation who opposes Samus due to her connection with the organization. Although Samus battles Sylux inMetroid Prime Hunters, the enigmatic bounty hunter has only been teased in other entries following their escape in the game’s finale.
After this battle, Sylux is never again directly encountered in the series but has beenteased in titles likeMetroid Prime 3: CorruptionandMetroid Prime: Federation Force. In the special ending ofMetroid Prime 3: Corruption —achieved if players collect 100% of the game’s items — they can see what appears to be Sylux’s ship, the Delano 7, following Samus' ship. Similarly, the ending ofMetroid Prime: Federation Forceshows Sylux breaking into the research station containing Metroid eggs collected by the Federation Force and forcibly hatching them into Metroids, potentially teasing a future antagonistic role for the character.
How Sylux Could Factor into Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
With only these tidbits of information to go on, there is a lot of room for speculation about Sylux’s role inMetroid Prime 4: Beyond. It seems likely the bounty hunter will play a foil to Samus, similar to the role Dark Samus played in past entries since both are bounty hunters with access to similar technology and weapons. Sylux is known to use prototype weapons stolen from the Galactic Federation, including the Shock Coil projectile weapon and the Lockjaw suit, which functions similarly toSamus' Morph Balland gives Sylux access to electricity-based abilities.
Sylux is also one of the seven playable characters players can choose from inMetroid Prime Hunters' multiplayer mode.
These Sylux teases throughout theMetroid Primeseriesseem to be setting up a showdown between Samus and the rival bounty hunter inMetroid Prime 4: Beyondgiven Sylux’s appearance in the trailer. However, it’s still not clear what Sylux’s plans are or why the bounty hunter seeks the destruction of the Galactic Federation. If Sylux is going to be the main focus ofMetroid Prime 4: Beyond, then it seems likely that the game will flesh out the character’s backstory and shed some light on their hatred for Samus and the Galactic Federation.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
The galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter Samus Aran will embark on a new mission in Metroid Prime™ 4: Beyond, coming to Nintendo Switch in 2025.
