I played Metroid Prime 4, and I'm not worried about Samus' 'annoying' sidekick

Now that the embargo date has passed, I can finally talk about a game on my mind that I played last week: Metroid Prime 4: beyond. I flew to New York to go hands-on with the game, testing it in handheld and dock mode, and if you've read Game Rant Metroid Prime 4 Preview coverage, you'll know I absolutely loved what I played.

I was surprised, then, to find that the opinions of other previewers of the game were a bit more mixed. Interestingly, much of the discourse surrounding the game currently revolves around a relatively minor component, Chatterbox Miles Mackenzie. Get IGN's preview Metroid Prime 4which focuses heavily on McKenzie's inclusion, portraying it as an unfortunate example of things to come. Video Game Chronicle shared this sentiment, publishing an article “Metroid Prime 4 Doesn't sound like much Metroid All,” citing McKenzie as the main reason behind this cut rating. Such statements seem to have struck a chord with gaming audiences, who have taken to social media to comment on the apparent cardinal sin of including a voiced NPC. Metroid the game And while I respect the opinions of my fellow previewers and their viewers, I have to say that I'm surprised by how much Mackenzie hates it, and I don't share the same stance.

Why I don't think Metroid Prime 4's friends are a big deal

Metroid Prime 4's Mackenzie isn't as game-destroying as some claim

Basically, I can understand why Myles Mackenzie annoys some players: he's clearly a Galactic Federation soldier with some handy hacking skills, and putting him around legendary bounty hunter Samus Aran can feel like a kid on the battlefield. Metroid Prime has historically been about alienation, and the dread that comes with traveling through a series of hostile galactic neighborhoods. Talking, nimble sidekicks don't exactly factor into that equation.

Let me be clear here: I absolutely do hatred The quippy, faux-witty, ironic dialogue popularized by the likes of the MCU. I've always felt that I have a low tolerance for this kind of overly casual, anachronistic writing, which has turned me off countless games in the past. Dragon Age: Vilguard and spoke Like a less controversial release Remainder 2. Even the games I like, eg God of War RagnarokIt is tainted by Whedon-inspired chatter.

But here's the thing, Mackenzie isn't on the same level as the characters in those aforementioned titles. I certainly don't feel like he's talking “continuously” as other previewers have alleged: he's only featured in part of the preview, and Samus leaves him to figure out and solve puzzles on his own for extended periods of time. I'd be lying if I said Mackenzie's dialogue meaningfully enhanced my time with the game, I wouldn't even call it a death sentence. It's probably not glowing praise for McKenzie, but when I think about my time Metroid Prime 4He doesn't really come to my mind somehow. He's just not that impressive, and the rest of the game, from its combat to its atmosphere and soundtrack, comes across as powerful as ever. A talking side character doesn't cut it in my opinion.

It is worth noting that Mackenzie is introduced during the first real chapter Metroid Prime 4Which may explain some of his chatter: he's used to tutorialization at this stage.

Mechanically speaking, I'm not too stressed Metroid Prime 4Friends too. Mackenzie only has an extended escort-style passage halfway through the preview, when she and Samus are crossing a bridge. Samus has to drag herself away from the fire and revive her once she's hurt, but it's not as difficult or game-breaking as some have argued. If anything, I enjoyed the regular run-and-gun twists: juggling basic combat elements while keeping Mackenzie alive is a compelling, albeit pedestrian, spin that was put on. Metroid Prime 4The combat in this early section is interesting.

Shooting at a boss in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond

I guess what I'm trying to say is that Mackenzie feels like a surprisingly small thing to worry about. While I haven't walked away from it Metroid Prime 4 While the preview was entirely satisfactory (I noted the game's optional Switch 2 controls felt tacked-on and awkward, for example), I was overall impressed. Maybe my affection for everything the game seems to be doing right overshadows any anger I feel about McKenzie's jabbering. And like I said, I definitely don't have a high tolerance for this particular flavor of clunky, MCU-like dialogue. If I can look past it, so can gamers who look past it God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden Westand Accepted Shouldn't be a problem.

To be fair: How Mackenzie and company could negatively impact Metroid Prime 4

Mackenzie was easy to overlook during previews, but if he plays a much bigger role Metroid Prime 4story, I could see that causing some tonal problems. Furthermore, a recent trailer for the game teases other companions, which can be guessed from the need for lost in space vibes. Prime. Depending on how these companions are used storywise and mechanically, they can be a huge loss to the game.

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Samus Aran Galactic Federation Trooper Fire

As always, the devil in the details. One can imagine a scenario where McKenzie and others are made more prosperous Metroid Prime 4Story and gameplay as a result of creative writing and design elements on the road. And just because something is new to the series doesn't mean it's inherently bad—Metroid Prime should be developed, and Metroid Prime 4 There was never going to be a shiny version of the GameCube or Wii Prime Games. Not that I wouldn't mind having walking, talking fellow characters Metroid Prime 4 When all is said and done, however, the viral reaction to just one NPC at an early stage of the game feels like a mild overreaction.