Beyond shouldn't leave out a potential villain returning

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally seeing a release after years of anticipation from die-hard Nintendo fans. First announced at Nintendo's E3 2017 showcase, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond went through a long period of radio silence before finally resurfacing at a Nintendo Direct last year. Expected to be released sometime in 2025, Nintendo fans will finally get their chance to play the next chapter in Samus Aran's story, one that should serve as a great swan song for the Nintendo Switch.

In its first real game show last year, a lot of attention was paid to Metroid Prime 4: Beyonds big villain, Sylux. Previously appeared at the end of the last post, Metroid Prime 3: Corruptionplayers will finally get the chance to see Samus face this evil bounty hunter. That said, Sylux shouldn't be the only villain to appear in this upcoming game, and the developers at Retro Studios shouldn't forget about the franchise's most iconic enemy.

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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Should Just Be the Top of the Iceberg for Switch 2

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond undoubtedly has gamers excited, but Nintendo needs to keep the Metroid ball rolling with even more releases.

Sylux shouldn't be Metroid Prime 4's only big bad

Metroid Prime 4 should bring Ridley into the fray

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond should have some appearance from Metroid the franchise's most infamous villain, Ridley. One of its most frequent recurring characters, Ridley has become arguably its biggest enemy Metroid franchise although he has always been a secondary antagonist in all of his appearances. Ridley's iconic villain status comes in large part because he was responsible for the death of Samus' parents and the destruction of her childhood planet K-2L.

Samus defeated Ridley in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption can seemingly push him off the table too Metroid Prime 4: Beyondbut there is still reason to believe he could return in this new game. After all, Ridley has continued to appear in games that follow Corruption in Metroid timeline, such as Metroid: Samus Returns and Super Metroid. So it's not impossible for Nintendo and Retro Studios to bring back this evil space pirate in the new game.

Ridley is too iconic to be forgotten in Metroid Prime 4

Part of the reason Ridley was able to return Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is that he's honestly just so iconic in the franchise. Ridley has appeared in almost all of them before Metroid game and has appeared in every numbered row Metroid Prime game save for Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. He is one of those characters that always seems to come back, which sets a precedent for him to make a return in this new game.

Even with the thought of Ridley being defeated Metroid Prime 3: Corruptionthe character has been cloned multiple times across the franchise's other entries. Even in Metroid Prime titles, Ridley appeared as Meta Ridley in the first game before a Phazon infusion transforms him into Omega Ridley in the Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. There's no reason to believe that Ridley can't be cloned into a new form when this new game arrives.

Samus defeated Ridley in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption can seemingly push him off the table too Metroid Prime 4: Beyondbut there is still reason to believe he could return in this new game.

Ridley's return in Metroid Prime 4 doesn't have to be a boss fight

Ridley might not even need to have a proper boss fight Metroid Prime 4: Beyondsince the game could add his lore instead. Given that the game takes place before Ridley's appearances in Metroid: Samus Returns and Super MetroidRetro Studios was able to use Samus' pirate scan to explain how Ridley survived after Phazon. There's plenty of room to expand the story of the franchise with Ridley, even if he doesn't appear properly in the game.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will finally showcase Samus' fight with Sylux teased at the end of Metroid Prime 3: Corruptionbut he shouldn't be the only villain in this new game. Whether it's in an actual boss fight or background integration, Retro Studios shouldn't forget about Ridley.