TBH I see very little likelihood world where the next 3D Zelda and Mario pull off 96OC/MC. That is a tremendous undertaking, and it should not be the expectation. The only games to have accomplished this feat in recent years are RDR2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Zelda TotK… not even Elden Ring, Clair Obscur, Astro Bot, nor TLoU:Pt2.

That said, you won’t hear me complaining if the next 3D Mario hits a 92OC/MC lol. That’s right around where all other 3D Mario games have landed excluding Mario Galaxy & Odyssey (SM64, SMSunshine, SM3DWorld, etc.).

Thinking more about it, review structures and scoring systems have also changed quite a bit from 2007 to 2025. 

For example, compare Skyward Sword (Metacritic 93 for the original Wii game) to Skyward Sword HD (Metacritic 81.) There was a period from about 2005 until maybe 2014 or so when games tended toward very high scores (partly because more reviewers used a % scale back then.) 

I think in terms of quality (from what I've seen of gameplay and am reading in the reviews) this looks a lot more like Prime 2/3 and Fusion in terms of quality than Other M (which is generally considered overrated at 79%, these days.) 

It's a more linear, more action-centered, less Metroidvania style entry in the series, but that isn't something different from what we've had in the past (especially if you look at Fusion and Prime 3.) 

I suspect if this game released on Wii U in 2015 it would score in the high-80's/low-90's. Or if Prime 3 released today, it would score in the low-to-mid 80's.

Masterpieces like Prime 1, will get a high score regardless (hence why Prime Remastered got a consistently high score, unlike Skyward Sword HD) because they are timeless.  

Hopefully the more hand-holdy sections of this pay off, and the game sells well, so that we can get a MP5 that is a bit more ambitious. 

The current 3D Mario team have pretty much set the precedent for 97 only with their 3D Mario games (Both Galaxy’s and Odyssey). Of course the expectation for the big Switch 2 one is going to be 95+. And honestly, that should be the expectation considering they have gone nearly a decade between Mario’s at this point. Their longest gap by a notable margin. 

At this point I increasingly do not care what critics say anymore. Game critics in particular don't actually seem to have a clue what they are talking about most of the time. A lot of them just seem to be trying to rage bait people.

Metroid Prime needed to do something different, so it seems they went for a Ocarina of Time structure when it comes to exploration with a hub and area's attached to it. Or Wind Waker with the Great Sea is perhaps a better comparison. I like that, so will be looking forward to it.

The reason I say it needed to do something different is because else it will not have a chance to grow it's audience. Prime2 sales was less than half of the original only 2 years later on the same console. Prime3 sold only little more then Prime2 on a console that sold almost 5 times that of the GameCube. Even the Remaster is one of the few games re-released on the Switch that did not outsell the original.

Let's face it half of the original Prime audience loved it and are superfans, the other half did not return. Nintendo decided to sprinkle a bit of Zelda in the new entry to try to grow the audience. I can fully understand that. But it also means that reviewers are on the cuff about it with scores being all over the place.

I'm playing through remastered at the moment, I get that it was pioneering at it's time but it's definitely not as fluid or enjoyable as 3 for me. The backtracking is irksome and combat/bosses are more clunky and basic... Tonally, sure Samus is a lone human but I actually dont get the strong atmospheric vibes in half the locations when some the music is so loungey and enemies are respawning every time I renter a room. For sure though it's gorgeous top to bottom.

I'll probably enjoy Prime 4 the most out of all prime games but it's a shame that the open world is as bland as it looked on the surface and they actually force you to engage with it. I wonder if the team will reduce the threshold of collectables for progression based off feedback?

Also a shame that the gameplay never really leaps in new inventive new directions. It feels a bit too familiar from the trailers, even the new abilities.

It's still on my to buy list but I'll probably prioritise Ghost of Yotei this holiday.

As far as the Franchise goes I'd like to see a new developer tackle the next entry (western third party), whilst Retro works on something else (Not donkey Kong)...

Sales wise I hope we're pleasantly surprised and this can at least hit 3m. Although glowing reviews would help, this game so clearly itches a spot that isn't being filled anywhere. All the video reviews just make me want to play despite the short comings

I was kinda expecting mid 80s but it's currently 80 flat and not only is that a pretty poor score for Metroid Prime standards it likely kills any hope of this being a breakout moment for the series unless general reception is a lot better. Two common criticisms are unsurprisingly towards the desert bike traversal and NPC characters being annoying and handholdy so people's concerns about those aspects seem to have been proven right unfortunately. Myles has naturally gotten criticized but it seems there's at least one other NPC that's annoying so that's a shame.

So far from what I’ve read the reviewers are complaining that it’s more of the same. So sounds good to me. I will buy and play it myself as I don’t care how reviews are.