In a new update on Nintendo of Japan’s website, the company has detailed bits of Samus’ new motorbike in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Called “Vi-O-La,” the bike not only allows Samus to quickly traverse vast expanses of land, but will let her battle enemies and perform the “Akira Slide” to her heart’s content. It’s everything a Metroid fan could dream of… except it still makes no sense for a Metroidvania.
Anyway, the website details a few key features that Vi-O-La has. One is a boost, which is pretty self-explanatory. Samus can boost her bike for a temporary speed increase and use that to plow through enemies and ore deposits. The power slide maneuver can be utilized for steering during a boost and as an offensive move for dealing with multiple foes at once. There are also the projectile capabilities of Vi-O-La for dishing out punishment at long range. Samus will be able to lock on to multiple targets (up to five) and boomerang an orb at them.
One interesting tidbit is that Vi-O-La can be called down at any time when traversing an applicable area. This means you won’t need to specifically return to where you’ve left the bike, which should do a lot to speed up traversal. It seems the bike can also travel into the entrances of smaller areas, which is better than constantly needing to jump off and open a door.
Metroid Prime 4 release date and pre-order info
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will launch on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on December 4th, 2025. You can pre-order Metroid Prime 4 for Switch and Switch 2 on Amazon today, and make sure to check out our pre-order guide for further information about related amiibo and more!
Check out more Metroid Prime news
Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective art book to release in 2025
Get the latest look at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in a brand-new trailer
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
