Nintendo and Retro Studios’ action-adventure game, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, had over half an hour of dialogue cut from its final release.
A major chunk of NPC interactions appears to have been cut from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, according to a newly surfaced cache of unused dialogue shared by YouTuber Bearborg. The footage reveals roughly 34 minutes of fully voiced character conversations that were ultimately removed from the final release.
The cut dialogue largely focuses on interactions between Galactic Federation troopers, most notably Armstrong, Duke, MacKenzie, and Tokabi, and the heavy labor robot VUE-995. Rather than advancing the main plot directly, these exchanges flesh out everyday life, relationships, and morale among the Federation forces stranded on the hostile planet Viewros.
Some of the removed conversations lean into humor and character bonding. In one exchange, Armstrong casually queries the robot about its strength, asking, “How much can you bench?” VUE-995 replies, “For safety reasons, I am only authorized to lift two tons of material at a time.” When pressed on whether they could lift more, their answer is, “Yes. A lot. A lot. A lot.”
Other moments reveal unexpected personality traits. When discussing its missile barrages, VUE-995 admits, “I enjoy the way their smoke trails intertwine. I find this pleasing.” In another scene, the robot explains its philosophy on combat, saying, “Violence should be avoided at all costs,” adding that they fight so that they are better able to protect their friends.
The cut dialogue also served to humanize the supporting cast. Duke reminisces about fallen comrades and worries about family back home, while MacKenzie switches between dry sarcasm and anxious improvisation, at one point admitting he rigged the base vents with explosives without telling anyone. Even mundane topics like cooking, hydration, squeaky joints, and soup cravings are covered. The conversations also reference key events, such as the artifact explosion, EMP fallout, and Samus rescuing VUE-995 from the Ice Belt, suggesting that the cut dialogue was intended to deepen the narrative context surrounding Samus’ mission.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is available exclusively for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
