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Metroidvanias

Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2017 10:57 pm
by Todd
This is a genre of video game I've always loved, and have never really focused on until now, but have recently become very addicted to. Named after Metroid (in likeness of Super Metroid) and Castlevania (in likeness of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night), these games have an open map with areas you can't access at the beginning, but are able to backtrack and access later in the game when your characters gains new items or abilities.

I love watching my characters grow into strong, amazing fighters, and I love exploring the maps, looking for items and upgrades.

Anyway! Do any of you like Metroidvanias? Which games in the genre would you recommend? My personal favorites are:
  • Super Metroid (SNES, re-released later on Wii U, 3DS, and more)
  • Monster Tale (DS)
  • Cave Story (PC, 3DS)

Re: Metroidvanias

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 2:53 pm
by dubiousdisc
METROIDVANIAS WERE MADE FOR ME

For me it's really all about the exploration. I live for big, complex worlds. And I especially live for big indoors environments.

I can't recommend Super Metroid enough, but the other one that I'd really have to recommend would be Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance. One day I'll write more in detail about my thoughts for that one... It's a lot like Symphony of the Night, but I have a personal preference due to the characters and the concept of the world. It's a smaller game (after all, it's on the Game Boy Advance), but I think it's a little hidden gem of the genre. :D

Re: Metroidvanias

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 8:11 am
by Robin
I've pondered this question a whole lot since you first posted it, Todd, and I'm wondering: would a game like Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars fit in as a Metroidvania? It has a sort of linear progression to the game at first, as you slowly open up spaces on the big world map you can't explore completely at first, but going back and exploring previous areas IS encouraged (and very beneficial) late-game as well. If you don't go back and explore it, that's okay, but you're missing out on lots of great items, hidden Easter egg references to other Nintendo games (such as Legend of Zelda and Metroid itself), and additional side stories.

(For that matter, how about the Paper Mario series as a whole? All those games seem to follow this pattern as well...?)

Re: Metroidvanias

Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 5:20 pm
by Mikari
Maybe Dust? You can go back with more power ups to accesses areas you couldn't reach. The same can be said about many of the Ys games, though both are also action RPGs and are better known as such.

Re: Metroidvanias

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:39 pm
by dubiousdisc
Robin: The answer is probably no. In many games backtracking is encouraged, but in Metroidvania-type games it's actually necessary to finish the game.

Re: Metroidvanias

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 12:11 am
by Robin
dubiousdisc wrote:Robin: The answer is probably no. In many games backtracking is encouraged, but in Metroidvania-type games it's actually necessary to finish the game.
Okay, thank you :)