I Need a Metroidvania

Trynant · Feb 13, 2009

There's no other genre quite like that which was spawned from Super Metroid, and no other genre really grabs me like a Metroidvania. For those of you who don't know, these are non-linear 2D platformers that involve exploring interconnected areas to gain upgrades that can access previous unreachable areas. The Metroid and Castlevania titles are especially prone to these game types, giving the genre its name.

So yeah, I'm looking for a good game that is in the veins of Metroids and Castlevanias out there (the 2D ones). If you guys know any good ones please share.

Here are the ones I've already played.

The Metroid titles (Super Metroid my favorite game ever? Damn right).
The Castlevania titles (Order of Ecclesia should be coming in the mail soon).
Bunny Must Die
Cave Story
I Wanna Be the Guy

Zur · Feb 13, 2009

I found the Vania but not the Metroid.

Seriously though, have a look at shareware titles. There's some good platform games out there.

Trynant · Feb 13, 2009

I was curious if anyone had some personal favorites of these games they'd recommend. I for one am still in love with Super Metroid and am trying to find something that brings me near that same feeling of joy. Some of the stuff I'm playing right now is pretty damn good but I'm still wanting.

Stupid addictions to random genres!

EDIT:
Azura, that image made me wonder about Metroid tampons...

SleepyHe4d · Feb 13, 2009

Wait till Ecclesia comes. (A fan barely getting this game?)

Other than that I don't really have any suggestions, and I'm a huge fan of the genre too.

You can delve into some of the similar genres, like some 2d action-adventure rpgs, if you haven't already. They are more linear but you still get that same sense of adventure, exploration and figuring out where to go next. They just take the platforming and most of the backtracking out of it.

Secret of Mana, Secret of Evermore, Illusion of Gaia, ect. Heck, even taking the rpg part out you get the genre with Legend of Zelda.

Trynant · Feb 13, 2009

The reason I haven't gotten Ecclesia earlier is twofold. First, there seemed to be NO coverage on this title whatsoever; I didn't find out about it until I looked up Castlevania titles on the DS of recent. Second, when I actually went to purchase the game, you could bet your ass Gamestop failed to have it each time I went. Eventually I said **** it and ordered the game on Amazon.

I've actually played those games you've mentioned, but I never got the same feeling that seems exclusive to Metroidvanias. I guess I enjoy the frenetic pace platforming has to offer mixed in with upgrading my character as I explore.

Ecclesia doesn't come until Monday dammit

KaiserWarrior · Feb 13, 2009

You're screwed, as you've pretty much played them all, barring the other DS and GBA Castlevania and Metroid titles.

The problem with the genre is that it actually requires thought and planning to pull off, which game developers these days hate with a passion. You can't just slap a celebrity/movie character/big muscly man/big busty woman/higher franchise number on it and be guaranteed sales no matter how ****ty it is.

If you have access to a Gamecube/Wii though, do pick up the Metroid Prime games. It's the best conceivable translation of the genre into 3D IMO. All three games are sublime.

Alhanalem · Feb 13, 2009

Theres a guy working on a metroid II remake using Zero Mission graphics style; he made a demo to show off his progress. It's short and sweet but well done. Check out his blog and download the demo:
http://metroid2remake.blogspot.com/

Fuzzle · Feb 13, 2009

There's Aquaria, which has super metroid/SoTN type progression but with an underwater environment.

You need to be confident in your manhood to deal with the setting - a lot of people are refusing to play it for the "gay" graphics, but it's a hella decent game. My friend bought it for me for christmas and I played it pretty much nonstop the following days. It took me about 19 hours to finish the game and another 4 to wrap up all the steam achievements.

Looks super crisp in 1680x1050, really cool with some upbeat and vibrant graphics inbetween my ut3 and battlefields.

dub · Feb 13, 2009

Excellent freeware Metroidvania game is Eternal Daughter. That would be a personal favourite.
If you give it a bit of time, this is a really great game.
(also by Derek Yu who did the graphics for Aquaria mentioned above - but this game fits the description of "Metroidvania" slightly more than Aquaria)

Another good pretty-Metroidvania-esque game is Bunny Must Die by famed Platine Dispositif.
It's a doujin game and so the art style might not be for eveyone.
It's pretty platform intensive at times, but also a really fun game.
Again - I am blind. You did write BMD. :/

Fine instead, you could try Darkside Adventures which is more Mario mixed with exploration.

Even though it's only a one level game Legend of Pricness is a pretty sweet game by Konjak.
Konjak who also made Noitu Love [freeware - also fits the bill if you think IWBTG does ;P] which emphasises platforming.

Mister_Prophet · Feb 13, 2009

If you've played all the Metroid games (including the two really good GBA ones) as well as all the Castlevanias....yeah, really nothing else that comes close to those.

Trynant · Feb 13, 2009

Thanks for all the advice guys.

Yep, played Eternal Daughter, or rather am still playing it. Damn if it isn't hard at the beginning! Also have Legend of Princess, and pretty frackin cool game.

I loved the first Metroid Prime. Really wonderful game. But honestly I really thought the second and third lost sight of what made the first great, along with the fact that the developer hates the idea of speed runs (which IMO is a key element in what makes some of these games so great). Currently playing some of Corruption, but I really loathe this whole world-map, voice-acting, triggered-event driven wash that is invading all the exploration goodness.

I'm really intrigued by Aquaria, and may give it a shot.

Fusion was okay, still need to aquire Zero Mission (which sucks now that's it's a rarity

).

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday...so long until more Castlevania goodiness!

Dark Pulse · Feb 14, 2009

Heh... funnily enough, I just beat Order of Ecclesia the other day.

I won't spoil too much for you, but if you're used to the GBA and DS Castlevania difficulty levels, be prepared for a rude awakening. You're going to get your ass kicked. A LOT. Some of the later bosses can take off a good 60-70% of your HP in one shot.

UBerserker · Feb 14, 2009

Dark Pulse said:
Heh... funnily enough, I just beat Order of Ecclesia the other day.

I won't spoil too much for you, but if you're used to the GBA and DS Castlevania difficulty levels, be prepared for a rude awakening. You're going to get your ass kicked. A LOT. Some of the later bosses can take off a good 60-70% of your HP in one shot.

Of all the DS and GBA CS titles I thought Harmony of Dissonance was the toughest.
Or I just abused that beam Glyph in Ecclesia.

Dark Pulse · Feb 14, 2009

UBerserker said:
Of all the DS and GBA CS titles I thought Harmony of Dissonance was the toughest.
Or I just abused that beam Glyph in Ecclesia.

No, Harmony was easy, dude. You could abuse the **** out of dashing to avoid nearly anything.

[SAS]Solid Snake · Feb 14, 2009

Have you tried Spelunky?

Capt.Toilet · Feb 14, 2009

UBerserker said:
Of all the DS and GBA CS titles I thought Harmony of Dissonance was the toughest.
Or I just abused that beam Glyph in Ecclesia.

I hope you aren't serious?

Harmony was ridiculously easy. If there was a hard part it would be Maxim and Dracula.

But yeah +2 on the difficulty for Ecclesia. I can't tell you how many times I died, namely on that ****ing Crab and the Mansion boss(larger version of Rebuild)

Trynant · Feb 14, 2009

still more than 48 hours away from Castlevania goodness.

He might be thinking of Circle of the Moon although I'm not too sure of the difficulty of that game, having not played it...

Still, I'm aware that Order of Ecclesia is supposed to be brutal, especially with mister Crabby pants. I also hear there are medals to be acquired if you beat a boss without taking a single hit. And you need them for 100% completion.

SleepyHe4d · Feb 14, 2009

Capt.Toilet said:
But yeah +2 on the difficulty for Ecclesia. I can't tell you how many times I died, namely on that ****ing Crab and the Mansion boss(larger version of Rebuild)

He was saying Ecclesia was easy... it was for me too except for trial and error memorizing some boss patterns and Dracula. ><

Dark Pulse · Feb 14, 2009

Trynant said:
He might be thinking of Circle of the Moon although I'm not too sure of the difficulty of that game, having not played it...

Still, I'm aware that Order of Ecclesia is supposed to be brutal, especially with mister Crabby pants. I also hear there are medals to be acquired if you beat a boss without taking a single hit. And you need them for 100% completion.

Yes, there are. A few of them are quite easy to get. Even Crabby Pants is, once you know the pattern.

You're probably better off waiting for a New Game+ to get most of them, though.

Banoffee · Feb 14, 2009

Super Metroid Redesign is definitely worth checking out if you're a Super fan. It's much longer than SM, and changes some weapons and items a bit. I've been slowly trudging through it the last few days. Just did the no-Varia-suit run through Norfair, which was just awesome.

You could also try going through your Castlevanias in Hard Mode with level 1 cap. It's like a totally different game. Usually what happens is, you're forced to use absolutely every aspect of the game system, and you'll learn stuff about enemy patterns you never noticed before. OoE's especially is brutal. More than once I've been killed by a ****ing Une. It takes a certain tenacity to enjoy it I guess, but the payoff is worth it.

I Need a Metroidvania

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