#metroidvanias

[prokopetz]

While Metroid (1986) and Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (1987) are usually cited as the founding texts of the metroidvania genre, not without reason, they were actually part of a much larger wave of 2D side-scrolling platformers featuring nonlinear, inventory-gated open worlds that were all released in the same three or four year span.

Some are fairly well known, like Blaster Master (1988) and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987). Others are more obscure these days, like Faxanadu (1987) or The Maze of Galious (1987). There doesn't seem to be any one game that started it – it was an idea whose time had come, and suddenly it was everywhere at all at once.

Of course, given that the genre was just beginning to take shape, there are also a lot of weird edge cases that might or might not be first-generation metroidvanias, depending on how you define your terms. Ultimately, checklists of tropes are perhaps a less relevant metric than which games participated in the creative dialogue that produced what would eventually be labelled the metroidvania.

Which finally brings me to the question I actually want to throw out:

Is DuckTales (1989) a first-generation metroidvania?

[cheesieblr]

The Axiom Verges

(Axioms Verge? I ‘unno. Spoilers)

This metroidvania duology is a neat little couple of games I’m happy to have happened upon. I beat the first game a few years ago and just this week beat the second one. I shall talk about both.

As I understood, Axiom Verge stood out by having some cool, non-traditional MV upgrades. No double or wall jumping, no crawling or balling, and some unconventional weapons. I liked it. My prior MVs were almost entirely Metroid and Castlevania, so the freshness was extremely welcome. Not to mention that AV’s pixel art is INCREDIBLE! I LOVE giant bio-mechanical beings and I LOVE every gross, writhing detail of their bodies. It makes me wanna puke in the best way possible— like Akira. I don’t really remember the story… but the final boss was interesting, unconventional and rather skill-less to fight.

Axiom Verge 2 was much of the same; still fun and still an enjoyable experience. Again I don’t get much of the lore, even if someone explained it to me. All I understood was that the protagonist is a dirty billionaire, but she cares for her daughter— and prevented the Murder of the Universe ;) i guess. Balancing felt good, didn’t feel like I got too OP too fast, and the exploration was really neat! I liked going into the breach as the drone a bunch; great way to discover little secrets here and there. Pixel art is amazing once again! I would say something about the bosses except there really weren’t any :\. They were more optional combat “challenges” than a true obstacle that stood in your way. I am not for that choice too often. I want a boulder in the path; a fucking steel door. Let me bash my head into it for 3 hours trying to figure out the strategy !! (only slightly exaggerating)

It was clearly left open for a third game, and I will certainly play it if/when it comes out!

[errorid-mt7lt7k7unfr9ttfua5]

Hollow Knight got me into gaming

Ori and the Blind Forest made me fall in love with gaming

Celeste made me good at gaming

Undertale inspired me to make a game of my own

and i think this was a beautiful journey that i had the privilege of taking, especially so early in my life

by creating Wyrd, I want to give back all these emotions and experiences that are so dear to my heart to others, and if even one person feels the joy i have felt in the art of gaming by playing my game, it will have been worth it.

[cupcake-plays-a-game]

April 7th 2024 - I bought and started Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown recently and this game is phenomenal! I’ve been itching for a well-crafted and tough Metroidvania in ages and this fulfils that! I’m really enjoying the handful of hours I’ve played so far and can’t wait to play it to completion!

[rokon24]

While the Metroid (1986) and Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (1987) are usually cited as the founding texts of the metroidvania genre, not without reason, there were actually part of a much larger wave of 2D side-scrolling platformers featuring nonlinear, inventory-gated open worlds that were all released in the same three or four year span. Some are fairly well known, like Blaster Master (1988) and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987). Others are more obscure these days, like Faxanadu (1987) or The Maze of Galious (1987). There doesn't seem to be any one game that started it – it was an idea whose time had come, and suddenly it was everywhere at all at once.

Of course, given that the genre was just beginning to take shape, there are also a lot of weird edge cases that might or might not be first-generation metroidvanias, depending on how you define your terms. Ultimately, checklists of tropes are perhaps a less relevant metric than which games participated in the creative dialogue that produced what would eventually be labelled the metroidvania.

Which finally brings me to the question I actually want to throw out:

Is DuckTales (1989) a first-generation metroidvania?

Learn More

[afriendlyirin]

Metroidvania Alignment Chart

Based on observation and discussion in the Metroidvania subreddit. Is this anything?

[daihime-sama]

Live now!

We've heard that anime elf girls are popular again, so tonight Hime-Sama will be playing Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth, starring the original quirky anime elf girl.

Watch and chat here!

-RRA Social Media Team

[mellowgoop]

incredibly vague, incredibly subjective, incendiary debate.

my most important contribution to society.

[renum-crimsonvale]

I FINALLY DID IT.

i 203% completed Environmental Station Alpha

Learning that "alien language" was fairly easy. the hardest part was i think the restless spirit boss. the only thing i haven't done in the game is go and do that wierd crown thing. but that's neither here nor there.

I grabbed every item, every diskette, every story progression tick, every secret percentage, for a total of 203%.

i'm finally done with this game.

i want more.

i NEED more.

if there are any weird cryptic metroidvania games out there that y'all recommend PLEASE let me know

[master-of-47-dudes]

I got obsessed with blasphemous and blasphemous 2 over Christmas and have just finished em.

Honestly? Solid 8/10 games, both of 'em. I had a ton of fun exploring the world of Cvstodia and controlling the Pentinent One. The combat is satisfying and the art is incredible, dark, and gruesome. Also, they were like the most intensely Catholic experiences I've ever had.

[prokopetz]

Metroidvania where the mobility upgrades distort the world's geometry while technically leaving the player character's physics and behaviour unchanged. For example, when you use the "high jump", it briefly squashes the entire world vertically, granting the effect of being able to reach higher ledges without actually changing the player character's jump arc. The outcome is that each upgrade precisely replicates the effect of some conventional metroidvania mobility upgrade (e.g., high jump, dash, etc.), but in a much more complicated and confusing way. There is absolutely no benefit to this.

[elementcement]

I LOVE Metroidvanias but Jesus Christ do they SUCK to pick back up after not playing for a while.

[shrimpmandan]

CONSULTING TUMBLR. Do you guys have any recommendations for niche/indie Metroidvanias, 2D Action Side-Scrollers, and/or RPGs/JRPGs? If you answer with "Hollow Knight!!!" or "Dead Cells!!!" you owe me $1000

[sebasgb]

Los mejores juegos estilo Metroidvania

La finalidad de este blog es comentar sobre este tipo de juegos de exploración y búsqueda de objetos los cuales nos pueden mantener pegados días enteros a la silla.

El termino Metroidvania proviene del la unión del nombre de 2 juegos: Metroid y Castlevania, juegos los cuales disponen de un mapa amplio para explorar, también disponen de zonas ocultas con múltiples jefes principales los cuales hacen posible la continuidad de la historia y jefes ocultos los cuales desbloquean finales secundarios a la historia principal, también poseen mejoras para el personaje o NPC´s que nos ayudan a lo largo de la historia que escojamos .

Como primera entrada tenemos a Hollow Knight, un juego desarrollado por Ari Gibson y William Pellen. El videojuego incita a la exploración de si amplio mapa por lo mismo cuenta con múltiples enemigos y jefes los cuales constan de una dificultad progresiva. Este juego conta de múltiples finales los cuales se obtienen derrotando ciertos jefes o ayudando a ciertos NPC´s dentro de la aventura. Este mismo se encuentra en proceso de tener una secuela la cual fue retrasada por ciertos inconvenientes con la plataforma UNITY por lo cual se lanzara oficialmente en el año 2024.

La segunda entrada de este juego pertenece a Blasphemus, un juego que fue desarrollado por The Game Kitchen. Este consta de distintos finales según las decisiones que tomemos dentro del mismo. Disponde de 3 DLCS los cuales expanden la historia del juego, estos son: Stir of Down, Strife and Ruin y por ultimo Wounds of Eventide el cual proporciona un tercer final que no se encuentra dentro de la campaña principal y que da paso a la secuela recientemente lanzada este mismo año.

Como ultima entrada de este blog encontramos a Dead Cells, un juego desarrollado por el estudio Motion Twin. Este juego transcurre en un mundo interconectado el cual contiene mas de 50 armas y hechizos haciendo que la exploración sea una parte muy vital. Posee una historia no lineal lo que quiere decir que puedes explorar a tu gusto, con unos jefes con la dificultad de dark souls por lo cual es recomendable que nos memoricemos su patrón de ataque evitando múltiples muertes y por consecuente estancamientos.

Para concluir debo aclara que este tipo de juegos no es para todo el mundo ya que sus múltiples horas de exploración y revista de lugares previamente vistos puede llegar a ser tedioso y agregándole la alta dificultad de los jefes y mazmorras se puede volver frustrante, pero si tenemos el tiempo y la paciencia suficientes podemos llegara degustar obras increíbles con hermosos paisajes y personajes memorables y a su vez descubrir finales completamente inesperados con una calidad en los detalles increíbles, sintiéndonos satisfechos con nosotros mismos y alentándonos a recusar las historias de nuevo.

Referencias

Morales, R. (2021, April 9). Los mejores juegos metroidvania para PC. Alfa Beta Juega; Alfa Beta Juega. https://www.mundodeportivo.com/alfabeta/listas/mejores-juegos-metroidvania-pc#index4

Alonso, Á. (2022, May 16). Metroidvanias muy buenos que probablemente no conozcas. Hobby Consolas; Hobby Consolas. https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reportajes/metroidvanias-muy-buenos-probablemente-no-conozcas-1060525

Xcast. (2021, March 8). Los mejores metroidvania de la historia para PC y consolas. Millenium ES; Millenium ES. https://www.millenium.gg/guias/31874.html

[cupcake-plays-a-game]

April 20th 2024 - WOOOO I 100%ED PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE LOST CROWN. THIS GAME IS PHENOMENAL! What a supremely crafted Metroidvania with so much heart and soul! One of my favourite games of the year so far!

Going full completionist is a badge of honour I don’t bestow for many games, but this one fully deserved it. Absolutely check it out for your Metroidvania fixing, it is an experience worth having!

[threeravenspublishing]

What Kickstarter Projects Do You Love to Support?

What Kickstarter Projects Do You Love to Support?

As we’re gearing things up for our cross-country move, one of my tasks is to sort through everything we’ll need to change our address on, from paperwork to items we pre-ordered months ago. Among those pre-ordered items are various Kickstarter projects we’ve backed, and it got me thinking: what kind of Kickstarter projects do the readers of Three Ravens enjoy supporting? And how far do you go?…