/vr/ - Retro Games

I kind of like the sentiment I read earlier of one disgruntled fellow, so I might rephrase it here:

Why is it called Metroidvania?

This implies that those large exploration Castlevania games are similar in design to Metroid games, which is not necessarily true. While both use large areas, Metroid always designs those areas with more purpose, rather than as essentially jumbled hallways with enemies inside. You might also say that both games do gradual character upgrades with new powerups and abilities, but strong differences exist there too. In Metroid the only means of upgrading and getting stronger is to explore and seek them out. Sometimes you will find bosses must be defeated, but in the end you are rewarded for your exploration. In those castlevania games, those upgrades are for the most part obtained through grinding and farming, whether they be levels, soul/weapon drops, etc. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does not speed the message of Metroid.

Instead of calling them 'Metroidvania', why not call them something more accurate? La-Mulana is somewhat similar and is called an Action/Exploration game. Why not apply the same label for castlevania games like Symphony of the Night and Aria of Sorrow? It certainly is a more accurate description.

Keep in mind that I love both types of CV game and intend no attack on those games. I merely wish to point this out and suggest a different title to describe this type of Castlevania game.

This post led to a discussion in which some brought up the need for reclassifying these types of games in general (and some other games and series) with new genre description. Call it semantics, but it seems a worthy topic of discussion and so I've made a new thread in which to discuss it.

Continue on gents.

Repost from another thread because the discussion there was getting off-topic:

I kind of like the sentiment I read earlier of one disgruntled fellow, so I might rephrase it here:

Why is it called Metroidvania?

This implies that those large exploration Castlevania games are similar in design to Metroid games, which is not necessarily true. While both use large areas, Metroid always designs those areas with more purpose, rather than as essentially jumbled hallways with enemies inside. You might also say that both games do gradual character upgrades with new powerups and abilities, but strong differences exist there too. In Metroid the only means of upgrading and getting stronger is to explore and seek them out. Sometimes you will find bosses must be defeated, but in the end you are rewarded for your exploration. In those castlevania games, those upgrades are for the most part obtained through grinding and farming, whether they be levels, soul/weapon drops, etc. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does not speed the message of Metroid.

Instead of calling them 'Metroidvania', why not call them something more accurate? La-Mulana is somewhat similar and is called an Action/Exploration game. Why not apply the same label for castlevania games like Symphony of the Night and Aria of Sorrow? It certainly is a more accurate description.

Keep in mind that I love both types of CV game and intend no attack on those games. I merely wish to point this out and suggest a different title to describe this type of Castlevania game.

This post led to a discussion in which some brought up the need for reclassifying these types of games in general (and some other games and series) with new genre description. Call it semantics, but it seems a worthy topic of discussion and so I've made a new thread in which to discuss it.

Continue on gents.

>>653878