'Metroidvania games'

[Cap'nPipsqueak]

Why, specifically, are they called these? I know it's due to 'Castlevania: Symphony of the Night', but wouldn't it be more precise to call them 'Metroid games', seeing as that particular Castlevania was based on that genre in the first place?

 

[DefunctTheory]

Metroid and Castlevania were the earliest franchises of that type. So they combined the names. Metroidvania. Kind of catchy.

A lot nicer sounding then 'Metroid Clone.' If only the games that had followed Doom had had such luck.

 

[baddude1337]

Because Castleroids sounds like something a doctor would prescribe cream for.

 

[SmallHatLogan]

Probably because it wasn't until after Symphony of the Night was released that the subgenre started taking off. So both Metroid and Castlevania were used as reference points.

 

[MysticSlayer]

A lot nicer sounding then 'Metroid Clone.' If only the games that had followed Doom had had such luck.

Or Grand Theft Auto...or Call of Duty...or God of War...or Halo...or...Actually, come to think of it, Metroidvania games got off really well compared to most other styles. Then again, the term "X clone" sort of became meaningless the instant someone decided every game than didn't fit their tastes was a "CoD clone".

 

[EHKOS]

The weird thing about these games for me is that I hate them. But I love Super Metroid. I never understood why. I look at games like the original Zelda and throw my hands up going "How the FUCK was I ever supposed to figure that out?!" Like, you have to push a certain thing in a certain way. I'm not some spoiled child who had all the items glow for him, I'm 23 and picked up the controller twenty years ago.

I don't know, all I think is that SM is supposed to provoke the same response but it doesn't.

 

[Roboshi]

I brought this up a while ago and I still don't see why it's not just "metroid-like" (similar to Rouge-like) As the elements SotN added to the formula are not actually widely used.

The metroidvania style is characterised by;

-open map to explore-Metroid

-permanent upgrades to find-metroid

-Upgrades used to open up new areas, either as a simple door or something more complex (eg. freezing a laKe to walk on it)-Metroid

-Story progress determined by the bosses you have defeated-Metroid


Now SotN added a few things;

-Equipment to wear and additional weapons to find

-EXP from enemies and a levelling system

-Starting the game at full power only to lose it soon in the game (something that some metroidvanias use but very rarely)

Now these things come together to make SotN the great game that it is, but I don't think it deserves to be used as part of the whole genre name. Really it should be considered one of the first "metroid-like" games.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Metroid and Castlevania were the earliest franchises of that type. So they combined the names. Metroidvania. Kind of catchy.

A lot nicer sounding then 'Metroid Clone.' If only the games that had followed Doom had had such luck.

This basically.

 

[Kyrian007]

I believe I remember hearing the term "Metroidvania" before SotN came out. But now I can't remember the name of the game that it was being used to describe. It was a pc release and I only played the shareware version. But since it was a shareware thing in my mind that means it predates SotN.

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

Because Castleroids sounds like something a doctor would prescribe cream for.

I imagine Bowser suffers with them on a regular basis. The harsh realities of a life within reptilian villainhood.