GRcade

They are just the best right?

We've already got a thread on hollow Knight so I won't bother saying more than GO PLAY IT.

I'm currently starting over Axiom Verge again on switch after getting utterly lost on PS4. The map in this game is poor but everything else about it I adore.

Ori I need to get back to, not sure why I stopped playing that.

Controversial opinion - I don't like much of what I've played of symphony of the night. It feels clunky at the start, do you get better mobility as you go? It might be an "of its time" thing. I do love 2D metroid though, apart from the nes one it's a bit hard to go back to but zero mission is possibly the best metroid game?

Is owlboy and iconoclasts (I think that's what they're called) good? I keep hearing them being mentioned.

I just love the drip feed of new powers until you become OP. What are your favourites?

Edit - oh yokus island express was alright but a bit light on the powers. You have to really like pinball to get the most out of that game.

I never really liked SotN either. Thought the GBA and DS Castlevanias were much, much better,

Axiom Verge is the best non-Metroid Metroidvania I've ever played.

I've not played many non-Metroid/Castlevania Metroidvanias. I probably should since there are clearly good ones, like you mentioned.

Otherwise I'm a big fan. I've played every Metroid game and completed most of them. Dawn of Sorrow made me a solid fan of the Castlevania series (though I had enjoyed Circle of the Moon before it). The DS Castlevanias are sick, though I never finished Portrait of Ruin. It's also one of those series I want to explore thoroughly eventually.

A couple of years ago I played Shantae and the Pirate's Curse and it didn't really click with me but I did appreciate the Metroidvania elements.

Alien Infestation on the DS is one of my favourites outside of Metroid.
Aliens franchise plus Metroidvania? Yes please.

Johnny Ryall wrote:Controversial opinion - I don't like much of what I've played of symphony of the night. It feels clunky at the start, do you get better mobility as you go? It might be an "of its time" thing. I do love 2D metroid though, apart from the nes one it's a bit hard to go back to but zero mission is possibly the best metroid game?

It is slower than some more modern games, especially at the start. Keep with it and you'll get used to it.

I played it after the GBA Castlevania games on XBLA and didn't have any issues with it.

I'm replaying Shadow Complex (the remastered version) as it's free on xBox at the moment - I think it's an excellent game.

I've never really played Metroid or castlevania as tge themeing/setting in both doesn't appeal to me. Likewise with axiom verge as I keep getting tempted to try it, but looking at it does nothing for me.

Hollow Knight is incredible and makes me want to delve into the genre more, although I'm not sure I'll find anything better! I love almost everything about it.

I loved Alien Infestation, it absolutely nails the atmosphere and has some wonderful pixel art. Mummy Demastered wasn't quite so good but was still good fun and the pixel work is still there. Both have nice approaches to dying in game.

Guacamelee was fun but too much meme humour, which ages it really badly. I'm still going to give the second game a go when it comes out.

Yokus Island Express is one of the next games I plan to pick up.

SOTN is my favorite game ever. It's huge, amazing music and the big reveal of the second half of the game is epic.

I really like Steamworld Dig 2. Lovely music and a very relaxing game to play.

I love a good metroidvania, there's something so satisfying to me about that gameplay loop.

I used to love the genre but I can't really play them anymore as I just don't have the manual dexterity needed for them.

Last one I properly played was Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was tough going and I never finished it.

The closest game to the genre I can realistically play is Toki Tori 2 due to the simple two button controls and relatively sedate pace.

Do the Darksiders games count?

Alvin Flummux wrote:Do the Darksiders games count?

Isn't that basically Zelda?

My favourites are Metroid Prime and Batman Arkham Asylum. I haven't played many 2D versions but got fairly into Axiom Verge.

Yeah darksiders is a Zelda clone. I'm way further in axiom verge than I was in 2015. Hollow Knight got criticised on here for not giving you a direction to go in. Good lord this is even worse. Sometimes a little breadcrumb trail is okay! I want to love it but it has a few niggles for me, it lacks a real identify for a start, being the biggest metroid clone so far.

Absolutely beautiful art though.

Hime wrote:

Alvin Flummux wrote:Do the Darksiders games count?

Isn't that basically Zelda?

Isn't Zelda basically Metroid?

Alvin Flummux wrote:

Hime wrote:

Alvin Flummux wrote:Do the Darksiders games count?

Isn't that basically Zelda?

Isn't Zelda basically Metroid?

I guess the dungeons have elements of the it but calling Zelda a Metroidvania is a bit of a stretch.

There isn't really proper backtracking in Zelda. Once you're done with a dungeon there's no real reason to go back.

So I docked my switch on the near end boss of axiom verge after dying to get a better view etc. The music stopped and the boss despawned even on reloading the save so I guess I'm just never finishing this game.

Edit nevermind I looked up a video on YouTube the boss died, the way to go next was just unclear. Weird!

twitter.com/CJMacrae/status/1021092424850915329

Hollow Knight and Axiom Verge done.

Definitely prefer hollow Knight but I'm glad to have got that monkey off my back after I got lost on my og save.

Ori next I guess.

Ironhide wrote:Last one I properly played was Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was tough going and I never finished it.

This reminds me, still have Ecclesia sitting in my backlog from years ago. Finished and loved both Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait Of Ruin, so should really give Ecclesia a go.

Since owning a Switch, Metroidvanias have moved their way up to being potentially my favourite genre. I'd played the Metroid games on GBA as a child, but never really bought into what made them great. I felt like I was doing something wrong when I wasn't able to access spaces immediately. Playing Super Metroid on the SNES Mini felt like a totally different and much more rewarding experience, once you engage with the logics of the mechanics.

Of the ones I own on Switch, I'd rank them as follows -

Hollow Knight - 10/10 - Easily 50 hours of gameplay, with free DLC to come. Genius balance of platforming and encouraging action. As mentioned on an Easy Allies podcast recently, the real amazing thing this game does is wanting to make you fight every enemy you encounter. Wonderful lore and illustration.

Steamworld Dig 2 - 9/10 - Charming, colourful and brisk. The game moves so quickly from challenge to core gameplay, that you almost don't notice the transitions. The story is kept central, but is ultimately a secondary part of the experience.

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon - 8/10 - Pacy and charming with tight controls. A short initial playthrough with lots of alternative endings.

Axiom Verge - 7.5/10 - A very good, but flawed game, let down by a weak story involving a dream narrative, and a very limited fast-travel system.

Owlboy - Did not play more than 2 hours of this. Found it fiddly and frustrating.

Shoutouts to Celeste and Shovel Knight Treasure Trove too, for those who enjoy 2D sidescrollers generally. Both 10/10 games.