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SEE YOU NEXT MISSION - Metroid Series General

MoogleEmpMog said:
Looking at the list of Metroidvanias I've played, two things leap out. First, all the best Castlevanias aren't on there (Symphony and the various DS titles), and second, most of what I'd consider the best non-Metroid Metroidvanias seem to be fantasy themed.
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This sort of list highlights to me how subjective and particular tastes can be. I liked Yoku's Island, both Oris, and both Guacamelees a lot. I bounced off Blasphemous, Momodora, Timespinner, Ender Lilies, and Dandara. Grime is a maybe after playing the demo, and Cave Story is free so I should theoretically try it at some point.

I tend to focus on the core gameplay loop and whether it feels right, whether it puzzling like Yoku, platforming like Ori, or beat-em-up like Guacamelee. It can be tricky because the progressive nature of metroidvanias means that the gameplay loop early on might be almost deliberately stunted with a simple weak PC dealing with simple weak enemies and obstacles before it ramps up. It wouldn't shock me if some of the games I bounced off would've eventually gotten good.

I also typically hate parry as a game mechanic. Which is one of the reasons I bounced off Metroid Dread, alongside kind of disliking everything about the Emmis and the gameplay conceit they represented. I might make an exception for Grime, and maybe Nine Sols. Speaking of the latter is a sci-fi-ish metroidvania which has gotten very good buzz.
 
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firefossil said:
Everything I hear about Axiom Verge makes it sounds like one of those games which is so determined to slavishly emulate the retro era that it also emulates the problems in the retro era that sane modern games have long since ironed out.

Which is a pity because its impressive looking and sounding for a game made by one person.
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The soundtrack is 11/10. I enjoy it more than I did the game, and have replayed it a hell of a lot more times. :p
 
firefossil said:
I also typically hate parry as a game mechanic. Which is one of the reasons I bounced off Metroid Dread, alongside kind of disliking everything about the Emmis and the gameplay conceit they represented. I might make an exception for Grime, and maybe Nine Sols. Speaking of the latter is a sci-fi-ish metroidvania which has gotten very good buzz.
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Funnily enough I usually hate parry mechanics, mostly because my reflexes are terrible, but Dread's parry actually clicked with me.
 
As I've said before, my issue with Dread's parry/counterattack (and also the EMMIs) is that it devalues your upgrades and makes item hunting less rewarding.

I'd be interested to see a future Metroid game that integrates it better. Stacking melee damage or reach from upgrades, letting you spend missile ammo on a rocket-punch type thing, etc. Instead of it being a static 1hk that circumvents everything else about combat.
 
I can't speak for the second game since I didn't get around to playing it yet (though I've heard it's pretty good), but it's more in line with say, Hollow Knight (or Metroid itself) then the Castlevania side of Metroidvanias. That is to say, no straight exp/leveling system, instead you find permanent upgrades to your hp/mp/attack or whatever it's called in the game, along with spending money on new sword attacks or other upgrades (I highly recommend shilling out at the church donations to get the "teleport between shrines" ability ASAP, playing the game without it can get somewhat tedious in the lategame and it was something added in as an after release update).

Personally, I found Blasphemous 1 to be absolutely top tier in the aesthetics category and totally recommend playing with the Spanish vocals at least once, but overall game is in the "could be better" category. Some enemies or bosses can feel rather cheap, and the fact that spikes or bottomless pits are just instant death in a game where death has actual consequences (reducing your maximum MP more and more with each death) can be rather obnoxious. Later updates did bring it some improvements though, like additional content and the mentioned fast travel, not to mention patched out some glitches I had the first time I played the game - it was not particularly fun on my first playthrough as a completionist to find out "oh, the map somehow managed to mark a hidden room as already explored and looted, despite me never finding it and getting the permanent upgrade inside".
 
Forget Super Metroid vs. SOTN, here is the next epic grudge match: Metroid Dread vs. Bloodstained. Which is better?

Are they too different to compare? Quite possibly.

Will the answer be biased since this is a Metroid thread? Most definitely.

That's not deterring me though.
 
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Hyperion 2.0 said:
Forget Super Metroid vs. SOTN, here is the next epic grudge match: Metroid Dread vs. Bloodstained. Which is better?

Are they too different to compare? Quite possibly.

Will the answer be biased since this is a Metroid thread? Most definitely.

That's not deterring me though.
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IMO, Bloodstained is better if you're looking for a more classic movement style compared to Dread's much smoother movement. (I personally enjoyed Dread more, but Bloodstained still got a LOT of playtime. I love randomizers.)

That said, the difference in combat mechanics between the two make it more like comparing two types of citrus (or apples and pears). Similar things, but so many people will prefer one over the other.
 
She looks PISSED. Like "What do you mean, 'another confirmed Ridley sighting'? I just killed that bastard for the fifth time!!!" pissed.
 
I've been re-reading Blame! and I actually get a lot of Metroid vibes from it. A (mostly) lone wanderer, exploring the vast ruins of dead civilizations and desolate industrial landscapes, fighting off bizarre biomechanical monstrosities. The pervasive feeling of loneliness and dread. Crazy sci fi weapons.

I'm pretty sure Nihei is a Metroid fan so it makes sense.
 
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One thing I love about Samus' animation in Dread is the way she instantly points her arm cannon at anything that moves, sometimes so fast that the movement is barely perceptible. It just looks so cool - like check this out. Or here or here.
 
The animation work in Dread is very good. There's a lot of not too surprising focus on Samus in that respect, but you see it elsewhere. I really can't get over how cool Raven Beak looks basically all the time lol
 
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