Metroidvania games? halp?

[Atreides]

See title. Shadow Complex was my first game in the genre, and I loved it. Since then, I've already beaten Symphony of the Night, started on Order of Ecclesia, and now I want more. So I'm looking for similar games.

By similar games, I mean:
-Side-scrolling
-Upgradable abilities/RPG-like progression
-Big maps to explore
-I DO NOT mean platformers, nor do I mean contra/metal slug type games.

Here's what I've come up with so far, can anyone think of any others?:

Shadow Complex (duh)
Super Metroid
Metroid Fusion (does this count?)
Metroid Zero Mission (same?)
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance

Cave Story counts, I guess?

I also came across this, which I remember playing because the demo was availabe for mac on the Marathon/Marathon 2 install CDs, called Abuse. It was a LOT of fun, it's available for PC too:

[Gamespot image removed]

That's all I can think of. Anyone know of any others? Thanks!

[Qalbert]

some repeats because its copypasted

Nintendo Entertainment System

* Metroid
* Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
* The Goonies II
* The Battle of Olympus
* Blaster Master
* Clash at Demonhead (debatable)
* Faxanadu
* Master Takahashi's Adventure Island IV

Sega Master System

* Zillion
* Wonder Boy III

Genesis

* Popful Mail

Super NES

* Super Metroid
* Super Adventure Island 2
* Wanderers from Ys III

Game Boy

* Metroid II
* Shantae
* The Battle of Olympus

Sony PlayStation

* Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
* Tomba!

Game Boy Advance

* Metroid Fusion
* Metroid Zero Mission
* Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
* Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
* Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
* Kirby: The Amazing Mirror

Nintendo DS

* Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
* Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
* Metroid Dredd (or, uh, maybe not)

Windows

* Cave Story
* Lyle in Cube Sector

[MisterBob]

There are tons of Super Metroid ROM hacks that are worth playing as well.

[Atreides]

I was just talking to someone about Goonies 2 the other day, that game was fucking amazing, I loved the first person shadowgate-like parts between platforming sections. Such an amazing game.

Also I've always wanted to play Shantae

[Atreides]

so which is the best game on that list, excluding castlevania/metroid games? Cave Story?

also here's a video for Abuse, I loved this game so much:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojrzuW2ZsEU

[Sonomaa]

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

Super Metroid is probably the best tbh, and SoTN

[Atreides]

i said excluding castlevania/metroid ;/

[Parshias]

Bear in mind that Castlevania games didn't get to be Metroidvanias until Symphony of the Night. All the 2D ones after that one were Metroidvanias, except for any remakes/ports of older games.

Aria of Sorrow, and its sequel Dawn of Sorrow are widely considered to be the best of the handled Castlevanias of this type.

Everyone really loves Super Metroid, and I love it too, but I actually like Zero Mission more. Think of it as Metroid's story, with Super Metroids items and awesome exploration/sequence breaking, plus Fusion's refined controls. Best of EVERY world.

Cave Story is probably the best non Casle/Metroid game on that list. You might also want to check out La Mulana. Another freeware PC game that uses the "explore around, fight shit, get items to explore around some more, etc." formula that makes Metroidvanias so great. Beware that it is really fucking brutally hard.

[Not Kuno]

Beware that it is really fucking brutally hard.

Uh-oh! Someone said the magic word! Sign me the fuck up.

[Noobta]

Uh-oh! Someone said the magic word! Sign me the fuck up.

Have fun with hell temple if you make it!

[MayorBee]

I hate the term "Metroidvania" with a passion. Before this term was coined less than a year ago we just reffered to these kinds of games as Side-Scrolling Platformers instead of this awful buzz word sites like Kotaku and N4G coined.

[Thulius]

so which is the best game on that list, excluding castlevania/metroid games? Cave Story?

Cave story is by far my favorite game from that list. If you haven't played it yet do yourself a favor and download it now.

[Kiarax]

Tomba!

The hell is that doing in there?

I hate the term "Metroidvania" with a passion. Before this term was coined less than a year ago we just reffered to these kinds of games as Side-Scrolling Platformers instead of this awful buzz word sites like Kotaku and N4G coined.

What the fuck? The term has been around for years.

I wouldn't really call Cave Story a metroidvania either, but everyone should play it.

[Qalbert]

I hate the term "Metroidvania" with a passion. Before this term was coined less than a year ago we just reffered to these kinds of games as Side-Scrolling Platformers instead of this awful buzz word sites like Kotaku and N4G coined.

well metroidvania TYPICALLY refers to things with grid based maps, requiring exploration, finding tools and items enabling you to progress further, etc.
Side-scrolling platformers is pretty broad and incorporates Metroid games, mario games, Braid, etc etc. Metroidvania is like a sub-genre.

[Qalbert]

The hell is that doing in there?

I just googled it and copypasted the list from the first link

[MayorBee]

well metroidvania TYPICALLY refers to things with grid based maps, requiring exploration, finding tools and items enabling you to progress further, etc.
Side-scrolling platformers is pretty broad and incorporates Metroid games, mario games, Braid, etc etc. Metroidvania is like a sub-genre.

Why not just call them what they are, side scrolling platformer, is it that hard? It doesn't need to be that specific of a sub-genre of a sub genre.

[Qalbert]

Why not just call them what they are, side scrolling platformer, is it that hard? It doesn't need to be that specific of a sub-genre of a sub genre.

Its too broad of a genre. TC wants Metroidvania type games. If he just said side scrolling platformers, hundreds of games would be suggested. Its like a guy saying hey recommend some death metal, and then bitching about how he didn't just say metal. By being specific he gives a better criterion on which to base our recommendations. Since you seem to be confused may I suggest: Metroidvania - Wikia Gaming ? It might help you process these things.

[Kiarax]

I just googled it and copypasted the list from the first link

I know, it is just very odd to see that in a list of "metroidvania", I guess they just think platformers with RPG elements automatically are considered metroidvanias.

Spiderman: Web of Shadows on DS is supposed to be good too, but I've never played it myself.

[BRP]

Why not just call them what they are, side scrolling platformer, is it that hard? It doesn't need to be that specific of a sub-genre of a sub genre.

True for the most part. These are side scrolling platformers(or platformer/shooters, depending on how you group your action subgenres.) "Metroidvania" isn't a genre or subgenre(or a subsubgenre) by any means. I had a hard time suggesting a game based on such difficult and pointless demands. Well I could have posted some random list of 1-2 series and one-shots people call Metroidvanias for reasons they haven't explained. I wasn't going to post, but then this whole bit came up.

Also I disagree with calling platformers too large of a genre lol, but whatever.

(Even if for some odd reason you want to limit your experience on such minor details(like a large focus placed on backtracking and walking) I don't understand why people don't use the term "Metroid-like" or whatever potential predecessor. Metroidvania only makes sense when contrasting old castlevania games to new ones. But whatever, buzzwords are beyond my mortal grasp. EDIT: Or "open-world" platformers, since that quality in 3d games amounts to the same thing in these games.)

I will have to check out that wikia link, though I know already it is very wrong. Do I hate myself enough to read it? Maybe.

[Qalbert]

I was in no way saying it was perfect, or the final say, but it gives an idea of the concept. If you played FFXII and said you wanted to play other games like FFXII would we not be better able to suggest games, than if you said recommend RPGs?