Metroidvania

A style of 2D action gameplay revolving around exploring a labyrinth with the necessity of locating new items and equipment to progress beyond otherwise impassible obstacles. The concept is named for its common usage in the Metroid and Castlevania franchises.

Overview

The Metroidvania style of gameplay focuses on free exploration of one large 2D world. It is designed in a non-linear fashion, allowing players to explore the world. However, there are usually limitations to a player's exploring. Such limitations are subject to completing certain objectives or finding new tools. There are other free exploration designs besides the Metroidvania. The primary difference is the camera view. Most games that allow free exploration use a 3D or overhead (aka top-down) view. In the case of a Metroidvania game design, the layout is that of a sidescroller. In addition to being a sidescroller, it is the first game type that allowed the player to explore both right and left in addition to climbing upward and falling down.

When the Metroidvania style of play was created, it conflicted with a number of established video game concepts. For example, there were no longer any levels. Since the game was non-linear and allowed free exploration, levels ceased to exist. Instead, the game is broken up into areas, or worlds, that are all seamlessly connected. Each of these areas typically have a unique visual style and/or musical score to give the area defintiion. Scores were also taken out. This was replaced with speed running. Speed running focuses on the amount of time a game took to complete and how much was done (ex: percent of power-ups collected). This also popularized the 100% run. Players are encouraged to take up this run for unlockables and/or alternate endings. Another form of speed run takes the opposite approach and encourages the player to run through the game while collecting the absolute minimum number of power-ups required to complete the game.

Name	Platforms	Developer
Muramasa: The Demon Blade released on Sept. 8, 2009	WII	Basiscape, Vanillaware Ltd.
Shadow Complex released on Aug. 19, 2009	XBLM	Chair Entertainment, Epic Games
Ore ga Omae o Mamoru	DS	Idea Factory
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia released on Oct. 21, 2008	DS	Konami Corporation
Aquaria released on Dec. 7, 2007	MAC, PC	Bit Blot, LLC.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles released on Oct. 23, 2007	PSN, PSP	Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin released on Dec. 5, 2006	DS	Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow released on Oct. 4, 2005	DS	Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo
Cave Story released on Dec. 20, 2004	WSHP, PC, MAC	Nicalis, Inc., Studio Pixel
Metroid: Zero Mission released on Feb. 9, 2004	GBA	Nintendo R&D1

Concept Name:	Metroidvania
Appears in:	18 games
First appearance:	Super Metroid
Aliases	Castleroid

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