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PS3, X360, PC- Game of Thrones
- Review
- There is probably a great role-playing game to be made out of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels, but Game of Thrones isn't it.
MAC, PC- Diablo III
- Review
- The first Diablo game in over a decade is also one of the most insidiously satisfying loot treadmills in almost as long.
PS3N, PS3, X360, PC- Prototype 2
- Review
- Prototype 2 gives you some interesting abilities that can be fun to use, but it doesn't give you enough good opportunities to cut loose with all that power.
PS3, X360, PC- Max Payne 3
- Review
- Rockstar Games modernizes and makes Max Payne its own, creating something grittier and more grounded in reality, if not quite as singular.
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 definition. 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.
Metroidvania games
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Bunny Must Die | PC | ||
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Guacamelee! | DrinkBox Studios | |
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Castlequest | NES, MSX | ASCII Entertainment Software, Inc. |
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La-Mulana | PC, WSHP | |
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Axiom Verge | PC, X360 | |
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1000 Amps released on Feb. 22, 2012 | MAC, PC | |
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Cave Story 3D released on Nov. 8, 2011 | 3DS | Nicalis, Inc. |
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Aliens: Infestation released on Oct. 11, 2011 | DS | Gearbox Software LLC, WayForward Technologies |
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UnEpic released on Oct. 2, 2011 | PC | |
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Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet released on Aug. 3, 2011 | PC, XBLM | Gagne International, Fuelcell Games |
General Information
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| Concept Name: | Metroidvania |
| Appears in: | 52 games |
| First appearance: | Brain Breaker |
| Aliases | Castleroid |
Top Editors
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Godwind
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- greystone227 10 points
