Metroid-esque

[J T]

I love Metroid on NES and SNES. I'm also a fan of Castlevania's Symphony of the Night. But it doesn't seem like there were many other games like these. I'm not even sure what you call the genre... side-scrolling-platformer-action-adventure-rpg-something-or-other???

Anyways, here's a few freeware treats for others that like this style.

Cave Story
Knytt
IJI

Got any other recommendations?

[MrPopo]

The genre typically is called Castleroid, thanks to most of the good Castlevanias after the 16-bit era being of that style. All the Metroid games, SotN, and all the GBA and DS Castlevanias (though OoE only gets to that for the last area) fall under that category.

Zillion on the SMS has somewhat of a Metroid feel. But there's less emphasis on getting items to access new areas and more focus on just the maze-like complex.

[elvis]

IJI

Wow, that looks incredible. Thanks for linking.

Doing my bit for the theme of the thread, the Zillion games are often regarded as a poor man's metroid:
http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/ ... illion.htm

And ditto for Master of Darkness to Castlevania:
http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/ ... eview.html

[Anapan]

The GBA/DS titles that are clones of SOTN are called "Castleroids" or "Metroidvanias":
Circle of the Moon
Harmony of Dissonance
Aria of Sorrow
Dawn of Sorrow
Order of Ecclesia
Portrait of Ruin

There's also the GBA titles that are clones of Super Metroid:
Metroid Fusion and Metroid Zero Mission

GBA/DS:
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Shaman King: Master of Spirits 1&2
Kirby and the Amazing Mirror
Super Princess Peach

Genesis/TG16/Arcade: Cadash

Blaster Master series

PC Engine/TG16: Eternal City Toshi Tenso Keikaku

PC: Eternal Daughter - http://www.derekyu.com/?page_id=157


Here's Toastyfrog's list of them:
http://www.gamespite.net/toastywiki/ind ... troidvania
and a thread adding on to that list:
http://www.gamersquarter.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=893
A more complete definition:
http://gaming.wikia.com/wiki/Metroidvania

Hmm this data may be a bit outdated but I'm having a hard time thinking of any other {2D platformer that requires backtracking to get previously inacessable powerups necessary to advance} <- simplified definition of this genre?.

Does Littlebigplanet count? How about Wario Land Shake It or Super Paper Mario? I haven't played any of them, just read stuff.

Didn't MegaMan X3 have you revisiting levels to get more powerups?

If you're into MMORPG games: Maple Story - the DS version will be mostly 1Player Castleroid if/when it comes out.

Isometric: Landstalker

Also these look interesting:
http://www.zentendo.com/features.php?ar ... 489&page=1
http://jayisgames.com/archives/2008/11/ ... d_beta.php

A bit OT, but Spelunky is a roguelike platformer by the same guy (Derek Yu) who made Eternal Daughter. Randomly generated levels and fun (but tough) gameplay. Give it a try.
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=4017.0
http://www.derekyu.com/

At some point we should compile this into a master list with debatable titles listed underneath. I'll be giving some of these a good playtrough soon - this is my favorite type of game. Great topic JT!

[PGchris]

How bout the strider games, strider 2 was an excellent piece of side scroller plat-forming that is often over looked i think check it out...

[Mozgus]

IJI

Wow, that looks incredible. Thanks for linking.

You joined here in October. How did you not notice this?

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/microsof ... ormer.html

[Anapan]

That post about Iji is the reason I joined this forum. I'd just bought 2 Dreamcast VGA adapters after following a link from The Dreamcast Junkyard http://the-dreamcast-junkyard.blogspot.com/ and by chance I saw that post on the side which led me to this forum. Now It's one of my favorite sites.

[J T]

How bout the strider games, strider 2 was an excellent piece of side scroller plat-forming that is often over looked i think check it out...

I have the Strider 1 & 2 set for Playstation. They are great fun, but too linear to be compared to Metroid.

[elvis]

You joined here in October. How did you not notice this?

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/microsof ... ormer.html

Dunno. Usually I get all the front page stories via RSS. Must have missed that one.

[Anapan]

More:

Ufouria - NES

Bunny must die
No longer buyable:
http://www.paletweb.com/selectpage.asp?code=00952
OK to download? - http://www.badongo.com/file/1231880

Exile - BBC (not the remakes)

Lyle in Cube Sector
http://www.sitesled.com/members/bogo/lyle.html

Seiklus
http://www.autofish.net/clysm/art/video_games/seiklus/

Within A Deep Forest
http://www.ni2.se/nifflas/

Vigilance on Talos V for the PC - get it on underdogs

"The Great Cave Offensive" sub-game of Kirby Super Star

Super Smash Bros. Brawl's Adventure mode, especially in the Great Maze

Aquaria
http://www.bit-blot.com/aquaria/index.html

An Untitled Story
http://www.gamemakergames.com/?a=view&id=6278

Albero and the Great Blue Emblem
http://www.gamemakergames.com/?a=view&id=3311

The ROM hack Extra Mario Bros. is a Metroidvania game built on Super Mario Bros.
http://www.auntiepixelante.com/?p=244

LaTale PC MMORPG
http://latale.ogplanet.com/main.og

The DS version of Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Samurai Jack: The Amulet of Time for Game Boy Advance

The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King for Game Boy Advance

Nippon Ichi has made one for the Disgaea series, called Prinny: Can I Really Be The Hero? (aka ''Prinny: Can I Really Be The Main Character?''), and (obviously) stars a Prinny.

There's even a Sonic game with a Metroidvania theme - the Game Gear spin-off Tails' Adventure. By all accounts a pretty good game (and not to be confused with the other Tails Game Gear spin-off, the bizarre Tails' Skypatrol).

Resonance
http://www.bananattack.com/blog/tag/resonance/