Games similar to Metroid
I know the obvious answer is Castlevania, as has already been mentioned, but really, if you're finishing up the GBA Metroids and are wondering where to go next, consider yourself really lucky to have three great Castlevania games on GBA (bump that up to five if you've got a DS) that you can segue directly into. The basic Metroid objective structure -a large interconnected space where the game subtely "leads" you into an area, you progress to the area's boss/collect that area's power-up that you'll use in the next area, and repeat!- is recreated perfectly (an intentional homage, according to Castlevania series director Koji Igarashi). From there, the differences are primarily thematic: your attacks are largely melee-based instead of ranged, the setting is gothic instead of sci-fi, etc.
I think one of the biggest differences between the two series is simply this: In Metroid, the designers have gone out of their way to integrate the gameplay systems into the minimalist narrative, creating a subdued, artful experience, whereas Castlevania knows it's a video game, and celebrates it with noisy bombast. In Metroid, the music is ambient, and the nuts and bolts of the gameplay are disguised to match the setting: you find "energy tanks" to increase your life meter, and the pause screen is made to look like a diagnostics display. Castlevania, comparatively, gives you a bare menu on the pause screen, hit points instead of energy tanks, and over-the-top music and enemy design.
This is perhaps an over-analysis of the two series, but they really are so similar that their differences deserve such dissection
Of the GBA trilogy, Aria of Sorrow is hands-down the best. The first two, Circle of the Moon and Harmony of Dissonance, are both very good and still worth playing, but feel like evolutionary steps toward Aria. If you play Aria first, you may find yourself disappointed in the earlier games, but if you're only interested in the best (or only have time to play one) go straight for Aria, it's a masterpiece, and easily one of the best games on GBA in any genre.
Dawn of Sorrow, the DS sequel to Aria, is the only direct narrative sequel among the 5 GBA/DS games, so you should play Aria before Dawn, but any other games can be played in any order. Dawn is a very "safe" follow-up: it's just like Aria, but with better graphics and a more refined and flexible power-up system (and more bonus playable characters after you beat the game). It's the epitome of "more-of-the-same:" it's a great game that technically improves on the original at the risk of feeling a bit stale.
Your first step should be tracking down the GBA double-cart that includes both Aria and its predecessor Harmony. I think it's still nearly full-price at EBStop, but lucky shoppers have found it cheaply on clearance at Toys R Us, K-Mart and Sears. Good luck hunting your next Metroid fix.
I think one of the biggest differences between the two series is simply this: In Metroid, the designers have gone out of their way to integrate the gameplay systems into the minimalist narrative, creating a subdued, artful experience, whereas Castlevania knows it's a video game, and celebrates it with noisy bombast. In Metroid, the music is ambient, and the nuts and bolts of the gameplay are disguised to match the setting: you find "energy tanks" to increase your life meter, and the pause screen is made to look like a diagnostics display. Castlevania, comparatively, gives you a bare menu on the pause screen, hit points instead of energy tanks, and over-the-top music and enemy design.
This is perhaps an over-analysis of the two series, but they really are so similar that their differences deserve such dissection
Of the GBA trilogy, Aria of Sorrow is hands-down the best. The first two, Circle of the Moon and Harmony of Dissonance, are both very good and still worth playing, but feel like evolutionary steps toward Aria. If you play Aria first, you may find yourself disappointed in the earlier games, but if you're only interested in the best (or only have time to play one) go straight for Aria, it's a masterpiece, and easily one of the best games on GBA in any genre.
Dawn of Sorrow, the DS sequel to Aria, is the only direct narrative sequel among the 5 GBA/DS games, so you should play Aria before Dawn, but any other games can be played in any order. Dawn is a very "safe" follow-up: it's just like Aria, but with better graphics and a more refined and flexible power-up system (and more bonus playable characters after you beat the game). It's the epitome of "more-of-the-same:" it's a great game that technically improves on the original at the risk of feeling a bit stale.
Your first step should be tracking down the GBA double-cart that includes both Aria and its predecessor Harmony. I think it's still nearly full-price at EBStop, but lucky shoppers have found it cheaply on clearance at Toys R Us, K-Mart and Sears. Good luck hunting your next Metroid fix.
"Oh, no, not in Utica, no. It's an Albany expression."
I get the Metroid vibe from Castlecania 2: Simons Quest, SOTN and the GBA releases. Espcially from all the platforming and secret walls. But yeah....no gun. The Turrican series is a good match up. I would say Kid Icarus is in the same vain, but it's linear like early Castlevania 1, and doesn't have much rpg aspect. Popful Mail for Sega Cd is on par, but no guns either. It's more like the 2nd Zelda. Sheesh...i don't know. There should be more games like Super Metroid and Castevania SOTN, cause they are amazing. Like Dave Auto said mostly the GBA and DS titles are it.racketboy wrote:I don't get as much of a Metroid vibe as some people claim. Phantom 2049 is at least a bit close since you're shooting and such.devilmyarse wrote:Hence the almost
You can't honestly say that they're not similar.
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AwesomeMonstar
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I'd just like to follow up and comment on the GBA Castlevania games.
Circle of the Moon: So awesome. So...Hard...Though... You will be beaten down. Its one of the first GBA games but one of the best. Incredible GBA music, great gameplay. The graphics aren't amazing but they have good style and nice detail (bosses especially). The only major letdown is the 'card' system. Some of the bosses are geared so they are nearly impossible if you don't have the correct cards. Ok, no problem right? Get the right cards. But the problem is you get cards randomly, and sometimes only in very specific areas (ie. time to read the FAQ). This means if you are playing through casually, you have a very low percentage chance to get the right cards. Now it is possible to finish the game using little/no good cards (I did it), but multiple the already fiendish difficulty x5. Have fun
Harmony of Dissonance: Is this a joke? What an awful game. It literally looks, plays and sounds like a hobbyist-made tribute to Castlevania rather than the real thing (and thats probably speaking too poorly of hobbyist-made games!). The graphics are awful - bright and garish; the music is truly horrifying; the gameplay is repetitive and incredibly easy. I'm shocked that Konami would release such total crap and call it Castlevania.
Aria of Sorrow: I haven't played enough of this yet. However, I have finished the DS sequel Dawn of Sorrow which was damn, damn good. So its a pretty good chance Aria is a big improvement over Harmony.
Circle of the Moon: So awesome. So...Hard...Though... You will be beaten down. Its one of the first GBA games but one of the best. Incredible GBA music, great gameplay. The graphics aren't amazing but they have good style and nice detail (bosses especially). The only major letdown is the 'card' system. Some of the bosses are geared so they are nearly impossible if you don't have the correct cards. Ok, no problem right? Get the right cards. But the problem is you get cards randomly, and sometimes only in very specific areas (ie. time to read the FAQ). This means if you are playing through casually, you have a very low percentage chance to get the right cards. Now it is possible to finish the game using little/no good cards (I did it), but multiple the already fiendish difficulty x5. Have fun
Harmony of Dissonance: Is this a joke? What an awful game. It literally looks, plays and sounds like a hobbyist-made tribute to Castlevania rather than the real thing (and thats probably speaking too poorly of hobbyist-made games!). The graphics are awful - bright and garish; the music is truly horrifying; the gameplay is repetitive and incredibly easy. I'm shocked that Konami would release such total crap and call it Castlevania.
Aria of Sorrow: I haven't played enough of this yet. However, I have finished the DS sequel Dawn of Sorrow which was damn, damn good. So its a pretty good chance Aria is a big improvement over Harmony.
Dave Auto wrote:
Of the GBA trilogy, Aria of Sorrow is hands-down the best. The first two, Circle of the Moon and Harmony of Dissonance, are both very good and still worth playing, but feel like evolutionary steps toward Aria. If you play Aria first, you may find yourself disappointed in the earlier games, but if you're only interested in the best (or only have time to play one) go straight for Aria, it's a masterpiece, and easily one of the best games on GBA in any genre.