We are eating good guys. Metroid Ravenous in january!

I've dropped a couple of metroidvanias recently due to particular mechanics, which got me to thinking what gets people to drop out.

My two...

- Time pressure - really struggling with this on Echo Weaver right now. I understand why it is needed for this game, but I HATE feeling under the constant pressure of a time constraint.

- Parry - I have never liked this mechanic, and really dislike being forced to use it. Dropped Grime because it seemed that successful parrys was maybe the only way to get heal charges (but maybe I didn't play enough into it??)

I have not had so much fun with a game in a long while. The art style is beautiful and the gameplay is juuuust the right amount of stiff to sell you that old school survivor horror feel while not feeling bad. The puzzles are admittedly fairly easy, as I needed only to look up a single collectible to 100% it, which turned out to be hidden behind a vent I missed, rather than a puzzle I could not solve.

The story is intriguing the whole way through. I thought I would get tired of them teasing answers constantly, but each little "story segment" provides just enough context to send your mind into detective mode. The map is detailed and robust, even allowing you to take pictures of codes, blocked passages, clues, etc which get stamped onto your ingame map, saving time on runbacks and whatnot.

The horror element is light, relying more on putting you in stressful situations to get it's desired effect but the checkpoints are abundant enough that it shouldn't be too bad unless you somehow run out of coins and haven't saved in 3 hours (if this happens to you, you almost certainly deserved it). The VA work can only be described as perfect, with both the VA's themselves and the directions they were given being top of the industry as far as I'm concerned.

Overall would give it a 9/10, deducting a point purely due to how the boss fights are all same-y and the weird frame drops in like 3 areas.

Played it on Survival Horror. Excellent game.

Hey guys!

Work on Stomp and the Sword of Miracles slowed down a bit earlier this year due to a variety of life stuff, but I've been hard at work since the Kickstarter!

I recently revamped a lot of the game's environments, making them much more vivid and colourful. I wanted to make a new trailer showing off what I've been working on (at least, the things that aren't spoilers) and I just put out a new demo update so you can explore the revamped starting area for yourself!

If you like what you see, give the game a wishlist and let me know what you're excited about!

Latest week I did post about Well Dweller, but what I didnt say is that earlier this month I actually also completed Crypt Custodian!

Im getting qutie fond of kylevanias. Next sale I do gotta buy and play Islets and Sheepo.

Also, fuck Kendra, all my homies hate Kendra.

Being humbled by Haiku. 😂 What a gem of a game tho!

hey all! I recently loved the hollow knight games, and animal well. I started the new castlevania and it isnt quite scratching the same itch for me. maybe it will open up later, but for these first three boss fights, it has felt mostly like a combat platformer to me. I dont mind difficulty, or combat centric stuff necessarily (hollow knight and silk song had plenty of this), but the exploration just isnt hitting for me and the vibes feel generic. It can be hard to self-prescribe what makes a game fun or not for oneself, but I think I want to spend my time with a different metroidvania.
Can yall recommend other games that have great exploration, a fun map to traverse, maybe puzzles, and great art?
art in blasphemous looks good, ive heard that people that like animal well liked Tunic, more recent prince of persia game seems well regarded? theres probably tons that I havent heard of. suggestions?

Just finished Aggelos 2 on Steam Deck, clocking in at around 13 hours without going for full completion. I had a really fun time exploring its world, discovering secrets, and enjoying that classic retro feeling. The exploration is easily one of the highlights, and the killer retro soundtrack makes the whole experience even better. My biggest criticism would be the boss fights. Personally, I found them way too easy, and I wish they had offered more of a challenge. Overall a fun metroidvania.

Hi everyone. I built a map and database website for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse at https://atma.gg/castlevania-belmonts-curse. Spoiler warning: The site contains a full info of the game, including bosses, story dialogue, and ending.

Interactive map

The complete map is available as an interactive map, which includes progress tracker for free. No account required, progress is saved locally on your browser.

Completion checklist

Uses same data as the map, but in a list form, for people with 99.3% completion.

Import completion from save file

One issue I have with interactive map is that I've forgotten which part I have completed by the time i start using it. I've added a save importer so you can import your progress instead of going off by memory or checking the game 1 by 1. Currently only supporting PC save files.

Progression routes

Got stuck after reaching the castle? Here's progression routes.

Database

My goal for this website to be a complete guidebook of the game, so instead of focusing on one thing like maps or checklist, I have added a database of every major things I could find, from arcanas to dialogues. Certain things like enemy images are not finished yet.

If you have any suggestion, let me know in the comments.

Overall rating: 9/10 the movement takes a while to get used to but is amazing and smooth. The first act of the game is slightly more linear but the second act onwards is absolutely amazing. Currently at 60% completion. The bosses are quite hard and I've had a few bosses I was just ok with...

Overall super enjoyable experience but it definitely took a while for me to go from 7/10 -> 9/10

Nah if you're on the fence, after the first 20% (which does not take that long honestly) it genuinely becomes SO GOOD

Just finished a 100% run on Well Dweller, well done good sir. A joy to play, a joy to explore, so many weird, funny, original ideas in this thing, and it ended before wearing out its welcome. Can’t wait for the next one, thank you brother!

Can't for the life of me figure out how to access these areas like the Wine Cellar.

This game is now in my top 5 MVs of all time. It's an amazing game. Combat is fun with so many weapon mods to mix and match with, the map is huge with tons of Secrets and is interconnected wonderfully. The new patch had fixed fast travel concerns. It's really a masterpiece and deserves your attention!

I recently finished Silver Pines, and absolutely loved everything about it. It just might be my favourite game of the year. The blend of survival horror and metroidvania was perfection.

Any other similar games that are out there?

This is for Castlevania Belmont's curse. I have 100% every area but there is still one part of the map I can't get to and it's really bugging me. Anyone here know how? It's the swirly bit to the left of the clocktower.

So, I recently got some “spend this on yourself” money for my birthday and decided to buy myself some new games. I already have The Lost Crown which I really enjoyed, and Belmont’s Curse is on its way.

Being old enough to have played the original Castlevania and Metroid games when they came out means my reaction time just isn’t what it used to be, so games that have generous difficulty sliders are appreciated. Story and exploration are more important to me than combat, but I’m also a sucker for a good puzzle.

I prefer physical media (again, old man here) but I understand that not every dev can afford to produce disks and Metroidvanias are a magnet for indie developers.

So, spam me with your favorites so I can keep myself entertained while my wife reads her smut books!

So I have beaten 3 bosses and am running around in the next area. Avoiding spoilers obviously. My gripe with this game at the moment is I don't feel any character progression. I have gotten quite a few levels but they don't seem to do anything. Extended my health and magic but everything takes the same amount of hits from the first enemy to the enemies I'm facing after 3 bosses. The enemies still kill me super fast as well and the only movement skill can only be used in certain spots so far. I like the game a lot but it can definitely use some kind of character progression. Or am I missing something? Does anyone else feel this way?

I’ve never played a game by this developer but I’m absolutely loving it. First off, I’m a huge metroidvania fan, having played all the major titles like Hollow Knight, Silksong, etc

For whatever reason this game gets equal praise as it does hate and I don’t really get it.

Of course it’s not as in depth, challenging or polished as the other “masterpiece” MV games by my goodness it’s so fun and quirky. Well worth the $20 already.

Video games are supposed to be fun right?

Looking for recommendations for games like Silver Pines.

Not so much theme or setting but moreso slower gameplay. More of a exploration and less combat.

I prefer 2D games but willing to check out 3D.

(I know all about Resident Evil and Silent Hill)

** It doesn't have to be survival horror at all

With all of the recent Metroidvanias, I’ve felt particularly excited by the demos this year for Moadra and Acrolyte. While my overall favorite Metroidvania might now be Well Dweller (recently surpassing Silksong and Ori and the WoTW for me personally), I’ve really wanted to get more into specifically Metroid-likes. I love Super Metroid and really liked Metroid Dread, especially Dread’s speed. I’ve played Axiom Verge 1 in the past and really loved it and would like some more Metroid-like recs, preferably sci-fi if possible.