While there are tons of Metroidvanias in the world, these are some of the more well-known video games. Graphic courtesy of freshman Megan Elzer.
It’s well known that video games at San Luis Obispo High School are decently popular, while some students just don’t have the time to pour into video games, there’s a decent amount who pour hundreds of hours into their computer or console.
It helps to have a large variety of options for video game fanatics to choose from; First-person shooters (FPS) and roguelikes are good for fast action, while simulations and puzzle games are enjoyable for a more relaxed experience.
“I have played Super Metroid before, but it was a while ago. I remember enjoying finding the hidden upgrades that were scattered around the world,” said sophomore Sawyer Cram.
Metroidvania-type video games combine fast-paced action and a sense of depth in the video games by focusing on exploration and the progression of areas via upgrades. The genre itself is inspired by “Castlevania” and “Super Metroid,” with both franchises having ties to the video game company Nintendo.
Nintendo helped inspire many more video games in recent years, “Dead Cells,” “Nine Sols,” and “Ori and the Blind Forest” being a part of this. A notable example is “Hollow Knight,” a prime instance of using exploration and upgrade progression to capture the player in the world of Hollownest. By playing as a character with limited thought, the game forces the player to rely on the context of other characters as they interact with the world and defeat bosses.
“The game [Hollow Knight] is built upon our love of classic Nintendo games. Growing up, playing them, gaining enough skills to pay homage to those games, and releasing it on the same platform that helped inspire us in the first place is like the peak of a 30-year cycle,” said Hollow Knight art supervisor, co-director, Ari Gibson.
It isn’t uncommon for game designers to go in-depth on the exploration of a game, but it’s unusual for it to be the most memorable part of it. In games like “Elden Ring,” exploring the world is an important part of the game, and most of the context behind the creation of the world is uncovered through boss fights and dialogue.
Metroidvania games like “Nine Sols” and “Dead Cells” both have dialogue, but with context not given until later, players have to progress through areas with little direction as they try to figure out the goal of their protagonist. This allows players to go back to past areas and discover secrets now available to them.
“Ori and the Blind Forest has a lot of mechanics that are very enjoyable to play with and make the game very interesting story-wise,” said freshman Charlie Gillmore.
The combination of these elements creates an unforgettable experience for players, something that the gaming community of SLOHS should strive to embrace more fully. Exploring and enhancing these factors could elevate gameplay and foster a deeper connection among players.
Source: Gameinformer.com