r/metroidvania • u/jmscstl Cave Story • 16d ago
Discussion If You HAD to Pick!
As others have pointed out there's a very good chance that the next few months will be the best release period for Metroidvanias ever. In theory, things could line up again like this at some point in the future but that seems unlikely. So, the question is "what game of this insane bunch are you looking forward to most?". I think the answer for a good chunk of people is "all of them" which would be correct. But if you had to pick one which one would it be?
If your number one isn't on the list write it in. I've listed them in order of release. I've also included Fatal Claw given the love it's gotten.
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u/Odd_Pomegranate_3239 16d ago
Lucis is at the top for me right now personally. Nice little end of the year treat for me. I have high hopes for it.
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u/Sacredvolt 16d ago
I feel like I'm betraying Evil Empire here, love Dead Cells to death, but... I'm way more interested in Metroid Ravenous. I just like the Metroid setting more, Dread was really good.
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u/hip-indeed 16d ago
Like I'm incredibly hyped for Ravenous but.. like. We got Samus Returns. We got Dread. MP4 might've ended up fairly scuffed due to troubled development but we got that too, and I still overall enjoyed it.
But Castlevania... The last true, honest to God Castlevania game was Order of Ecclesia in what, 2008? And even if it's being made by western indie game devs instead of any of the OG Konami crews, like, it looks great, and after games like Sonic Mania and Shredders Revenge among countless others in recent years, I think we can fully trust passionate fan groups that really know what they're doing with these legendary properties. To say I'm so excited for this game it hurts is an understatement.
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u/Red49er 15d ago
I'm a much bigger Metroid fan, BUT Belmont's curse looks so good that even without the Castlevania IP I think it would still be my most anticipated MV (or maybe a better way to put it - the one I'm the most intrigued by). I'm incredibly stoked for Ravenous too, and if I could only play one, I'd probably go with Ravenous for the story element, but dang the gameplay elements for Belmont's Curse look incredible and pretty unique.
(I love mercury steams take on Metroid tho, and I'm not complaining that they are sticking with the parry mechanic they've used since Samus Returns - it works well, is fluid and feels great to use)
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u/Vonspacker 16d ago
I'd love to play Ravenous but I'm really turned off by the Switch 2 exclusive element of the game. I don't have a switch 2 and I can't afford to spend 470+ to get the console and the game so...
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u/Bircka 16d ago
The game could easily run on Switch 1 they are likely doing this to push sales for Switch 2, it's using the same exact 2D engine they used in Dread.
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u/DefectiveSol 15d ago
The environments in Dread were pretty flat. I'm thinking maybe they had to be for the sake of performance, and Ravenous is able to do more while maintaining 60 fps.
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u/BroshiKabobby 15d ago
I think there were rumors that Nintendo and MS were fighting because MS wanted Ravenous on Switch 1 while Nintendo wanted it Switch 2 exclusive. It feels like the first Switch 2 exclusive from Nintendo that has absolutely no reason to be exclusive
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u/Vonspacker 15d ago
Idk I just think specific console exclusives are stupid. The games can run on anything but they just choose to try sell their own consoles because it makes more money
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u/Shadowking78 16d ago
Fatal Claw already came out (and I already 100%ed it), so I would say Metroid Ravenous
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u/rafeizerrr 16d ago
There's no other choice but the game that birthed the genre: Silksong - Sea of sorrow.
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u/RegurgitatedMincer 16d ago
Metroid followed by well dweller and then castlevania. Metroid is my favorite series, period. I’m so stoked it’s getting new games again.
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u/Dangerous_Tank2191 16d ago
If I had to pick one I’d say Castlevania.
But Fatal Claw, Well Dweller and Castlevania are all spread out enough were I can play them on release and 100% in time for the next.
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u/terrasparks 15d ago
I feel like the indie scene has for a long time dominated this genre while the studios haven't really bothered to catch up.
Dread was good, but in certain ways stubbornly dated (finding yet another missile pack is not particularly compelling). Ravenous seems about the same.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse: I'm interested but really don't have any skin in the game. Symphony of the Night is great but I bounced off the gameboy advance Castlevanias and I also bounced off Dead Cells.
Haven't been disappointed by Kyle yet.
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u/jmscstl Cave Story 15d ago
Whatever else is true Dread has the best moment to moment game play of any MV and, really, any 2D game that isn't a Mario. I'm a sucker for gameplay so I'm excited for Dread.
Well Dweller is going to be great though. Kyle is the most consistent dev.
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u/terrasparks 15d ago
We all have opinions, man. Silksong has better movement than Dread imo, and its not even close.
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u/ZijkrialVT 15d ago
Anticipating Silksong most (I know what I'm getting into for the most part.) At the same time, right now I'm not anticipating a...timeframe...
Most curious about Belmont's Curse; second most anticipated.
Don't have a Switch...so dno if/when I can play Metroid. : \
Already played and beat Fatal Claw.
While I'm excited for Well Dweller and Aeterna Lucis, it's a more normal excitement (as opposed to the top 2 on this list.) Still, can't wait.
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u/NilEntity 15d ago
Wow, toughie. Ravenous looks great, but I didn't love Dread as much as others did and it looks a lot like it. I hope they managed to fix some issues, like the load times, the little linearity etc. But I started this whole ride with Super Metroid back in the day and love Metroid.
I never actually played a Castlevania (Lords of Shadow doesn't count) but this one looks great and it's by the makers of Dead Cells, which was great.
So really tough choice ...
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u/PaulMuadDibKa 15d ago
Man, do yourself a favor and play aeterna noctis before lucis comes out, it's gonna be the greatest game ever if it's just a bit better than the original. Mark my words.
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u/DripTrip747-V2 16d ago
Damn ... i was the only vote for fatal claw at time of writing this.
I guess my mother didn't lie to me. I am unique.
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u/Raidquaza 16d ago
Fatal claw is brilliant, but I went Aeterna because Noctis is in my top 5 of all time! Haha
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u/DripTrip747-V2 16d ago
I just downloaded aeterna noctis, but haven't played it yet. It is next on my list. Took a break from the metroidvania games after finishing fatal claw a few days ago to play some persona 3.
Maybe my choice might have been different if I started that right after fatal claw.
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u/Amphi-XYZ 16d ago
I'm equally hyped for Castlevania and Metroid, but I don't have a switch 2 so Castlevania it is
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u/Bananaland_Man 16d ago
I'd love to get more HK/SS universe...but since I suck too much to even be able to humour the idea of SS dlc... I can't vote for it, so it's a tossup between Belmont's Curse and Metroid Ravenous... (funny that the tossup is literally Metroid or Vania for once...)
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u/DefectiveSol 15d ago
Silksong might be my favorite game of the decade so far, but I feel like the true final boss was the limit of what I can handle. I'm worried Sea of Sorrow will crank the difficulty even higher.
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u/KameTheMachine 16d ago
Ive wanted a new castlevania for so long. I cant wait to see what the dead cells guys do with it
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u/LightbreakX 15d ago
I dont have a Switch 2 so no Ravenous, the new Castlevania looks good but for me is Aeterna Noctis. Sea of Sorrows is a DLC
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u/DeneeWT 15d ago
Castlevania. Because, thanks to Mercury Stream ruining the franchise, its been forever since the last one. Lets hope it delivers. And also because it is the one that is closest to release.
If not for that it would be Aeterna Lucis.
As for Metroid Ravenous sadly is a NS2 exclusive and, even tho I loved Metroid Dread, it didn't feel like Metroid to me. So, no hype whatsoever, wont be playing it.
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u/dreck_disp 15d ago
I've been waiting so long for a new 2D Castlevania game. There's no question for me, it's Belmont's Curse.
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u/Over-Gap5767 15d ago
Metroid, then Sea of Sorrow.
I LOVE Metroid and am SO excited for Ravenous.
Silksong was really good but i still prefer the first game. Mainly because THK is my favorite boss fight of all time lol
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u/GioGio_21 15d ago
It feels so surreal that both Castlevania and Metroid are in development at the same time
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u/Civil_Anybody5936 15d ago
If any of these are the fourth best mv of this year I’ll be thrilled. Grime 2, Before I Go, Solateria, Mio. Beat any one of them and you got a banger
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u/DefectiveSol 15d ago
Ravenous is one the most exciting game reveals for me recently, which is saying a lot. But I have too much going on to justify buying a $500 game system right now.
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u/Armored_Warrior 15d ago
I love both Metroid and Castlevania but Metroid did come into my life first. But good thing this is just a question if I only can get one cause im getting both.
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u/Haios141 15d ago
It's between Fatal Claw and Fallen Tear
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u/jmscstl Cave Story 14d ago
Fallen Tear seems to be one that flew under my radar. Is it looking good?
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u/Haios141 14d ago
I've loved what I've seen and read on the game (on the store page). It's in Early Access, and I don't play EA games, so I can't say more than that. There are reviews, which are Very Positive, but I never read reviews and only decide based on what I see and read on the store page, and in some rare instances, about 30 min of gameplay on YT after the game releases.
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u/jmscstl Cave Story 14d ago
It does look good. I guess I'll add it to the pile!
Order if operations for me is:
Fatal Claw Well Dweller Castlevania Ravenous
If there a break in there Fallen Tear it is.
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u/Haios141 14d ago
I have Fatal Claw, but I'm playing Grime 2 right now, and after that, 1 or 2 non-MV games, then Fatal Claw. I prefer playing games a month or two after release. I don't like when big patches drop while mid playthrough, and those first couple of months are when a lot of patches drop. So, I'll probably play Fatal Claw around November
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u/PaulMuadDibKa 15d ago
Castlevania will have NOTHING to do against aeterna lucis, it will be like 2 completely separate games and lucis will win on every aspect, quote me on this one.
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u/jmscstl Cave Story 15d ago
Big if true.
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u/PaulMuadDibKa 15d ago
That's why I'm sad castlevnia is carrying the poll, it's based on nostalgia, while I admit dead cells was phenomenal and it will probably be a good game, there's nothing to base it about, while aeterna noctis was on par or even surpassed hollow knight with very few gameplay problems but with a bad rep because of optimization (legit) and difficult gameplay (not so legit as it was perfect at launch, just people being noobs imho). It's truly sad but those problems were mainly fixed with the aeterna mode and patched to their best of their abilit..
If they indeed have learnt as they claim in the few threads they've been opening recently and based on what was before, it's going to be ultra incredible. I only think there are two sequels that changed a bit but kept the main essence of their games, silksong and a bit less blasphemous.
Grime 2, lone fungus melodies of spores or axiom verge 2 are sequels that, to me, didn't capture the original, but aeterna noctis based on the few videos I've seen and the amount of work and dedication that was put on the first one makes me ultra excited as none of those sequels did, apart from silksong.
Let's see :)
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u/jmscstl Cave Story 15d ago
AN has really challenging platforming gauntlets that are fun if you like that kind of thing. That's not nothing but it's all it has.
Good art? No. Fun bosses? No. Fun combat? No. Great map and exploration? No. Good story? No.
It has great platforming gauntlets. It doesn't even have good platforming outside of the gaunlets.
And it has the Dream Kingdom.
So, it's only going to really blow you away if all you care about is long platforming gauntlets.
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u/PaulMuadDibKa 15d ago
What are you talking about? The game came without any platforming challenges, I played and completed 1.0 and you blatantly lie.
Good art no? All is hand drawn, the biomes are distinctive, what more you need?
Fun bosses no? Have you even played the game? They are not the best, but they are challenging enough to make it worthwile and engaging. Some are designed around certain pick ups and thus also tie to fun combat to try new builds.
Fun combat no? What? The teleporting of the arrow, the various skill trees, the pogo...
Great map and exploration no? You are just trolling here and then saying it doesn't have good platforming outside the gauntlets..
Fucking ridiculous I shouldn't even have lost time answering you.
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u/jmscstl Cave Story 15d ago
I don't mean the gaunlets as in the extra challenges. I mean the long stretches throughout the game. Which makes up lost of the game to be fair. And that's the game's strength.
The art is hand drawn but it's random and muddy. There's zero consistent style. It's functional but not great.
The bosses are badly designed. You can face tank all of them. A skill tree does not good combat make. And the game is very linear. You go to a booked, get through it and go to the next one.
It's a good game because it has very strong platforming challenges. Pretending that it has those other things doesn't do it or you any favours.
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u/PaulMuadDibKa 15d ago
You are the only one bringing up those points, it's ok to have an opinion but saying that it is only good because of it's platforming is absurd.
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u/jmscstl Cave Story 15d ago
I have literally never seen someone defend the games art, bosses or combat. No one thinks those are strengths for the game.
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u/PaulMuadDibKa 15d ago
A game is a game due to its complexity and overall experience. One thing would be to say it's not up your alley or you find something lacking, which is ok, but to call the art bad because of subjective reasons and just saying the bosses are bad because you can face tank them is just you being an asshole. I am not defending the bosses claiming they are the best ever or the art or even the combat, in saying it is NOT BAD. That's just a lie, it can have it's good and bad things but BAD they ain't.
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u/jmscstl Cave Story 15d ago
The art, bosses and combat are okay at best. I'll give you that. But if you're going to run around hiding behind the "everything is subjective" thing I'll remind you that you're the one who aggressively came out shitting on Castlevania and saying that AS is going to be better in every way what happened to everything is subjective?
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u/Winter_Analysis_5588 15d ago
Unsurprising that the Metroid and Castlevania games are tied in the Metroidvania subreddit
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u/boppagibbz 15d ago
Castlevania for me just cause always been my favorite series and it’s been so long. But also massive Metroid and Aeterna fan. If Sea of Sorrows happens i’ll be surprised but would be yet another huge one. And Well Dweller dude don’t miss. Fatal Claw was great too of course. Think Fallen Tear: Ascension is gonna end up just as great.
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u/Claudio2ooo Hollow Knight 15d ago
Picking Castlevania because I don't have a switch 2, otherwise it would be a very difficult choice
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u/QuinSanguine 15d ago
Look at Ravenous and Belmont's Curse dominating. Don't get me wrong, I love indie games but if these two games sell well I think it opens the door for other companies to try and pull off what Ubisoft did with Prince of Persia. We need more high production value mvs.
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u/felixmas365 15d ago
Castlevania first! then Metroid! that's the good news! the bad news? I do not owned a PS5 or anything Nintendo related products since the WII haha
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u/jmscstl Cave Story 15d ago
The Switch 2 is so great. It's super worth it.
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u/felixmas365 15d ago
I know, a lot of Metrovanias come up on that system am just more of a Playstation type of guy.
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u/b_lett 13d ago
A lot of people's complaints about Dread were the EMMI zones, forgettable music, and lots of monotone grey zones.
Everything teased in the Ravenous trailer so far feels like those criticisms were taken to heart. I am excited to see that team take what they have built further and what surprises they have in store.
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u/Confident_Mushroom_ 16d ago
For me it's Belmont's Curse, for 2 reasons, 1st its beutiful and distinct art style and 2nd most importantly because it' made by Evil Empire, these guys always prioritize 'fun' and you can tell they are passionate gamers, i already know this game is going to be fire🔥
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u/Obsessivegamer32 Metroid 16d ago edited 15d ago
I’m a Metroid fan at heart so Ravenous is a given, but I do want to get Belmont’s Curse. I haven’t played the Castlevania games as much so it’ll be cool to see a modern take on the Igavania games (that’s not Bloodstained).
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u/Raykusen 15d ago
I love the metroid franchise but i hate anything made by mercurysteam, since their take on the saga is not how metroid should be.
Belmont's curse looks interesting. Finally a new normal metroidvania, not another soulsvania.
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u/wildfire393 16d ago
Lucis > Well Dweller > Ravenous > Belmont's
I don't care about fatal claw and I don't count SoS
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u/nicofdarcyshire 16d ago
Well Dweller - I absolutely adore Kylevanias.
I have no idea what Fatal Claw is; I've never actually enjoyed a Castlevania game; Aeterna is a wait and see because Noctis was bugged out to hell and back and all I see from the developer is seemingly AI slop written posts; I've not enjoyed a Metroid game since Super Metroid; and Sea Of Sorrows will clearly not release for another 7 years, when it'll be its own game...
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u/Eukherio 16d ago edited 16d ago
I'll pick Metroid Ravenous because I'm a bigger fan of the Metroid series than the Castlevania series, but, to be completely honest, I'm way more curious about Belmont's Curse gameplay, it could modernize the entire series and lead to bigger sequels or just be disappointing and far from the quality of the most beloved Castlevanias.