Once, I finished a SNES drunk video a minute before midnight when he said he hopes I have a great rest of my day. It wasn't much, but that next minute was pretty great. Thanks man.
The Modern Wonder Boy games should also get a mention. Wonder Boy and The Dragon's Trap is a fantastic remake, while Monster Boy and the cursed Kingdom is an absolutely amazing sequel.
i have such a huge backlock of games....i decided to leave the atari out on purpose...starting with the nes and snes, and then gonna tackle sms and genesis.... i remember wonder boy and wonderboy in mosnterland. loved both.
Zillion is the first game I owned. I had no idea the passwords were random each time. I remember marble notebooks full of hieroglyphics. This is the best retro game channel but you already know that!Thank you
I love cave story, but it doesn't seem like a metroidvania. It's just inspired by metroid, it carved it's own identity by having a great story and weapon system.
I would really like to add Shadow Complex on this list, really feels like a modern take on the Super Metroid but in a near future military setting. Amazing game. Came out on Xbox 360 but has seen more recent light on both the Xbox One, PS4 and remastered on Steam a couple years ago.
Stefan Björk-Olsén I came here to suggest this game as well, Shadow Complex feels like a love letter to Super Metroid and its fans! SNES Drunk, definitely add this in your next follow up video!
I second this. "If you like X, try Y Z A B C [...]". It could be a real eye opener for a lot of people, both who grew up with and are new to the retro gaming scene. How many great games slipped under the radar back in the day simply because they were buried under the pre-internet industry system and didnt get featured in EGM or Tips n' Tricks?
After doing another completion of Super Metroid last year, I bought Axiom Verge and finished it too. I was so impressed, especially considering AV is entirely made by only one person. Thanks for the tips, looks like I'll give Magical Pop'n a try soon!
An oft overlooked game that I think is well worth everyone's time is _Odallus: The Dark Call._ It takes clear inspiration from the popular manga series _Berserk,_ and while the atmosphere and mechanics take more than a few cues from the older _Castlevania_ titles, the level progression is more in line with _Demon's Crest._ Also, get this: Not only is the Hard difficulty more challenging in general, but it also changes where most of your collectibles are located, meaning that you'll have to completely relearn where everything is. It's out on all modern consoles, and it's frequently on sale - at least on the Switch. There's even a bundle where it's packaged alongside another game by the developers, _Oniken,_ and they're both stupid cheap if you catch them on sale. If you're a fan of games such as the NES _Ninja Gaiden_ trilogy, _Shatterhand,_ and _Vice: Project Doom,_ that is definitely worth your time as well.
@@michaelromeo9567 Quite a few people in other comments mentioned _Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap,_ as well as _Wonder Boy in Monster Land._ I upvoted those comments because I agree that it would be a fantastic entry in a future installment of this video series. However, I wanted to highlight a lesser known game. Quite a few people that follow video games have at least heard of the _Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap_ remake; I don't see anyone mentioning _Odallus: The Dark Call._
I really do love and appreciate your videos mate I hope you're staying safe in these times please take care of yourself I hope to see many more videos in the future.
I rate the Ori games above Bloodstained, Hollow Knight and Axiom Verge. Though it's similar in structure to Super Metroid, it has a whole other feel. More like a disney/Ghibli-movie.
Despite high expectations, I sadly found Ori somewhat boring and thus never even finished the first one. I felt the others on the list deserved their places, though Axiom Verge did feel a bit rough and unbalanced. Hollow Knight has lower resolution art assets, yes, but I think the art is much more compelling than Ori. And Hollow Knight is also absent of any real flaws, so far as I can tell-it’s the full package. Overall, he probably should’ve just included more modern titles, but hadn’t played enough to feel like recommending more than a few without worry of leaving out a dozen.
great list... Im a big big Metroid fan and I've obviously played through them all numerous times by stating that, lol, but I was surprised to NOT see either of the Ori games on this list in the modern section... just throwing it out there.. again, great video/list.!
It's always a good thing when Demon's Crest is shown some love. I STILL have it, and will be buried with it when overloading on butter, salt, and sugar finally takes me.
Zillion is such a hidden gem. I played it as a kid, but I never thought of it as a metroidvania style game. Now that I think about it, it totally is. It’s gotta he one of the best 8-bit metroidvania games of all time.
Zillion was probably the game I played most on my brother's Master System. It's really fun, and I definitely recommend it if you haven't played it before. Also, beating Nightmare Alfred without getting hit on my first playthrough of Bloodstained is easily one of my best gamer moments.
Phantom 2040 is so good, i have the original cardrige for the génesis, when i was 5 My father works in a videoclub and Rent this Game for free, i was so facinated but i couldn't finish it and we return it, i Will never be able to find it again, until a day i was with My mother in a another city and i find one phantom 2040 cardrige in a local store for accident, i trew the only tantrum in all My life and sacrified My future birthday present. It was worth it, easly one of the Best Game's on the génesis, i still have the cardrige and i am 24. A real treasure
I remember getting it as a kid and never playing it because of how stupid the hero looked (I respect the original and 2040 Phantom series a lot more now) and when I finaly played it, it stayed in my Genesis for a solid month and a half.
Monster Boy and Cursed Kingdom is absolutely one of the best modern Exploration Platformers out there. Personally, I've had more than my fill of this kind of game over the last 5 to 10 years, but it is a timeless formula that always works.
Awesome collection of Metroidvania games! I would like to recommend Wonderboy the Dragon's Trap, Adventure Island 4 and Super Adventure Island 2 as well, not on the same league as Super Metroid but they are great for anyone looking for a good retro Metroidvania
Highly recommend Blastermaster's new games Zero and Zero 2, Frogatto and Friends, Hyperlight Drifter, Tanglewood, The Messenger, Environmental Station Alpha, Ori and the Will of the Wisps (the sequel) and Aquaria. I know you were tryin to keep the list of modern games short but man there are some masterpieces that have come out in recent years that anyone who likes Metroidvanias would love
I recently played this beautiful retro game called "Environmental Station Alpha". Supermetroid is my favorite game of all time and this game captures everything great about it. You should give it a try!
Really surprised there wasn't a single mention of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, Wonder Boy in Monster World, Monster World IV, or Monster Boy in this video. All fantastic games in the Metroidvania genre.
I really appreciate you didn't just recommend games that perfectly match super metroid in genre and also recommended games that matched the mood and tone of Super.
Glad you're evolving with the times, also youve been around for awhile. Im glad you changed for the best over the years, also keeping your videos fresh despite being in a place where change isnt so well recieved. Im glad youre always looking for good content in dark corners.
I can second this one. I caught this one on the most recent Games Done Quick marathon, and was surprised by its quality for a licensed title. Wayforward could have easily gone on autopilot and made a generic action game, but they crated a surprisingly solid Metroidvania from that mess of a movie.
That game was pretty awesome. Better than hollow Knight in my opinion. I just couldn't get into it despite being into the genre. Think the messenger should also make it's way to a list as I personally feel it was an amazing game on so many levels. Backtracking can be a pain, but I didn't mind much because there music, art direction, dialogue and level design made it so much fun.
Demons Crest was my jam along with Super Metroid. Also, you gotta give a call out to any Blaster Master game. Even the sequel on Genesis was fairly good. Controls were a bit wonky but it was still fun.
I played Demon's Crest a couple of years ago. While I loved the graphics, bosses, and most of gameplay... The music is not for everybody: just pure church organ music. And some compositions are very repetitive. I'd still recommend it tho, It's still a good game from Capcom's best years 👍
@@Aran_MD so basically Demon's Crest/Blaze's soundtrack is for anyone that appreciates awesome music? The organ music is very somber and matches the tone of the game very well, and not repetitive at all.
@@Aran_MD Demon's Crest has some of the best music on the SNES, hands down. It absolutely fits the mood & tone of the game perfectly and I'd say it's even on par with SoTN music, or close to it.
Stryder for the PlayStation is a lot like Super Metroid. Lots of exploration, and power ups that help you reach areas you couldn’t previously. I highly recommend.
Wario Land 3 is my favorite example of this- it's the last game you'd expect to be an exploration platformer but it does it in an entirely unique way. Definitely worth checking out.
If you ever do a follow up to this video, have a look at Wonder Boy 3, the dragon's trap on Master System, or you can play the 2017 remake, which keeps the same gameplay and gives you the option to use 8 bit graphics and sound. And there is also Monster Boy, the spiritual successor made by the original creator of Wonder Boy, Just like Ritual of the Night
@@yes.6892 I think people were put off by the high release price - $40 is unusual for an indie game. I guess they'd rather pay for generic 3D fare instead.
@@KyussTheWalkingWorm, You knowI'd agree that a $40 price tag is a little overwhelming for an indie game, but surprise surprise it's worth it in my proud opinion!
I would also recommend Super Adventure Island II for the Super Nintendo, which drops the standard Adventure Island platforming format, and takes on much more of an exploration element with lots of backtracking (having to visit previous islands once you get new items to go further), and RPG elements, such as getting new armor and equipment.
@@ElvenGodFromHell I actually just got it on Monday, April 6th. Had never played it in the past, but a video longplay of it I found intrigued me enough to order a Complete in Box copy. I absolutely love it so far. It's a shame this game isn't more well known.
One game from my childhood that belongs on this list is Euphoria on the NES. I recently played it emulated and it's still damn good today. It has an entire map to explore, three extra characters to rescue and can switch within the game, plus their special abilities to unlock which help you advance to other earlier parts of the game. Once you collect all the keys you return to the giant door you started the game at to fight the final boss. Which I couldn't beat at the time and had to return to the video store I rented it from. Definitely worth checking out.
I just commented this game too although I don't think it should belong on this list although it is a metroidvania it's probably not for people who are into Super Metroid exactly. Such a great game though. Was my favourite game growing up. Rented it as a kid and stoked to find it in a secondhand store a bit later. Also have to say the title is Ufouria.
@@goatbone haha it was all those decades ago. But since you mention it I think I do remember it spelled Uforia. And with colourful font in spectacular 80s fashion if memory serves correctly.
Phantom 2040 was one of my favorite SNES games. It's a bit wonky compared to the absolute classics, but it's fantastic for a game with as little fanfare as it has. The grappling tether felt perfect to control and the weapon combining system was fun to experiment with. It really is worth trying to find and give a go for a bit. It doesn't take long to get to the end, but there are plenty of very different paths you can take for your playthrough.
Axiom Verge blew my mind. I grew up with Super Metroid and AV is the first game since then to suck me into the world so completely. Really amazing game.
@@ThatGuy-eq9mz The final boss is different if you get 100% of the items, he has an entirely new and much harder form. Beyond that, there's also a hidden super boss who's even harder. I'll leave that to you to look up if you want to go give it a try (fair warning, the hidden boss is really, really hard).
i've been playing it recently and while i do like it i think i'll be fine with just finishing the game regularly. if i wanna see the true final boss i'll probably look a video or something.
Don’t forget every single Castlevania on GBA and DS - all of them were modeled after SotN, and I would argue that many of them surpassed Symphony by a wide margin. Yet somehow, many people never acknowledge them or even know about them! I once had to tell a die-hard SotN fan that they existed, and he was stunned to learn other Castlevania titles in the Metroid style are plentiful!
Well, I just bought a physical SNES cart for Magical Pop'n. Thanks for uncovering this one for me! Also, Axiom Verge is the best take on a new/retro Super Metroid to date.
Here's some modern Metroidvanias that I personally like: Ori and the Will of the Wisps Dust: An Elysian Tail Shantae and the Pirate's Curse Owlboy TouHou Luna Nights
I was so excited to try Ori and stopped playing after a few hours. Nothing against the game-I prefer my Metroidvanias to be run and gun. I’m not a fan of insane Super Meat Boy-like platforming challenges that seems to be in style lately.
I've heard great things about Luna Nights, but since hearing you can beat the game in 6-ish hours, I think I'll pass for the price. It makes me worried their new Lodoss War game is going to be just as short. They make some really amazing looking games, I just wish they longer.
@@oldDNU the first Ori game for sure is a lot more fustrating than the second. Although its still focuses a lot on platforming, the movement feels great and the level design's much better.
Well, you've easily solved a problem that a few people have been bitching about. There has been a small, but vocal minority saying we shouldn't use "Metroidvania" as a descriptor/genre anymore.. and "Exploration Platformer" hits it quite on the nose. Good work!
@@CreepyUncleIdjit Those are usually just called 3D Platformers though. All following a similar template set up by Mario. Banjo, Conker, DK64, Rayman 2, Mario 64, and many many others. Though Banjo and DK64 are also called Collectathons in a derogatory term.
Great list man. You covered my 3 recent favorites: Hollow Knight, Bloodstained and I just finished Axiom Verge about 30 minutes ago. The story is one of the best. The cutscenes reminded me a bit of Ninja Gaiden on the NES. I even got chills a few times just like when I was a kid playing NG. Good stuff.
Phantom 2040 was a must have when I was in middle school. I had the sega version but like the snes version now because better button layout and graphics
Shanta half genie games are great, as are Wonder boy remakes. (cursed kingdome specifically) Timespinner is a recent pixel art game that's short but i also enjoyed. Can't wait for Silksong!
I'm really satisfied that you are calling these games "Exploration Platformers", as opposed to "Metroidvania". I've always thought that the latter term was dumb, yet "Exploration Platformer" is a term that I have been trying to get to catch on myself. It's hard, though, when you have people who, for some reason, insist that Super Metroid is *not* a platform game.
There's next to no platforming in Super Metroid; there's the climb out of Ceres, Spore Spawn, parts of Maridia, and Kraid if you want to count that. The rest of the game is exploration and problem solving.
@@CreepyUncleIdjit While technically accurate, that's like arguing that Mega Man is an RPG because you play the role of Mega Man. The term "Metroidvania" is meaningless when used for a game like, for example, Hollow Knight, which has nothing to do with Metroid or Castlevania. The only reason that term is used is because it's familiar. In the 90s, every FPS was called a Doom Clone, but we've since moved on. We should move on from Metroidvania as well.
@@BenjaminGlatt There's as much platforming in Super Metroid as there is in any given Mario game. It doesn't stop being a platform game when the exploration starts, the two are not mutually exclusive.
Not sure if this counts, but Quackshot is kind of a Metroid game? Your progression is linked through key items and equipment upgrades, and you need to do more things that just traveling from left to right. Sometimes revisit stages multiple times to progress. Besides that, the gameplay is pretty good, and the pixelart and music too. Probably a well known game, with the kind of quality of most Disney games :)
many games have backtracking, but I believe in order to be the same kind of game as Metroid, you need freedom to move anywhere in the map and progressive unlocking skills that let you access to new areas.
Axiom Verge and Hollow Knight are my favorite non Metroid/Castlevania Metroidvanias. They are such so damn good. Axiom Verge nailed the Metroid feel and hollow knight took Supers sequence breaking and cranked that up to a maximum. I am so hyped for the sequels of both
Great video! Ritual of the Night is incredible. There are a couple other games on your list that I own but have not played yet, so I have some work to do :) Cheers!
If you want more Sega games, then there's Tails Adventure for Game Gear (and Master System using a hack), and The Wonder Boy / Monster World series, especially Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap and Monster World IV.
You could add the "Guacamelee" series, they're excelents games, even better than "Hollow Knight" (IMO), oh! also "CaveStory" and "Ori and the Blind Forest".
I also like the Guacamelee games better than Hollow Knight, they are incredibly fun and witty and made me laugh a lot. HK is really depressing, frustrating and its story is too obfuscated for my liking, but it is indeed a good game. The Ori games are amazing, specially the first one.
One modern metroidvania that I think a lot of people overlook is Shadow Complex. It was one of the first "big" Xbox Live Arcade games, and released to some fanfare, but I never hear people talk about it today. Great game.
Hey I was finally awake in time to catch a video! Hahaha takes me back to a time I'd wake up in time to see good cartoons at 6am. Funny enough those would be the same days I'd playing the SNES.
Great video, and thank you so much for not using the term "Metroidvania". I also remember trying out Magical Pop'n after you recommended it in an earlier video and I really enjoyed it. Kinda feel like playing through it again now.
Axiom Verge is so amazing, one of my favorite games in the last few years. Made by one dude, amazing soundtrack, great graphical style, really interesting story and atmosphere. At the beginning there's a giant pile of skeletons and you have no idea why, but once you do it's amazing
Hollow Knight was easily my GotY 2017. The combat is tight and responsive, the bosses are tough but fair (learn the patterns) the atmosphere/sound track is amazing. Not to mention the devs handed out four free dlcs. I've got 150+ hrs into the game between going for all achievements, speedruns, and the randomizer.
BIG recommendation: Sundered - Eldritch Edition. Everything you love about Super Metroid (platforming action, great combat, gaining new abilities to access new areas, awesome creepy vibe) with exceptional hand-drawn artwork. Plus it often goes on sale on Steam for around $5. HIGHLY worth the price of admission. It even has alternate endings based on what choices you make. A lot of love went into this one
Glad you mentioned Demon's Crest. Even with getting a release on Switch SNES online, I still dont see it discussed much. Has a very good presentation and tight gameplay, and most of the upgrades are useful in their own way. The final bosses are super difficult, but very rewarding to defeat. I had to cheese him with pausing to constantly switch between offense and defense buffing amulets lol
I can easily recommend Magical Pop’n to everyone. The Controls of this game are so spot on, its a rarity. After you play this game, every other game feels like input lag. It was a joy to run around and shoot hadoken's and spirit bombs at everything that moves. Its fast, its snappy, its adorable, just the fun you are looking for.
Finally someone who mentions Phantom 2040. Nobody ever talks about that game, and that's a shame. When I was around 10 I got so invested in that game, I remember the bosses were great, as well as the music. The exploration was awesome but it could get a bit frustrating at times, especially due to the controls. I never beat it sadly, I lost the sheet where I had written all of my passwords and just never picked it up again
Kenny Tritch it first came out on PS1. It’s awesome. It’s like the opposite of Super Metroid. If SM is one of the most tightly designed games ever made, Symphony of the Night threw everything into it. Not everything works, but what does is so much fun. (Stellar soundtrack too.)
Cool! I actually used to watch the Phantom 2040 cartoon, which is weird in the Phantom canon since this Kit Walker is the 24th Phantom, but the old cartoon Defenders of the Earth (which also got a video game) featured the 27th Phantom.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Yeah I goofed, AM2R is obviously not a ROMhack, it's a homebrew, whoops. I blame Nate.
Nate "kicked your ass in KI" Nate? Hmmm...
Gato Roboto - check it.
reeeeeeee
It's a terrific game, and my consolation about KI.
Ori is another game you could add to the list
Once, I finished a SNES drunk video a minute before midnight when he said he hopes I have a great rest of my day. It wasn't much, but that next minute was pretty great. Thanks man.
Wonder Boy in Monster World (Genesis) would be a good fit for Part 2 of this, if/when it happens :) Great vid as usual, Drunk
Totally agree... Wonder Boy IV should have been mentioned ... James Pond 2 codename Robocod maybe...
The Modern Wonder Boy games should also get a mention. Wonder Boy and The Dragon's Trap is a fantastic remake, while Monster Boy and the cursed Kingdom is an absolutely amazing sequel.
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap and Monster World IV should also be mentioned in this.
i have such a huge backlock of games....i decided to leave the atari out on purpose...starting with the nes and snes, and then gonna tackle sms and genesis....
i remember wonder boy and wonderboy in mosnterland.
loved both.
Monster Boy And The Cursed Kingdom is also really good
Cool that you'd mention Zillion. It's a big part of my childhood as I never had a Nintendo console until the late 90s.
You have no idea how great a game Nimphody of the Sight is. Would recommend.
_Nymphody of the Sight_ sounds like something you find in the catalog of movies from a japanese studio called "Rainbow Pie Cream" to be honest.
i think i saw a short trailer for that on another tube site...
@@grammaticalrouge29 Nympho is exactly what I thought of when he said "rhymes with Nymphody of the Sight."
bill gates Is it as good as Cloodstained Murse of the Boon?
Muper Setroid
Zillion is the first game I owned. I had no idea the passwords were random each time. I remember marble notebooks full of hieroglyphics. This is the best retro game channel but you already know that!Thank you
Heck, you could do probably 4 episodes just on modern retro Metroidvanias. The design inspiration from those games is alive more than ever.
Chasm. It's great on Xbox 1
Cave Story is another excellent Super Metroid style game. Probably my favorite of all next to Super Metroid itself.
Cave Story is nothing at all like Metroid. How are they even comparable in your mind?
I love cave story, but it doesn't seem like a metroidvania. It's just inspired by metroid, it carved it's own identity by having a great story and weapon system.
It's not a Metroidvania, tho, lel
I would really like to add Shadow Complex on this list, really feels like a modern take on the Super Metroid but in a near future military setting. Amazing game. Came out on Xbox 360 but has seen more recent light on both the Xbox One, PS4 and remastered on Steam a couple years ago.
Stefan Björk-Olsén I came here to suggest this game as well, Shadow Complex feels like a love letter to Super Metroid and its fans! SNES Drunk, definitely add this in your next follow up video!
Yes, it is awesome.
It was a fantastic game. It's really a shame the rumored sequel never came to be. *edit* I blame Fornite 🤬
Shadow Complex is lame. Extremely mediocre in every regard.
Shadow Complex is my number one.
So this should obviously be a new series! “If you like X, then you’ll like Y.” please do this!
I second this. "If you like X, try Y Z A B C [...]". It could be a real eye opener for a lot of people, both who grew up with and are new to the retro gaming scene. How many great games slipped under the radar back in the day simply because they were buried under the pre-internet industry system and didnt get featured in EGM or Tips n' Tricks?
I'd watch the crap out of that.
Could also call it "For Fans Of..." + the game in question. =)
After doing another completion of Super Metroid last year, I bought Axiom Verge and finished it too. I was so impressed, especially considering AV is entirely made by only one person. Thanks for the tips, looks like I'll give Magical Pop'n a try soon!
Always love to see Axiom Verge gettin' some love.
Just finished a playthrough of Axiom Verge! Glad it's getting some attention!
An oft overlooked game that I think is well worth everyone's time is _Odallus: The Dark Call._ It takes clear inspiration from the popular manga series _Berserk,_ and while the atmosphere and mechanics take more than a few cues from the older _Castlevania_ titles, the level progression is more in line with _Demon's Crest._ Also, get this: Not only is the Hard difficulty more challenging in general, but it also changes where most of your collectibles are located, meaning that you'll have to completely relearn where everything is.
It's out on all modern consoles, and it's frequently on sale - at least on the Switch. There's even a bundle where it's packaged alongside another game by the developers, _Oniken,_ and they're both stupid cheap if you catch them on sale. If you're a fan of games such as the NES _Ninja Gaiden_ trilogy, _Shatterhand,_ and _Vice: Project Doom,_ that is definitely worth your time as well.
Same guys also developed Blazing Chrome.
No Wonder Boy/Monster World Series really ? 😥
It was metroid vania before we call the genre Metroid Vania...
@@michaelromeo9567 Quite a few people in other comments mentioned _Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap,_ as well as _Wonder Boy in Monster Land._ I upvoted those comments because I agree that it would be a fantastic entry in a future installment of this video series. However, I wanted to highlight a lesser known game. Quite a few people that follow video games have at least heard of the _Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap_ remake; I don't see anyone mentioning _Odallus: The Dark Call._
@@Aztyph But we want the return of ALL these SEGA legendary IP's so bad.. What happened to SEGA is so unfair.. It hurts.. 😔😥😥
Ooo I'll check it out thanks for the recommend
I really do love and appreciate your videos mate I hope you're staying safe in these times please take care of yourself I hope to see many more videos in the future.
As soon as you said you'd be including SMS, I was hoping you'd get to Zillion and I wasn't disappointed! Good pick.
I guess Ori would fit in this category as well. Both games are excellent.
I was actually surprised the Ori games weren't included here. Defintely got a Metroidvania feel from that game, really good.
Yea fr
I rate the Ori games above Bloodstained, Hollow Knight and Axiom Verge. Though it's similar in structure to Super Metroid, it has a whole other feel. More like a disney/Ghibli-movie.
Ori is amazing in visuals and pretty hard too
Despite high expectations, I sadly found Ori somewhat boring and thus never even finished the first one. I felt the others on the list deserved their places, though Axiom Verge did feel a bit rough and unbalanced. Hollow Knight has lower resolution art assets, yes, but I think the art is much more compelling than Ori. And Hollow Knight is also absent of any real flaws, so far as I can tell-it’s the full package.
Overall, he probably should’ve just included more modern titles, but hadn’t played enough to feel like recommending more than a few without worry of leaving out a dozen.
great list... Im a big big Metroid fan and I've obviously played through them all numerous times by stating that, lol, but I was surprised to NOT see either of the Ori games on this list in the modern section... just throwing it out there.. again, great video/list.!
It's always a good thing when Demon's Crest is shown some love. I STILL have it, and will be buried with it when overloading on butter, salt, and sugar finally takes me.
Better to die young from that than die old eating tofu and quinoa, no?
Zillion is such a hidden gem. I played it as a kid, but I never thought of it as a metroidvania style game. Now that I think about it, it totally is. It’s gotta he one of the best 8-bit metroidvania games of all time.
You’re one of the few you tubers I actually enjoy. Even got my wife watching your videos. Also, I enjoy your podcasts! Keep it up!
Zillion was probably the game I played most on my brother's Master System. It's really fun, and I definitely recommend it if you haven't played it before.
Also, beating Nightmare Alfred without getting hit on my first playthrough of Bloodstained is easily one of my best gamer moments.
Phantom 2040 is so good, i have the original cardrige for the génesis, when i was 5 My father works in a videoclub and Rent this Game for free, i was so facinated but i couldn't finish it and we return it, i Will never be able to find it again, until a day i was with My mother in a another city and i find one phantom 2040 cardrige in a local store for accident, i trew the only tantrum in all My life and sacrified My future birthday present. It was worth it, easly one of the Best Game's on the génesis, i still have the cardrige and i am 24. A real treasure
I remember getting it as a kid and never playing it because of how stupid the hero looked (I respect the original and 2040 Phantom series a lot more now) and when I finaly played it, it stayed in my Genesis for a solid month and a half.
thank you man for showing me am2r, i just loved (im rewatching a few time after the first time)
Monster Boy and Cursed Kingdom is absolutely one of the best modern Exploration Platformers out there. Personally, I've had more than my fill of this kind of game over the last 5 to 10 years, but it is a timeless formula that always works.
Sega Dreams Preach!!
I'll mention Monster Tale on the DS. Great exploration with an interesting pet mechanic that uses the DS split screen well.
Awesome collection of Metroidvania games! I would like to recommend Wonderboy the Dragon's Trap, Adventure Island 4 and Super Adventure Island 2 as well, not on the same league as Super Metroid but they are great for anyone looking for a good retro Metroidvania
Highly recommend Blastermaster's new games Zero and Zero 2, Frogatto and Friends, Hyperlight Drifter, Tanglewood, The Messenger, Environmental Station Alpha, Ori and the Will of the Wisps (the sequel) and Aquaria. I know you were tryin to keep the list of modern games short but man there are some masterpieces that have come out in recent years that anyone who likes Metroidvanias would love
Great idea for a video and great vid again man 👊
I'd recommend the Ori games, too. Beautiful art style, well-written stories, tight controls and just amazing worlds to explore.
I recently played this beautiful retro game called "Environmental Station Alpha". Supermetroid is my favorite game of all time and this game captures everything great about it. You should give it a try!
Really surprised there wasn't a single mention of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, Wonder Boy in Monster World, Monster World IV, or Monster Boy in this video. All fantastic games in the Metroidvania genre.
I really appreciate you didn't just recommend games that perfectly match super metroid in genre and also recommended games that matched the mood and tone of Super.
Glad you're evolving with the times, also youve been around for awhile. Im glad you changed for the best over the years, also keeping your videos fresh despite being in a place where change isnt so well recieved.
Im glad youre always looking for good content in dark corners.
I was totally expecting to see The Mummy Demastered here. It's still a superb list though!
I can second this one. I caught this one on the most recent Games Done Quick marathon, and was surprised by its quality for a licensed title. Wayforward could have easily gone on autopilot and made a generic action game, but they crated a surprisingly solid Metroidvania from that mess of a movie.
Somewhat underrated, in my opinion. I'd love a sequel, or expansion!
@@Aztyph I saw the first few minutes of gameplay, instantly shut off the stream and went and purchased the game for myself. Wasn't disappointed.
That game was pretty awesome. Better than hollow Knight in my opinion. I just couldn't get into it despite being into the genre. Think the messenger should also make it's way to a list as I personally feel it was an amazing game on so many levels. Backtracking can be a pain, but I didn't mind much because there music, art direction, dialogue and level design made it so much fun.
Really cool mix of legacy, current, and indie recommendations. Good video.
Demons Crest was my jam along with Super Metroid. Also, you gotta give a call out to any Blaster Master game. Even the sequel on Genesis was fairly good. Controls were a bit wonky but it was still fun.
I played Demon's Crest a couple of years ago. While I loved the graphics, bosses, and most of gameplay... The music is not for everybody: just pure church organ music. And some compositions are very repetitive. I'd still recommend it tho, It's still a good game from Capcom's best years 👍
@@Aran_MD so basically Demon's Crest/Blaze's soundtrack is for anyone that appreciates awesome music? The organ music is very somber and matches the tone of the game very well, and not repetitive at all.
@@Aran_MD Demon's Crest has some of the best music on the SNES, hands down. It absolutely fits the mood & tone of the game perfectly and I'd say it's even on par with SoTN music, or close to it.
Alan David The music fits the theme and mood of the game, and nearly all of it sounds good
Oh, this is a great idea for many videos! I would love if you show games similar to well known titles!
Adding hacks and fangames to the list is super useful as well! Thank you
Axiom Verge is an incredible game, highly recommended, very eerie atmosphere as well.
Stryder for the PlayStation is a lot like Super Metroid. Lots of exploration, and power ups that help you reach areas you couldn’t previously. I highly recommend.
Wario Land 3 is my favorite example of this- it's the last game you'd expect to be an exploration platformer but it does it in an entirely unique way. Definitely worth checking out.
Glad someone mentioned it. It is so good.
Thanks for keeping em coming! You're helping a lot of people right now!
If you ever do a follow up to this video, have a look at Wonder Boy 3, the dragon's trap on Master System, or you can play the 2017 remake, which keeps the same gameplay and gives you the option to use 8 bit graphics and sound. And there is also Monster Boy, the spiritual successor made by the original creator of Wonder Boy, Just like Ritual of the Night
Oh dude, Monster boy is the jam nobody’s had! It’s a very authentic love letter to the Wonder boy in monster world series!
@@yes.6892 I think people were put off by the high release price - $40 is unusual for an indie game. I guess they'd rather pay for generic 3D fare instead.
@@KyussTheWalkingWorm, You knowI'd agree that a $40 price tag is a little overwhelming for an indie game, but surprise surprise it's worth it in my proud opinion!
Wonder Boy is excellent!
All of you Wonder Boy/Monster Boy fans, check out Aggelos! Super inexpensive and great WB inspired game.
Thanks for mentioning Zillion! A greatly overlooked SMS game.
I would also recommend Super Adventure Island II for the Super Nintendo, which drops the standard Adventure Island platforming format, and takes on much more of an exploration element with lots of backtracking (having to visit previous islands once you get new items to go further), and RPG elements, such as getting new armor and equipment.
I was looking for this to be mentionned, I absolutely loved that game growing up!
@@ElvenGodFromHell I actually just got it on Monday, April 6th. Had never played it in the past, but a video longplay of it I found intrigued me enough to order a Complete in Box copy. I absolutely love it so far. It's a shame this game isn't more well known.
yusakug I agree, also a shame they never made more!
Enjoy your playthrough!
It plays like Monster World.
Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan is another great one! It's on all modern platforms too!
One game from my childhood that belongs on this list is Euphoria on the NES. I recently played it emulated and it's still damn good today.
It has an entire map to explore, three extra characters to rescue and can switch within the game, plus their special abilities to unlock which help you advance to other earlier parts of the game. Once you collect all the keys you return to the giant door you started the game at to fight the final boss. Which I couldn't beat at the time and had to return to the video store I rented it from. Definitely worth checking out.
I own an original boxed copy, and I love it. Plus it's by Sunsoft, so you can expect an awesome soundtrack
I just commented this game too although I don't think it should belong on this list although it is a metroidvania it's probably not for people who are into Super Metroid exactly. Such a great game though. Was my favourite game growing up. Rented it as a kid and stoked to find it in a secondhand store a bit later. Also have to say the title is Ufouria.
@@goatbone haha it was all those decades ago. But since you mention it I think I do remember it spelled Uforia. And with colourful font in spectacular 80s fashion if memory serves correctly.
Great job! Thanks for recommending The Scheme. Other games of this type (kinda) are Quackshot and Dead Cells.
Phantom 2040 was one of my favorite SNES games. It's a bit wonky compared to the absolute classics, but it's fantastic for a game with as little fanfare as it has. The grappling tether felt perfect to control and the weapon combining system was fun to experiment with. It really is worth trying to find and give a go for a bit. It doesn't take long to get to the end, but there are plenty of very different paths you can take for your playthrough.
Axiom Verge blew my mind. I grew up with Super Metroid and AV is the first game since then to suck me into the world so completely. Really amazing game.
Ah demons crest. Most wont even know the TRUE final boss. Ive seen 100% playthroughs that miss it lol
I'm so proud to say that I had it, even if I had to finish the game a dozen times before.
Yup, sooooo true.
Fighting the true final boss is quite the journey & the find.
What am i missing? Please enlighten me for i am a mere mortal.
@@ThatGuy-eq9mz The final boss is different if you get 100% of the items, he has an entirely new and much harder form. Beyond that, there's also a hidden super boss who's even harder. I'll leave that to you to look up if you want to go give it a try (fair warning, the hidden boss is really, really hard).
i've been playing it recently and while i do like it i think i'll be fine with just finishing the game regularly. if i wanna see the true final boss i'll probably look a video or something.
I just beat Super Metroid for the first time last week, so this is a welcome video. :D Thanks for all your hard work!
Don’t forget every single Castlevania on GBA and DS - all of them were modeled after SotN, and I would argue that many of them surpassed Symphony by a wide margin. Yet somehow, many people never acknowledge them or even know about them! I once had to tell a die-hard SotN fan that they existed, and he was stunned to learn other Castlevania titles in the Metroid style are plentiful!
Circle of the Moon (made by a different team and retconned out of the "official" timeline by IGA) is my personal favourite of the series.
Aria of Sorrow is so good!!
Well, I just bought a physical SNES cart for Magical Pop'n. Thanks for uncovering this one for me! Also, Axiom Verge is the best take on a new/retro Super Metroid to date.
Here's some modern Metroidvanias that I personally like:
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Dust: An Elysian Tail
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
Owlboy
TouHou Luna Nights
Shantae is great too!
I was so excited to try Ori and stopped playing after a few hours. Nothing against the game-I prefer my Metroidvanias to be run and gun. I’m not a fan of insane Super Meat Boy-like platforming challenges that seems to be in style lately.
I've heard great things about Luna Nights, but since hearing you can beat the game in 6-ish hours, I think I'll pass for the price. It makes me worried their new Lodoss War game is going to be just as short. They make some really amazing looking games, I just wish they longer.
@@oldDNU the first Ori game for sure is a lot more fustrating than the second. Although its still focuses a lot on platforming, the movement feels great and the level design's much better.
I'll love that you recognize that most hidden gems videos on you are made by you. Is fantastic! Haha made me laugh..keep up your great job!
MegaMan ZX and ZX Advent are also Metroid-likes
No.
Comes a new SNES DRUNK video, I hit the like button before seeing the video. Thanks for the recomendations ;)
Well, you've easily solved a problem that a few people have been bitching about.
There has been a small, but vocal minority saying we shouldn't use "Metroidvania" as a descriptor/genre anymore.. and "Exploration Platformer" hits it quite on the nose.
Good work!
No, it doesn't. Super Mario 64 is an exploration platformer, albeit in 3D. Same with games like Banjo-Kazooie and A Hat in Time.
@@CreepyUncleIdjit Those are usually just called 3D Platformers though. All following a similar template set up by Mario.
Banjo, Conker, DK64, Rayman 2, Mario 64, and many many others.
Though Banjo and DK64 are also called Collectathons in a derogatory term.
@@marbles8641 Do you explore? Is there platforming involved?
@@CreepyUncleIdjit Are you saying Mario 64 and Banjo Kazooie are Metroidvanias?
He's such a geek of retro games, it's obviously he don't call that selfish term for the genre.
Great list man. You covered my 3 recent favorites: Hollow Knight, Bloodstained and I just finished Axiom Verge about 30 minutes ago. The story is one of the best. The cutscenes reminded me a bit of Ninja Gaiden on the NES. I even got chills a few times just like when I was a kid playing NG. Good stuff.
Phantom 2040 was a must have when I was in middle school. I had the sega version but like the snes version now because better button layout and graphics
Sega Genesis also had Pirates Of Dark Waters, very much in the vein of. Also Beyond Oasis.
You forgot Wonderboy in Monster World on Genesis, and Monster Boy for modern platforms!
There is also Wonder Boy 3, the dragon's trap, which was remade for modern platforms
YoU fOrGoT
Talking about quality Eco dolphin is only high class game on list. And turning to modern "ori and the blind forest" is absolute treasure.
Have you heard of Ufouria (Hebereke in Japan)for the NES? Pretty much a Metroid equivalent of what cute 'em ups are to shoot 'em ups.
Shanta half genie games are great, as are Wonder boy remakes. (cursed kingdome specifically) Timespinner is a recent pixel art game that's short but i also enjoyed. Can't wait for Silksong!
I'm really satisfied that you are calling these games "Exploration Platformers", as opposed to "Metroidvania". I've always thought that the latter term was dumb, yet "Exploration Platformer" is a term that I have been trying to get to catch on myself. It's hard, though, when you have people who, for some reason, insist that Super Metroid is *not* a platform game.
Mario Odyssey is an Exploration Platformer. It's a completely different type of game, however. Going to stick with Metroidvania.
There's next to no platforming in Super Metroid; there's the climb out of Ceres, Spore Spawn, parts of Maridia, and Kraid if you want to count that. The rest of the game is exploration and problem solving.
@@CreepyUncleIdjit While technically accurate, that's like arguing that Mega Man is an RPG because you play the role of Mega Man. The term "Metroidvania" is meaningless when used for a game like, for example, Hollow Knight, which has nothing to do with Metroid or Castlevania. The only reason that term is used is because it's familiar. In the 90s, every FPS was called a Doom Clone, but we've since moved on. We should move on from Metroidvania as well.
@@BenjaminGlatt There's as much platforming in Super Metroid as there is in any given Mario game. It doesn't stop being a platform game when the exploration starts, the two are not mutually exclusive.
5:23 - Zillion is as awesome as he says. It gets even better when you find out there's other playable characters later in the game.
Not sure if this counts, but Quackshot is kind of a Metroid game?
Your progression is linked through key items and equipment upgrades, and you need to do more things that just traveling from left to right. Sometimes revisit stages multiple times to progress.
Besides that, the gameplay is pretty good, and the pixelart and music too. Probably a well known game, with the kind of quality of most Disney games :)
many games have backtracking, but I believe in order to be the same kind of game as Metroid, you need freedom to move anywhere in the map and progressive unlocking skills that let you access to new areas.
Axiom Verge and Hollow Knight are my favorite non Metroid/Castlevania Metroidvanias. They are such so damn good. Axiom Verge nailed the Metroid feel and hollow knight took Supers sequence breaking and cranked that up to a maximum. I am so hyped for the sequels of both
I think you'd like Wonder Boy and the Dragon's Trap Remake and the recent Monster Boy game. Good shit
Great video! Ritual of the Night is incredible. There are a couple other games on your list that I own but have not played yet, so I have some work to do :)
Cheers!
Give "the messenger" or "elliot quest" a shot....even "super win the game"....all great metroidvanias!
Battle Princess Madelyn is good, too.
If you want more Sega games, then there's Tails Adventure for Game Gear (and Master System using a hack), and The Wonder Boy / Monster World series, especially Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap and Monster World IV.
You could add the "Guacamelee" series, they're excelents games, even better than "Hollow Knight" (IMO), oh! also "CaveStory" and "Ori and the Blind Forest".
I also like the Guacamelee games better than Hollow Knight, they are incredibly fun and witty and made me laugh a lot. HK is really depressing, frustrating and its story is too obfuscated for my liking, but it is indeed a good game. The Ori games are amazing, specially the first one.
Hollow Knight is one of the greatest games of all time imo
One modern metroidvania that I think a lot of people overlook is Shadow Complex. It was one of the first "big" Xbox Live Arcade games, and released to some fanfare, but I never hear people talk about it today. Great game.
Blasphemous is the best in the genre imo. Chasm is great too, and Shadow Complex.
demon's crest is by far my favorite metroidvania and along with breath of fire 2, favorite games of all time
The new “deedlit in wonder labyrinth” game is supposed to be great
Dang! Record of Lodoss War + Symphony of the Night? How did I miss it? I'm so buying that game.
Early access, 1 hour of content yet, but it looks like a very enjoyable 1 hour. Devs aim for 6 hours long.
@@victorvitorio6860 Indeed, I bought it and it was a highly enjoyable one hour. Great looks, music, controls and gameplay. Can't wait for the release.
Hey I was finally awake in time to catch a video! Hahaha takes me back to a time I'd wake up in time to see good cartoons at 6am. Funny enough those would be the same days I'd playing the SNES.
Weird symbols? They're just numbers bonded with their mirrored selves!
Great video and choices! justt wanted to shout out Shadow Complex and Owlboy as well!
No even a mention to Blasphemous make me sad.
Always great to wake up to a snes drunk video, I hope you make more videos you like this :)
Axiom Verge is one hell of a good game. Amazingly beautiful pixel work and a soundtrack I love.
Great video, and thank you so much for not using the term "Metroidvania". I also remember trying out Magical Pop'n after you recommended it in an earlier video and I really enjoyed it. Kinda feel like playing through it again now.
Axiom Verge is so amazing, one of my favorite games in the last few years. Made by one dude, amazing soundtrack, great graphical style, really interesting story and atmosphere.
At the beginning there's a giant pile of skeletons and you have no idea why, but once you do it's amazing
what is interesting about the story? there is none, everything is just in the krippled guy's head, its so bad its working agianst the game experience.
The Scheme! That game owns in every regard! Another good video.
Great video! Also you should've mentioned Guacamelee. Quite the inspiration from super metroid references in general lml
Hollow Knight was easily my GotY 2017. The combat is tight and responsive, the bosses are tough but fair (learn the patterns) the atmosphere/sound track is amazing. Not to mention the devs handed out four free dlcs. I've got 150+ hrs into the game between going for all achievements, speedruns, and the randomizer.
BIG recommendation: Sundered - Eldritch Edition. Everything you love about Super Metroid (platforming action, great combat, gaining new abilities to access new areas, awesome creepy vibe) with exceptional hand-drawn artwork. Plus it often goes on sale on Steam for around $5. HIGHLY worth the price of admission. It even has alternate endings based on what choices you make. A lot of love went into this one
Axiom Verge has one of the coolest Soundtracks ever.
Glad you mentioned Demon's Crest. Even with getting a release on Switch SNES online, I still dont see it discussed much. Has a very good presentation and tight gameplay, and most of the upgrades are useful in their own way. The final bosses are super difficult, but very rewarding to defeat. I had to cheese him with pausing to constantly switch between offense and defense buffing amulets lol
I can easily recommend Magical Pop’n to everyone. The Controls of this game are so spot on, its a rarity. After you play this game, every other game feels like input lag.
It was a joy to run around and shoot hadoken's and spirit bombs at everything that moves. Its fast, its snappy, its adorable, just the fun you are looking for.
Finally someone who mentions Phantom 2040. Nobody ever talks about that game, and that's a shame. When I was around 10 I got so invested in that game, I remember the bosses were great, as well as the music. The exploration was awesome but it could get a bit frustrating at times, especially due to the controls. I never beat it sadly, I lost the sheet where I had written all of my passwords and just never picked it up again
0:50 I grew up on NES and SNES... and I've never heard of Symphony of the Night. Until just now. So thanks for mentioning it, albeit briefly!
Kenny Tritch it first came out on PS1. It’s awesome. It’s like the opposite of Super Metroid. If SM is one of the most tightly designed games ever made, Symphony of the Night threw everything into it. Not everything works, but what does is so much fun. (Stellar soundtrack too.)
Wow an amazing round up as always, but it was more amazing as you did not mention Metroidvania once!
Wonder boy in Monster World is another Genesis exploration one and Dragon's trap for Master System.
I would recommend Strider. It plays as a slightly more linear version of Metroid, but it does reward exploration
Demon’s Crest was awesome. Specially seeing the multiple endings.
Cool! I actually used to watch the Phantom 2040 cartoon, which is weird in the Phantom canon since this Kit Walker is the 24th Phantom, but the old cartoon Defenders of the Earth (which also got a video game) featured the 27th Phantom.
Omg I wanted you to speak about axiom verge so much, thx.