Can you suggest alternative terms for 'Metroidvanias'

[Apollo Chungus]

I've recently grown a bit of a distaste for the term 'Metroidvania'. I'm a fan of the genre and I like discussing games in that style, but I don't like describing them with that particular name. It carries the underlying implication that any of those games have to be inspired by Metroid or the later 2D Castlevanias (specifically, that dastardly duo of Super Metroid and Symphony of the Night), and I feel like I can't use that term without people getting a similar mindset. (For a better explanation of my issues, but with examples of various genres, watch this video by Mark Brown of Game Maker's Toolkit on naming genres after games.)

What doesn't help is that there doesn't seem to be any other terms to describe this particular genre of 'big focus on exploration, reaching previously unreachable areas with new items/powers' that aren't also derived from the Metroid/Castlevania influence (Castleroid, anyone?) or unwieldy when using them in casual conversation. So I thought I'd ask y'all for ideas on possible terms for this genre.

An idea I had for a term was 'Exploraction/ExplorAction' - This is a condensed version of the term '2D exploration action game', which was used by the team behind Symphony of the Night in describing it. I feel like it might concisely describe the focus on exploration with action elements often quintessential to games in this genre, without forcing them to pay some kind of tribute to a specific pair of games. At the same time, it doesn't really convey the backtracking and power acquiring aspects, and that it might still restrict games by suggesting that all games in this style should focus on exploration with action elements (whereas some games would prefer to have no action altogether) - hell, maybe it's a bit too vague.

I'm really curious to hear what y'all think, since I'd like to call games from this genre something that doesn't suggest a stronger connection to some games must exist.

[phediuk]

Platform-adventure.

done.

[phediuk]

BTW, I agree that "Metroidvania" is a terrible term, and its application to every game in recent years with even a hint of non-linearity is one of the worst things to ever happen to gaming vocabulary. Frankly, I feel the ardent promotion of "Metroidvania" is motivated by a fanboyish desire to tie games back to a Nintendo brand. If the genre's name was "platform-adventure" you wouldn't see the nearly the push to label everything as such.

[X-pert74]

wandery jumpy collecty simulators

[dsparil]

I wrote a very overlong post, but will spare everyone.

I have some thoughts and issues with that video which I will post later, but I don't have a problem with calling these games Metroid-like. I've never liked Metroidvania due to pure clunkiness. *-like implies a continuum without going full Scott McCloud and trying to bound the whole thing with a planar definition.

That aside, exploratory platformer.

[chronotigger65]

Castleroids?

[mainpatr]

How about the term that people used for old micro-computer games like the Dizzy series,Arcade-Adventure?

[edmonddantes]

When I was a kid I called these "big exploration games."

[Bumpyroad]

'SSE' (side-scrolling exploration) in reference for FPS, RTS etc. Not sure about the 3D ones.

[edmonddantes]

Nov 25, 2018 2:11:42 GMT -5 Bumpyroad said:

'SSE' (side-scrolling exploration) in reference for FPS, RTS etc. Not sure about the 3D ones.

"3D Exploration" maybe?

[Preki]

Open-ended platformer.

[surnshurn]

jumpy explorey

[Ace Whatever]

I personally don't like the term Metroidvania mostly because I don't see a point in lumping BOTH Metroid and SotN as the forefathers of the genre. SotN and all its sequels are Metroid-style games with a leveling system & loot drops. The distinction gets very clear after that. Shadow Complex or Guacamelee should be referred to as Metroid-like games and not Metroidvania. But once the game adds leveling and/or drops I think the term Metroidvania is fair game for those who really care about those aspects.

As for the Metroid term itself, I think the problem with using the term explore is that it doesn't imply that you're progressing by gaining new action abilities instead of just using a key on a door or pulling a switch ala Resident Evil. So I'm thinking maybe Tool/Tool-based Explorer or Ability Explorer or Gameplay Explorer (basically we need a single word that empathizes physical abilities you gain during play).

[ommadawnyawn2]

Platform Adventure - It's the one I tend to use and it's on wikipedia, portmanteau of Platformer and Action Adventure.

Sidescrolling (open world) Action Adventure / Sidescrolling ARPG - Makes sense since they usually are a lot like top down AA/ARPG games in a different perspective. Metroid itself is a lot like Zelda 1 without the NPC interaction and clear overworld/dungeon distinction. I would use ARPG for SotN, WB3 or Faxanadu for example and AA for Metroid, Zillion etc.

Exploration-based or Maze Platformer - These work OK but are a bit too broad as they include games like Jazz Jackrabbit and Montezuma's Revenge, maybe games like SMW as well.

Zelda 2-like - This is more specific and not many games fit into the category. RPG-style top down overworld exploration with sidescrolling encounters and town exploration.

I'm fine with Metroidvania for the games it describes well, which is basically just SotN-style castlevania games and clones of them. But even there, the later games have more NPC interaction, town hubs and such so it doesn't quite fit to me, because an important distinction with Metroid and SotN is the lonely atmosphere with little to no character interaction or handholding.


Edit: ExplorAction is OK but doesn't convey that the game is sidescrolling or even 2D. 

[Bumpyroad]

Nov 25, 2018 2:39:17 GMT -5 edmonddantes said:

Nov 25, 2018 2:11:42 GMT -5 Bumpyroad said:

'SSE' (side-scrolling exploration) in reference for FPS, RTS etc. Not sure about the 3D ones.

"3D Exploration" maybe?

I think, i'd have much ties to "Walking Simulator".