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Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Feb 16, 2021 4:49:24 GMT -5
Samus is a bit of an odd case in that whenever she is visually recognized as female in the games there's generally some sexualization going on, ironically up until Other M which seems to rob her of most of that independence. She was pretty clearly recognized in Fusion though IIRC even if not visually.
Ori is a non-gendered/unspecified spirit from what I can find, but the others are besides the spirit tree and the "boss" character that turns good.
Yeah that always struck me as weird regarding Shantae, and the other females are pretty much all the same. That one should be updated for the uh, 20th century standards? --- I think what you said last is a bit reductive though; what happens in-game and in the trailer seems more important than the box/thumbnails these days when everyone can check the game itself out.
Males tend to have a "anonymous and unfeeling human tool" role applied to them I think, particularly in games that aren't story focused. Which has its problems but is at least an active role, one that portrays some agency.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2021 5:10:23 GMT -5
When I mentioned about putting a female character on the box I'm more talking about a catch all term for the marketing. I see this phrase used still as a deterrent from publishers for using a female protagonist. Whether it's an actual box, a promotional video etc, the idea that players won't buy the game persists. I get the impression these publishers are unaware that female players exist themselves, aren't being catered to and perhaps would purchase a game where they could place themselves in the role? It's almost as though they didn't notice that the biggest selling game of last year achieved that level of success by creating a product designed with female players in mind. Anyway, I'm rambling a little. Honestly, I think Metroidlike games often avoid such concerns through not being connected to a large publisher in many cases.
On Shantae, I believe the answer was to age her up a few years. Not that you can tell. But the problem in the older entries persists and she is still subject to the male gaze.
Can you think of any other good examples of representation?
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Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Feb 16, 2021 7:00:29 GMT -5
Right ok. I can't really speak to that other than them being set in their ways and some subset of men (or boys mostly) preferring a male char and those being a larger market for certain genres maybe. Which doesn't excuse publishers not trying something different though, whatever the subject is. Most players don't seem to care from what I've seen, or go with the "well I might as well be looking at a woman avatar" response. I like having a choice personally but an interesting and believable char and a good game to play is a lot more important.
I liked Aquaria and Monster World IV, and I've heard good things about Iconoclasts regarding that. Eternal Daughter, though the game itself is pretty rough. Maze of Galious for a couple that works like a team, which each char having pros and cons though the story is barely there in that one. Tron Bonne (PS1) as well though that barely qualifies as MV.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2021 9:17:41 GMT -5
Outside of Monster World IV, which of course is getting a remake, I haven't played any of those. I have Tron Bonne in the backlog. I'll take a look into the others.
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Post by Woody Alien on Feb 17, 2021 13:06:59 GMT -5
Thank you for your flowchart ommadawnyawn2, now finally people will stop saying that Rogue Legacy is a metroidvania. Because according to your flowchart, and to just common sense, it is not one.
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Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Feb 17, 2021 17:35:42 GMT -5
Haha I wish. I haven't played that one much but having the world change when you die isn't exactly conducive towards a good MV experience since world persistency is also a part of it; you can't get that feeling of the world looping back on itself in the same way and the sense of a journey it produces.
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Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Mar 28, 2021 5:23:39 GMT -5
Latest updates: -Info and mini reviews for Draconus (C64, 1988) and Ratchet & Clank 2 (PS2, 2003), and a first draft for the third generation intro text -Info and mini reviews for Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (NDS, 2006), Below the Root (C64, 1984)
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Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Apr 14, 2021 13:12:49 GMT -5
Latest updates: The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (Multi, 2005) Generations Lost (MD, 1994) The Adventures of Rad Gravity (NES, 1990) Beyond Good & Evil (GC, 2003)
Guess I'll play Metroid Prime 2 or VtM: Bloodlines next unless anyone wants to see something else added. Been meaning to check out Shadow Complex but it never goes on sale!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2021 15:28:36 GMT -5
Shadow Complex was more special when it came out since side scrolling exploration adventure's were a rarity. Nowadays the genre is flooded and in competition with modern entries it is somewhat overshadowed. Nevertheless it is a fine, if forgettable Metroidlike.
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Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Apr 21, 2021 16:33:58 GMT -5
There was a recent thread on the MV subreddit claiming it was more important than Hollow Knight or Ori, which sounds a bit ludicrous but I'm curious to see how it holds up. The world seems kinda generic in a military shooter sense, but it seems to have some creative abilities if nothing else.
Been playing Prime 2 pretty intensively lately and I think I'm getting close to the end now, finally got power bombs and started backtracking for any spots I'd written down to use it in. The game really could use some map markers. I also kinda regret sticking with the GC original for an authentic experience as I'm getting sick of the FP controls there. Overall it's a goodie though, with pretty nice worldbuilding and some interesting new gimmicks like the safe zones and the ball form boss fight.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2021 23:23:16 GMT -5
I suppose Shadow Complex can be considered important on the basis of being an early indie Metroidlike, but personally, I wouldn't label it that way unless it directly lead to other releases and I'm not sure that it was a direct inspiration for any other projects. Perhaps it did achieve enough financial success to show that this was a viable genre for other aspiring indie devs to take on though.
I really need to do a replay of Prime 2 at some point. My memory of it is pretty vague. Personally, I prefer to play them with the Wii pointer controls, though I'm sure you have your own controller options through emulation.
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Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Aug 2, 2021 6:37:34 GMT -5
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Post by vnisanian2001 on Aug 2, 2021 19:43:59 GMT -5
I love it when The Maze of Galious is mentioned. It is so awesome of a Metroidvania. I can see why MSX users love it so much. I would always see them sing non-stop praises for this game, but I never really got to try it out for myself until awhile back.
The MSX game is awesome. I haven't played the Famicom version, but apparently, it is scaled back. And also apparently, performing a difficult special move to summon the boss is nowhere near as awesome as typing his name in the original. Neither is your inventory being all text, instead of pictures in the original, which actually gave a sense of accomplishment.
Amazing to think that Konami had three Metroidvanias in 1987: The Maze of Galious, The Goonies II, and Simon's Quest. And maybe a 4th one in the form of Metal Gear.
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Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Aug 3, 2021 6:05:32 GMT -5
Yeah that game was rather impressive for 1987! The FC version I've only tried briefly, but didn't care for the look of it nor the level design as much, which is more about hitting random blocks in small passages made up of blocks and with more repetition in the rooms.
They went pretty hard at the time. Sadly they didn't stick with the formula for their 16-bit games and the closest thing would be Rondo of Blood with its hub map and optional alternate paths.
I don't count games without a movement focus equivalent to a platformer, so I don't count Metal Gear or Zelda 1 for example. But it is very similar to a Zelda-like Action Adventure besides being a stealth game.
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Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Nov 23, 2021 13:12:54 GMT -5
Updates since last time: Shaman King 2 (GBA, 2005) Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction (Multi, 2005) Knight 'n Grail (C64) Knytt Stories (PC) Okami (PS2, 2006) Cosmo Police Galivan (NES, 1988) Mega Man ZX (DS, 2006) Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (PC, 2004) Golden Talisman (C64, 1985) Todd's Adventures in Slime World (Lynx, 1990) Mega Man Legends 2 (PS1, 2000) Ore ga Omae o Mamoru (I Will Protect You)(NDS, 2009) Dead Space (PC, 2008) An Untitled Story (PC, 2006) Metroid Prime 2 (GC) Stanley: The Search for Dr. Livingston (NES) Let me know what you want to see next! I've had a look at Spider-Man: Web of Shadows for DS recently, might do that one. Exile too but the interface is rather non-user friendly.
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