Is this a metroidvania?

[autoxguy08]

Is this a metroidvania type game or a regular linear platformer?

[Nucléase]

it's a linear metroidvania. :D

The game is structured like a metroidvania (you can revisit every area if you want to find every items). But you almost never have a choice to make regarding where to go next, the game guide you via ''quest'' the whole game.

There is some platforming but nothing major, the fighting system is the main sell of the game. (and it's exellent imo).

Added bonus : the game has a story that you have role to fill, it's nothing crazy but it's
a refreshing change from the usual cryptic lore we get from the likes of hollow knight or elden ring.

[leo_gear]

I hear people say it's a linear game but I watched several blind playthrus on Youtube, A few ended up tackling the bosses in different orders. I've seen someone take on Yuanlao (the grandpa guy with the Rending Claw fight) 1st. They'd end up fighting Yingzhoa and Goumong with Air dash unlocked which seems really out of order and non-linear to me.

Things probably start to become structured for Jiequan and after (so the last 4 bosses) but things are pretty open for the 1st half of the game.

As for this game being a metroidvania or not? I've heard people argue up and down that it's not while others say it is. I have no idea what convoluted metrics people use now a days to categorize games lol. I've even heard people say games like FIST isn't a metroidvania because of its combat which seems crazy to me.

[Maximilion13]

totally linear game, but not platformer.

[autoxguy08]

Originally posted by leo_gear:

I hear people say it's a linear game but I watched several blind playthrus on Youtube, A few ended up tackling the bosses in different orders. I've seen someone take on Yuanlao (the grandpa guy with the Rending Claw fight) 1st. They'd end up fighting Yingzhoa and Goumong with Air dash unlocked which seems really out of order and non-linear to me.

Things probably start to become structured for Jiequan and after (so the last 4 bosses) but things are pretty open for the 1st half of the game.

As for this game being a metroidvania or not? I've heard people argue up and down that it's not while others say it is. I have no idea what convoluted metrics people use now a days to categorize games lol. I've even heard people say games like FIST isn't a metroidvania because of its combat which seems crazy to me.

In my eyes, a metroidvania would be where all the maps are tied together in some way (like in hollow knight) and you are able to progress as you gain new abilities.

I don't typically take the type of combat into account. So like metroid dread is a metroidvania, but something like Rayman legends does not seem to be.

[Kawalorn]

It's a metroidvania and I don't understand why people are saying it's linear. For example you can fight first 3 big bosses in any order, though it requires you getting abilities you get partway towards bosses 1 and 2 to fight 3 first.

So yeah, there is exploration, map is fully connected and besides one section you aren't locked into a single level.

[Archduke of Lore]

Its almost entirely linear in play with spots to revisit once you can access them after getting new abilities or items. Only one part later one when you can choose freely where to go first between 2 new areas. If you are interested at all you might as well buy the game I think at this point it will be winning awards by the end of the year.

[lordatog]

It's definitely a Metroidvania. The main story beats are largely linear - many of them must happen in a specific order, and even for the ones that don't, the game tries to guide you into a specific order. Between these points, though, there's a lot of exploration to be done in an open, interconnected map gated by various upgrades acquired throughout the game. Some specific areas of the game are pretty linear, but that's true of most Metroidvanias.

[HEld]

can you disable the questmarker?

[Seisachtheia]

Originally posted by HEld:

can you disable the questmarker?

No, I haven't found a way.

Also OP, it's appropriate to think of this game as a metroidvania-lite or metroidvania-flavour. You almost never have to return to previous areas you explored to get new things, it's possible to get everything on your first run through of 4 of the major zones in the game (out of 6/7). You have to intentionally play out of the order the game gives you as it very strongly steers you in a set direction, but you can do it. You always have to do the major bosses in the following grouping though: [1, 2, 3}, [4], [5], [6, 7], [8]. As you can see from the boss and exploration examples, this game is a far cry from the openness of Hollow Knight or its Castlevania inspirations, or even the PoP game that came out earlier this year.

It is very light on platforming and has almost no puzzles in it, but its focus on story and combat is exceptional and it's brilliant in those regards. I highly recommend it but realize that what you are signing up for is a story-driven combat heavy 2D game.

[autoxguy08]

Originally posted by Seisachtheia:

Originally posted by HEld:

can you disable the questmarker?

No, I haven't found a way.

Also OP, it's appropriate to think of this game as a metroidvania-lite or metroidvania-flavour. You almost never have to return to previous areas you explored to get new things, it's possible to get everything on your first run through of 4 of the major zones in the game (out of 6/7). You have to intentionally play out of the order the game gives you as it very strongly steers you in a set direction, but you can do it. You always have to do the major bosses in the following grouping though: [1, 2, 3}, [4], [5], [6, 7], [8]. As you can see from the boss and exploration examples, this game is a far cry from the openness of Hollow Knight or its Castlevania inspirations, or even the PoP game that came out earlier this year.

It is very light on platforming and has almost no puzzles in it, but its focus on story and combat is exceptional and it's brilliant in those regards. I highly recommend it but realize that what you are signing up for is a story-driven combat heavy 2D game.

Cool, yeah I'm about the combat.