Dark Souls is NOT a Metroidvania

[Paper]

I've seen the term "Metroidvania" mentioned quite a few times now. I'm guessing it is just an empty buzzword, but nevertheless... How would you define it? Please bear in mind that I have only seen a little of Metroid and Castlevania back in the day. Oh and I know that a later Metroid is first person, but that's about it.

blobber level design + NES action platformer gameplay + automap - difficulty of either = metroidvania

EDIT: 2D sidescrolling viewpoint

 

[Momock]

blobber level design + NES action platformer gameplay + automap - difficulty of either = metroidvania

EDIT: 2D sidescrolling viewpoint

1/ 2D sidescrolling is implied by NES action/platformer gameplay...
2/ Difficulty is relative to each game, not to a genre (tell me with a straigh face that the La-Mulanas aren't hard as hell). Also: there's no map in Castle in the Dark, oops!
3/ You totally missed what actually defines a metroidvania.

@Cornivus: a metroidvania is a Zelda-like in sidescroller form + some superficial "RPG" elements. A Zelda-like is an action/adventure game where each new item/upgrade gives you access to new moves and ways to interract with the world, wich gives you access to more of the map.

 

[Damned Registrations]

blobber level design + NES action platformer gameplay + automap - difficulty of either = metroidvania

EDIT: 2D sidescrolling viewpoint

1/ 2D sidescrolling is implied by NES action/platformer gameplay...
2/ Difficulty is relative to each game, not to a genre (tell me with a straigh face that the La-Mulanas aren't hard as hell). Also: there's no map in Castle in the Dark, oops!
3/ You totally missed what actually defines a metroidvania.

@Cornivus: a metroidvania is a Zelda-like in sidescroller form + some superficial "RPG" elements. A Zelda-like is an action/adventure game where each new item/upgrade gives you access to new moves and ways to interract with the world, wich gives you access to more of the map.

Only thing I'd add to that is that it's an open world, and the map opens up in a non linear way. If it's opening up in a linear fashion then it's not really any different from a normal sidescroller with upgrades along the way. Being able to get different items and upgrades in different orders and visiting new areas in different orders from other players is the thing that made the original zelda and metroid games so cool.

 

[Momock]

Only thing I'd add to that is that it's an open world, and the map opens up in a non linear way. If it's opening up in a linear fashion then it's not really any different from a normal sidescroller with upgrades along the way. Being able to get different items and upgrades in different orders and visiting new areas in different orders from other players is the thing that made the original zelda and metroid games so cool.

Hmmmm... okay, I buy it. But I don't know if "open world" is the right term.

 

[Wunderbar]

The only metroidesque thing in Dark Souls is that ring that let's you walk into the lava and the interconnected levels. That's it, and it only applies to the first game.

there's a cat's ring in das2, which allows you to descend into majula pit.

 

[Damned Registrations]

Eh, you can do that with just straight up hp or the ladders too, so it doesn't really fit. Tbf the lava ring is the same way, and they both basically function as keys instead of actually changing the gameplay at all, which is a gripe I have with a lot of games trying to ape the genre. Double jumps or wall climbing or mist form are upgrades. The ability to move statues that only exist in front of 3 doors in the entire game or armour that only protects you from a single passageway is just a fancy key.

Only thing I'd add to that is that it's an open world, and the map opens up in a non linear way. If it's opening up in a linear fashion then it's not really any different from a normal sidescroller with upgrades along the way. Being able to get different items and upgrades in different orders and visiting new areas in different orders from other players is the thing that made the original zelda and metroid games so cool.

Hmmmm... okay, I buy it. But I don't know if "open world" is the right term.

I just meant open world as in being able to backtrack freely, to disqualify something like Spelunky or Iji, which would otherwise fit the description.