Complaining about backtracking in a metroidvania is like Complaining about how hard souls games are, it's an integral element of the genre, some would argue a metroidvania with no backtracking is no metroidvania at all, I don't understand how you think ppl, especially metroidvania fans can take you seriously with such an odd complaint like that
Just because something is "integral" does not mean that it can't be done poorly. I haven't played a TON of Metroidvanias, bur the quality of these titles varies wildly. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, also had a lot of backtracking. Bur you get the ability to fast-travel right away, and they placed the stained-windows perfectly so that very little of your time was wasted. Hollow Knight had more limited fast travel, but the zones folded into one another to where you only backtracked if you wanted to go shop or attempt a different area. 9 Years of Shadow had absolutely zero fast travel, but the level design was so genius that it basically never felt like you needed to backtrack, ans if you did, they gave you the means to do so quickly with the abilities you should have just gotten. Backtracking can be a total an utter waste of time and serve no discernable purpose. Which is how it felt during my time playing Afterimage.
The limited resting potions were a pretty stupid idea they thankfully sort of fixed in the patch that allowed you to buy them, but the problem I had post patch was that they removed the recommended levels requirements for the areas that normally displayed when entering a new area, so it made navigation and wondering where to go next pretty confusing, so what normally happened was I entered a new area, only it was meant to be for a higher level and for later on in the game and I then get one shotted by an enemy, pretty annoying.
I saw that in the patch notes as well. Which was also wildly confusing. It was already strange for there to be level 72 areas next to level 17 areas. Even weirder to remove the one "warning" people could get for whether an area is possible or not. Confusing design decision after confusing design decision. Shame too, feels like a ton of wasted potential.
The game already gives you an icon above enemies so you know they are way above your level. That and exploring nearby areas gives you more than enough levels to go back to that area.
I love this game, however I wish the Treasure of Se would show you the locations of treasures your missing. I wanted to 100 percent this game, but I couldn't because it was just too much. I still gave this game over 60 hours it's amazing. I played this game recently so I benefitted from the patches. I rarely play games these days that just come out, I always wait for updates. I also wish Fast Travel didn't cost you money since you have to travel so much.
I know that's a risk of playing games at release. But it was also just completely deflating for it to happen the way it did. I'm glad to hear that it's better now though
ooof that's rough man.. sounds like just a bad time.. I prolly wldnt gvn ur situation either.. that wld turn me off no question trying to re do everything.. thx for the semi review.. good to know those issues are fixed tho 👍
There is definitely a lot of merit to that. Normally you get a "better" game with less issues and can often even get it on a discount. But there is also something about being part of the zeitgeist that occurs at a games launch. And it's hard to wait for a game that you are excited for. Sometimes it burns you like it did me with Afterimage. But sometimes it is VERY rewarding like with Final Fantasy XVI and VII:Rebirth
Very mid metroidvania, between the boring music, annoying yet easy enemies and out of place character portraits its eh/10, doesnt help it has your typical chinese dev bloat/padding
Complaining about backtracking in a metroidvania is like Complaining about how hard souls games are, it's an integral element of the genre, some would argue a metroidvania with no backtracking is no metroidvania at all, I don't understand how you think ppl, especially metroidvania fans can take you seriously with such an odd complaint like that
Just because something is "integral" does not mean that it can't be done poorly.
I haven't played a TON of Metroidvanias, bur the quality of these titles varies wildly.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, also had a lot of backtracking. Bur you get the ability to fast-travel right away, and they placed the stained-windows perfectly so that very little of your time was wasted.
Hollow Knight had more limited fast travel, but the zones folded into one another to where you only backtracked if you wanted to go shop or attempt a different area.
9 Years of Shadow had absolutely zero fast travel, but the level design was so genius that it basically never felt like you needed to backtrack, ans if you did, they gave you the means to do so quickly with the abilities you should have just gotten.
Backtracking can be a total an utter waste of time and serve no discernable purpose. Which is how it felt during my time playing Afterimage.
I have 20 hours of playtime, it's my game of the year so far. I do think they should nerf contact damage.
Contact Damage was easily the lowest of my concerns/complaints
This entire video is a Skill Issue. No getting behind it, git gud.
Fair.
The limited resting potions were a pretty stupid idea they thankfully sort of fixed in the patch that allowed you to buy them, but the problem I had post patch was that they removed the recommended levels requirements for the areas that normally displayed when entering a new area, so it made navigation and wondering where to go next pretty confusing, so what normally happened was I entered a new area, only it was meant to be for a higher level and for later on in the game and I then get one shotted by an enemy, pretty annoying.
I saw that in the patch notes as well.
Which was also wildly confusing.
It was already strange for there to be level 72 areas next to level 17 areas.
Even weirder to remove the one "warning" people could get for whether an area is possible or not.
Confusing design decision after confusing design decision.
Shame too, feels like a ton of wasted potential.
The game already gives you an icon above enemies so you know they are way above your level. That and exploring nearby areas gives you more than enough levels to go back to that area.
I can't really remember, but I think the icon's above enemies were patched in a little after release., but thanks anyway ^^.@@enman009
best metroidvania 2023
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I think "9 Years of Shadows" was the best Metroidvania of 2023
I love this game, however I wish the Treasure of Se would show you the locations of treasures your missing. I wanted to 100 percent this game, but I couldn't because it was just too much. I still gave this game over 60 hours it's amazing. I played this game recently so I benefitted from the patches. I rarely play games these days that just come out, I always wait for updates. I also wish Fast Travel didn't cost you money since you have to travel so much.
I know that's a risk of playing games at release. But it was also just completely deflating for it to happen the way it did.
I'm glad to hear that it's better now though
ooof that's rough man.. sounds like just a bad time.. I prolly wldnt gvn ur situation either.. that wld turn me off no question trying to re do everything.. thx for the semi review.. good to know those issues are fixed tho 👍
100%.
I have also heard that the game is pretty stellar now.
So if it looks appealing, definitely give it a shot.
This is why you should never get games on day 1 and should always wait a few months for bugs and issues to be fixed
There is definitely a lot of merit to that.
Normally you get a "better" game with less issues and can often even get it on a discount.
But there is also something about being part of the zeitgeist that occurs at a games launch.
And it's hard to wait for a game that you are excited for.
Sometimes it burns you like it did me with Afterimage.
But sometimes it is VERY rewarding like with Final Fantasy XVI and VII:Rebirth
Game has got VERY bugged controls
There was a couple times where I completely lost the ability to jump.
Very mid metroidvania, between the boring music, annoying yet easy enemies and out of place character portraits its eh/10, doesnt help it has your typical chinese dev bloat/padding
It has a lot of potential, but falls short in most categories.
This is probably the worst review ive ever found... im not a fanboi either, haven't even played it yet but it just sounds like you hate metroidvanias