Quite long since this had a post, but, time went by, and many more Metroidvanias have been launched, with more still coming.
Yet, there are others you've not heard nor remembered long. They may not be in your request list, but thought I would mention these to you, anyway.
Outland (X360, PS3, PC) - That game from Housemarque and published by Ubisoft is surely a Metroidvania, but with more bullet heck elements in it that tells the tale of one, lone hero standing against the two super-powerful Sisters of Chaos for the fate of the world and bringing Balance from Chaos, with the gameplay utilizing a polarity system familiar to Treasure's "Ikaruga" or "Silhouette Mirage".
Really neat take on that, but highly ignored by many people, though some still remember it. I would not lean on the game's maps being large, but, given the memory and CPUs we had and have there and then, I wouldn't expect so much large maps prior to later games.Would be really neat to see and have a sequel... maybe.
Hope anyone got copies of it, merely the PC version, to commit mapping the game, and not just with the menu minimaps alone. Otherwise, for console versions, buy and have your USB capture cards ready for it.
Small fact: That game is also part of a bundle bought for the 360 in physical media paired alongside "From Dust" and "Beyond Good and Evil HD". The one thing is, that collection is only from EU, nowhere else.
I came across and found a minimap collection made by Phunkyboee from GameFAQs through a USB capture card while playing the game, and figured I'd bring it to your attention.
The map's link is here as proof -
https://i.imgur.com/iMndj.jpegGuacamelee! 1 & 2 (PS3, Multi-Platform) - Those games from Drinkbox Studios are REALLY cool to play! Loads of Mexico-inspired aesthetics and great music from Rom Di Prisco to listen, but moreover, the amazing combat attacks to pull of on numerous enemies!
First saw the game on PS3, and had a blast seeing Juan Aguacate traverse through planes of living and dead, thanks to a special wrestler mask that grants him powers and survival in the latter's plane, to take down Carlos Calaca and save El Presidente's Daughter, Lupita. It did have an enhanced port that expanded the story and added two new areas, but I enjoyed all those versions all the same.
Then, came the sequel that plunges Juan into a(often boresome, and recycling, plot mechanic) multi-timeline jeopardizing scheme against the "Mexi-Verse" by Salvador himself, who seeks ultimate power from the Sacred Guacamole to become the strongest there is by all means necessary.
The sequel improved much from the first, aside from very little new moves added in, such as additional combat skill trees for new, improved combos, 4-player co-op, and, I really love this, BIGGER maps! And, boy, do I mean BIG! Far bigger than the first game's, even the later port's! The sequel was REALLY fun!
Really felt the backtracking could've been far less agonizing by maybe having a new speed-dash ability to get around the larger maps quicker, or mark and teleport to marked spots in an area alongside those transporting Olmec-like Stone Heads, and perhaps some better item marking when finding and collecting them, and maybe new original playable characters serving as Juan's new allies to fill up the 4-player co-op roles rather than seeing copy-and-paste re-colors/re-skins of Juan and Tostada.
I can hope Drinkbox delivers "Guacamelee! 3" someday soon! Should that be so, well, we'd all be ready to endure lots more mayhem and exploring from more bigger maps.
Steamworld Dig 1 & 2 (3DS, Multi-Platform) - Those games by Image & Form, before being brought into Thunderful, are very great entries to the entire SteamWorld series that began with the DSiWare game, "SteamWorld Tower Defense"!
The first placed Rusty into an ever-digging adventure to find secrets his uncle discovered before something mysterious happened to him. I tell ya, when I first got that on the 3DS, I was HOOKED! I played it and dug really rapidly to go deeper and mine minerals for cash to unlock upgrades and improve Tumbleton time and again.
Faced many dangers, too, such as a few enemies, some hazards, even a couple nasty surprises. There was only one boss fight, but the discovery and outcome seen at the very bottom in the game's end is rather... SHOCKING.
Soon, "Dig 2" came out, and Dorothy was the main star that time in her own journey to find Rusty in the depths of El Machino after she believes him to be missing after the confrontation, later came across a dangerous plot that threatens their living planet.
The sequel gave us a more deeper world to dig and explore, more secrets to find, more minerals to collect, and more dangers to overcome, including a few more bosses. The upgrades are more varied and their availability depended on how far Dorothy's done from her XP collecting and how far the upgrades have come.
The sequel was able to make its way to the 3DS, since the original got launched, there.
Those digging games are very fun to play. I am very eager to see "SteamWorld Dig 3" sometime soon, perhaps with lots more digging and more larger maps to see!
Souldiers (PC, PS4, XONE, Switch) - That's a rather good Metroidvania that incorporates soulslike combat alongside puzzle-solving to fight off the evil Dadelm Army that threatens Terragaya, and potentially all of Ascil, with the help of any warrior of class choice.
The pixel are there is goregous, speaking "Hi-Bit" in every corner. It may be one of the visually great-looking Metroidvanias yet. Great difference from other Metroidvanias.
Have any of you seen, heard of said games, or remember them by chance? Felt I should get word about those games right up your alley, since they're not mapped yet. If you do remember, though, what did you enjoy about them in memory?
