Is La Mulana the game that set the bar in its genre too high? No other Metroidvania ever approached its use of backgrounds to design spatial puzzles, its boss battles, item hunt, demanding combat, design of sound cues and overall environment design spreading and joining together multiple separate screens.
All other Metroidvanias amount to "you can't go through the purple door until you find the purple item". Except Toki Tori 2 which understood how to implement sequence breaking from the very start.
It's really fucking good.
i really don't give a shit about your weeb game
>>342858645
LA MULANA 2 FUCKING WHEN
FUCK
So is La Mulana actually possible if you write down all of the hints? I played for 30 hours and gave up, but I didn't write anything down.
There was just too much bullshit.Plus I activated hard mode and didn't realize it.
>>342860310
Yes, though there are a few parts that can be very cryptic but they are not many.
while la mulana has some good puzzles, it's so painfully shit in terms of platforming and movement speed i'm trying to not fall into sleep every time i'm trying to play it
it' slower than a fucking ghosts n goblins, it has clunkiest controls and lowest dynamic i've seen in any metroidvania in last 20 years
>>342860310
I tried but i got stuck (i don't really remember when and where) and stopped because i was too proud to go and read a walkthrough.
Mite pick it up again in the future.
>>342859941
Super Metroid is overrated, it's in top tier only due to its significance. Have you tried Toki Tori 2? It has the best sequence breaking of all metroidvanias. That wholechart is messed up, Metroid Fusion is way too low.
There's also Environmental Station Alpha which has excellent pacing if not innovative ideas.
>>342860236
Soon hopefully.
>>342860310
How do you activate hard mode?
>>342860310
>Plus I activated hard mode and didn't realize it.
W-what?
>>342860682
It's not clunky, it has some engine limitations but it is very reliant on positioning, you can go quite fast in it. Jumps are faster than in Super Metroid and most Castlevanias.
>>342860754
I haven't played TT2, but it's on my list.
La Mulana is just a little bit too cryptic. I love the game but a lot of that shit is impossible to figure out on your own.
What's the difference between La Mulana and La Mulana EX and which is better?
>La Mulana will never be ported to PSP
>>342861097
EX is the Vita version, I don't think there are many differences.
>>342861097
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/02/27/la-mulana-ex-out-next-week-the-ex-stands-for-extra/
Sounds less autistic but could also mean it's weaker. I'd say it's the optimal version, would love to play LM on a handheld.
>>342860808
>>342860754
There's a tablet in Mausoleum of the Giants that warns you not to read it a second time. If you do, it activates Hard mode.
>>342861382
kek
and what does it entail? You receive more damage?
>>342859941
>no Iji
fuck that chart
>>342861097
The biggest one is the inclusion of a bestiary. Most of it is just the tweaking of a few puzzles. Honestly I liked it a lot because I didn't have to do those dialogue achievements again.
>>342861475
It spawns tougher, more numerous enemies in areas they shouldn't be in, plus all the bosses are even harder to kill.
>>342861475
More enemies, some are also faster and has more health and there's even enemies that are individually stronger than others of the same type. You'll also get enemies that you normally see later in other areas.
Furthermore, guardians and sub-bosses have more maximum health and also attack as well as move more swiftly.
Also, moar lavaballs more often in areas that have those.
>>342861823
I know each level is pretty open, but they're not interconnected between them, are they? I don't remember it being that way.
>>342861475
Harder monsters, bosses get tougher, stuff like that.
For instance, Anubis's start showing up in the Mausoleum
>>342859941
Whats wrong with Dust? Besides the furry shit
>>342861962
Don't understand what do you mean by that. You have to look at the floor number in the background at least in your first playthrough.
>>342862067
I mean it's not really open world, each individual level is discrete. It's been a long time since I've played it though, so I could be wrong.
>>342861903
>>342861912
>>342862021
Is there at least a reward for finishing the game on hard mode?
>>342858645
The bar is too high for normal humans, therefore few will ever enjoy said game. Why do that to yourself?
>>342860754
what about toki tori 1? is it worth it? or is shit?
>>342862172
It's more or less a classic metroidvania, it's not so much about openness of the levels but the playstyle you adopt that in turn changes the perspective. It's worth playing through at least twice (lethal and non lethal).
>>342862249
I didn't play it but as far as I know it wasn't very notable so the sequel flew under the radar.
>>342862216
It's really not that obtuse. It is very hard but that's why the atmosphere is so good.
>>342862062
Poorly balanced combat, bad enemy design, shallow RPG elements, no real exploration, far too easy. The gameplay focuses on looking cool and forgets anything else like actually making all the moves you have useful and building enemies that actually stand a chance against you.
>>342862787
>>342862787
Yeah I went to that with open mind and was really dissapointed. Did you play Valdis? Is it good?
>>342862787
Good to know, thanks.
>>342862185
An additional character shows up in the credits.The worst thing though is doing literally everything in the game on Hard in under 10 hours.
>>342858645
I never player it and it's on sale.
Is it worth it or will I get frustrated without looking at a guide?
>>342862890
Yeah Valdis Story does the thing Dust wanted to do a whole lot better
>>342863139
You'll get frustrated but take your time and your pen out.
>>342863208
I'll try it.
I've played like 15 hours so far.
Each time I boot it up I seem to get a bit further, sometimes by solving shit I didn't do before, sometimes discover something I didn't know I could do, or most times by sheer dumb luck.
I don't want to end up looking a guide because there's no fun in that, but I swear it'll get to the point where I will get irredeemably stumped.
The last thing I got was Isis' Pendant by pure goddamn luck when I was on my way to Inferno Caves from Temple of the Sun, and when trying to hit a bat I whipped the place it's hidden in.
Then I found out it just allows fairies to spawn by talking to the one in Endless Corridor.
I scurried around after that trying to find more places and items to get but ended up getting more Ankh jewels in the areas I hadn't gotten already.
>>342863272
>Take pen out
what ? What do you mean by this?
I love La-Mulana. But it's pretty flawed imo.
There's just a lot of bullshit in there. I think I loved it so much because there aren't really many games like that.
I hope La-Mulana 2 enhances the good parts of La-Mulana without keeping the bullshit.
>>342863139
You will get very frustrated. When/ ifyou finally win you'll feel amazing though.
It sucks little ralph is never mentioned in these threads
>Vanillaware will never make a metroidvania
>without padding
>>342859941
>that cover quality difference between aria of sorrow and dawn of sorrow
those damn weebs
>>342863656
Get a pen. Get a notebook.
La-Mulana's practically Myst moonlighting as a metroidvania.
>>342858645
Why is Lamulana so goddamn praised ? The controls aren't that good and it becomes painfully apparent during boss fights. And don't even get me started on all the cryptic bullshit that you absolutely need a guide to figure out.
There is no way anyone ever 100% that game without looking up shit on the internet. I won't believe anyone saying otherwise, that's just bullshit.
I seriously thought you had to decode pic related on your own. No regrets though, I substituted the letters so often that I subconsciously learned to slowly read them.
>>342861962
I remember downloading Cho Ren Sha from /v/ back when you could still have embedded files in your images.
>>342859941
>Kurovadis on the list
Sequel when?
>>342864392
Controls are limited but work in conjuction with positioning really well. You have to adapt a bit. There's also tons of gameplay variety in combat through itemization.
>>342864364
Good description.
>>342858645Anubis and the Buried Bone is bretty gud
The sequel's soundtrack seems to be shaping up real well.
https://soundcloud.com/user-784121968
When is the sequel coming out again?
>>342859941
Am I the only one who thinks SotN just isn't on the same level as those two? The game is beautiful but is lacking hard in the gameplay department. Such a lazily designed game
I disagree with any Shantae game being good.
They're just ok.
>>342867930
I feel the same way. The RPG shit that SOTN introduced is pure fucking cancer
>>342868843
my brother, I been trying to tell everyone that, and instantly get a knife to my neck
Even the new game looks generic as fuck, it's super fappable sure, but other than that looks boring, mediocre, short and forgettable. I'm not saying I won't pirate it, but they're decent at most.
>>342863928
I love this game too bad it didn`t had a sequel
>>342859941
is shantae and pirate's curse a metroidvania though? it's really linear
Anyone back the kickstarter for the second game?
I want to see what the updates say but they're locked to backers only. I think there was one a few days ago even.
>>342869264
you have to go into previous levels for 1min to get some things you couldn't before
>>342858645
That face in the back horrifies me to no extent. What the fuck, why?
>>342864426
autism, good job
>tfw absolutely loved Ori and the Blindforest
I really enjoyed how fluid the platforming and how pretty everything are. It's too bad that the combat is a bit shallow and imo shouldn't have been there in the first place. Looking forward to the sequel at least.
>>342869264
I think I'm gonna take it off of there.
>>342869417
it is smiling at you, noo need to be scared anon
>>342869771
Holy shit stop please
>>342869417
When those faces got revealed for the first time it made me jump. It didn't help that it's accompanied by a shriek when it happens. They did a great job of making that area incredibly unsettling and creepy.
>>342869346
The updates are pretty boring, but I'll screengrab a few for you. Hang on a minute.
>>342869378
that's bare minimum though
might as well include soul reaver at this point
>>342859941
How the hell is Demon's Crest a Metroidvania? You have to go to the world map to fly to each of the individual areas.
>>342865497
right? eroico just wasn't as fun
Latest update. Nothing exciting.
Previous.
>poison gas chamber
>>342862216
So was going to The Moon, but we did that too, pussyfart.
![tumblr_lsloy8FvLT1qkz08go1_400[1].gif](https://i.imgur.com/48nBlna.gif "tumblr_lsloy8FvLT1qkz08go1_400[1].gif")
>>342859941
>Dawn of Sorrow in god tier
>Dawn of Sorrow in the same tier as Aria
>>342869878
>there's a chance that at least one of the people in your tier might rip up their image to generate rage
Here's an earlier one.
>>342870360
I'll probably do a /v/ingo for mine.
>>342869968
Not even the girls were good, the only one I liked was the harpy
>>342867776
Next year at the earliest.
>>342859941
>No Cave Story
ONE JOB.
>>342869771
hey baby
wanna hulu n chill?
>>342870721
It's not a fucking metroidvania, you god damned retard. Fuck.
>>342870420
Can't wait for my /v/ bros to come together and solve that mystery.
>>342870308
Not to rain on your parade Dawn of Sorrow has more useful souls than Aria.
Problem with Dawn of Sorrow is the art direction is complete shit compare to Aria and muh gimmicky stylus boss battles.
>>342864392
The controls are somewhat limited/stiff by design. They're nowhere near as rigid as castlevania, and few people criticize that because it's a core part of the game.
>>342870976
>the art direction is complete shit compare to Aria
For what, the character portraits you hardly ever see? The art for everything else is a significant step up from Aria.
>>342870420
Wait the MC is a woman this time? why? Not enough diversity?
>>342871105
The artstyle feels "cheap" compare to Aria. But that's just a pet peeve of mine. Overall I think Dawn is better game. Minus the stylus gimmick that thing can fuck off
>>342871149
Cux Lemeza had a daughter, blame the lord.
Fuck man, why is everything a problem.
![b4b8e82710a19daff072816ec99f1029_large[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/6eb67VL.jpg "b4b8e82710a19daff072816ec99f1029_large[1].jpg")
>>342871149
Because they fucking felt like it. Sorry if it triggers you.
>>342869878
>>342870113
>>342870214
>>342870420
Thanks bby. :3
>>342859941
>Original Shantae
>Good
It's fucking shit
>>342867930
Sotn has pretty bad level design. And it gets progressively worse as the game goes on. Soundtrack is the best thing about it.
>>342871348
Lumisa is cute!
C U T E !
U
T
E
!
>>342872008
>mfw the inverted castle portion
That section felt so rushed and sloopily done
>>342860310
>So is La Mulana actually possible if you write down all of the hints? I played for 30 hours and gave up, but I didn't write anything down.
I'm surprised you fucked up this badly, anon. Yes, the game is largely doable if you write down basically everything in the game.
>>342870113
>castlevania stairs
FUCK
>>342871348
>>342871308
>>342871149
Because the sequel is fine be easier. They had to balance it out with a female MC. More realistic that way
>>342859941
>Castlevania CotM in God tier above HoD
This is a good list Anon.
its a fun game but some of the puzzles are too cryptic or convoluted, also fuck everything about the gate of illusion. maybe im just a dumbass
>>342872539
Gonna
>>342872408
I wasn't expecting the game to be as big as it is. I'm usually good at remembering everything, but La Mulana has got to be at least double the size of the 2nd largest Metroidvania game. That's how it feels, anyway.
I used a walkthrough for a few hours, but gave up even with that. Even with a walkthrough the solutions seem bullshit. It's more like "How in the fuck are you supposed to know that?" instead of "Oh, I'm an idiot". I don't think writing stuff down will help that much, but I may try again.
Anyone played Castle in the Darkness?
I thought it was a good Metroidvania although a little short.
it's a pnc more than it's a platformer
>>342858645
too hard for casuals. they'll never appreciate it. they didn't grow up in the nes era where games were obtuse as fuck and required a large investment. now they want everything handed to them immediately. shame really. never finished la mulana (hate the setting really) but I appreaciate what it did. would love a game with momodora 4's/settings aesthetics but like this.
Am I the only one that doesn't really think Metroidvania games are that good?
I wish we had more classicvania games before Symphony of the night changed everything. I never liked SOTN that much, the combat isn't satisfying at all. There really isn't much struggle and challenge to the games level design that makes finally beating a level satisfying.
Never liked Metroid that much either, I always thought it was overrated.
All these games have emphasis on atmosphere and exploration but their combat and level design from a combat perspective is always underwhelming compared to their linear counterparts.
I don't understand the appeal of these games, well I do, people like puzzles and trying to figure out stuff and adventure. But all that shit doesn't mean much to me unless the gameplay is actually satisfying.
>>342858645
I got a ways into this but I don't think i was more than halfway in. I got frustrated in the first area and looked up a guide only to find out that the thing i was missing was explained in the manual itself. After that I was embarrassed for being a shitter and got much further on my own, but eventually I stopped playing. Lots of fun but not for everyone. You have to enjoy being lost, making your own maps and notes like with old school rpgs. I only really stopped playing because I was binging on it and got fatigued, stopped somewhere in an area with flying monsters that shot lasers or something.
Overall great game from what I played. I'm just afraid now of going back since I've forgotten everything.
I love La Mulana, but god damn, I'm already scared of the second one just by looking at the webm posted earlier. The first one is 2cryptic4me, so I used a guide and had a fucking blast anyway, unlike my tryhard friend who tried to play without it. After 13 hours he gave up and now he hates the game so much, he gets triggered every time I mention it.
I bought Spelunky and refunded it after 20 minutes, because it reminded me of La Mulana so much I just realized I'd rather play that.
>>342873283
Metroid Prime 1 is the only good Metroid game.
>>342870904
close enough.
>>342873431
Speulunky is the same indiana jones theme but they are two completely different games. Spelunky is amazing I don't understand how you could refund that shit, one of the most hilarious and difficult games ever. One is a metroidvania the other is a rogue-like platformer with better controls.
>>342872706
>It's more like "How in the fuck are you supposed to know that?" instead of "Oh, I'm an idiot".
I won't lie, there are some leaps in reasoning in some parts.Remember to take a knee, anon.On the whole, however, most of the game's puzzles have at least one cryptic clue on a tablet somewhere. It helps immediately when you can just scan over what you have written down for relevant information.
>>342873770
Controls in La Mulana are totally fine. I'm a scrub when it comes to platformers, but I never had a problem in LM that I'd blame on controls. Spelunky seemed too shallow for me, I like to be bombarded with information when I play something and uncover it slowly. Decided not to buy any rogue-'lites' ever again and stick to DCSS.
Where is Order of Eclessia in >>342859941
I think it's god tier, it's better than Dawn of Sorrow
>>342874634
It's not a metroidvania and it's shit.
I refunded La Mulana, it's pretty boring desu
>buy the game
>remember I suck dick at puzzles
>get stuck after a while
>drop game
Even ancient shit like magic squares give me trouble. ZTD is going to be hell.
>>342859941
>As good as SotN AND Super Metroid
Is it really THAT good??? Don't fuck with me, 4chan. My monies are precious.
>>342878234
it is.
>>342862021
>For instance, Anubis's start showing up in the Mausoleum
Fuck me
This is where I stopped.Also because I heard there was a Vita version coming out and I like playing on handhelds
>>342878234
It's not for everyone. Look it up and maybe watch a video or two first.
>>342878234
I'll gift it to you, post your info.
Posting best track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rfhi6I84hM
>>342879128
You're very kind and thank you very much but I'll be getting the Vita version and Sony offers no means of gifting.
>>342864426
I did this too so I could translate the old script. Too bad it didn't help me other than reassuring me that those tablets only spoke of later puzzles. That one room where you had to read letters I already solved by trial and error.
>>342879787
Ah, that sucks. It's less than 4 bucks on Steam right now.
There's an older freeware version on PC that you can try if you want.
>>342864426
lol. My old man used to do this when playing Myst/Riven. I'll never be as smart as he was.
>>342879593
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjKIaBZgkow
This sets the mood of desperation and mounting rage very well.
>>342867930
I only like animations in SotN, I shuffled a bit and stopped playing. I mean, outstanding pixel art but I don't play Metroidvanias for RPG elements. I'd love it more if I played it when it came out.
>>342879593
>>342880226
Call me contrarian or easily retro-baited, but I really like the original Mt. Explorer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUTHBCpiU8Y
Also, posting best backside theme:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_lWH8jtUE0
>>342882905
yup, the original scc soundtrack is better
but this is actually the best back side track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7JsN-FySM0
the arpeggios at :43 are great
