2D Platformers / Metroidvanias

I've done a quick search and noticed that Nine Sols hasn't been mentioned in this thread, so lets rectify that. It's the latest game by Red Candle, best known for making that horror game that got pulled from Steam over a reference to Xi Jinping looking like Winnie the Pooh.

I've been playing it and it's pretty much Hollow Knight meets Sekiro so far. It's excellent, if incredibly difficult. It looks gorgeous and plays wonderfully, with a bit more of a focus on combat over platforming and secret hunting than the average Metroidvania.

Though I'd be careful to note that doesn't mean *more* combat. If anything the intensity and challenge of it has made them put fewer enemies in than the averge Metroidvania.

I might sniff out a review or two, but I’m heavily invested in The Messenger at the moment, which I’ve become obsessed with. I’ve had to play it in short bursts, due to my funky eyes, but I’m obsessed with it. Why didn’t I give this more consideration when it first came out?

Considering you’ve given me, arguably, the best recommendation I’ve ever had on these old forums, I might just have to take a look!

Some castle platform sections are evil

Not sure if I'm a Contra fan but it does look really nice in a gross way

So the price is €20 and it's -10% off the first week, pretty much exactly what I expected. Bought it and played through in normal mode already. I'll wait with my review until I've finished hard mode but so far:

It's an audiovisual treat, the graphics are so authentic they could be from an actual 16-bit game--one with great graphics, that is. For background music however, they decided to go with an unrestricted heavy metal soundtrack and I think that was a good choice actually because it complements the game beautifully. There is a retro soundtrack option if you prefer that, but for once I actually like the modern one much more. Explosions are meaty and satisfying with just the right amount of screen shake (as opposed to the modern trend of just making everything shake the screen at all times).

Gameplay is pretty simple and straightforward, which is not a bad thing imo because it gets the basics right. The actual Contra games are filled to the brim with gimmicks and variety actually, expect much less of that here, the entire game is about the bread-and-butter run'n'gun parts with just a few vertical sections and stage hazards here and there. The weapons are pretty basic and straightforward too compared to Contra games. If you've played the demo, you've seen almost the entire game, it's pretty much the same, just with 9 levels instead of 2. If all of this good or not depends only on your personal preferences. I'm fine with it.

In terms of difficulty, it leans toward the easier side in the genre, I played through normal mode the first time without getting a single game over and there's even an easy mode. I'm playing hard mode now which is more of a challenge (got a game over in level 2 and 3 each so far*), but we'll see how the late game will turn out. This means I'm not sure yet if it's the right game for players looking for arcade-level challenge (probably not), but for players who just want some fun run'n'gunning without the exponential difficulty curve it's great. Again, just play the demo and you know the game.

*there are unlimited continues, but the game actually plays like a sequence of isolated levels where even your lives are refilled every time you reach a new level, so that you can skip getting a game over on purpose because you think you have too few lives. Instead of savegames there's a level select when you start the game so you can start playing in any level you want (that you have reached at least once). Essentially it's a password system without typing in passwords. It's an accessible, accommodating game and I don't think that's a bad thing at all. But it might wrinkle some hardcore player noses.


It already wet my appetite for more of the genre, being someone who isn't that hot on Contra games usually. There's an actual Contra game (Operation Galuga) released only half a year ago and it's currently on sale at -40%. But that's still €24 coming from a ludicrous regular price of €40, it also has a demo on Steam and judging from that that's still far more than I want to pay.

It's made by Wayforward, it's a reimagining of the original game and it feels a bit like "what if we take the first game but add a story mode and 3D graphics and double jumps and air dashes and the Contra 3 homing missiles?", and I have doubts that's a great idea. It still seemed ok gameplay-wise but the graphics look cheap and ugly, sound effects and soundtrack felt too muted and overall it tasted a little bland. There's even too little screen shake, which is odd because I'm not even usually a fan of screen shake and the same developer makes the Shantae games where killing any enemy causes an earthquake.

Made me appreciate all the more how in contrast, the developer of Iron Meat got all of this so right. Contra should be a visceral experience and Iron Meat delivers. I'll get the Contra game but only when it goes below €10. I have a feeling that's going to happen sooner or later, given how it's already -40% 6 months after release.


Perhaps even more interesting than Iron Meat right now for anyone looking for a newer Contra game: Blazing Chrome, another 16-bit-style Contra callback, is also on sale for only €5 or something. I haven't played far yet but it seems great and got raging reviews so apparently that's amazing value. So far it seems quite a bit harder than Iron Meat, but there's also an easy mode. Can't say much about it before playing through, but thought I'd mention it to anyone even slightly interested in the genre.

I don't think I like the constant movement/bullet hell style of the contra games. I like having a bit of room to move about

RadicalRex what was the name of that game you posted about that's similar to MM Zero a while ago? Also, how authentic is 30XX? The procedural/roguelike nature of it gives me pause

Visually I think it looks much nicer than 20XX

Yeah, I remember you really liking Gravity Circuit. It's on Switch as well

The review I watched of 30XX said it was quite obtuse and doesn't tell you what anything does. What kind of item spam are we talking about? Upgrades?

I meant to ask, how are you with 3D platformers?

Has Tales of iron ever been mentioned in this thread? I'll bet it's been slept on and that's a real shame. It's basically 2D dark souls rats Vs frogs edition. It's also narrated by Geralt. I'm not great at DS so I guess this is a little easier than that. If you like 2d exploration, interesting combat and some nice touches like the town repopulating and rebuilding in the background as you progress it's a must.

Which one is 3, SNES? I don't think it's really anything like Contra but it just popped into my head for some reason- Sunset Riders is ace. I discovered the arcade version on holiday and then bought it for the SNES when I got home. That was also the holiday of The Newzealand Story, Robocop and Kung Fu Master

If you want a challenge, try Robocop 3 on SNES

Was Probotector for me! Doubt I ever finished it but I do remember the giant robot first boss. I just remember it being really hectic and dying because of a stray bullet you didn't notice. I was going to say I don't like it when you have to learn every enemy placement to beat a game but that's basically the MM Zero games and I love those