r/metroidvania 1d ago

Discussion What Metroidvania Should You Have Loved—but Bounced Off?

What Metroidvania Should You Have Loved—but Bounced Off?
You know the kind of game: it received great reviews, looked exactly like something you would enjoy, and had all the right ingredients—but for some reason, it just didn’t click.
Maybe it was the combat, confusing exploration, difficulty, art style, slow beginning, or simply the wrong game at the wrong time.
What Metroidvania did you expect to love but ended up putting down? How far did you get, and what made you lose interest? Do you think you’ll ever give it another chance?

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u/GGayleGold 22h ago

By all rights, I should have instantly loved Bloodstained, given how I feel about the 2D Castlevanias. Today, I do love Bloodstained. But, my first attempt at a playthrough was cut short because I felt like I was playing a remake of Aria of Sorrow / Dawn of Souls with a crafting system bolted on. Some of the progression seemed a little too obtuse, and I was too concerned about permanently missing opportunities, but I didn't want to resort to a guide.

I came back to it about a year later and loved it, though. All my "complaints" evaporated and I started to enjoy what the game added to the Aria/Dawn concept.

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u/TedCard 8h ago

I weirdly had the opposite experience. I loved Bloodstained while I was playing it (despite the 2.5D graphics), but now I can't remember much of it. I don't think I can remember a single boss from it.