The Action/Platformer Genre Thread: Metrovania we hardly know thee

[Kenryoku_Maxis]

cr00mz said:

Kenryoku_Maxis said:

@cr00mz

the difference between Prince of Persia and Assassins Creed is Prince of Persia focuses almost exclusively on the puzzle solving and action side, while Assassins Creed focuses more on the 'three' key elements (item progression, platforming and free roaming).  Yes, you can say Prince of Persia also had platforming and technically had free roaming, though a lot of times previous areas were closed off or not necessary to revisit.  And Prince of Persia focused more on combining platforming with puzzles.

I dont understand how you can call Assassin's Creed focused on item progression and Prince of Persia is not. The biggest differnece between their pickups is that the ones in Prince of Persia are actually needed to complete the game. In assassin's Creed they are not.

How does the bolded part also not fit Assassin's Creed? Again i havent played assassins creed for almost 2 years so i might not remember everything correctly.

 

But wasnt it that you started in Masyaf, and were only limited to that place until you progressed the story further. I think Damascus, Acre and Jerusalem were all closed off until progressing far enough into the game that they become unlocked?

In prince of persia, several if not all of the locations are pretty much closed off, untill you trigger that cut-scene that eventually opens up the game. And you are basically free to do the "mission", which is more freer (is that a word) than Assassin's Creed, in any order you want. Several of the locations are closed off until you can get those powers that let you progress through the story.

 

I wouldt exactly call the puzzles in prince of persia complex, they are pretty simple

Yes prince of persia focuses more on puzzles than Assassin's Creed, but didn't you say that Muramasa was a sort of "next evolution" of metroid-like game? a new style, wouldnt Prince of Persia fit into that category? It doesnt follow the metroid-style exactly but neither does muramasa

also i dont understand your comment about Resident Evil having platforming aspects. I've never finished a resident evil games (besides 4) but i have never heard of platforming in that series.

In Assassins Creed, after you are able to leave Masyaf, you are given the choice to go to any of the three cities you want, as well as freely explore the main 'overworld' map.  In effect, 60%-70% of the game is open to you after the initial prologue period.  And after you collect 3 bounties, another section of the game is unlocked.  Repeat once more and 100% of the game is open to you. 

Assassins Creed II is more like Princeof Persia, with areas gradually opening up over the course of the game, but still focuses on free roaming exploration.  Whereas the areas in Prince of Persia are more linear and more geared towards just getting to the end of a room or hallway.  And again, you return to all the areas multiple times in the Assassin Creed games, whereas in Prince of Persia, you only backtrack a few times, and usually just getting to new areas.

Also, I meant Resident Evil has limited platforming, just like I was making the example of Zelda.  You still climb, push blocks and etc, but its a focus on puzzle solving like in Zelda.  My example was to show that you can name tons of games that have 'platforming' or 'free roaming' aspects and to kind of agree with you that makes the definitions of each genre pretty vague.  Once again, as I said for Zelda and other games.