Let’s Stop Saying “Metroidvania”

The original Metroid and Castlevania both turn 40 years old this fall. As the two series most responsible for creating the “metroidvania,” we’re taking this occasion to take a comprehensive view of the popular genre. When we talk about something, we should talk about it in ways people can understand. (Yes, Vampire Killer and Simon's Quest both had Metroid-y elements, but the former wasn't open-ended enough and the latter was too open-ended and obtuse; it wasn't until Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, over a decade later, that Castlevania really jumped on board the 'Troid train.)  Castlevania didn't adopt search-action mechanics until Symphony of the Night So either you have no idea what "Metroidvania" means, or you know that it's not even that accurate a term, and in either case, the solution is simple: Stop using it.