How 40 Years of Metroid Have Impacted The Biggest Metroidvania Developers

Metroid’s impact on the industry is widespread enough to have a whole genre named after it. It’s a privilege it splits with Castlevania, but it’s an honor all the same: a rarity shared by the likes of Rogue and Demon’s Souls. This seminal 1986 NES title helped spawn an entire style of game and influenced many creators across the industry. GameSpot spoke to various developers behind a number of modern metroidvanias to get their input on the Metroid series and how it has impacted the games they have made. These interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Rémi Boutin, senior game designer on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown I discovered Metroid through Super Metroid, and apart from the alien atmosphere, the amazing Samus Aran, and the unforgettable intro, what immediately struck me was its interconnected world. At the time, I was playing a lot of level-based games, and having this huge, hostile maze to explore, full of mysteries and secrets to uncover, was incredible. It conveyed a thrill of adventure that I had rarely experienced before, except perhaps with Zelda. For me, this is the heart of the Metroid experience: exploring a world, then ma…