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In need of good exploration-based 2D side-scroller

J

JSnake

Member
Alright, the title basically says what I'm looking for. It has to be a freeware PC game or something I could easily find for a Super Nintendo or such. Now, I've played Cave Story, Knytt, Knytt Stories (and most of its expansion packs), Ika-Chan, La-Maluna, Clock Tower, Castlevania games, and Zelda 2, so don't suggest those. I loved all of those games, but I want something new. As for what I specifically want, I'd like a 2D side-scoller with a medium focus on combat and a high emphasis on exploration and atmosphere. Awesome music is also something I'd like, but it's not required (although the music has to be tolerable. music is my favorite part of a game, and bad music means a bad game to me). To show you what my tastes are like, Super Metroid is my favorite game of all time. If there's a Super Metroid clone out there, I'd love to see it.

I think that's all. Thanks GAF.
 
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Ahhh damn, Super Nintendo.

How about Clock Tower for the SNES? I'm not sure if you're Japanese or able to read it, but that's a very heavy atmospheric game, mind you there's not TOO much of an emphasis on combat, but that reinforces the atmosphere and that seems to be your main priority?

EDIT: How about one of the Castlevania games?
 
I played Clock Tower with the use of a translation patch. Awesome game, though. And yeah, atmosphere is what I'm looking for.

And I've played all the MetroidVania games. AFAIK, the older ones aren't exploration-based. I did love them, though.
 
JSnake said:
I played 1 and 2 very briefly. They didn't seem very exploration-based? :x
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The Amiga or PC version at least had an exploration vein to the levels. There's various secret rooms, passages and such you can just play trough like any other action game if you want though.
 
Prime crotch said:
The Amiga or PC version at least had an exploration vein to the levels. There's various secret rooms, passages and such you can just play trough like any other action game if you want though.
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Are they freeware now?
 
Monster World 1-4 (all are on SMS/TG16/Genesis). If you want something newer, check out Super Paper Mario (but it's sorta janky imo).
 
This thread just makes me think of that indy game that never got made by that one guy in whats that place?

anyway it was black and white and the trailer ended with a saw.
 
Zeliard (old PC game was probably on some other platforms too) not so much exploration though... it's also not free but i'd say you can find it for like 1$ somewhere now. it's apparently considered abandonware by a lot of people and thus is freely downloadable on many internet sites according to wikipedia.

Faxanadu for the NES?

Ys 3?
 
jarrod said:
Monster World 1-4 (all are on SMS/TG16/Genesis). If you want something newer, check out Super Paper Mario (but it's sorta janky imo).
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I liked SPM. :D I'll check out the Monster World games.

Guys, it really needs to be free for the PC. I don't have a credit card. If I can find it in a store for cheap, OK.
 
Have you played Wario Land 3? It's very much like Metroid, in that you explore to get more abilities to unlock new areas and so on. The major difference is that, instead of the world being one large area to explore, it's broken down into several smaller areas that are accessed via a map screen. But it's still pretty heavy on the exploration aspect.

Only Wario Land 3 does this, though. The other Wario Land games are more traditional platformers with mostly linear stages.
 
KevinCow said:
Have you played Wario Land 3? It's very much like Metroid, in that you explore to get more abilities to unlock new areas and so on. The major difference is that, instead of the world being one large area to explore, it's broken down into several smaller areas that are accessed via a map screen. But it's still pretty heavy on the exploration aspect.

Only Wario Land 3 does this, though. The other Wario Land games are more traditional platformers with mostly linear stages.
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Wario 3 is still one of the best handheld games ever created
 
Abuse, I don't know if it's related to what you want since it's more of an action oriented platformer. But it's a VERY good one and there are modded versions of it for windows that are out. Worth a look.
 
The Commander Keen series is probably in the right vein, especially the later titles. Not too many enemies (except on hard), full of hidden nooks and crannies to discover (and usually a secret level somewhere in the episode), an overworld hub that lets you pick which level to play, good music, and some lovely Chuck Jones-inspired art (16 color limit aside).

Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure is another good choice from that era with similar gameplay and good music, though it has linear level progression and somewhat higher enemy density.
 
A PC 2D exploration side scroller adventure game, on par with Super Metroid, that's free? I think you'll be hard pressed to find one.

Turrican II is one of my all time favourite platform adventure games. Lots to explore, very atmospheric and tonnes of secret stuff. The C64 version is the best in my opinion (and the system it was originally developed on).

Cadash is an amazing platform adventure RPG. It's huge and has secret shit all over the place (try walking into walls and hitting steps). The arcade is the best but if you need a home version, the Megadrive one is pretty good.

And even further away from your requirements. Ultimate Ghosts n Goblins on the PSP is the best platform adventure game I've played since Super Metroid. Sure, you'll have to pay for this one but it's worth it. Huge game, hidden stuff and areas all over the place. If you're a fan of the genre and never play this game, you've missed out on arguably the best the genre has to offer.
 
You didn't say whether you've played either of the Metroid GBA games. They are both fantastic and you said your favorite game of all time is Super Metroid, so in my opinion they are a must for you if you haven't played them yet. Fusion is more linear, but still a complete blast.

And I second Yoshi's Island. Easily one of the greatest platformers ever made, it's practically perfect. Beautiful graphics(it might be the best looking game the SNES ever produced), nice soundtrack, and phenomenal gameplay. It's more exploration based than the other Mario platformers. Each level is huge and impeccably designed. You try to reach 100% in each level by finding flowers and hidden red coins, opening up new areas based on your %. Plus it has some great mini-games and incredibly fun boss battles. It's hardly a Metroid type game, but it's awesome. Pick it up.
 
If you have a PS2 or BC capable PS3, Odin Sphere was awesome. Great RPG/side-scrolling action game, amazing water color style graphics, voice acting and soundtrack...
 
Since you liked Zelda 2 I'd suggest Faxanadu on the NES. Nice action/adventure/RPG with upgradeable armour, sword etc and four or five destructive magic spells plus a big-ass map to explore.

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SunkisTim535 said:
You didn't say whether you've played either of the Metroid GBA games. They are both fantastic and you said your favorite game of all time is Super Metroid, so in my opinion they are a must for you if you haven't played them yet. Fusion is more linear, but still a complete blast.

And I second Yoshi's Island. Easily one of the greatest platformers ever made, it's practically perfect. Beautiful graphics(it might be the best looking game the SNES ever produced), nice soundtrack, and phenomenal gameplay. It's more exploration based than the other Mario platformers. Each level is huge and impeccably designed. You try to reach 100% in each level by finding flowers and hidden red coins, opening up new areas based on your %. Plus it has some great mini-games and incredibly fun boss battles. It's hardly a Metroid type game, but it's awesome. Pick it up.
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Played both. Played all the Metroids. Played Lyle in Cube Sector. Played Within a Deep Forest. Keep 'em coming, guys. :D

Oh, and I didn't like Faxanadu much. :(
 
h3ro said:
If you have a PS2 or BC capable PS3, Odin Sphere was awesome. Great RPG/side-scrolling action game, amazing water color style graphics, voice acting and soundtrack...
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yeah, but I dont how much Odin Sphere is exactly exploration based.
 
Replaying Super Metroid always works for me, but yeah, while I have nothing to contribute I want to show my support for this thread, and exploration-based 2D sidescrollers in general.
 
Megaman X was a great side-scroller and it has some sort of exploration...

Demon's Crest is also great, I strongly recommend it

Also try E.V.O. the search for Eden; exploration isn't it's strongest part, but it is a great great RPG-platformer.

And if you want any good Snes game, try any game made by quintet =P (I'm a Quintet troll)
 
you basically want Another World. i'm not sure how free it is these days (the original one), but if i were you i'd bust my ass to get my hands on a used copy. the game is out of this world. literally.

also, another more linear/less puzzle game by the same author which i also love from the bottom of my heart is Heart of Darkness. i still keep the original pc cd-rom on my desk, just looking at it makes me a better person.

ps: none of these two games is technically a 'side-scroller' though - they are more rooms-based, but that should not bother you at all.

pps: flashback is another classic title you may want to track a copy of.

ppps: doh, almost forgot - blizzard's Blackthorne. you can track the pc version, or you can get the GBA port.
 
Agree with Demon's Crest, Another/Out of this World and also Flashback. If you really want to, you might be able to find Abe's Oddysee/Exodus for PC. Awesome games.
 
Rezbit said:
Agree with Demon's Crest, Another/Out of this World and also Flashback. If you really want to, you might be able to find Abe's Oddysee/Exodus for PC. Awesome games.
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damn, i knew i missed something!
 
blu said:
you basically want Another World. i'm not sure how free it is these days (the original one), but if i were you i'd bust my ass to get my hands on a used copy. the game is out of this world. literally.

also, another more linear/less puzzle game by the same author which i also love from the bottom of my heart is Heart of Darkness. i still keep the original pc cd-rom on my desk, just looking at it makes me a better person.

ps: none of these two games is technically a 'side-scroller' though - they are more rooms-based, but that should not bother you at all.

pps: flashback is another classic title you may want to track a copy of.

ppps: doh, almost forgot - blizzard's Blackthorne. you can track the pc version, or you can get the GBA port.
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Wait, Blizzard made an exploration-based 2D sidescroller? That's possibly the most fantastic combination ever. It's not rare, is it?
 
I may be misremembering, but isn't Battle of Olympus more like Zelda II than a Metroid game? I guess if you consider that exploration-based 2D sidescrolling...
 
bdouble said:
Wow almost a whole page and Gaf hasn't mentioned. Great story. Big map. Upgradable weapons. Decent game pad highly recommended.

Cave Story
http://bp2.blogger.com/_BDCqpuwRnf4/RtVYKjJFV3I/AAAAAAAACFs/2GvYWx7jw8A/s400/Cave+stiry+ds.jpg[img]
[img]http://alcachofacorporation.bitacoras.com/cavestory1.gif[img][/QUOTE]
Great game and all, but, uh, first post.
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Sharp said:
Wait, Blizzard made an exploration-based 2D sidescroller?
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more of a puzzle-based 2d linear action-adventure. it's not metroidvania, alright, but the game is a blast.

That's possibly the most fantastic combination ever. It's not rare, is it?
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well, i still own the late GBA version, re the pc one - i have no idea these days, sorry. according to the wiki page of the game, there was a macos version and a 32x version (of the existence of which i had no clue) along with the original SNES and ms-dos versions.
 
blu said:
more of a puzzle-based 2d linear action-adventure. it's not metroidvania, alright. but the game is a blast.



well, i still own the late GBA version, re the pc one - i have no idea these days, sorry. according to the wiki page of the game, there was a macos version and a 32x version (of the existence of which i had no clue) along with the original SNES and ms-dos versions.
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I could play it in DosBOX if I got a copy. Just need to find it used, I guess, or get a DS and get the GBA version.
 
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