Many video game series have had undeniable influences on not just their medium, but pop culture as a whole, and both the Castlevania and Metroid franchises are certainly foundational examples. Curiously, these two franchises tackle incredibly different subject matter, yet they both feature comparable gameplay that emphasizes exploration through a labyrinthine environment. Castlevania pulls from horror touchstone, while Metroid is more of a tribute to the science fiction genre.
However, the term “Metroidvania” has been born out of the audience's appreciation for the immersive gameplay that these two video game franchises offer and the way they both serve as the foundation for what has become a genre all its own Metroid and Castlevania are still highly relevant, but they both have their share of unique advantages as well as detriments that set them apart from each other.
10 Metroid: It Successfully Offers More Genre Versatility
Metroid and Castlevania are both franchises that have been around for decades, and while they’ve more or less stayed true to their roots, it’s Metroid that’s taken more risks in terms of structure and gameplay.
The Metroid series started as an action-adventure side-scroller, but over time it’s evolved into an impressive first-person shooter series with Metroid Prime, a more hack-and-slash style action title with Other M, and even received a pinball adaptation. Castlevania has also taken a few risks, like with fighting game Castlevania Judgment, but those have been less successful and Castlevania has largely remained an action-adventure title.
9 Castlevania: It Reinvents Gothic Horror In Exciting Ways
Castlevania has been able to connect with so many people because it takes the familiar touchstones of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and other archetypal vampire literature to influence the narrative of the franchise. Castlevania has much respect and appreciation for classic gothic horror, but it’s also brave enough to reinterpret it in bold, new ways.
It’s oddly satisfying to encounter Casltevania’s radical takes on concepts like Death, werewolves, or mermen. Metroid presents a distinct point of view on science fiction, but it’s not as deconstructive as Castlevania.
8 Metroid: The Power-Ups & Abilities Are More Creative
Something that the Metroid series does incredibly well is the feeling of isolation that it creates as Samus navigates through these giant areas all on her own. It makes all of Samus’ accomplishments carry more weight, and this in turn generates even more excitement whenever Samus acquires new upgrades and weaponry for her arsenal.
Samus’ litany of projectile attacks, in addition to her iconic Screw Attack and Morph Ball, offer so much versatility and offer up so much freedom in terms of how puzzles and enemies are conquered.
7 Castlevania: It Mixes Magic With Melee Combat
The Castlevania series understands that there are many different ways to take care of demons and the undead. A lot of the time, a strong hand-to-hand combat weapon will get the job done, but multiple Castlevania characters are also proficient magic users that can conjure more elaborate and deadly onslaughts.
Magic isn’t typically essential to victory in Castlevania, but it’s a nice perk. Alternatively, Metroid does equip Samus with a broad arsenal, but she’s not able to switch over to magical powers or cosmic abilities if she suddenly grows tired of her arm cannon.
6 Metroid: The Haunting Soundtrack Accentuates The Gameplay
Music is an essential component of video games that can sometimes go overlooked, but can often be the deciding factor in if a game can become properly immersive or not. Hirokazu Tanaka’s work on Metroid’s score is legendary and it truly amplifies the distant feeling of isolation in space that fills the earlier entries in the series.
Castlevania also has an iconic soundtrack that some might say is superior when the two are compared strictly as musical accomplishments— but Metroid’s music is so much more synonymous with and important to the experience of actually playing the game, while Castlevania's score feels more supplementary.
5 Castlevania: There’s A Massive Scope & Timeline That Spans Generations
One of the reasons that the Castlevania series has been able to persevere for so long and stay fresh is that the various games cover numerous timelines, different characters, and a comprehensive mythology that goes back many generations. The Belmont family are typically at the center of Castlevania titles, but this switches between Simon, Trevor, Richter, and more.
Additionally, other valuable protagonists like Alucard and Maria Renard also step into the spotlight. Alternatively, the Metroid games primarily focus on just Samus Aran’s journey over a considerably smaller scope. Despite the fact that the series is set across multiple planets throughout the recesses of outer space, the events of the games are still primarily told through the eyes of just one person and set entirely during that one person's lifetime.
4 Metroid: The Wealth Of Hidden Items, Upgrades, And Secrets
There are many people that have beaten a Metroid video game, but there are substantially less that have properly cleared all 100% of a Metroid title. The games in the series are so deep and offer incredible replay value because upgrades, secret abilities, and even just hidden pieces of lore are expertly hidden throughout the environments.
There’s such a satisfying sense of accomplishment when a fake wall gets discovered or destroyed. This exploration aspect also really makes it feel like Samus is on some foreign planet where she has limited knowledge on what to expect.
3 Castlevania: There’s Such A Variety In Weapons & Gameplay Styles
Something to appreciate about Castlevania is that it doesn’t hold the audience’s hand and it offers them a considerable amount of freedom in terms of what weapons they use and how they best want to dominate the undead. There are standard weapons, such as whips and swords, which are an asset, but Castlevania provides dozens of powerful weapons that all operate differently and have their share of benefits and disadvantages.
Most Castlevania games doesn’t force players to use one weapon if they’re uncomfortable with it and it’s helpful that there’s room to develop unique playing styles.
2 Metroid: It Establishes Samus Aran As One Of Gaming's Best Heroines
It’s no exaggeration to say that the reveal at the end of the original Metroid, where Samus Aran is shown to be a woman after the game was previously vague about her sex— if not outright saying that she was a he, as in the NES version's instruction manual— is one of the most iconic video game moments of all time.
Back in the 1980s it was extremely uncommon to have a female protagonist, especially in an action-heavy title like Metroid. This simple decision has led to the development of one of the strongest and most inspirational heroines in the entire medium. Castlevania has occasionally had female protagonists, but none of them have made the same cultural impact as Samus.
1 Castlevania: It Offers Superior Boss Battles
Castlevania certainly doesn’t waste its opportunities to feature all sorts of twisted enemies that try to slow down the series’ intrepid vampire killers. The variety in the standard enemies goes far, but it’s the epic boss battles where Castlevania truly excels. These gigantic beasts legitimately create a feeling of danger and require clever strategies to be defeated.
Metroid has some exciting aliens that need to be taken out, but they’re not on the same scale of Death, Beelzebub, or some of Castlevania’s other heavier hitters. Beyond Ridley and Mother Brain, no other Metroid bosses have really left much of an impression, and boss battles in the series are often more of an annoyance to get through as quickly as possible rather than an exciting encounter to look forward to.