Fun with Photoshop: MetroidVania for the NES

 This faxe game box was also suggested by Prof. Dutch Bag, an epic crossover between Metroid and Castlevania. I decided to use the design style from the classic NES games (such as Super Mario Bros. and the original Metroid) because the style of both games would merge well (the game sprites are almost the same size).The term "MetroidVania" is used for games that contain lots of exploring and backtracking. While the classic Metroid games used this formula, the Castlevania games were action / platformers, it wasn't until Symphony of the Night that the exploration mechanics were introduced. Some games that use the "MetroidVania" game style are: Strider (2014), Guacamelee (2013), Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (2013), Green Lantern (2011 for the Wii) and more. Later.

P.S. Nintendo, please hire IGA (from Castlevania Symphony of the Night) for the next Metroid game.

Iga left Konami

After being MIA for years, Koji Igarashi (also known as Iga) left the company he worked for more than 20 years. He is famous for his work with the Castlevania video game series for most of the 90's and 2000's and responsible for creating the masterpiece that is Symphony of the Night.  Iga will go independent and "make the kind of games I really want to make – the same kind I think fans of my past games want as well" as he said in an official release. This seems to follow what happened a while back with Keiji Inafune (of the Mega Man series).

Symphony of the Night is my all-time favorite game, I still play it to this day. The Lords of Shadow reboot was not bad but not very impressive. I would have wanted another 2-D Metroidvania-style release (even in handheld) produced by Iga, but looks like this won't happen. It will be interesting to see what kind of concepts he will develop now that he is free from the limitations he had on Konami. Could this be the rise of a 2-D spiritual successor to the Castlevania series? Will frecent colaborators such as artist Ayami Kojima and composer Michiru Yamane be part of this. And what will happen to Konami? Besides Metal Gear, their franchises are either developed by other studios... or dead.

Best of luck Iga. I look forward to his next project!

Source
Iga image taken from: wired.com