Videogames similar to those in the Metroid and Castlevania series can offer serious longevity for players who don't quite know what they're doing, but alternatively, they also allow certain other individuals to rush through them in an astonishing few hours.
Such is the case for Chair Entertainment's upcoming Xbox LIVE Arcade title, Shadow Complex. According to MTV Multiplayer, one of the game's objectives is the "Jason Bailey" challenge, which asks that you beat Shadow Complex in under two hours.
This story caused the lovely Adam Dork and I to have a quick, barely-relevant conversation about why Shadow Complex is considered to be part of the "Metroidvania" style of games. It went a little something like this:
Adam: Why are they calling Shadow Complex a Metroidvania game?
me: Because it has the Metroidvania map system and works in the same way
Adam: You mean the Metroid map system? :P
me: Whatever [/drives to Adam's house and strangles him with piano wire]
A desperate attempt at filler content, I know.
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"bitches love sandcastles" ... yet, there is no sandcastle in that photo. We may never truly understand his ways.
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Contest:
11:00 PM on 07.06.2009 | 
I think this game definitely has promise. Metroidvanias have been few and far between on consoles this generation, so I hope this turns out good.
Although I'm not surprised that Shadow Complex can be beaten i under 2 hours. I beat Super Metroid in less than an hour and a half. Although it would be nice if they extended the gameplay to at least 12 hours.
I seem to remember getting like 10:09 in Metroid 2. The map system introduced in Super was a godsend, but talk about frustration when you get lost in 2 and get where you need to be...and not have the Ice Beam.
What?
Dude... I'll assume that since you're here you have some experience with this genre. Aren't you reading the comments? Did you read the article? Does it REALLY surprise you that this is being discussed about THIS kind of game?
If it does, it shouldn't.
If you go outside today, be sure to wear sunscreen. Or a lead-insulated hazmat suit, wuss.
The problem with making a metroid-style game (Shadow Complex has no evidence of Castlevania) is that if you skip all the power ups and side quests, you can shave off a massive amount of time. Making a game over 12 hours long at minimum would require a gargantuan number of areas and levels.
Metroid Fusion has one of the biggest maps of any Metroid game I've seen, but it can still be beaten in under two hours.
I'm sure Niero and the editors are off working very hard to make sure Destructoid runs exactly how YOU see fit. Seriously.