Metroidvania

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Metroidvania

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Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr

Proto-Hellenic *mā́tēr

Ancient Greek μήτηρ (mḗtēr)

Proto-Indo-European *tpelH-

Proto-Hellenic *ptólis

Ancient Greek πόλῐς (pólĭs)

Ancient Greek μητρόπολις (mētrópolis)bor.

Latin metropolis

Latin mētropolītānuslbor.

French métropolitain

French métrobor.

English metro

Proto-Indo-European *h₂nḗr

Proto-Hellenic *anḗr

Ancient Greek ἀνήρ (anḗr)

Proto-Indo-European *weyd-der.

Ancient Greek εἶδος (eîdos)

Proto-Indo-European *-os

Proto-Indo-European *-ēs

Ancient Greek -ης (-ēs)

Ancient Greek -ειδής (-eidḗs)

Ancient Greek ἀνδροειδής (androeidḗs)bor.

New Latin androideslbor.

English android

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English Metroid

Proto-Indo-European *ḱes-der.

Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr

Proto-Indo-European *-tromder.

Proto-Italic *kastrom

Latin castrum

Proto-Indo-European *-lós

Proto-Italic *-elos

Latin -lum

Latin castellumbor.

Proto-West Germanic *kastell

Old English castel

Middle English castel

English castle

Proto-Indo-European *terh₂-der.

Proto-Italic *trānts

Medieval Latin trāns

Medieval Latin trans-

Medieval Latin silva

Proto-Indo-European *-nós

Proto-Italic *-nos

Medieval Latin -nus

Medieval Latin silvānus

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂

Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā)der.

Ancient Greek -υς (-us)?

Ancient Greek -εύς (-eús)?

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-ih₂der.

Ancient Greek -ιᾰ (-iă)

Ancient Greek -ειᾰ (-eiă)der.

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Ancient Greek -ης (-ēs)

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Ancient Greek -ῐᾰ (-ĭă)

Ancient Greek -ειᾰ (-eiă)der.

Medieval Latin -ia

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Old Hungarian Erdeuelucalq.

Medieval Latin Trānsylvānialbor.

English Transylvania

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English Castlevania

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English Metroidvania

Blend of Metroid +‎ Castlevania, two influential games of this type.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌmɛtɹɔɪdˈveɪni.ə/

Noun

Metroidvania (countable and uncountable, plural Metroidvanias)

1. (video games, informal) A (genre of) platform game with role-playing game elements and inventory items, involving more exploration than a traditional linear platform game, particularly revisiting previously explored areas.
   • 2008, “Metroid”, in Craig Glenday, editor, Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition, London: Guinness World Records, →ISBN, page 65, column Trivia:

     The Castlevania games share similarities with the Metroid series, in particular the free-roaming design in which new abilities allow access to different areas. Because of this, fans often refer to such games as “Metroidvania” in style.

   • 2009 September 1, Chris Whitworth, “Batman Arkham Asylum 24.99”, in uk.games.video.misc‎ (Usenet), message-ID <[e-mail]>:

     It's got Metroidvania elements - it's structured like one, I guess, in that it's lots of exploration with a fair bit of backtracking and getting new abilities that unlock previously unopened areas and that sort of thing.

   • 2009 September 14, Jonah Falcon, “Shadow Complex Great Game”, in alt.games.video.xbox‎ (Usenet), message-ID <[e-mail]>:

     Pure Metroidvania... with 3D in-engine cutscenes.

   • 2019 June 18, Christian Donlan, “Gato Roboto review - a pet-sized Metroidvania filled with delights”, in Eurogamer‎:

     Metroidvanias are an inherently clever genre, and the cleverness can sometimes sap a little of the energy.

Related terms

• Igavania

Descendants

• → Japanese: メトロイドヴァニア (Metoroidovania)