Sacred Symbols+, Episode 377 | Soulslikes, Metroidvanias, and the Taxonomy of Video Games
Added 2024-04-20 16:00:13 +0000 UTCWe need to better hone the way we talk about video games, especially when it comes to their categorization. This is something that has been driving me (Colin) nuts for a while now, and it all came to head when I realized that people were describing tons of titles as "Soulslikes" that didn't seem to fit the moniker, at least from my perspective. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong... but I wanted to talk it out with some friends that both share my concerns, but that can also put me back on the right path. As such, welcome Punching Up's Gene Park and Summon Sign's Brad Ellis to Sacred+ for a brief, spirited conversation all about game genres, specifically focused on Soulslikes and Metroidvanias, but relevant to everything we play. Is it time for a video game Dewey Decimal System?
Comments
Sunshine is also my favorite 3D Mario. There are few of us.
GameSimp
2024-05-02 14:27:17 +0000 UTCWild hearing Colin mix up my name with a dark souls boss
Broderick Fleming
2024-04-25 15:15:56 +0000 UTCFightingCowboy is amazing!
Yiorgos
2024-04-24 01:31:23 +0000 UTCThis could've been an email! Still had fun listening though
Austin Black
2024-04-23 15:07:41 +0000 UTCColinโs reaction to hearing about Stellar Bladeโs gameplay. ๐ I know how you feel Col. But, youโre better than me at games so you should try out the demo at least.
NeO JD
2024-04-23 13:29:39 +0000 UTCI would say the audience wants let play content. Hell divers was ripe for this
Bob Sacamano
2024-04-22 21:41:09 +0000 UTCColin. I love you. Youโre my boi. But itโs really not complicated here. The term I think is obviously meant colloquially. If someone says that a game is the term souls like in any way my mind immediately wraps around the concept they are throwing out and what kind of game it will be. Just to not be able to define it literally isnโt as important as defining the presence and deliberate nature of a souls like. Itโs an umbrella term the way you say for music. Like Rock. Neil young and ozzy are rock. But how would you specifally define they are whe. They are so different. Itโs like the old saying old, canโt describe it but I know it when I play it
Will Ellis
2024-04-22 17:08:19 +0000 UTCI believe the God of War 2018 "Soulslike" inspiration was mostly about Niflheim Realm. Where you made runs into the mist to get Mist Echoes to earn and improve your armor.
Aaron Kell
2024-04-22 16:04:21 +0000 UTCGreat topic and episode!
lancemuser
2024-04-22 15:47:53 +0000 UTCI give a fuck about the Dewey Decimal System.
Michael Cook
2024-04-22 07:29:49 +0000 UTCGene just told me Iโm skipping Stellar Blade ๐ซ
NecrumOddBoy
2024-04-22 03:28:04 +0000 UTCDisagree. That would hurt the flow of discussion. Kinda like how the community here has convinced Colin that early gameplay elements are โspoilersโ now so we get unnecessary spoiler warnings.
My most hated race is the 400m dash
2024-04-21 21:25:34 +0000 UTCI actually don't mind people voicing a negative opinion here. I just hate people treating our comment sections like their personal journal, posting a bunch of times in sequence like anyone gives a shit what they have to say to that extent. He can take the "dear diary" routine (and his seething jealousy) to his therapist. He is banned. <3 -Colin
Colin Moriarty
2024-04-21 20:49:43 +0000 UTCWow, there's some real passion going on in this thread this week.
Chris
2024-04-21 18:57:24 +0000 UTCFrederico, not much going in life today, huh?
Vanzant
2024-04-21 16:36:41 +0000 UTCDefinitely shout out to FightinCowboy for his โsouls likeโ guides.
Gray Gordon
2024-04-21 15:50:58 +0000 UTCSouls is a 3d metroidvania.
JB
2024-04-21 13:42:08 +0000 UTCMaybe if someone calls something a souls-like or a metroidvania, it must be followed with โbecauseโฆโ Not enough people elaborate on the thought, they just think the buzzword is enough
Owen S
2024-04-21 11:25:48 +0000 UTCI'm glad Gene pulled up Colin on that Metroidvania comment and him saying Souls games aren't like that at all - Colin hasn't played enough Souls games to dismiss that comparison, and Gene explained it well
Deemac
2024-04-21 10:50:56 +0000 UTCWord
Dan Nolin
2024-04-21 00:19:44 +0000 UTCPut that one in the Lorebook!
PRETENTIEUX
2024-04-20 21:58:07 +0000 UTCJust starting this episode, but Majora's Mask is not just my favorite Zelda, but my favorite game of all time and possibly my most enjoyed piece of media across all mediums. The revisionism is real, but this is likely a consequence of a) people aging and the pool of dissenting opinions being diluted, and b) people merely becoming more familiar with it over time and softening on it.
Lunar Tear
2024-04-20 19:07:06 +0000 UTCDustin literally explained this shit better in 10min than this entire podcast could ๐๐ญ๐
Andrew Christensen
2024-04-20 18:04:44 +0000 UTCThis whole podcast didn't need to happen if Colin didn't have to take a call while Dustin gave a great answer to this whole thing during sacred
IceCreamRickShaw
2024-04-20 17:48:23 +0000 UTCNeed even more Soulsborne conversations. Who is the better Mega Man player, Colin or Matty?
Michael
2024-04-20 17:44:06 +0000 UTCIt's funny how different people approach games. I'm great at Souls games and beat most of them 10+ times. But I've tried 2 Megaman games and deleted them both very quickly - Megaman is completely unfair and not fun to me ๐
Wesali
2024-04-20 17:24:27 +0000 UTCI think he's coming around to the idea of playing it now, but for way too long Colin was unnecessarily put off by Ronin because of this idea of it being a "Soulslike". I could be wrong, but I don't recall any reputable site or journalist calling it a Soulslike after they actually got hands on and played it. That description was a lazy one used by many when it was shown off at the State of Plays, without any context as to how it felt to play - and Colin just ran with that, and that had been his impression of this game up until now. I know there's more to this discussion that they wanted to dig into than just Ronin being called a Soulslike, but it was driving me mad in recent weeks when Colin focused on that in particular, when I don't think anyone legit has been calling it that for a long time lol. It actually seems like a game he could potentially really enjoy (Ubisoft-type open world checklist game, historical aspects etc.), so I hope he does give it a go.
Deemac
2024-04-20 17:01:12 +0000 UTCFromSoft games are only games I'm interested these days. Only games that give me everything I need. I keep an eye on Souls-likes like Lords of the Fallen and Lies of P, when on sale I'll pick them up. Colin once again, Rise of the Ronin is NOT a Souls like game, it's more akin to a Ubisoft game. If you're interested, play it and don't skip it due to what you hear. Also you get too hung up on Souls like games being difficult. FromSoft games give you all the tools you need to overcome the challenge, if you brute force you will get stuck for sure. If you take what the game gives you, items you pick up for example. You are able to use fire on the boss since he's weak to fire, you'll find fire paper leading up to the boss for example.
Yiorgos
2024-04-20 16:24:27 +0000 UTCThis tickles the borderline autistic side of my brain and I'm here for it. Can't wait to give it a listen!
ajwhite
2024-04-20 16:05:48 +0000 UTCInteresting topic and a great line up for this one. Looking forward to it!
Jon Cordeiro
2024-04-20 16:05:41 +0000 UTCBeen looking forward to an in-depth discussion on this topic!
UnkemptHawk
2024-04-20 16:04:32 +0000 UTC
![[SYK]](https://xaiju.com/istorage/56232.jpg)
