The penitent one. The land of Cvstodia. I suppose to understand why this game, in my mind, is the epitome of a genre of games that is timeless, refreshing and taking games back and forth on a gated adventure, I must first understand why I in fact love this genre. Then I must help you, the reader, understand what it is that you should love about this genre. And finally, I must give you not only understanding but the love I have for a game that has filled me with such an appreciation of games that it has remained the single spark, at times, keeping me going with my love for gaming and in pursuit of a gaming career.
A game filled with intriguing lore and adventure. What makes this game so special? Why have I been drawn to it for so long.
For many, Blasphemous is a game that will go unplayed and unnoticed. To the avid Metroidvania lover, like myself, it not only defines what the genre is, but has become the very essence of what games in the genre should be. Many will go out on a limb and say that Hollow Knight is the defining game of the genre, but I am not one of the many. To be clear, Hollow Knight is forever part of the fabric that is the metroidvania genre. With that being said, and I only speak for myself, it has not had the same impact on me the way Blasphemous has. Blasphemous is something that came into my life at a point where I thought I found the land of milk and honey in streaming. It was a game that was simply a title and looked cool. But as I played it, it became something else entirely. It filled me with rage, and frustration. It gave me anxiety and stress. At the same time, I was determined and joyed when progressing further and further. It renewed the love of exploration in a world that mirrored reality but in a dark fantasy environment. It gave me strength when I felt weak. It renewed my desire to pursue something beyond my insignificant frivolous wants or self-defined needs.
But what is a metroidvania?
The term was first coined by Scott Sharkey, video game writer and frequent guest on the Retronauts podcast. However, it was never meant to be the defining term that it is now. It is as if it was just a term used as the best descriptor for a type of games that fit the style of the games that most consider the parents of the genre, Metroid and Castlevania. Metroidvania games can best be described as games that are two dimensional with a focus on guided non-linear platform progression. The world map is large and interconnected and replay ability is a huge factor due to the required backtracking because utility-gated exploration throughout the games. The allure of these games is that because you can explore mostly anywhere at any time, it is easy to discover something or someone early on that may be exceedingly difficult to defeat because of a lack of skills or required abilities to get the job done. Secret passages or rooms are elements that are always included in these games.
Okay, so why Blasphemous?
Some would argue that Blasphemous is not a true representation of the genre. Some will call it a hack and slash. Others will say it is simply 2D Dark Souls. And even still, others will say it isn’t open world enough. These are all valid reasons for why it could be defined as not being a metroidvania.
However, to me, it is the very essence of what a Castlevania relative should be. Something that looks and feels like the classic game yet is different in so many ways that it creates its own lane. Considering so many games that are defined as “metroidvania-like” or having “metroidvania elements”, there is no reason that this game cannot be considered a metroidvania. After all, the term was simply made up.
With this being the case, I contend that, not only does Blasphemous capture that feeling of what a metroidvania truly is, it also carved out a real definition of what metroidvanias, minus the Metroid part, really are.
The Land of Cvstodia
The Miracle has set upon the land, which is a curse or blessing to all its inhabitants. The Penitent One is part of the Brotherhood of the Silent Sorrow and has been revived by The Miracle. Each person that was previously resurrected must climb the ash mountain to reach Escribar, the leader of a church that is opposed by the Brotherhood. Each person that has attempted to climb the mountain to best Escribar has failed and becomes a mindless beast like the ones The Penitent One must face.
There are several elements to this game that make it a great game that, not only gamers that love metroidvanias should play but, gamers of all walks should play. The story is compelling. The art is beautiful. The animations are detailed. The music and sound design are world class. It is challenging but rewarding and has plenty of abilities, relics, and skills to be learned, earned, and acquired.
When first starting out, you traverse, the land and immediately are met by, what can best be described as a guardian. Once defeating him, you are free to roam the lands. However, not all land is accessible immediately. You will soon learn that there are items that are just a little too high or, there is a little too much of a poisonous gas to be able to get to the door that is open. The further into the game you get, the more abilities you not only need to acquire but want to acquire to get that relic you kept seeing but couldn’t reach.
The same can be said about your fighting or traversing abilities. While having the same actions can simplify game play, it is learning a new ability that adds just enough to your arsenal of skillsets and weapons to not only beat a foe but destroy them the way you were destroyed the first 15 times you attempted to defeat them. Reward for defeating a foe that took countless attempts and time is such a reward that it provides a real sense of accomplishment that makes you want to keep playing. Well, at least until the next obstacle to face.
What Should I Choose?
Skills and abilities in the form of relics or items that must be combined to receive or discover something new are sprinkled throughout the entire game. This is what makes exploration of the land such a fun part of the game. Once my inventory was filled with items that leveled me up, I was able to choose what was necessary to navigate through the land effectively as well as be properly equipped to defeat a foe. It is really a player’s preference but there are some skill sets that only make sense to equip in certain areas and environments. For example, there are these hints of blood lines or traces of where platforms would be. You need to equip a particular relic, but only after you have found some other items which then allow for you to collect that specific relic. Early in the game, you see these platforms but cannot activate them or step on them which, if you could, would allow for some cool items to be received early on. It is things like this that make the exploration and questing that much more enjoyable.
In Closing
Some will say that “it only has metroidvania like elements” or “it is not the best”. I say, never mind what they say. If you have played a metroidvania but have not played this then you are missing out. If you have wanted to play one but didn’t know where to start, I say, jump into this one. Blasphemous is such a classic game that stands on its own that I am sure that when the next one comes out, people will be singing its praises and venture back to this timeless masterpiece.
…it is the very essence of what a Castlevania relative should be.
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