Metroidvanias should employ unique thematics, be it religious Castilian-inspired worlds, East-Asian taoism, to steampunk. Too many metroidvanias utilize grit and dark worlds in an attempt to set the player on an odyssey out of the depths of Tartarus. I can understand that familiarity breeds nostalgia, which in turn breeds happy players, but breaking the trend can lead to just as many happy players...[Read More]