...Metroid and Metroidvania (non stage-based Castlevania) games.

I don't know what it is about them but I really enjoying this format lately.

What I'm looking for are basically 2d or 2.5d action/ platformers that take place in a persistent world that you explore to unlock powerups that help you progress through the game (ie there are no stages). Ones with a lot of secrets. I recently went through Metroid (NES), Metroid Zero Mission, Metroid Fusion, Super Metroid, Rygar (nes), Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and Cave Story on my psp and I need to find more like this. Preferably on PC, PSP, or DS. It can be indie, an extensive rom hack, a flash game... anything really. As long as it's worth playing.

Anything but I wanna be the guy. Super Metroid Redesign is as brutal as I'm willing to try.

GBA and DS has bunch of those Castlevania titles (Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance and Aria of Sorrow for GBA + Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin and Order of Ecclesia for DS). When I think about it, there's actually rather low amount of games of this style even though they seem to sell well even if they're not that good.

in the indie bracket i can suggest aquaria and An Untitled Story

aquaria is pay, but there's a free demo. it's metroid underwater basically.

an untitled story is a free indie game where you play as an egg and have to explore the world, basically. a bunch of storyline happens in the later part of the game, and it took me a day of solid playing to beat it, not finding all the secrets.

obviously cave story and it's predecessor ikachan are worth a play, too.

and knytt stories and it's plethora of downloadable extra levels.. seiklus is a good ye olde indie metroid 'em up too.

there are others in the same vein but i can't remember them right now.

GBA and DS has bunch of those Castlevania titles (Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance and Aria of Sorrow for GBA + Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin and Order of Ecclesia for DS). When I think about it, there's actually rather low amount of games of this style even though they seem to sell well even if they're not that good.

I loved SOTN but held back from playing the other Metroidvanias because yeah... they really do go downhill from there. That's why I asked which ones are worth playing.

It's a shame that there aren't more though. It would take so little for them to make a megaman game like this... why not go for it.

in the indie bracket i can suggest aquaria and An Untitled Story

Funny. I stopped playing Aquaria for the same reason I am picking it up again. I've had it for well over a year... but thanks for reminding me. Never heard of the rest though... thanks for that too.

I have only played the first Castlevania for DS but it was very good, probably the second best Castlevania. I have heard good things about the new one as well.

Oh right. They just came out with a new one didn't they. Order of Ecclesia... I'll go check it out.

ZX and ZX Advent, yeah, but.. idk, they're not REALLY Metroidvanias imo.

It's just you have an open world, you can't initially reach all of it, but the only way to progress is to go through missions in chronological order. And they all happen in one set area, so it's just an interconnected world so instead of having a loading screen, you walk there.

Not that they're bad Megaman games, but I wouldn't call them Metroidvanias.