Getting Lost in Axiom Verge

A new Metroidvania called Axiom Verge has perfected the lost art of getting lost. In this video we look at techniques used in this game, and Super Metroid, to let players off the leash - while secretly helping them figure out exactly where to go.

Games shown in this episode (in order of appearance):

Super Metroid (Nintendo, 1994)
Ghost Song (Old Moon, 2022)
Ori and the Blind Forest (Moon Studios, 2015)
Xeodrifter (Renegade Kid, 2014)
Apotheon (Alientrap, 2015)
Axiom Verge (Thomas Happ, 2015)
Shadow Complex (Chair Entertainment, 2009)
Guacamelee (Drinkbox Studios, 2013)
Strider (Capcom, 2014)
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet (Shadow Planet Productions, 2011)
Outland (Housemarque, 2011)
Metroid Fusion (Nintendo, 2002)
Metroid: Zero Mission (Nintendo, 2004)
Bloodborne (From Software, 2015)
Metroid (Nintendo, 1986)

Music used in this episode:

Trace Awakens (Axiom Verge)
Vital Tide (Axiom Verge)
Cellular Skies (Axiom Verge)
Trace Reborn (Axiom Verge)

[MrSkme]

"Getting lost and finding your way again is a pleasure like no other. We're exquisitely lucky, you and I..."
-Cornifer

[Henkz]

Another genius thing Super Metroid does that no other game that I've seen do is that you have some abilities from the start that you don't know about until you meat some animal characters that teach them to you. When you replay the game you can take other more advanced routes and get things earlier in the game.
The game provides a lot of experimenting and replay value, especially for speed runners.

[MiggyBird]

"I’m completely lost. I can’t find any way forward. Maybe if I look up GMTK’s five-year-old video on this game, I’ll miraculously find an answer in the gameplay footage."
... ... ...
"That green scratchy thing at 4:08 *isn’t* a wall?!"

[bobthemonitor]

1:40
"y can't metroid crawl?"

I....hmmmm. Nope, not touching that one.

[Momoka]

1:32 Honestly, the main reason it worked in Super Metroid so well was because every spot was memorable. You got a new item, saw what it could do... and knew right away were another way opened up now.
Also another thing that Axiom Verge has... is it seemingly is the only "Metroidvania" that is more "Metroid" then "Castlevania". Most Metroidvanias are melee based, not letting you run'n gun like Metroid did.

[Dunnykin]

These videos are really great, high quality content, so well put together, this channel should be going places. Keep up the great work!

[wb]

As someone making a Metroidvania in their spare time. Thanks for making this. Gives me a lot of insight into what makes these games Metroidvania and not just a sidescrolling adventure game.

[ty_sylicus]

This is such a beautiful game! I actually only got stuck a single time, gave it a ton of thought, and found a way out. Didn't have to use the internet a single time.

[burnedbits]

Ori and the blind forest is more focused on the fluid movement and the action jump-and-run aspects than on the metroidvenia style in my opinion. Awesome video though ^^

[micaiahflores]

Axoim verge is one of my new favorite games of all time, it literally got me back into gaming as a whole and i'm now a small time streamer. i hope thomas makes a new game soon.

[BingBangPoe]

I was skeptical about Axiom Verge, but this video really helped to see how good it is. Thanks, man! I think I'll buy it next time it's on sale.

[Rztro]

Axiom Verge is one of the best games I've ever played and I'm glad you made a video about it

[dansaidian]

can we get a video like this on hollow knight? the map system alone is worth a whole episode

[MaskedMammal]

Personally, I was a big fan of Zero Mission's objective marking. The game wasn't constantly pointing out where to go, and even when it was, the marker was usually completely off the revealed portions of the map. The markers didn't tell you the path to your objective; they only gave you a simple hint as to where to look. Finding the secrets and hidden paths that lead you there was up to you, and it was nice to have something at least giving you a general idea of what part of the map to be scouring when you're getting desperate.

My first playthrough of Super Metroid had me lost in Norfair a lot longer than expected. Actually, after about an hour of making no progress at all, seemingly trying everything in every room twice, I ended up discovering a sequence-break and continued that way. (I think I used bomb jumps to get past a grapple hook bit, getting the super missiles early?) It was a frustrating experience, though, because the accessible area was pretty large, and the game is not above putting the critical path behind somewhat obscure secrets.

[audieorlandolilybassoff]

I want to disagree a little with Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission. Yes, they told you where to go, but they didn't tell you how to get there. Part of the joy of getting lost in a Metroid game is not just the spatial sense of getting lost, but the mental sense of "what do I do to advance?" which in Metroid is always satisfying to overcome.

[pixelatatimegames]

This Chanel helps me a lot, as a developer, I study how to make my upcoming game great and have these little touches that make it fun to play. Keep up the good work!!

[HunterKiller-]

The soundtrack in axiom verge is masterful.

[ChrisBa]

The thing i like the most about axion verge is the art style. It reminds me of Blame! the manga created by tsutomu nihei. Amazing scifi creatures and world design.

[reccaman]

"You dont really know a place, until you get lost in it."

[Flight_of_Icarus]

I wish Bethesda did this more. Not every area and dungeon needs a quest tied to it, just make a dungeon and let the player find it. Hell, one of my favorite moments in gaming was finding a Ayleid Ruin in Oblivion, and just diving in with no quest marker. I used a turn undead spell to make the zombies run from me while I shot them in the back with my bow. I was RPing as a treasure hunter, and the Ayleid ruin more than suited that goal, even with a boss at the end which was a bitch to fight. It was amazing, as I managed to make off with the huge treasure at the end.

Only, much to my disappointment this treasure turned out to be a quest item, which I had to give to Martin in the main quest. They had me hooked, and then spoiled it with BS.