There's a certain degree of predictability to the metroidvania genre. The opening area is the part where the story takes a moment to emphasise how alone I am, and then makes me do a bit of vanilla jumping and attacking while I pass by all the interesting places I can't go yet but will inevitably have to revisit in a few hours time. I'll see some obviously open passageway that's just a little too high for me to reach and I'll sigh, wondering if this is one of those games where I'll eventually get up there with a double jump, or if it's one of those games where I'll learn how to wall kick instead.
Lots of great games follow this well worn routine, including its namesakes Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. It's safe. It's familiar. It works. It's… a bit boring, sometimes.
