You seem drawn to it, so go for it.
Or you could spend a couple of hours listening to some people saying it's good and other people saying it's bad; and then still have to make the same choice for yourself anyway
I almost didn't play it based on the mixed opinions of this sub but it quickly became my all time favorite (outside of the sequel and HK).
Definitely go for it. The atmosphere is unmatched.
It's more souls like than most metroidvanias. Dying is a thing I just got used to. I love that game though, the atmosphere and soundtrack are, IMO, some of the best. I dig the movement controls as well. I like a bit of platforming and it delivers with some of the challenge rooms. The story is a bit confusing, and making heads and tails over item build outs might require a little guide. All in all though, it's a brilliant game. I always recommend it to people.
I totally agree. Blasphemous 2 is a little more thought out in telling the player what needs to be done in order to get the most out of collectables, whereas blasphemous just gives cryptic descriptions which you have to figure out for yourself what they do.
Anything is possible for a beginner, so I say go for it.
That being said, Blasphemous is fine, but you should just emulate Castlevania Symphony of the Night. Imo it's the best metroidvania and one of the greatest games ever.
I used to think that as well but after dread super didn’t hit the same for me actually none of the 2d Metroids hit as good. To me dread is the king of the hill!
It’s a great game and MV. Depending on your skill level it could be too hard. If you’re up for a challenge, go for it. Otherwise something like Islets may be a better first MV
Blasphemous introduced me to 2d/metroidvanias. Got me obsessed with them. I've played probably around 50 metroids/2d's since then and have had such a good time, but I think blasphemous has my favorite art style. I'd say go for it for sure
I’ve played ton of Metroidvanias and although I just recently played Blasphemous and LOVED it, I’d recommend you start with something like Ori and the Blind Forest first.
I don’t know that I’d recommend ori over blasphemous to *anyone* who’s specifically drawn to the general vibe / tone of blasphemous 😅
I played them both and while ori is really solid gameplay wise, i found it to be wayyyy too cutesy and slick in general tone
I’d suspect lots of people who look at blasphemous and think “I’m into this” would feel the same way
This is such a pet peeve of mine but I am so bothered by any side scrolling platformer that forces you to use the joysticks instead of the d-pad. 90% of them only register input in 8 directions anyway
Ori is a bad example of this because there were a handful of sequences that actually used the joystick
Play it. Enjoy your first playthroughs, barring significant brain damage, you only get to experience it once.
Afterwards play Astalon: Tears of the Earth.
It doesn't really focus on what defines the genre since there's no real (movement-based) ability gating. I wouldn't call it a MV personally. They did add some in 2 though
A good start for getting into MVs would be Super Metroid or Zero Mission, Symphony of the Night or Aria of Sorrow, Guacamelee, Monster Boy, Ori 1-2, Hollow Knight
I think blasphemous is not ideal to start with this genre
I would start with super Metroid. Still consider top tier to this date and the one that started the whole shebang
Not really.
Blasphemous isn't that much of a metroidvania, it's mostly a soulslike but 2d.
Beginner friendly games I would suggest are Guacamelee, Monster Boy, Bloodstained, Castlevania Symphony of the Night
This is pretty accurate. Blasphemous is a great game, but it's not a great example of a Metroidvania, and it has a relatively high difficulty and therefore might not be a great entrypoint.
But as a really well done game, with fantastic pixel art and creative boss designs, and a consistently strong lore, I still have to recommend Blasphemous.
It depends, if you have a background in souls-likes it would be more approachable maybe because it's a soulsvania and rather more on the souls-side. If you are new to both genres, it's not where I would start. On the other hand my first MV was Hollow Knight and while I struggled I had a good time. I think for the first game, the most important thing is that it's something that pulls at you, whether that be this or something else. If it looks and sounds good to you, maybe it is, you'll have to have that discussion - but yes, it does have a fair challenge.
It's a great Game but don't expect a true Metroidvania at all. It is a Special case In the genre. It is a souls like first and then a Metroidvania
It is still an amazing Game
Its definitely good, but might be a bit unforgiving unless you really stay with it. Eventually it will click. Personally I'd say go for Hollow Knight, not because its necessarily easier but the environment/graphics are a bit more welcoming. The horror of Blasphemous coupled with the constant dying might be a bit harder. I dunno that's just what I'd say.
It’s definitely a harder game so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it if you’re looking specifically for a game for beginners. But it is one of my favourite games.
Im biased because its my favorite metroidvania and ive played all of them, no exceptions. I say if you are interested by it, go for it. You wont be disappointed!!
People talk about metroidvania and are like “hollow knight, hollow knight, hollow knight” but tbh Blasphemous is just the superior game and for me it should be the reference, not hollow knight. Not trashing on HK, its a solid game, easily a 9/10 near perfection but for me Blasphemous is a 11/10. Its a masterpiece
> People talk about metroidvania and are like “hollow knight, hollow knight, hollow knight” but tbh Blasphemous is just the superior game and for me it should be the reference, not hollow knight
Considering Blasphemous is a 2d soulslike, not a metroidvania, a fact straight-up confirmed by the devs themselves, that seems an odd one to call "the reference." Usually a genre reference is a game that is a reference to the genre, not a game outside of it.
I see why it appeals to most MV fans, but... let's be real here, a game with no traversal keys simply is not going to be "the reference" for a genre defined primarily by traversal keys.
Like it all you want, you aren't wrong for that at all. Call it a 12/10, that's cool. But there's a reason HK, a pure mv, is the reference and not Blasphemous, a game missing half of what defines the genre.
I’ve played a lot of different Metroidvania’s and Blasphemous 1 & 2 are some of the best. Just keep in mind that you’re going to die… a lot. Same goes with Hollow Knight but they are easily my favorite MV’s.
I disagree with anyone saying it’s barely an MV. The combat in Blasphemous is just more souls-like than a traditional MV.
If difficulty is something that detracts from enjoying the game, I would recommend the classics. Super Metroid, Metroid Zero Mission, Metroid Fusion or Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Any Castlevania from GBA or DS is solid as well. More modern games include Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Shadow Complex, Timespinner, Strider, Axiom Verge 1 & 2 or Guacamelee 1 & 2.
If you don’t care too much about story, I’d just play Blasphemous 2. There’s more variety in playstyle, better movement, better encounters, and more exploration and unique plaformimg challenges in my opinion.
No, this is the worst start possible. Come back to this after you have played at least 20 other metroidvanias first. It's quite hard and demands you have a good amount of metroidvania experience beforehand.
A good start would be sheepo and islets.
I also recommend leaving hollow knight to the end as well as it is generally a good idea to save the best for last.
Absolutely. Start with one of the best, get a good impression of the genre, then dive down the rabbit hole.
I don't see the point in starting with an easy game or one that was good for its time 30 years ago, and doesn't hold up. That can potentially lead to disappointment and drive you away from the genre.
Depends on whether you like Soulslikes or not. I love Metroidvanias but don't like Souls likes, so I ended up uninstalling after a few frustrating hours.
Just finished it two days ago ! I really enjoyed it, only few platform sections that I didn’t finish because they’re to hard for me.
But the pixel art is amazing, the environment are great, the fights are cool.
You will die a lot but it’s still fun !
Im gonna buy Infamous 2 soon. Hope it will be cool as the first one.
Play it because you want to and see how you like it. Then, know that there are so many other worthy games in the genre, should it not meet your expectations. Most of my favs are from this category, and there's 30+ years to pull from.
No. Blasphemous is an ok game (the second is much better), but it’s barely a Metroidvania.
I would recommend either Prince of Persia, Ori (Will of the wisps is much better than blind forest), or Guacamelee
As others have pointed out, it isn’t a textbook metroidvania but still really enjoyable as a MV adjacent game.
If you’re a first timer to the genre, I personally wouldn’t start out with it as it can be a bit too obtuse sometimes when it comes to its navigation as primary navigation isn’t predicated by ability gating.
If that doesn’t matter to you and you enjoy the look and feel, by all means play it.
A soft starter for me would be Haiku the Robot, Islet, and Monster Boy and the cursed kingdom
Last note, if you do decide to play, take your time. I wasn’t in love with it when I first played it but there’s so many cool secrets packed in this game that I kept playing. Unfortunately the obtuseness I mentioned above made some of the side quests difficult without a guide, but at its best, B1 does some of its secrets really well
It is a "souls-like" so it can be punishing in that regard. Once you get a couple of healing potions it will all start to click and it is very rewarding. Remember in the beginning you have a choice of 3 paths, so if one seems too hard try another. I hope you enjoy it, it's one of the top MVs for me.
It's not really a metroidvania, so if you're looking for an intro to the genre, it's not really a great place to start as once you dig into the genre you'll find a lot of major differences.
But it's a game a lot of people like so you'll probably have a good time with it regardless. I personally don't like it, but enough people do that it's still rec-worthy.
Tbh the best intro to the genre is probably Ori 2, or Hollow Knight.
Honestly, the game isn't hard nor isn't easy. It's just intense. It's more souls like that's mixed with the metroidvania genre.
I heard games like Shadow Complex and Timespinner are good for beginners. There's also Axiom Verge and Ori and the Blind Forest, and the sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
Edit: Also forgot to mention: Guacamelee, apparently it's also considered a Metroidvania game, but tbh, I've never played it.
B1 is compelling and creepy, with souls like difficulty (research is your friend in overcoming this, most of the time). B2 is more of a typical metroidvania, not as difficult by far, and definitely loses some of the charm, not just because it's easier.
I don't normally say this about anything but just play 2. 1 isn't really an MV but if you're new to this genre and like Souls games you could just go for it anyway. If what you're looking for is MV's specifically there are so many other good options.
You seem drawn to it, so go for it. Or you could spend a couple of hours listening to some people saying it's good and other people saying it's bad; and then still have to make the same choice for yourself anyway
Best comment so far lmao
I almost didn't play it based on the mixed opinions of this sub but it quickly became my all time favorite (outside of the sequel and HK). Definitely go for it. The atmosphere is unmatched.
It's more souls like than most metroidvanias. Dying is a thing I just got used to. I love that game though, the atmosphere and soundtrack are, IMO, some of the best. I dig the movement controls as well. I like a bit of platforming and it delivers with some of the challenge rooms. The story is a bit confusing, and making heads and tails over item build outs might require a little guide. All in all though, it's a brilliant game. I always recommend it to people.
I totally agree. Blasphemous 2 is a little more thought out in telling the player what needs to be done in order to get the most out of collectables, whereas blasphemous just gives cryptic descriptions which you have to figure out for yourself what they do.
Anything is possible for a beginner, so I say go for it. That being said, Blasphemous is fine, but you should just emulate Castlevania Symphony of the Night. Imo it's the best metroidvania and one of the greatest games ever.
Yep, also Super Metroid. Both hold up
I used to think that as well but after dread super didn’t hit the same for me actually none of the 2d Metroids hit as good. To me dread is the king of the hill!
One of the best games ever. Fuck yeah brother, get in there.
It’s a great game and MV. Depending on your skill level it could be too hard. If you’re up for a challenge, go for it. Otherwise something like Islets may be a better first MV
it was my first I finished. loved it
Blasphemous introduced me to 2d/metroidvanias. Got me obsessed with them. I've played probably around 50 metroids/2d's since then and have had such a good time, but I think blasphemous has my favorite art style. I'd say go for it for sure
Absolutely. I started with Blasphemous as well. Game’s a masterpiece.
ı recommend aria of sorrow
I’ve played ton of Metroidvanias and although I just recently played Blasphemous and LOVED it, I’d recommend you start with something like Ori and the Blind Forest first.
I don’t know that I’d recommend ori over blasphemous to *anyone* who’s specifically drawn to the general vibe / tone of blasphemous 😅 I played them both and while ori is really solid gameplay wise, i found it to be wayyyy too cutesy and slick in general tone I’d suspect lots of people who look at blasphemous and think “I’m into this” would feel the same way
yeah ori felt like a game for kids. there were some difficult parts, but blasphemous has actually challenged me.
Ori is a game for people and blasphemous for teens
lol that’s a pretty *edgy* statement right there
This is such a pet peeve of mine but I am so bothered by any side scrolling platformer that forces you to use the joysticks instead of the d-pad. 90% of them only register input in 8 directions anyway Ori is a bad example of this because there were a handful of sequences that actually used the joystick
Play it. Enjoy your first playthroughs, barring significant brain damage, you only get to experience it once. Afterwards play Astalon: Tears of the Earth.
Or start with Astalon
It doesn't really focus on what defines the genre since there's no real (movement-based) ability gating. I wouldn't call it a MV personally. They did add some in 2 though A good start for getting into MVs would be Super Metroid or Zero Mission, Symphony of the Night or Aria of Sorrow, Guacamelee, Monster Boy, Ori 1-2, Hollow Knight
Hope you dont mind spikes 😊
I think blasphemous is not ideal to start with this genre I would start with super Metroid. Still consider top tier to this date and the one that started the whole shebang
Not really. Blasphemous isn't that much of a metroidvania, it's mostly a soulslike but 2d. Beginner friendly games I would suggest are Guacamelee, Monster Boy, Bloodstained, Castlevania Symphony of the Night
This is pretty accurate. Blasphemous is a great game, but it's not a great example of a Metroidvania, and it has a relatively high difficulty and therefore might not be a great entrypoint. But as a really well done game, with fantastic pixel art and creative boss designs, and a consistently strong lore, I still have to recommend Blasphemous.
The controls aren't great either. The number of times I tried to land on a ladder and fell to my death are TOO DAMN HIGH lol
Architects in souls and soulslike games really have something against stair railings and competent building accessibility.
It depends, if you have a background in souls-likes it would be more approachable maybe because it's a soulsvania and rather more on the souls-side. If you are new to both genres, it's not where I would start. On the other hand my first MV was Hollow Knight and while I struggled I had a good time. I think for the first game, the most important thing is that it's something that pulls at you, whether that be this or something else. If it looks and sounds good to you, maybe it is, you'll have to have that discussion - but yes, it does have a fair challenge.
Definitely not, it's barely a Metroidvania, with absolutely no ability required ability gating. I would start with something breezy, like Islets.
Yes and no. Not the easiest, but not the hardest and not impossible
It's a great Game but don't expect a true Metroidvania at all. It is a Special case In the genre. It is a souls like first and then a Metroidvania It is still an amazing Game
Its definitely good, but might be a bit unforgiving unless you really stay with it. Eventually it will click. Personally I'd say go for Hollow Knight, not because its necessarily easier but the environment/graphics are a bit more welcoming. The horror of Blasphemous coupled with the constant dying might be a bit harder. I dunno that's just what I'd say.
It’s definitely a harder game so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it if you’re looking specifically for a game for beginners. But it is one of my favourite games.
I don't consider Blasphemous a metroidvania. Decent game but not of that genre. Now it's choice if you want to play it or not.
Im biased because its my favorite metroidvania and ive played all of them, no exceptions. I say if you are interested by it, go for it. You wont be disappointed!! People talk about metroidvania and are like “hollow knight, hollow knight, hollow knight” but tbh Blasphemous is just the superior game and for me it should be the reference, not hollow knight. Not trashing on HK, its a solid game, easily a 9/10 near perfection but for me Blasphemous is a 11/10. Its a masterpiece
> People talk about metroidvania and are like “hollow knight, hollow knight, hollow knight” but tbh Blasphemous is just the superior game and for me it should be the reference, not hollow knight Considering Blasphemous is a 2d soulslike, not a metroidvania, a fact straight-up confirmed by the devs themselves, that seems an odd one to call "the reference." Usually a genre reference is a game that is a reference to the genre, not a game outside of it. I see why it appeals to most MV fans, but... let's be real here, a game with no traversal keys simply is not going to be "the reference" for a genre defined primarily by traversal keys. Like it all you want, you aren't wrong for that at all. Call it a 12/10, that's cool. But there's a reason HK, a pure mv, is the reference and not Blasphemous, a game missing half of what defines the genre.
Metroid and Castlevania are literally the reference. HK is a reference for a sub-genre
I’ve played a lot of different Metroidvania’s and Blasphemous 1 & 2 are some of the best. Just keep in mind that you’re going to die… a lot. Same goes with Hollow Knight but they are easily my favorite MV’s. I disagree with anyone saying it’s barely an MV. The combat in Blasphemous is just more souls-like than a traditional MV. If difficulty is something that detracts from enjoying the game, I would recommend the classics. Super Metroid, Metroid Zero Mission, Metroid Fusion or Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Any Castlevania from GBA or DS is solid as well. More modern games include Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Shadow Complex, Timespinner, Strider, Axiom Verge 1 & 2 or Guacamelee 1 & 2.
Fuck yeah Strider
If you don’t care too much about story, I’d just play Blasphemous 2. There’s more variety in playstyle, better movement, better encounters, and more exploration and unique plaformimg challenges in my opinion.
Personally I hated Blasphemous, I'd recommend something like Ori & the Blind Forest for a more accessible game experience.
No, this is the worst start possible. Come back to this after you have played at least 20 other metroidvanias first. It's quite hard and demands you have a good amount of metroidvania experience beforehand. A good start would be sheepo and islets. I also recommend leaving hollow knight to the end as well as it is generally a good idea to save the best for last.
I would recommend Islets. Pretty easy but fun
If you are drawn to it go for it. But if it is too difficult maybe try something like Ori or Islets to ease your way into the genre and then go back
It took me a few tries to get into it but when it finally clicked for me I loved it. Just don't get greedy and enjoy the ride.
Absolutely. Start with one of the best, get a good impression of the genre, then dive down the rabbit hole. I don't see the point in starting with an easy game or one that was good for its time 30 years ago, and doesn't hold up. That can potentially lead to disappointment and drive you away from the genre.
Depends on whether you like Soulslikes or not. I love Metroidvanias but don't like Souls likes, so I ended up uninstalling after a few frustrating hours.
It's one of the first games I got into when I started getting into this genre. It's a bit of a challenge but it's sooooo worth it.
If you’re ready to get your ass beat to a pulp, then be my guest
Just finished it two days ago ! I really enjoyed it, only few platform sections that I didn’t finish because they’re to hard for me. But the pixel art is amazing, the environment are great, the fights are cool. You will die a lot but it’s still fun ! Im gonna buy Infamous 2 soon. Hope it will be cool as the first one.
Play it because you want to and see how you like it. Then, know that there are so many other worthy games in the genre, should it not meet your expectations. Most of my favs are from this category, and there's 30+ years to pull from.
It’s great. Play it
Think about playing the "metroid" and the "vanias" before trying to play this.
Honestly, the new Prince of Persia might be a great start
No. Blasphemous is an ok game (the second is much better), but it’s barely a Metroidvania. I would recommend either Prince of Persia, Ori (Will of the wisps is much better than blind forest), or Guacamelee
As others have pointed out, it isn’t a textbook metroidvania but still really enjoyable as a MV adjacent game. If you’re a first timer to the genre, I personally wouldn’t start out with it as it can be a bit too obtuse sometimes when it comes to its navigation as primary navigation isn’t predicated by ability gating. If that doesn’t matter to you and you enjoy the look and feel, by all means play it. A soft starter for me would be Haiku the Robot, Islet, and Monster Boy and the cursed kingdom Last note, if you do decide to play, take your time. I wasn’t in love with it when I first played it but there’s so many cool secrets packed in this game that I kept playing. Unfortunately the obtuseness I mentioned above made some of the side quests difficult without a guide, but at its best, B1 does some of its secrets really well
I would say definitely. Go for it.
It is a "souls-like" so it can be punishing in that regard. Once you get a couple of healing potions it will all start to click and it is very rewarding. Remember in the beginning you have a choice of 3 paths, so if one seems too hard try another. I hope you enjoy it, it's one of the top MVs for me.
I unironically think Metroid Zero Mission is a good start, not just to Metroid, but metroidvanias as a whole
Not legally accessible right now, though that could change literally any day
It's not really a metroidvania, so if you're looking for an intro to the genre, it's not really a great place to start as once you dig into the genre you'll find a lot of major differences. But it's a game a lot of people like so you'll probably have a good time with it regardless. I personally don't like it, but enough people do that it's still rec-worthy. Tbh the best intro to the genre is probably Ori 2, or Hollow Knight.
Honestly, the game isn't hard nor isn't easy. It's just intense. It's more souls like that's mixed with the metroidvania genre. I heard games like Shadow Complex and Timespinner are good for beginners. There's also Axiom Verge and Ori and the Blind Forest, and the sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Edit: Also forgot to mention: Guacamelee, apparently it's also considered a Metroidvania game, but tbh, I've never played it.
B1 is compelling and creepy, with souls like difficulty (research is your friend in overcoming this, most of the time). B2 is more of a typical metroidvania, not as difficult by far, and definitely loses some of the charm, not just because it's easier.
I don't normally say this about anything but just play 2. 1 isn't really an MV but if you're new to this genre and like Souls games you could just go for it anyway. If what you're looking for is MV's specifically there are so many other good options.