This is admittedly not that big of a deal I guess but it drives me nuts how often modern games describe themselves like: a zelda-esque soulsborne roguelike metroidvania- or something equally indecipherable to anyone outside of the entrenched Gamer demographic. I am thoroughly “search action”-pilled…we really gotta use words better!
If we have words to describe things then we should use them. I am willing to concede that because “metroidvania” has colloquial use enough now to let most other people know it means a 2D platformer game where you search for skill improvements and gradually get stronger to see more of the play field then we can use it, but I don’t have to think it doesn’t sound dumb as hell, and by definition if you don’t know a Metroid or a Castlevania then “metroidvania” isn’t helpful, and you can’t tell me that “then learn what those two things are” isn’t being just a little exclusionary when we have words! Words to describe the style of game! Words that I used! This is nothing like not knowing what checkmate refers to, that is absurd.