Recomend me a Metroidvania styled game
 

Doing some more research on level design. Mainly to know what has and hasn't been done before. And that's where I need you guys.

Do you know any great 2D Metroidvania styled games?

And as a second question, how do you feel about Video Games that use level ideas and concept from other games as a homage?

Your imput is very important to me.

Kirby and the Amazing Mirror

A 4 player metroidvania game for the GBA where any person can go wherever he/she decides to go.

As for my opinion on those games, I like them as long as you don't outright take a game and doll it up with your stuff.

Look at Banjo Kazooie and DK64, which used ideas from Super Mario 64 and, they're great games on their own right.

Monster Tale for the DS is pretty good. Not great, but pretty good.

If you've got a 360, Shadow Complex was apparently very good. Not played it myself (no 360), just going on hearsay here.

The only problem with Shadow Complex is that you're supporting Orson Scott Card, who is a homophobic ass face. But other than that, it's a great game.

Hm, didn't know that. What else has he contributed to?

Have you tried Super Metroid? Should be a given, might not be, I dunno. But you really should play it. Or Metroid Zero Mission, that's good. Aria of Sorrow is my favorite Castlevania, but it's probably not the best anything and I just got excited by the giant skeleton monsters. I do love me some goryo.

Now, if you want a 2D Metroidvania that isn't Metroid or certain Castlevanias, there's always Cave Story in its many forms. Or Drill Dozer, though that's less applicable since the levels are discrete and most of the back-tracking is for treasure, but I like it so much I gotta recommend it.

As for borrowing, heck if I know. I can't make anything without stealing ideas; you could at least credit major influences, I guess. Just don't do the exact same thing the original did with every idea you borrow and I'm cool with what usually comes out, but I'm not a very critical audience.

A lot of things. But probably the most notable is Ender's Game (and the sequels).

He didn't contribute to nor owns that series. He merely got permission to use some of it's story elements in his novel. Or so I've learned after a brief google session.

Edit: Thanks guys for the recomendations and feedback/advice so far. If anyone else knows any more titles, fill free to list them.

Some of these aren't "true" metroidvania games, but since you are more concerned with level design I tailored this list to fit that. I also tried to go for the less obvious suggestions.

Tomba!
Eternal Daughter
Shantae
Megaman Zero (It's actually suprisingly hard to notice that all the areas are connected due to the game's mission structure!)
Megaman ZX
La Mulana (and it's remake)
Blaster Master
Samurai Jack: Amulet of Time
Bunny Must Die!
Escape From Puppy Death Factory (This is an Adult Swim Game)