Backtracking in Video games or damn it Megaman X3!

[Kyanbu The Legend]

I've been thinking a lot about backtracking and how it's been done in video games.

And I realized that aside from Megaman ZX and ZX Advent, the Metroid Style Castlevanias released on PS1, GBA, and the DS (I've played them all), and Megaman Zero. I haven't really experienced many 2D games with backtracking.

From my limited experience. I have mixed feelings about it. While it does give players more of a reason to re-explore an area or room they've previously been to. I hate the idea of forcing a player to have to come back to an area just to progress with the story. Like with all of the Metroid style CV games minus Order of Ecclesia to an extent. Sometimes I don't mind it, other times I do. And honestly I don't find myself replaying them most of the time despite how much I enjoyed each one. Yes I even liked Harmony of dissonance. In the end I guess I'm indifferent to it.

How do you guys feel about Backtracking in Games?