Matteo Ricci

6+ years platformer and Metroidvania analysis, deep knowledge of level-design theory, reviewer known for annotated map breakdowns

Matteo Ricci specialises in the specific corner of gaming where movement is the mechanic and the map is a puzzle — Metroidvanias, precision platformers, and action games where your character's moveset evolves as richly as any RPG skill tree. He evaluates games in this space on three criteria: how good it feels to simply move through the world, how intelligently the map loops back on itself, and whether the developer understands that a locked door is a promise, not an obstacle. Matteo's reviews include hand-drawn map annotations because he believes understanding a Metroidvania requires understanding its geography. He has completed Hollow Knight at 112% on three different platforms and considers the Path of Pain a reasonable use of an afternoon.