I totally get you! When I was exploring new genres, it felt like I was investigating metals and stumbled upon a new property that existed within many of them but wasn't widely discussed.
While my concept presents the idea of a Metroidvania, the genre is not confined by a specific mechanic. Instead, it focuses on evoking emotions, similar to genres like Horror or Action, as it helps shape the player's experience.
Thank you for the feedback! I really love the perspective of of presenting it as a new theory of criticism!