Honestly, I love SotN, although the definitive edition is a hidden extra for the PSP re-release of Rondo of Blood (Dracula X Chronicles) because they redid the dub and retranslated it.

As far as the original (which you can find on PSN/XLBA), I love it. Yes, the dialogue is really cheesy, and the dub isn't perfect, but the original game was PSX, and the rest of it is spot on. The controls are fairly tight, there's a ton of weapon/armor/accessories to equip. And the only real backstory you absolutely need to know, is presented to you at the very beginning. It's definitely one game I'm prone to going back to on occasion, and I'm not a big replay person (Huge f'n backlog...).

I would recommend Spelunky when it comes to roguelike games. The thing that seperates it from other roguelikes is that it is a platforming game. You can pick up the commercial version on XBLA, or the freeware one for PC.

By way, no one in the thread has yet mentioned the Metroid Prime trilogy, so I will. This is actually one of my favorite FPS game series, and it still has quite a bit of Metroidvania gameplay to it, in that there is a lot of exploration to be done. If you enjoy La-Mulana and the 2D Metroids, I really recommend going for the Metroid Prime games. I really wish that someone could copy the style of these FPS games for the PC, as it seems perfectly suited for the platform.

PS: Symphony of the Night is awesome. :)

Well i'll sure give it a try on my significant other's PSP then. Thanks for the info.

Shantae qualifies as a great "Metroidvania". Available on DSi Ware and Pc port i think.

The DSiware one at least is the sequel... I'm waiting for them to release the original on the 3DS Virtual Console...

Have you played Spelunky? It's a rougelike metroidvania where you play as an Indiana Jones type character.

All Metroid games are action-adventure, simple as that. Referring to Super Metroid as a "platformer" and Metroid Prime as an "first-person shooter" never made much sense to me.

After all, Super Metroid has a strong run 'n' gun shooter element and Metroid Prime has a strong platforming element - why are these elements, and all the adventure game elements ignored?

As for a Metroid Prime style game on PC, there's System Shock, the original first-person action-adventure game. I think Metroid Prime borrowed quite a bit from System Shock, especially with use of data logs as a storytelling device, which is one of the single most important innovations in gaming history, imo

A Valley Without Wind classed as a Metroidvania? (Buy now and get pretty sure you get AVWW 2 on release for free)

Done by the dev team responsible for AI War.

Well exactly! Metroidvania is just a convenient name to specify the particular style of exploratory action adventure.

I still haven't played System Shock... =(

Hmm I'm not so sure about your classification of Metroid games, I haven't played the prime series but I always classify the original Metroid games as Metroidvanias themselves.

As for System Shock series I have played SS2 quite a lot, and I don't think you can consider them as Metroid prime style games, It's more in league of games like Deus Ex than anything else.
Yes I am definitely planning to play AVWW 1.

System/Bio Shock are Doomlikes.

somebody recommened me Desktop Dungeons some time ago. And I have to say, it's a very relaxing game. Cleaning one dungeon usually doesn't take much time but it requires planning and some thought.

Kinda like minesweeper but better :P

...no one seriously knows Dwarf fortress?

Download and play:
http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/

There are even graphics sets for those with ASCII sensitivity
[url=http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/v0.31:Graphics_set_repository]http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/v0.31:Graphics_set_repository[/url]

Really, I am not lying when say that Dwarf fortress is the most epic Roguelike('sh -> theres the strategy/management aspect too).

Or someone who as actually played it can claim otherwise? :)

One of the things that I like about Metroid, La-Mulana, and Zelda is how the items and their upgrades are of a fixed nature. They use simple principles and generally don't use a "+1" or numerical system. Rather, the player feels their character become stronger by being able to jump higher, hit things they couldn't before, get explosives, and so forth. Essentially, an application of showing rather than telling.

I consider the Zelda series to be part of the Metroidvania genre, as one of their key principles is the exploration aspect. The player in this genre is rewarded for being curious by receiving upgrades, an number of which are actually optional in the Zelda, Castlevania, and La-Mulana games. This is really nice, because there is a payoff for putting in the extra effort. Unfortunately in Metroid, there is no optional equipment upgrades other than expanding the missile and life tank capacities. This is a disappointment for me, which I hope would change in the future.

EDIT: By the way, I really recommend checking out the Okami, Alundra, and Lufia II.