List of action adventure side scrolling RPGs on the famicom/nes

[BonBon]

This is one of my favorite genres in the 8-bit era. I'm in an attempt to make a full list of them but I feel there really few and far on the famicom/nes hopefully we can compile the full list. This list is not to include or be confused with platforming games or top down RPGs  This is my list so far

Zelda II The Adventure of Link
The Battle of Olympus
Faxanadu
Castlevania II Simons Quest
Debias
Valis
Ys III
Ghoul school
Bio Senshi Dan
Metroid

Please feel free to add to or argue my list.

[Issun]

I'm also a fan of these sort of games.

How about:

The Goonies II
Dragon Slayer IV - Drasle Family (Legacy of the Wizard)

[P]

Isn't The Goonies II more like a platform and adventure game hybrid?

[Issun]

Isn't The Goonies II more like a platform and adventure game hybrid?

I suppose, but Metroid is on the list and it pretty much falls under the same category. They're side scrolling "action adventure" games for sure though. The "RPG" definition varies in any case I believe.

[UglyJoe]

Romancia
Zombie Hunter

You'll need to know Japanese for the first one (or use a patch or follow a walkthrough).  The second one is a bit odd.  No real exploration (as far as I know), but definitely action side scrolling and definitely RPG (lots of items, equipment, experience points, etc).

[BonBon]

I was debating putting these games on the list for a long time Dragon Slayer IV - Drasle Family (Legacy of the Wizard) and Romancia glad they were mentioned. Proving they deserve a spot on the list. Thanks guys.

[Zycrow]

It's kinda hard to nail down exactly what makes up this type of game, but it seems like the main element is a non-linear world that the player can explore more and more of as he or she powers up. Given that, I'd probably add to the list:

Blaster Master/Meta Fight
Getsu Fuuma Den
Clash at Demonhead

Arguable:
Bionic Commando
Konami Wai Wai World

Also, it's not a side-scroller by any means, but The Guardian Legend has some of these types of elements.

[P]

Yeah Metroid is also not really an RPG is it? I've even seen Ai Senshi Nicol being labeled as an RPG even though it's played in a linear fashion with stages and all. But for Goonies II it clearly has those point-and-click moments that's typical for adventure games (even though it's mostly an action game rather than a menu driven game).

On the other hand Zelda games are usually seen as action RPGs, but I can't really tell what makes Zelda 1 an RPG and Metroid not one. We could set some limits to what defines an RPG or the list will include many different kinds of games. For example we could say that an RPG can't be too linear and it should have some kind of experience point system or similar (getting stronger by picking up heart containers or energy tanks is arguably not the same thing). In that case Zelda II is the only Zelda game that can really be said to be an RPG.

The Dragon Slayer series (including Faxanadu, Romancia and Legacy of Wizard) is as much of an action RPG series as it can get.

[Issun]

Yes, I guess we need to set a few criteria as to what constitutes a RPG. If growth through experience is one cornerstone I guess Dragon Slayer IV falls short (despite its pedigree). And although not mentioned, non-linearity rules out Kid Icarus (despite its experience gathering).