Let's talk Metroid ( New Poll Added: Samus goes to Hollywood? )

[HylianSwordsman]

Doing the indies first because that has a much richer catalog of games to choose from so it's easier

Independent Studios:
1. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
2. AM2R
3. Guacamelee
4. Cave Story
5. Steamworld Dig

Okay, gotta do the AAAs without naming Metroid. Hmm...you know what? I'm gonna be controversial, just because I can, and not name any Castlevanias either, and really stretch the definition. The following games are, I would argue, effectively Metroidvanias:
Major Studios:
1. Banjo-Tooie (It was more non-linear than the first game, lots of unlockable moves needed to continue to progress, the levels sometimes interconnect)
2. Kirby & The Amazing Mirror (You explore a giant interconnected world, in whatever order you want, only major difference is that you can lose and gain the powerups needed for progress as needed, completely different from the other Kirby games in its nonlinearity)
3. Wario Land 3 (I mean did you ever play it? There's a lot you can't do until you unlock the right move, lot of obvious areas you know you'll need to backtrack to later once you do, levels aren't interconnected but don't have a set end point like your typical platformer)
4. Shantae (the Capcom published one for the Game Boy Color, that counts as AAA, right?)
5. Ys VIII (yes it's an ARPG, but with strong Metroidvania elements, you gradually unlock more of an island by unlocking various tools like the ability to climb walls, double jump, etc., and you have to find shipwreck survivors to unlock certain areas and certain features of you shipwreck survivor village)

You know, there aren't actually a lot of AAA Metroidvanias not called Metroid or Castlevania...