silly me for thinking that 1 game isnt enough to cover one entirely genre for one platform's needs . Also, NBA? FIFA?

The definition of "adventure game" is nebulous at best. In accordance to my personal rules of thumb for discourse on these forums, I try to assume Wikipedia definition for everything... but the "adventure game" is an oddball, because it's only defining aspect is being an interactive story. Usually they're driven by puzzle and exploration gameplay, but neither or those are unique to the genre, and there are exceptions to the rule (The Stanley Parable, Dear Esther, Thirty Flights of Loving, ect.). So, by extension, I don't think it's necessarily right to say that an action/adventure game is an action/adventure game because it has some required puzzles and exploration in addition to combat and/or platforming, which are central to the action genre. Or at least it doesn't make much sense.

In fact, once upon a time I tried to make a thread detailing the sub-genres of action/adventure, with two methods of organizing action/adventure games into the sub-genres. I got pretty far but, once I realized that the adventure genre itself isn't well-defined or organized to begin with, I stopped. :P

On another note, I can't say I have any fondness for terms like "JRPG/WRPG" or "Metroidvania". If they were clear, acceptable terms for a sub-genre or style of gameplay, I don't think I would see so many threads and debates over their meaning and boundaries.

I'm inclined to think that both games fall under the category of "action". Combat and platforming are, by nature, elements of action games. Exploration is enough to put Metroid in its own sub genre, and the typical Metroid apporach to level design may very well put it in a sub-sub-genre of action. "Adventure" is a term that I can't pin down. I've tried, but it'll take some time. So far it feels like it has more to do with a game's narrative design and pacing than actual gameplay mechanics.

As for puzzle elements, Metroid has quite a lot of them. However, they're usually so well-integrated into the combat and exploration that they sometimes seem nonexistant. That's one of the reasons why the series is awesome.

Zombiu count?

Potential "TROLOLOL" April Fools joke? If real, it's probably an indie game. Wonder what it'll be...

Oh YES! WiiMote+ / Nunchuck. Nothing can beat that at FPS...

So Ghosts and black ops two don't count?

During one of my many attempts to convince others that Zelda is not an RPG series, I came up with a definition of action-adventure that works pretty well. What do you think of this?

"Action-adventure games, on the other hand, are, unsurprisingly, a mixture of elements from action and adventure games. They feature 1) action elements that require quick reflexes and good hand-eye coordination like real-time combat and physical challenges, 2) adventure elements like exploration, puzzle-solving, inventory systems, dialogue, and story, and, consequently, 3) a combination of violent and non-violent trials to overcome."

Hope its not an indie game as I don't waste my time on those due to lack of physical copies.

nope they don't count because you know the gfx are soooo horrible it makes peoples eyes bleed.