platform-adventure games

     Many games fuse platform game fundamentals with elements of action-adventure games, such as The Legend of Zelda, or with elements of RPGs. Typically these elements include the ability to explore an area freely, with access to new areas granted by either gaining new abilities or using inventory items. Many 2D games in the Metroid and Castlevania franchises are among the most popular games of this sort, and so games that take this type of approach are often labeled as "Metroidvania" games. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night popularized this approach in the Castlevania series. 

   Early examples of free-roaming, side-scrolling, 2D platform-adventures in the vein of "Metroidvania" include Konami's Castlevania games: Vampire Killer in 1986 and Simon's Quest in 1987, The Goonies II in 1987 again by Konami, Pony Canyon's Super Pitfall in 1986, System Sacom's Euphory in 1987, and a couple of Dragon Slayer action RPGs by Nihon Falcom such as 1987 releases Faxanadu and Legacy of the Wizard.