Finish Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse

Simon Belmont, a whip and stairs that will kill you; the 1986 original.

Richter Belmont, branching stages and Maria as a second character; the PC Engine game the West never got.

The whip finally aims in eight directions; the 1991 remake of the first game and its high point on the SNES.

The Mega Drive entry: 1917 Europe, two playable hunters and a stage that walks up the leaning tower of Pisa.

Alucard explores Dracula's castle, then the castle upside down; the other half of Metroidvania.

The first handheld Metroidvania of the run, with a card system that stacks two decks of magic.

Soma Cruz absorbing the souls of everything he kills, and the best of the DS trilogy.

Soul-stealing in 2035, and the GBA Metroidvania fans rate highest.