We chat about videogames and videogame accessories.

Okay, fair enough. Mostly I just wasn't clear on why we disagreed, now I am.

I don't really have comments on most of the rest of the list; I've played the Metroids, most of the Castlevanias, and Battle of Olympus once but I don't remember anything about it.

I've also seen Strider played and most of what I remember about it is how awkwardly the adventure elements are implemented, you either have to keep dying or walking all the way back to the start of the area to get to the level select screen. When my brother first played it, he couldn't figure out what you were supposed to do at all and just got stuck at a block-off point in the first area. I'd certainly say it counts, though.

The point about games with locked doors is an interesting one, personally I'd be inclined to say it counts if you regularly have to go far out of your way for keys/switches/whatever else unlocks them. I guess for me the deciding factor would be "is the game about exploration".

To be more specific about that, what I mean is essentially a game which requires or strongly encourages going down side paths, and where said side paths aren't just alternate routes through a level or secret bonus areas. I also wouldn't count a game that has one or two exploration-based levels and the rest aren't - for instance, Subspace Emissary's last level in SSBB is exploration based, but the rest of the game is all "keep moving forward" levels with the occasional minor secret area.