The Guide of Side Scrolling AdventuresThe list is in chronological order:
Xanadu (1985 PC 88, MSX, Saturn)
by Falcom
Screens (RPG, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Second in the Dragon Slayer series
-Side scrolling adventure with top down Hylide style combat
-MAZES!
-Remade for Saturn
More info here!
Metroid series (various platforms starting in 1986)
by Nintendo
Screens (Metroid-like, Atmospheric, Shooter, Sci-fi)
-Compilation Video
-No explanation is really needed for this classic shooter adventure series
Romancia (1986 PC88, MSX2. Win 98)
by Falcom
Screens (Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Third in the Dragon Slayer series (aka Dragon Slayer Jr.)
-Harder than the hardest of wood
-30 minute time limit!
-The king cuts that in half if you talk to him too much!
-A man in a cloud will kill you if you talk to him twice!
-Wonky combat system!
-Cursed items which force you to start over!
-Remade for PC in 99.
-For masochists only!
More info here!
Faxanadu (1987 NES)
by Falcom and Hudson Soft
Screens (RPG, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Tough as nails
-Side game from the Xanadu/Dragon Slayer series
More info here!
Legacy of Wizard / Dragon Slayer IV (1987 MSX, MSX 2, NES)
by Falcom
Screens (Slasher, Shooter, Fantasy)
-Video
-Play as multiple characters including a pet dragon, each having a unique characteristic.
-Another tough game
-Mazes, mazes and mazes
More info here!
The Maze of Galious (1987 MSX, NES)
by Konami
Screens (RPG, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Lots of mazes!
-Also known as Knightmare II: Maze of Galious
-Was later reprogrammed for the PC. You can get it here!
More info here!
Golvellius I & II (1987 MSX, Sega Master System)
by Compile
Screens (Slasher, Fantasy, TopDown)
-Video
-Seek out Golvellius and rescue the beautiful Princess Rena!
-Contains both top down and side scrolling combat.
More info here!
Dr. Chaos (1987 NES)
by Marionette
Screens (Slasher, Shooter, Fantasy, Atmospheric)
-Video
-Richard Moll reprises the undead Vietnam buddy from House!
-Sidescrolling action, intercut with first person navigation
-Very similar to Goonies 2.
-Pretty durn tough!
More info here!
Zeliard (1987 Ms-Dos)
by Game Arts
FREE!
Screens (RPG, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-By Game Arts! You know, the company that brought us Lunar!
-Play as the Duke!
-Has been labeled as abandonware.
-If you grab a DosBox you can get the game here!
More info here!
The Sorcerian Series (started in 1987 for many consoles)
by Falcom
Screens (RPG, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Fifth in the Dragon Slayer series.
-Only game on this list to have a part system.
-Probably the most complex of the SSSrpgs on this list
-A 3d version was made for Dreamcast, but looks horrid
More info here!
Goonies 2 (1987 NES)
by Konami
Screens (Metroid-style, Fantasy, Slasher)
-Video
-It’s Goonies!
-It’s the unofficial sequel to Goonies!
-No truffle shuffle
-Fight evil bugs and pirates with a yoyo!
-Cyndi Lauper music!
-First person sections!
-Varied environments!
-Very similar to Dr. Chaos!
-It’s Goonies!
Simon’s Quest: Castlevania 2 (1987 NES)
by Konami
Screens (RPG, Atmospheric, Slasher, Fantasy, Platforming)
-Video
-First Castlevania RPG
-Not stuck in a castle
-Day and night cycles
-One boss
-Poor translation with vague clues
-Memberable and eerie music
Adventures of Link: Zelda II (1987 NES)
by Nintendo
Screens (Metroid-style, RPG, Slasher, Fantasy, TopDown, Platforming)
-Video
-It’s Zelda
-I guess the CD-I ones can be added to this list but…nah.
Battle of Olympus (1988 NES)
by Infinity
Screens (Metroid-style, RPG, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Zelda 2 clone
-Colorful and varied graphics for the NES
-Variety in locations
More info here!
Blaster Master (1988 NES, GB, Genesis)
by SunSoft
Screens(Metroid-style, Shooter, Sci-fi, TopDown, Platforming)
-Video
-Vehicle combat
-Catchy music
-Top down shooting segments
-Hard difficulty
-Other console followups are not nearly as good
More info HERE
XZR (XZR 1988 on MSX, XZR2 1988 on Genesis, MSX, TurboGrafx CD)
by Renovation Games
Screens (RPG, Slasher, Fantasy, TopDown)
-XZR1 Video (only the intro) XZR2 Video
-Intriguing plot involving the muslim world and assassinations.
-Take drugs like cocaine, LSD and heroin to help you on your adventure!
-Top down world map that goes side scrolling when in battles or dungeons.
-First game not released outside of Japan.
-Second game released here as Exile
More info here!
A Boy and His Blob (1989 NES, GB)
by David Crane
(Fantasy, Platforming)
-Video-Turn you buddy blob into many object with the power of jellybeans!
-From the creator of Pitfall
-Pretty durn tough
-A semi sequel came out on Gameboy
-A remake is coming to Wii but it seems more level based than an adventure game
More info HERE
Cadash (1989 Arcade, TurboGrafx, Genesis/MegaDrive)
by Taito
Screens (RPG, Slasher, Shooter, Fantasy)
-Video
-Originally an arcade game them ported to consoles
-Localization by Working Designs
-Multiplayer
-Choose from four classes: Fighter, mage, priestess, and the almighty ninja !
-Genesis port excluded the priestess and the ninja, making it the greatly, inferior version.
More info here!