Well, I decided to fund raise another Konami casino and bought the classic Castlevania and Contra Collection, each costing 5 bucks on the eShop. So far...
Castlevania 1. Really nice game, I love the gotich aesthetic and the pastiche of enemies inspired in classic horror movies. The game is hard but never feels unfair until the last stages (motherfuking flying medusas heads). I beat it twice, first time by save scuming and second time restricting myself to save at the beginning of every stage
Castlevania 2. I knew it had bad rep but when I played it (with minimal use of a guide for the obnoxious parts). I really had a fun time playing it. I digged the pseudo non-linear progression. I endured Metroid 1 for the NES before, so this time it was just a walk in the park.
Castlevania 3. I haven't finished it yet but it's basically Castlevania 1 on steroids. The first levels were deceptively easy, but now I'm on the last stages and every step is a battle of pain and misery. I also went blind and I ended up doing the Alucard route, supposedly the hardest in the game lol. I might try the Sypha route in a second playthrouht.
Meanwhile, I have been playing the contra games with a friend. Right now we are in the middle of Super C and it has been just raw shoot 'em up goodnes.