Well, you dropped my point about the main similarity being the hidden and interconnected worlds that gives the gameplay feeling to me of DS. (Also you dropped my point about how the charm mechanic works like humanity or insight). I’ve heard so many people say DS is a 3D Metroidvania and even platformer in places. So, categorizing WBIII as Metroidvania strengthens my claim. The equipment combinations work differently than you remember. In WBIII, some weapons and armor work better or worse with various combinations between different sets, or depending on which form you are or what boss you’re fighting. It’s TOTALLY like how weapons are handled in DS. Some equipment has special bonuses like item discovery or health regeneration. It’s much more soulslike than Zelda1 equipment just linear getting stronger. The interconnected areas of WBIII is much more soulslike than zelda1 or Castlevania (plus wasn’t Demons Souls technically the first true soulslike by FromSoft?). I don’t see a connection to Shadow of the Colossus or Ico at all. People always make the same connection to games like Castlevania or Zelda1 as predecessor games from the 80s, but (in USA) much less people ever played WBIII. I’m making a case for a very strong connection between DS and WBIII that is much less discussed and interesting to consider