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Zelda-inspired games
Topic Started: Feb 24 2009, 02:36 PM (180 Views)
Crazy the Clown
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Maverick Hunter Extraordinaire
Mooninites
As the name of the topic title suggests, I'm going to be taking the time to bring up some of the old NES games that were apparently inspired by the Zelda series. There have been a lot of them, and some of them were actually good. I'll start you off with three, and see what you have to say.

StarTropics.
In this Nintendo-published title, you play as Mike Jones, a teenager who loves baseball, as he makes a visit to the Southern Island of Coralcola, where his scientist uncle was doing research on some mysterious items he found. Throughout the game, you'll notice that there are several elements you'll find in common with Zelda, such as heart containers, overhead view, and even a few similar foes. This game was pretty good. So much so, in fact, they created a sequel, called Zoda's Revenge-StarTropics II.
The Grade-A.

Rambo.
A licensed title, and also one of the reasons why movie licensed games got a bad rep. There is a little confusion as to whether Rambo came after Zelda II or Zelda II came after Rambo. Depends on the country you're from, really. Either way, the similarities are pretty obvious. With the right conditions, you can throw your blade, many of the animals fight no differently from the monsters in Zelda II, and if you die, you're treated to an epileptic seizure-inducing death scene. However, the most unforgivable thing about this game is that while the Zelda and StarTropics games had battery save features, Rambo had one of the most needlessly long and confusing password systems in existence.
The Grade-F-.

Deadly Towers.
Made by Irem, published in America by Broderbund, and feared by anyone who has good taste in games. This game does, however, have quite a few similarities to Zelda, but is a thousand times harder. Take The Legend of Zelda, change Link into a Lego Knight, add three times the monsters per screen, make the monsters 5 times as strong, take away Link's ability to slash, limit him to one attack per screen, and add random, confusing-as-fuck dungeons, and you have Deadly Towers, which has earned its spot as the number 1 worst game on Seanbaby's 20 Worst NES Games.
The Grade-F-.
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Dual
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She and Her Cat
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Crystalis was like Zelda, but definitely different enough.

Uhhh... If we're counting Sega Master System games (since they were roughly from the same era), there was a Golden Axe game on there that VERY MUCH borrowed from Zelda.
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Crazy the Clown
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Two fine examples, Dual. I didn't even know that there was a Zelda-like game on the Master System, up until you pointed it out.

A couple more I thought of, just recently.

Frankenstein.
Bandai, who you can't spell "BAD" without, decided to try their hand at a Zelda II-like game, starring Mary Shelley's most famous creation, and the result was....surprisingly entertaining. Sure, you got enemies galore, side-scrolling and jumping action, a few power-ups, but sometimes, while the controls are pretty responsive, you find yourself in a tight spot. But of all of Bandai's games, I'd have to say that this one was one of my favorites.
Grade-B.

Dr. Chaos.
FCI, known for such flops as Hydlide, and a few gems such as Zanac, made a game that is quite similar to Zelda II. Seems confusing at first, but the more you play it, the better you understand it. But don't be too surprised if your enemies respawn on you, quickly. Give it time, as it's a fairly good game.
Grade-B+.
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themadmonk
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Mooninites
Ya know a lot of people gave Zelda II a bad rap. I very much liked it. In fact I still have the game. I need to break open my NES and start playing again.
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DestronPrime
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ROLLING KOPPU KICK!
God, I love that game

Its my favourite!
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DestronPrime
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ROLLING KOPPU KICK!
Ys

ysysysysysysysysyysyysysysysysy
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Sgraff
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Tower of Druaga...

Oh wait, that came out before Legend of Zelda.

Then i'd at least I can say that Baraduke was influenced by Metroid, but I cannot. Namco pulled a Samus ending a year before Nintendo. But Legend of Valkyrie is at least a Zelda knockoff (the Famicom release).
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Dire 51
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Edgecrusher
I'd like to point out that there is another Zelda-esque game for the SMS besides Golden Axe Warrior. Who remembers Golvelius: Valley of Doom?
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Crazy the Clown
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Just checked that one out. Not too shabby, I gotta say.

There are even a couple of 16-bit games that were apparently inspired by Zelda and its counterparts.

Actraiser.
Before partnering with Square, Enix has come out with quite a few awesome games, and Actraiser would probably have to be my favorite. This game has a couple of similarities to Zelda II, such as the side-scrolling battle sequences and overhead travel sequences. With amazing graphics and sound, responsive controls, decent challenge, and good replayability, it's no surprise that Actraiser got a sequel, which, while inferior to the original, was also a pretty good game.
Grade-A+.

Soul Blazer.
Not to be confused with Namco's medieval fighter, Soul Blade, this Enix game is about a heavenly warrior sent to earth to make things right. The combat system does remind me quite a bit of the Legend of Zelda, while the battlegrounds, including a magical painting, a Gulliver's Travels-like town, an underground laboratory, and a stormy island, have given this title plenty of variety.
Grade-A.

Shadow of the Beast.
Psygnosis had come up with a beautiful game when they made this gem, which plays similar to Zelda II. This title has impressive graphics for its (or any) time, responsive controls, and an interesting story behind it. Unsurprisingly, two sequels were made for this game.
Grade-A.
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sotenga
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I've never played them too much, but the two Neutopia games for the Turbografx-16 are practically super-ripoffs of Zelda. Still, due to adhering to such a formula, they seem to be really entertaining games nonetheless. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutopia

Also, this is a series I only just learned recently about, but the Xak games sound good. They seem a bit Ys-esque, but I really don't know too much on them, only that they apparently rule. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xak
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Dire 51
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I always leave when the talk gets philosophical.
Edgecrusher
Who remembers Crusader of Centy for the Genesis? Also, despite their isometric perspectives, I think Landstalker and Light Crusader should count. And someone please tell me why no one has brought up Ys yet. Despite not being able to swing your sword in the first two, they're still somewhat similar.
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Sgraff
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From Wiki: "The Legend of Zelda is considered a spiritual forerunner of the console role-playing game (RPG) genre. Though its gameplay elements are different from those of typical computer or console RPGs, its bright, cartoonish graphics, fantasy setting, and musical style were adopted by many RPGs. Its commercial success helped lay the groundwork for involved, nonlinear games in fantasy settings, such as those found in successful RPGs, including Crystalis, Soul Blazer, Square's Seiken Densetsu series, and, more recently, Alundra and Brave Fencer Musashi."

I will have to add Grand Master to the list. A very rare japanese action RPG.
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DestronPrime
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Dire 51,Mar 30 2009
12:57 AM
Who remembers Crusader of Centy for the Genesis? Also, despite their isometric perspectives, I think Landstalker and Light Crusader should count. And someone please tell me why no one has brought up Ys yet. Despite not being able to swing your sword in the first two, they're still somewhat similar.

Having already brought up Ys before, I must trump your knowledge (for once, haha)

The two Ys IVs also remove sword swinging, and on the new DS version(s) (depending on region) there is swinging for your sword in Ys I & II.

Pretty well all the Ys games are fairly Zelda like in one way or another, although much, much better made and fresher. Ys V was the first overhead game with sword swinging, and it is pretty much a Zelda killer with amazing graphics. Stay away from the PS2 remakes of III, IV, and V though... Yeah, stay away.

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themadmonk
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A roll of the dice. A flip of the coin. A turn... of the Wheel.
Mooninites
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Sgraff
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War of the Dead was a PC Engine game in which played similar to LOZII. Though all of the game is RPG, the random battles are platform in the LOZII fashion. You just play as a female, and you fight mutant monsters and stuff in a post apocalyptic world.

And that description makes it sound more entertaining than it is...
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PrimeOp
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Sterner Stuff
Mooninites
"Ax-Battler" for the Game Gear was more like a Zelda II rip-off. You had your overhead wandering then side-scrolling action scenes.

Golden Axe Warrior is a much better game than you'd think even though it went so far as to rip off the Lost Woods. It's still a fun game though.

Cadash really feels like an all sides and towns Zelda II game even though the action engine was probably more inspired by Taito's own Rastan.
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