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[zradick]

So I'm considering starting a new project to make a game stylistically similar to The Legend of Zelda (the original for NES).  I'm not talking strictly about a remake, just something similar: top down, action-adventure, rpg-lite, mild puzzle solving, etc.  This has definitely been done many times, but I still find the concept somewhat compelling...  My question is this: "What is the best Zelda-esque style game that is currently available (for free or pay)?"

Thanks!
--Zack

[team_q]

I think Microsoft just released an Zelda RPG starter kit for XNA.

Also Secret of Mana was pretty pimp.

[battlerager]

Gral?

[J]

My question is this: "What is the best Zelda-esque style game that is currently available (for free or pay)?"

Thanks!
--Zack

Guardian Of Paradise

[Xion]

I thott Beyond Oasis was pretty awesome, as well as Soul Blazer, which is also completely awesome.
GoP is nice, too.

[imaginationac]

Beyond Good and Evil had me immediately thinking Zelda with the interface and the fighting. It's not free, but you can buy it cheap for all previous gen consoles, the PC (also through Steam) or play with Gold GameTap subscription.

Gral?

If battlerager's talking about Graal Online, stay away.

[William Broom]

Okami is the best Zelda-esque game ever made. It's a better Zelda than Zelda.

[battlerager]

Beyond Good and Evil had me immediately thinking Zelda with the interface and the fighting. It's not free, but you can buy it cheap for all previous gen consoles, the PC (also through Steam) or play with Gold GameTap subscription.

Gral?

If battlerager's talking about Graal Online, stay away.

Yah I basically meant that, but the old, old offline version.

It's not really good but hey, it has an editor, right!?!? right!?!? 

[fish]

the bets zelda is the one i will direct in about 10 years from now.
when miyamoto hands over the franchise's reins to me.
after years of his cruel tutelage.

it's set in a post-apocalyptic city of london, and at some point you actually go to hell.

[team_q]

Okami is the best Zelda-esque game ever made. It's a better Zelda than Zelda.

Well, except for the irritating controls and either easy or boring battles. Then again, Im only 5 hours in. But I've started and stopped playing twice because of the controls.

[shinygerbil]

Beyond Oasis

Quoted, for the mother fucking win.

[fish]

Okami is the best Zelda-esque game ever made. It's a better Zelda than Zelda.

Well, except for the irritating controls and either easy or boring battles. Then again, Im only 5 hours in. But I've started and stopped playing twice because of the controls.

yeah, no.
its a close 2nd.
but that game was too big, and somewhat dishonest about its plot (and lenght).
when you have a 20 minute (UNSKIPABLE, MOTHERFUCKERS) cutscene explaining everything about this super evil 8-headed (was it 8?) dragon demon guy and how its super important that you find him and kill him again, well that kind of shit kind of makes me think this guy's my main goal. my last boss.

then you get there, kill him and PLOT TWIST! you'r eonly like 30% in.

i never played it again.

this amazing feeling of acomplishement, of closure, taken away by a shitty, overlong story.

great game tho, great game.
great but flawed.
in many ways.

oh, i also think twilight princess sucks taint.

[team_q]

Soul Blazer

I loved this game so much, I've beat it several times, oh sooo goood. It's sequals are pretty good too, but I think they tried to do too much with them, that and they lost the whole rebuilding the world gameplay aspect that I loved from Soulblazer and Actrazer.

[Tanner]

Zelda Classic looks like your best bet for what you're doing.

[zradick]

Hey thanks for all the insight.    I had heard of some of these, but haven't had a chance to play them.  I'll have to try them out and see if that satisfies my current desire...  Time is limited and I'd like to do something that is fun for me to program and hopefully fun for others to play.  I'm a DIY'er when it comes to software, so I won't be using an existing frameworks if I go down this long dark path.

After I have a chance to play some of the games you all have suggested I think I will be able to decide if it's time to put on my robe and wizard hat...

Cheers,
--Zack

[Camdag]

Crystalis for the NES is pretty rad. Right now I'm playing Illusion of Mana, for the SNES. This is also good.

[fish]

my favorite zelda is the one on virtualboy.

[zradick]

Back when the NES (and later SNES) was still the dominant platform I played every RPG and action adventure I could get my grubby fingers on (I missed Secret of Mana but did play Secret of Evermore, which was also quite good).  I even bought a NES not too long ago and played through Zelda again (and it's cousin Spiritual Warfare, which is just hilarious for all the wrong reasons).  I'm not sure if I ever finished Soul Blazer (I didn't own it but I'm sure I rented it -- remember those days?), but I'm sure I played it at some point.

Beyond Oasis sounds right up my alley, but I don't have a Wii or Genesis so it's out of reach.  Okami sounds interesting too, but it's the same story there.

I was mostly looking for PC games that were available online (gotta love instant gratification) so this evening I spent a couple hours with Guardian of Paradise.  Very nice.  I'll definitely finish a play through it.

Still, I'm not sure if it's enough to slake this dark thirst.  Perhaps it is just enough to whet my appetite and get me motivated on something new...

Cheers,
--Zack

[battlerager]

Soul Blazer

I loved this game so much, I've beat it several times, oh sooo goood. It's sequals are pretty good too, but I think they tried to do too much with them, that and they lost the whole rebuilding the world gameplay aspect that I loved from Soulblazer and Actrazer.

Terranigma is one of my favorite games of all time.

[premodern]

Ark 22 is definitely the best freeware Zelda clone I've played.  It has a huge overworld plenty of minigames and sidequests and the NPCs tend to say interesting things not just useless hints.

http://gmc.yoyogames.com/?showtopic=160692