The Great Zelda Clones list

[marurun]

I was thinking maybe we ought to put our noggins together and hash out a list of Zelda clones, along with our impressions. We might all learn something and get introduced to some new games.

I think the obvious first entries are:

Neutopia and Neutopia II (PCE/TG16)
Ax Battler (Master System)
Crusader of Centy (Genesis/MD)

I haven't played Ax Battler, but I love the Neutopia titles. I think of the various clones the Neutopia games capture the spirit of the original the best while still being fun and modern. Crusader of Centy is pretty fun, too, though.

Once we start getting some ideas down, I'll probably reformat this post and start including them.

[o.pwuaioc]

Only 2D or 3D, too? And do you want clones, per se, or just games that feel similar? Okami, for example, is a long love letter to Zelda. Dark Cloud is basically a 3D Zelda, too. Of course, if you're including Golden Axe Warrior, you should also by extension include 3D Dot Game Heroes. And where would Secret of Mana fall?

[MrPopo]

Golden Axe Warrior for the SMS is a pretty good one. And then you've got 3D Dot Game Heroes on the PS3.

[marurun]

Only 2D or 3D, too? And do you want clones, per se, or just games that feel similar? Okami, for example, is a long love letter to Zelda. Dark Cloud is basically a 3D Zelda, too. Of course, if you're including Golden Axe Warrior, you should also by extension include 3D Dot Game Heroes. And where would Secret of Mana fall?

I was thinking of clones of/extensions to the original Zelda model (though a 3D take on that could be fine). Secret of Mana is a very different game and not, IMO, a Zelda clone at all. I think 3D Dot Game Heroes sounds like a pretty good match for the list, though.

[Xeogred]

3D Dot Game Heroes undoubtedly. It's Zelda 1 in everything but name. I never finished it though, some of those bosses were insane and I think I Gamefly'd it. Been meaning to get it sometime to check it out again though. It's a strange one by From Software.

I really liked Star Fox Adventures, even though it was Zelda for beginners (like most of the clones).

[o.pwuaioc]

I was thinking of clones of/extensions to the original Zelda model (though a 3D take on that could be fine). Secret of Mana is a very different game and not, IMO, a Zelda clone at all. I think 3D Dot Game Heroes sounds like a pretty good match for the list, though.

Secret of Mana is a menu-infused Link to the Past, imo.

[ElkinFencer10]

I haven't finished it, and I haven't even played it in years, but Startropics always seemed very Zelda-esque to me. Given how long it's been since I've played it, however, I might be confusing two games in my head.

[o.pwuaioc]

I haven't finished it, and I haven't even played it in years, but Startropics always seemed very Zelda-esque to me. Given how long it's been since I've played it, however, I might be confusing two games in my head.

Nope, that's 100% accurate. StarTropics is basically Zelda in the modern Pacific.

[Anapan]

Bomberman Quest for GBC is a great zelda clone. I think some of the later ones qualify too - Bomberman Tournament for sure.

[noiseredux]

Golden Axe Warrior for the SMS is a pretty good one. And then you've got 3D Dot Game Heroes on the PS3.

These are my 2 favorite Zelda clones.