Zelda isnt an rpg? (Its a dungeon crawler isnt it?)

[Opa Opa]

It's an "Adventure" game, possibly the defining one.

I politely disagree.

[Cronozilla]

I wouldn't argue "adventure" game either, because Adventure games are more akin to things like Monkey Island and Balder's Gate ... even D (though not D2)

I would argue Adventure should be in there somewhere, largely due to the different styles of gameplay in the game. But Action is the primary focus of the game. It's the fundamental thing you do.

I think people ignore old-style adventure games because they're not on their radar so much.

[Bikeage]

Zelda's are puzzle games, think about it.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I wouldn't argue "adventure" game either, because Adventure games are more akin to things like Monkey Island and Balder's Gate ... even D (though not D2)

I would argue Adventure should be in there somewhere, largely due to the different styles of gameplay in the game. But Action is the primary focus of the game. It's the fundamental thing you do.

I think people ignore old-style adventure games because they're not on their radar so much.

"Adventure game" has historically been used to refer to two different genres. It's been used to classify point-and-click games on the computer as you mentioned, but console titles like Zelda and StarTropics were also called "adventure games" in the 1980s/1990s -- check out old issues of Nintendo Power.

As for the original question, no Zelda is not an RPG (though the second game could arguably be considered one). This is mainly due to the fact that there's no leveling system: any changes in stats are due solely to armor/weapons equipped. In addition, unlike most RPGs, defeating enemies in Zelda games does nothing to directly strengthen your character. Instead you merely gain rupees (to later exchange for goods) and items (bombs, arrows, etc).

That said, the Zelda games were extremely important and influential to the development of RPGs (especially JRPGs). I think any comprehensive study of the development of the genre would need to include the Zelda games.

[Jmustang1968]

I wouldn't argue "adventure" game either, because Adventure games are more akin to things like Monkey Island and Balder's Gate ... even D (though not D2)

I would argue Adventure should be in there somewhere, largely due to the different styles of gameplay in the game. But Action is the primary focus of the game. It's the fundamental thing you do.

I think people ignore old-style adventure games because they're not on their radar so much.

Except baldur's gate isn't an adventure game...

[Gamerforlife]

People know my thoughts on this already, and some don't agree. I'll just say it again. Tell a group of educated gamers that Zelda is an rpg and you just labelled yourself a "newb".

That's my opinion, but who the hell cares? This topic has probably been done to death on every gaming forum there is and no amount of arguing ever changes people's opinion on the subject. It's pointless.

[garrett123]

People know my thoughts on this already, and some don't agree. I'll just say it again. Tell a group of educated gamers that Zelda is an rpg and you just labelled yourself a "newb".

That's my opinion, but who the hell cares? This topic has probably been done to death on every gaming forum there is and no amount of arguing ever changes people's opinion on the subject. It's pointless.

I looked at past forums about things related to this, it doenst look like its come up directly, but has come up in

1. what genre is zelda
2.what constitutes a rpg
3.top 100 rpgs

[cookie monster]

Then why did you make a new thread about it if it is in those other threads?

[garrett123]

I dont typically scan 3 pages of threads to find similarities. if you searched top 100 for any system, or this is the best game ever for any game, or what are you playing right now youll find 70 times more.

[ElkinFencer10]

Well, if we take the term RPG for face value (role playing game), most every game is an RPG; you play a role of some sort in every game. A skill/level up system is pretty much the defining quality of what an RPG is, though.

I've always thought of the Legend of Zelda as a puzzle based adventure game (I've never thought of it strictly as a puzzle game, though, just like I never think of Resident Evil as a puzzle game even though there are puzzles throughout the game). I think a Zelda RPG would be a fantastic game, but with the exception of Zelda 2: Adventure of Link, there has never been one (and I didn't like Zelda 2, so I usually forget about it).