Hazelnut Bastille - Link to the Past influenced

[Xeogred]

I want to check out Golden Axe Warrior sometime.

Skip that and play Neutopia instead. You're welcome.

Noted. Those look awesome.

[Exhuminator]

I have several Zelda-likes that I really enjoyed, but I find that most of them end up aping the 3D entries as opposed to 2D. Beyond Good & Evil, Okami, Star Fox Adventures (no, really!), Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom, Darksiders, 3D Dot Game Heroes, there's a few good ones out there.

I remember when this game came out, it was reviewed favorably for being Zelda-alike:

I never see anyone talk about it nowadays though. I own a copy on GameCube, though I've not tried it yet.

and we all know about the Soul Blazer/Illusion of Gaia/Terranigma triumvirate

Replace "Terranigma" with "Brain Lord" and I'm happy.

But really, there's a ton more non-linear action-platformers in the indie space right now (i.e. Metroidvania), but not nearly enough Zelda-likes. Although I suspect that's because Zelda-style games might be even more difficult to craft, and that seems to have always been the case, honestly.

An oldie, but maybe a goodie Zelda-alike indie:

http://agtp.romhack.net/project.php?id=rakuga

Probably blasphemes to say but I've never felt that interested in Okami.

It's overrated. Yes the graphics are great, and the controls are innovative, and the puzzles are intuitive... but the pacing is terribly slow with a bloated narrative and long stretches of banality. It would have been a fantastic 10-12 hour game, but it's an exhausting 40 hour slog instead.

3D Dot Heroes was legit. Very tough though! Seemed like one of From Software's last obtuse game before they struck gold with Dark Souls.

Gonna put my "ass hat" on here and point out a common misconception about 3D Dot Game Heroes, this game was NOT developed by FromSoftware. FromSoftware only published it (in Japan, Atlus published in USA). 3D Dot Game Heroes was developed by Silicon Studio.

this game looks like it's literally pulling from Link to the Past's sprite set directly haha. That's how you can sell me. It looks legit SNES. Definitely going to keep my eye on it.

I'm rueful to say that due to your handheld aversion, you're missing out on some of the best overhead Zeldas in that style. I'm talking about Minish Cap, Link's Awakening, Oracle of Ages, and Oracle of Seasons, not to mention A Link Between Worlds. These are really high quality Zelda experiences that you're not going to find on consoles.

[Tanooki]

Definitely agree about Link's Awakening and Minish Cap too. The first feels like the SNES game, just constrained to an even somewhat lower resolution and LCD viewing area, same can be said with the viewing space of Minish Cap too but play wise it is more modern as much as that overhead format would allow.

Also that reasoning about Okami is entirely why I avoided it. Great general concept and stuff going on, when you can get around 75% of it being in the way of the good parts.

That AGTP game link there, never heard of that. Is it some free PC game they translated like how Cave Story was done?

[Xeogred]

I'm rueful to say that due to your handheld aversion, you're missing out on some of the best overhead Zeldas in that style. I'm talking about Minish Cap, Link's Awakening, Oracle of Ages, and Oracle of Seasons, not to mention A Link Between Worlds. These are really high quality Zelda experiences that you're not going to find on consoles.

Got those covered. Link's Awakening was the one GB game I owned and was allowed to play on the ~1 or so "family trips" I went on as a kid that allowed GB usage on the car ride. I was actually so versed with the original version I didn't bother with DX until a few years ago finally haha, think when I got around to playing the Oracle games too. Freaking love these games. The feather in LA really allows it to do some cool things you don't see in Link to the Past.

Minish Cap was just alright, but I bought it on the Wii U VC so I'll replay it sometime.

Glad you didn't mention Phantom Hourglass, as I don't have a barf bag near me.

If it was Zelda, Metroid, or Castlevania on handhelds I probably have it covered. But nothing 3DS wise. I'll certainly get one someday just for those Zelda remakes and Link Between Worlds. I just wish the new overhead stuff didn't look so ugly to my eyes heh. LA and the Oracle games look so much cooler. Blocks for life!


Yuck!


Ah yeah babe.

[Exhuminator]

That AGTP game link there, never heard of that. Is it some free PC game they translated like how Cave Story was done?

Yes it's one of the freeware Japanese indie games that AGTP decided to translate into English. It didn't take off and get "big" like Cave Story or La-Mulana did though.

Glad you didn't mention Phantom Hourglass, as I don't have a barf bag near me.

As someone who bothered to finish Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, let me be the first to say that you're missing nothing by avoiding them.

I'll certainly get one someday just for those Zelda remakes and Link Between Worlds.

Well I'm sure you've seen A Link Between Worlds praised endlessly all over the internet. Allow Mr.Ass to be the voice of dissent here. I bought and tried ALBW out myself, with high hopes, but I was very underwhelmed. Granted, I only put about three hours into it, but what I played felt like a clone of A Link to the Past with one extra mechanic that Nintendo stole from Sideway New York. I'm convinced ALBW started off as a 3D remake of ALttP, but halfway through Nintendo decided to make it a "sequel" instead. I guess if you're okay with practically zero innovation and massive tidal waves of deja vu, ALBW is super great! I don't know, I'll give another try someday. I was also very underwhelmed by Skyward Sword too... so maybe I'm just worn out on the Zelda formula.

[Sarge]

Unpopular opinion time: I just thought Wind Waker was pretty good, not great. I was a little disappointed by it.

Really unpopular opinion: In its original incarnation, I thought the same of Ocarina of Time. The 3DS version did a lot to rectify that, though.

Majora's Mask still never really clicked with me.

Twilight Princess was great, waggle and all. (Of course, you can also go non-waggle on GC, and with the remade Wii U version.)

Skyward Sword was the greatest if you like dungeons. Everything is a dungeon. (Well, except the hub.) Loved it.

Almost all the handheld entries are good stuff, in differing ways. Link's Awakening is still my favorite Zelda. If you want to try the DS games, I'd recommend using one of the d-pad patches so you don't have to do everything touchscreen-style. They are the weakest entries, though.

Bone, I need to get around to beating the Neutopia games. They're on my list. Not sure they'd count for the Summer Challenge, though.

[Exhuminator]

Wind Waker

[Xeogred]

Sums up Wind Waker nicely.

It's hard for me to rate and rank Zelda's, but I know for the 3D ones I absolutely love Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword, and Twilight Princess. No real issues with Majora's Mask, other than it only having four main dungeons. Mixing in the other Zelda's around, Wind Waker is very low tier all around for me and the U remaster just reconfirmed my ambivalence towards it, not sure I'll play it again after two times through. Link's Awakening is incredible. Link to the Past is the best game in existence next to Super Metroid.

Also this Zelda rules and you better believe it!

I grew up on the original Zelda before all the others, but it definitely is different and I prefer the puzzle/explorative blueprints that Link to the Past and Link's Awakening set.

[Gunstar Green]

I loved every second I was playing A Link Between Worlds but I don't play Zelda games as religiously as most people. It's never been my favorite Nintendo franchise.

Though I greatly prefer the top-down style games. Link's Awakening has always been my favorite.

[Sarge]

Zelda II is freaking awesome. There was a time I liked it less because it was "different" from the rest of the series (despite it being my first, go figure!), but I realized it's one of the best side-scrolling adventure games on the system. I actually revisit it much more often than I do the original Zelda. No lie.

Thinking of Link to the Past, it might be about time for me to make another run through it, perhaps with the MSU-1 hack.