* Voting has ceased, but feel free to continue discussing Zelda clones. * Hey, Assembler. The 30th anniversary of the Legend of Zelda franchise will be celebrated in 2016. Of course, mainline Zelda sequels don't come out every year, and fans are always looking for similar experiences. So, over the past 30 years, which games have made the best alternatives/clones/"Zelda-likes?" I personally haven't played many, and there are a bunch I've missed over the past 30 years. So, I created this in-post poll, which will allow the number of choices to be unlimited. I'll update as often as I'm able, and I'll keep this going for several weeks. (Based on participation.) I'm not going to be too stringent about what qualifies as a "Zelda-like," since doing so would narrow the list considerably. Preferably, the designs of the NES, SNES, and N64 games should be used as guides, with obvious exceptions being Adventure of Link, the CD-i games, etc. Though the Legend of Zelda games are more Action/Adventure than RPG, I'll accept games with elements like HP and Leveling Up. Simply put, the game must be closer to Zelda than not. Rules: Post a game, and it counts as a vote. Unlisted games will be added as they're posted. One vote per title per user. Multiple games can be voted for by a single user. Current Results: 2 Votes Okami Alundra Golden Axe Warrior 1 Vote 3D Dot Game Heroes Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy Shantae Terranigma Secret of Mana Monster World IV Ys II Ganpuru - It's Strange World Gunman's Proof Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals Elemental Gimmick Gear Golvellius: Valley of Doom The Guardian Legend Beyond Oasis Legend of Oasis Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole Mystic Quest Final Fantasy Adventure / Mystic Quest / Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden Suggestions Crystalis Neutopia Ys Darksiders Okami Starfox Adventures Beyond Good & Evil Bastion Final Fantasy Adventure Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas Soul Blazer Illusion of Gaia Secret of Evermore 'Ittle Dew Crusader of Centy Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon Edits and Updates: Update 1: Votes added, up to Post #10. Update 2: Clarified ruleset, updated list. Update 3: Votes added, up to Post #18.
No Golden Axe Warrior on your list?! Why/how is this a poll? It seems more like just a list of action RPGs... I'm not really complaining--I love the genre--but I'm a bit confused, hehe
The thing is most popular will get most votes, not most alike. Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy has some enjoyable puzzle dungeons with mummy. OK game overall (i'd rate it 7.8 out of 10). PS2 version has better textures than GC and has button to center camera. Do not know about Xbox ver. Okami is pretty good but puzzles are simplistic (as I remember) and too long. Shantae GBC has good puzzle dungeons but tedious overworld travelling.
Alundra is one of my favourite games of all time. Alundra 2 sucks in comparison but still a great game in its own right.
Secret of Mana was one of my favorite games growing up. I'll happily place my vote there! EDIT - Oh! "The World Ends With You" as well... Granted the only similarity between it and Zelda is that they could both be categorized as RPGs, I love it too much not to vote for it. Heh
How is The World Ends With You like Zelda? Let's define what qualifies "Zelda like". Zelda defined by dungeons with environmental puzzles. I remembered another one. Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals is a good Action RPG with nice dungeons and enjoyable puzzles.
Well to be fair, I did state that they don't really have anything in common besides both being RPGs. I said it as more of a joke. I apologize for the confusion.
I remember hearing that Dark Cloud was supposed to be a "Zelda Killer" but I never bothered to play it. Alundra has my vote as the best alternative.
Going with Golden Axe Warrior. The first time I played it, I thought it was very close to Zelda rip-off
Golvellius on the Master System. Dungeons are side scrollers or vertical scrollers with no puzzles but the overworld is similar.
Also Beyond Oasis (Megadrive) and Legend of Oasis (Saturn) , Landstalker for the Megadrive too. Mystic Quest (Gameboy) is a brilliant Zelda clone.
