[QUOTE=feilong80]Thanks for pointing that out, Funk. Calling Zelda an RPG does a disservice to both genres. Zelda and Final Fantasy (to name two games from both forms) share strong narrative elements, but are otherwise totally different.
An RPG is going to stress, depending on its style, stat based character development. You are always angling to improve the skills of your character. Some are heavier than others: Oblivion, Baldur's Gate (for the PC), and other games of that ilk are very heavy on the stats: you can customize your player to an extreme level and even make items yourself.
Final Fantasy is in the middle. There is enough stat driven gameplay to keep you busy, but it isn't terribly heavy. Then you have the so called "Action RPGs" like Diablo and Jade Empire. I guess Zelda would be the closest to this, but even in Action RPGs you have stat based leveling.
Zelda is an adventure game because it has none of these elements. Characters to not improve in adventure games, only get better items and weapons occasionally. But Link is no better a swordsman at the beginning of the game than the end. He is also not any stronger, other than an increased life bar, and being better equipped.
Sorry for the total geek out post. (-: It certainly isn't a matter of life or death whether or not you consider Zelda an RPG (-:
-Rob
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For the most part I agree with your logic. In most cases I would consider Zelda to be an action adventure title. Yet I like to refer to Zelda and Metroid as RPG-Lite,here is why...
In Zelda and Metroid you start off weak with only a few weapons and abilities. In both games you can explore where you want and eventually you will uncover new abilities and get more health/energy. In different games of Zelda and Metroid you can sort of "level up" your weapons. In the orginal Zelda you could get better swords after you obtained a certain amount of hearts. These swords caused more damage to foes and where neccessary to beat the game.
When you start playing Zelda you can only take a few hits and then you die, but towards the end of the game its a different story. You have gone from being a weak child in a green tunic to a warrior manboy with a badass sword and a green tunic. You can go anywhere, take out foes in a variety of different ways and you eat octorocks for breakfast (with a side of grits of course). Samus is the same way as Link. In the beginning she is weak, but by the end of her adventures she is usually a powerhouse. While these differences are not stat based, they are still there...hence RPG lite.
I have no problem calling these game action adventures (thats what I usually call them myself), but I can understand why people refer to them as RPGs (more Zelda than Metroid...I think I'm the only one on that).
VGC Gets a Wii!
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Adamant1
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VGC Gets a Wii!
Hm, I might have misread andrew up there. I agree that Zelda games aren't RPGs, I was just pointing out that a lot of reviewers tend to demand that RPGs be incredibly long games.
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andrew
VGC Gets a Wii!
[QUOTE=Adamant]
I meant to say action adventure but ocarina of time has rpg elements. Didn't think a huge discussion would arise. Mario 64 is an action adventure but loosely linearly progresses and when you accomplish say the collection of four stars, you don't power up, but you've gotten that much closer to the goal more than it feels when completing a task in zelda games. Like rpg's zelda games are too much of a commitment so to hear the 50 hours is too short, its stupid. That's 50 hours of progression in addition to hours spent wandering around trying to figure out what to do, dying, or trekking through a large section only to realize you don't have the necessary item to complete the task.
Hm, I might have misread andrew up there. I agree that Zelda games aren't RPGs, I was just pointing out that a lot of reviewers tend to demand that RPGs be incredibly long games.
[/QUOTE]I meant to say action adventure but ocarina of time has rpg elements. Didn't think a huge discussion would arise. Mario 64 is an action adventure but loosely linearly progresses and when you accomplish say the collection of four stars, you don't power up, but you've gotten that much closer to the goal more than it feels when completing a task in zelda games. Like rpg's zelda games are too much of a commitment so to hear the 50 hours is too short, its stupid. That's 50 hours of progression in addition to hours spent wandering around trying to figure out what to do, dying, or trekking through a large section only to realize you don't have the necessary item to complete the task.
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Adamant1
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VGC Gets a Wii!
Heh, I bought the Wii Zelda at launch, and I still haven't even touched it. When I just have an hour to play, it's so much more simpler to just boot up the VC R-Type and do a couple quick playthroughs than attempt to get into a complex adventure game where you don't know what to expect and when you'll be able to quit.
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feilong801
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VGC Gets a Wii!
I'm almost afraid to mention this, because I could accidentally overhype the game and ruin it, but...
Yeah, when you get to it, play Zelda. It'll blow your mind.
Though the opening sequence of the game is a weee bit slow.
Still easily in my "top five best games ever" discussion.
-Rob
Yeah, when you get to it, play Zelda. It'll blow your mind.
Though the opening sequence of the game is a weee bit slow.
Still easily in my "top five best games ever" discussion.
-Rob
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funky_muzic1
- Posts: 203
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
VGC Gets a Wii!
[QUOTE=feilong80]I'm almost afraid to mention this, because I could accidentally overhype the game and ruin it, but...
Yeah, when you get to it, play Zelda. It'll blow your mind.
Though the opening sequence of the game is a weee bit slow.
Still easily in my "top five best games ever" discussion.
-Rob
[/QUOTE]
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