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I was curious, for future reference. What are the Legend of Zelda games considered as: RPG or non-RPG?

I'd consider them RPGs, but that's because I'm a bit of a Zelda fanboy at heart . Purists would probably call them action RPGs, though.

Definately an RPG.

RPG- Roleplaying game.

You're playing the role of Link in a game.

Simple.

Yes simple very simplistic definition for an RPG. In Tomb Raider you play the role of Lara Croft, is that an RPG ?

Aye saw the example of ignorance in hill's sig before , talking about how many people call Bond games rpg's because you play the role of James BOnd.

I would still classify Zelda games as an rpg, you are playing the role of a saviour, and it sort of has that rpg look and feel to it.

Action RPG. The only one I would consider a true RPG would be Zelda 2. Look at how all the newer ones *shudders" have been done.

The last Zelda I played was Majoras Mask on N64, not bad, not good, but not bad. i refuse to touch the new ones, horrid lil things they are. But yes mag, I think you er... nailed it, with that one: Action RPG.

Spoiler

Way to go Mum!

Also, Ocarina of Time was quite the RPG in my opinion, or atleast what I can remember of it.

Ocarina of Time was superb, I agree. But technically speaking I think it would be classed as an ARPG. Character and story development is essentially linear with the gameplay being combat/puzzle driven rather than story. Characterization is rather sparse too.

Most sites have this game series down as an Action Adventure, mostly because there is very little growth in your character except for the amount of hearts you get. The rest is a few items scattered about the world.

The closest it would get is an RPG Hybrid, but that might just be IMHO. I'd place it in the Non-RPG Discussion to be safe, and I can move it around if need be.

@ Sib: You really don't want to describe it that way to some people out there, Phreddie remembers correctly. James Bond and numerous other games were placed into the RPG category, simply because they are listed as 'Role Playing', by a group of people who were eventually forced to see the light.

Hill, I understand that most sites have it listed under action adventure, but then again, Eb Games has Oblivion under action adventure.

That's one site, which doesn't have the best track record keeping the right games in the right category. Dozens of other, more reliable gaming sites not based on sales have it on RPG. One site isn't going to sway what [url="http://pc.ign.com/objects/702/702491.html"]IGN[/url], [url="http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/the-elder-scrolls-iv-oblivion/558955p1.html"]Gamespy[/url], [url="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/theelderscrollsivoblivion/index.html"]Gamespot[/url], and above all, what GameBanshee has.

IGN, Gamespot and Gamespy all have it as Action Adventure, and having played many of these games myself, the best it can reach is an RPG-hybrid, and that is optimistic.