GameInformer

I myself would NOT consider Zelda to be an RPG, however, it seems alot of other people do. I would say that Zelda is an adventure game with alot of puzzzles and though verry fun to play, not wothy of a role players wish list. The idea of whether or not I should post this question was decided by the latest issue of Gameinformer which lables The Ledgend of Zelda: Skyward Sword as an action adventure gamd rather then an RPG.

I have had manny people argue why they think Zelda is an RPG, and manny more who have crushed the idea with cold hard facts, but reading another thread on this sight titled "old school RPGs" leads me to believe that there may be a worth while conversation on this topic waiting to happen. So if you do indeed think that any or all of the Zelda games can be considered RPGs then please post your arguement here.

I don't think it's an rpg, an adventure game sure, but not an rpg.

No. If you think Zelda is an RPG, you have extreme issues and have never played an actual RPG before.

I would call Fallout 3 an RPG before Zelda.

Definately not. Zelda is an action/adventure game, not a menu scroller.

No, while it may have SOME RPG qualities I dont consider it to be one.  An rpg to me is a game either turn or time based where you can develop your character and build certain attributes to really "play the roll".  Zelda (while amazing and some of my favorite games) is more linear than what I would consider to be a traditional RPG where you have choices that at least in some way effect your character.  I would consider god of war closer

Well its good to see that manny people agree, but I cant help but wonder why anyone whould mistake Zelda for an RPG. Granted the medievil setting may have contributed to the misconception but if you actually play the game, it all too clear that its not an RPG.

@ Vandooor; Surely you dont mean only turn or time based games can be considered RPGs, if so I beg to differ, look at The Elder Scrolls, or Fallout 3 and New Vagas for starters.

@Thelizardman - Thats what I would normally call an RPG not that others cant be, i've just never considered a game that wasnt turn or time base to be a full on rpg- i'm not at all familiar with eldar scrolls fallout series or New Vegas so perhaps my post was just under informed.  But what is it about those games that makes them RPGs?

Well to start, I would highly recomend picking up either title depending on your preference to fantacy or sifi, but to answer your question, both games are comletely character driven. They are 20% character creation, and 80% character development, the games dont just push you to the next quest, you have to go out and find it. The real time combat changes the dependency on stats to actual skill.

sounds good, i'll pick up Eldar Scrolls when I can.

Zelda II's level up/experience system probably had some factor in the misconception.

well, you can't really level up link, nor does he have any party members. so i wouldn't say its a RPG. yet.

You leveled him up in Zelda II, actually :B

Pretty much an adventure game. MAYBE an RPG-lite, but no way is it a full-fledged RPG.

it started out as an RPG esque game, then became an action RPG, then a full fledged action adventure game(like metroid, minus the jumping.) so all of the above.

I personally don't feel that it falls under the traditional RPG formula.  Doesn't mean they aren't great games though.