If you cannot get enough of a fix of your favourite Nintendo game series and are curious about what other games are out there that are similar to the ones you love, this article is for you! In this feature, Cubed3 looks at a selection of video games that Nintendo fans who own other consoles might be interested in purchasing. Nintendo games in particular have set the benchmark for many developers today, and whilst many others don’t quite emulate the fun and success of Nintendo’s greats, there are a few that do. This article highlights some of the best non-Nintendo games, old and new, that take inspiration from your favourite series that you should definitely try to get your hands on. In this issue, we present to you three brilliant games that take influence from 2D The Legend of Zelda. If you love Link’s classic top-down adventures, read on!
Alundra (PlayStation)
- Released: 11/04/1997 (JP); 05/06/1998 (Europe); 21/12/1997 (US)
[li]PlayStation Network: 10/10/2007 (JP); 12/10/2010 (US); 15/08/2012 (EU)
The Adventures of Alundra, or simply Alundra outside of Europe, is probably one of the best examples of a classic Legend of Zelda emulation that actually improves on it in just about every aspect. Alundra, a silent protagonist very much like Link, is shipwrecked and taken in by a man named Jess from the nearby village of Inoa. Strange things begin to happen in the town, and the locals blame Alundra’s appearance on the events. Alundra soon discovers he is a Dreamwalker and can enter people’s dreams. Using this unique ability, he attempts to save those that are stricken by deadly nightmares and discover the truth behind his own mysterious nightly visions.
It is evident that Alundra takes a lot of inspiration from 2D Zelda, but when it does everything so well, you can be assured that this is no bad thing. From familiar items like bombs and bows to slashing bushes to find cash, fans of Zelda could be forgiven for thinking this was an entry in the famed series itself. An accustomed top-down viewpoint is used above a vibrant and colourful world with detailed character sprites that bring everything to life. Unlike Link, though, Alundra has the ability to jump manually, and this allows for much platforming action. Puzzles play a huge part in the game, and some can leave you stumped and pushing your brain for quite a while. The sense of accomplishment is great though; this is one area that Zelda players should feel extremely pleased with, especially if you’ve not found recent Zelda games’ puzzles as challenging as desired.
The plot is one of the strongest aspects of the game, with story and character interaction being a bigger focal point than in early Zelda games. Characters ooze personality, and a brilliant translation has helped bring them to life through plenty of humorous and witty comments. You will grow fond of these people and actually want to help save them in your quest. What brings players in even more, however, is the sheer darkness of the storyline. Things get scary and intense; death is a prominent theme. Coupled with a quite terrific soundtrack to bring emotion to every scene, Alundra is a game that simply has to be played by any fan of 2D Zelda games.
3D Dot Game Heroes (PlayStation 3)
- Released: 05/11/2009 (JP); 11/05/2010 (US); 14/05/2010 (EU)
If you enjoyed the original Legend of Zelda, or even any 8-bit adventure games from the 1980s, then you will adore PlayStation 3’s 3D Dot Game Heroes. The game is practically a throwback to the original Zelda on the Nintendo Entertainment System, and will have you grinning from ear to ear as the nostalgia comes flooding back as you play it. 3D Dot Game Heroes uses a unique graphical style of retro 2D graphics in 3D environments made of voxels. If you’re familiar with the presentation of Minecraft, you’ll have the right idea. The fusion of old and modern has been crafted so well and looks beautiful, with lighting effects being used to magnificent effect. Fans of 8-bit Zelda will really appreciate this incredibly seamless mix of 2D and 3D.
Typically, there is a clich story which takes place in the kingdom of Dotnia, of all places. The king noticed people stopped caring for his 2D world and decided to turn everything into 3D. The Dark King was suddenly freed from the Dark Orb, evil monsters plagued the land, and the six orbs that protected the people were sealed in dungeons. A hero is spoken of in legends that will pull the magical sword and defeat the Dark King. That’s you.
At the start of the game, you can choose from a wide choice of blocky heroes, with some having various differences, but the beauty comes in being able to create your own character. Creating a Link clone will make it feel like playing classic Zelda even more, but you can go so far as designing rip-offs of any of your favourite game heroes if you’ve got the design skill. The magic sword can be upgraded, and at full health will grow larger and stronger. Classic items like bombs, bows and boomerangs complete a set up that couldn’t get any more Zelda-like. In-game jokes, 8-bit-like soundtracks, challenging dungeons and a gorgeous presentation really make 3D Dot Game Heroes a game you must try out if you grew up on pixellated NES games.
The Binding of Isaac (PC / Mac)
- Released: 28/09/2011
From one of the creators of the brilliant Super Meat Boy comes a totally messed up action adventure. Borrowing heavy from the original Zelda’s style, you play as Isaac, a poor little child that has escaped from his crazy religious mother intent on offering him as a sacrifice to her lord, based on the familiar Biblical story. In the blood and guts-covered basement Isaac enters from his room are some of the most deranged and disgusting creatures you’ll ever see, and it’s your job to help him through it.
One of the most appealing features of The Binding of Isaac is the randomly generated dungeons. You will never be playing the same game over. Dying means you lose everything, but you start in a brand new set of dungeons, allowing for endless replay ability. Isaac’s primary form of attack is a take on the bow and arrow system whereby he shoots tears. As if that wasn’t abnormal enough to begin with, over 100 different items can change Isaac’s appearance freakishly, offering him new ways of sending the 50+ types of monsters and the 20 unsettling bosses to hell. Tons of levels and unlockables mean you will be hooked on this for days.
If you ever wanted your Legend of Zelda to be even darker, sinister and just plain disturbing, The Binding of Isaac is the way to go. For less than 4, you’d be even more insane than the guys that made this game to pass it up.
These three games provide familiar takes on the classic Zelda formula, yet are still very different in their own right. Alundra is what you’d expect an enhanced top-down sequel to A Link to the Past to be like; 3D Dot Game Heroes mixes 2D and 3D elements in a pixellated world to give off that 8-bit effect; and The Binding of Isaac uses a simple cartoon graphics style that takes a lot of elements from 2D Zelda in a creepy setting. If you own any of these consoles or plan to get one in the future and are a classic Zelda fan, these are games that should definitely be on your list.
