Is the Legend of Zelda a... JRPG?

[Phlakes]

Well, there's a difference between a "JRPG" and a Japanese RPG. But technically, yes, it's an action/adventure/RPG and it's Japanese.

 

[Fleeker]

Its classified as an action RPG that is not my opinion or necessarily how I'd classify it but that is the fact of how it is classified.

 

[Lucky Chainsaw]

I always figured Zelda to be a fantasy themed sandbox/puzzle game.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

What RPG elements are you guys seeing here?

I see an open world game with some puzzles and bosses with some sidequests thrown in-between. By that logic, Beyond Good and Evil is now an RPG. Darksiders is now an RPG. And Psychonauts is now an RPG.

To be fair, I wouldn't really label any Nintendo games as Japanese. The developers may be Japanese (except for Retro), but the titles themselves are so much more universal.

This belief came when talking to a friend of mine about Westaboo-developers, and I thought of how Disney-esque Mario was and how Tolkien-esque Zelda are (both Western entities), yet after a ton of debating we decided their appeal was universal. Not to mention western devs picked up the formula so easily and created similar games, especially Retro who added to Nintendo's franchises.

 

[Cyanin]

RPG + Japanimation = JRPG.

LoZ's an JRPG, purely by technicality over the definition of one. I'd never considered that playing OoT though...

 

[ultrapowerpie]

Zelda, JRPG? That's funny. Most JRPGs, last time I checked, have turn based combat in them. Last time I checked, LoZ doesn't do that.

So, no, it's not a JRPG. It's an adventure game with a bit of RPG elements if you include getting better equipment and health.

 

[hecticpicnic]

Yeah kinda, even though its not really the contemporary meaning of rpg.But i mean play link to the past that game is so jrpg.

 

[ScarlettRage]

I have to say that is leans more on the adventure game sort of thing, then a JRPG, but it does have elements of each.

also who cares? it so damn awesome that most people don't care what genre it is.

It's the Legend of fucking Zelda

It doesn't matter what genre it's in, because no matter what, it is one of the defining games in history.

It's in its very own genre of awesome.

This too.

 

[Zelda_Lover26]

I think the legend of zelda is more of an adventure game then an rpg.....then again it does borrow elements from rpg's.....wow this is confusing ;_;

Yes, this is very confusing... I thought about this exact same topic a few weeks ago. I mean, its made by Nintendo, which is in japan, and its got a few rpg elements... Gah! my head hurts

 

[Zelda_Lover26]

I have to say that is leans more on the adventure game sort of thing, then a JRPG, but it does have elements of each.

also who cares? it so damn awesome that most people don't care what genre it is.

It's the Legend of fucking Zelda

It doesn't matter what genre it's in, because no matter what, it is one of the defining games in history.

It's in its very own genre of awesome.

This too.

I agree with both of you!

 

[zehydra]

Also, I've not seen a truly customizable JRPG main character... well... ever.

Feel free to correct me.

Demon's Souls. It's stat-based; you have complete control over how you develop the character; as well as what you equip and how you play. Decisions for every action in the game world is up to you.

sorry man, but you quoted the wrong guy. I didn't say that.

 

[orangeapples]

I forgot who I was talking to be we began to agree that 'all game genre lines are getting blurred', but that evolved into 'genre distinctions only truly exist to make it easier for ealy consumers to tell different games apart. for example, if like game Aand it is a platformer and hate game B which is a shooter and you're looking at game C which is a shooter you'll get an idea if you would like it or not.

However not all games in a genre are the same. For example, Mario and Sonic are both platformers, but they have very different takes on the platforming genre. If we look at Mario 3 there are also some RPG elements (different jobs, increased power, player choice on how to finish the game), but it is still a platformer at heart. In reality for gamers, each game is a genre of its own with it's own take on it's overlaying genre. For example, regular consumers have the FPS genre. Gamers have the Halo, CoD, Battlefield variations of the FPS genre.

In the case of Zelda at it's heart it is an Action Adventure, but it has JRPG elements. Same could be said of Kingdom Hearts. That said, within the Action Adventure Genre with JRPG elements we have the Zelda and the Kingdom Hearts variations. That doesn't make them JRPGs.

The best case I can think of was during WWII in the US Supreme Court. A case was brought up that said a Japanese man fulfilled all of the qualifications of being "white" and should be treated as such. The ruling was that there isn't a strict definition of "white", but when you see it you just know that guy's white, and the Japanese man though similar to a white man was not "white".

Same is true here. Though it is difficult to say with all of the blurring of the genre lines, we still know what a JRPG is, and even though Legend of Zelda has many of the qualifications of a JRPG, Zelda is still not a JRPG.

 

[ZeroMachine]

Decidedly NOT a JRPG. I would not even consider it an RPG.

Yes, you do take on a role, but that in itself is a too-literal interpretation of the genre "RPG." "RPG" as a game genre requires a variety of rules and conventions that aren't encompassed by the name. These generally include some or all of the following:

+ Customizable characteristics (beyond character name)
+ Multiple viable paths of character skill development
+ An above-average emphasis on story (enough to distinguish it from arcade or puzzle games)
+ Frequently, strong aspects of exploration of a large game world

Although the last aspect does hold true for Zelda games, it is also a key tenet of adventure games.

"JRPG" as a genre is even more restrictive. JRPGs generally include, as I understand it:

+ Turn-based combat (with increasingly frequent exceptions for action RPGs, I believe)
+ Linear storyline
+ Little character customization beyond skill development (meaning the player usually takes on a role rather than creating one, as in Western RPGs like the Elder Scrolls Series)
+ Androgynous main characters (kidding)

In particular, Legend of Zelda lacks the turn-based combat and character emphasis characteristic of JRPGs. Yes, there's a strong story emphasis, but Link as a character doesn't drive the narrative, as often seen in JRPGs; the quest, a major trope of adventure games, does.

Oh, god, so much this.

Zelda has NO JRPG characteristics other than exploration and a lack of player controlled character development.

It... it just isn't one. Seriously. I don't even understand how anyone could think that. It confuzzles me. It's like saying Megaman X is a JRPG. I... gah. It makes my head hurt.

 

[ZeroMachine]

Darksiders is now an RPG.

I almost used Darksiders as an example like that, but to be fair, you do level your weapons up through useage. That makes it closer to an RPG then any Zelda game save for Zelda II.

EDITED for an embarrassing typo. Seriously, what the hell is up with me today. Me need sleepy.

 

[DustyDrB]

Well, there's a difference between a "JRPG" and a Japanese RPG.

I know what you mean, and I agree. But seeing it said like that....

We really need to screw our current naming system and start over.

 

[Kindberg]

RPG game: Numbers decide if you hit a target. Like in world of warcraft.

Action/adventure games: The players skill decide if you hit the target. Like counter-strike, or legend of zelda.

Hm, but whether or not you hit in WoW depends sometimes on your positioning. You're less likely to be dodged or parried attacking an opponent from behind, so you can influence the liklihood to a degree. Does that tread into the other genre?

I would say your positioning in WoW influence the numbers, thus making the numbers more "likely", just like gear and items can give extra chances, so can positioning.

 

[madwarper]

There is only one LoZ game that's an RPG, Adventure of Link.
All other games in the LoZ series are not RPGs.

 

[AdamG3691]

how about instead of arguing whether or not LoZ is a JRPG, we actually argue about if it even HAS a genre at all?
Looking only at OoT it has:
puzzles
non-turn based combat
some platforming
a linear storyline
racing
first person and third person shooting
sidequests galore
a large world

so we either conclude that LoZ is an action adventure puzzler, with RPG and JRPG elements, and includes racing and both types of shooters, and an emphasis on exploration
or, we just accept that some games simply can't be classified and any attempts just end up with everyone getting confused