Image via Complex Original
Since its inception, The Legend of Zelda series has been seen as a pinnacle for the action-adventure genre, setting the template for a slew of imitators and also-rans over the years. On occasion however, a game will match or even surpass the mantle set by Link and company.
Sometimes, a title like Okami or Illusion of Gaia will come along to challenge the established favorite of the genre that the Legend of Zelda series has championed for decades. In the spirit of recognizing these overlooked titles, this list represents a shout-out to some of the main contenders to the Hylian throne, from lesser known cult classics to well-regarded hits.
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Golden Axe Warrior
Possibly the most derivative game on this list, Golden Axe Warrior is an unashamed Master System copy and paste of NES-era Zelda. While it isn't as badass as its side-scrolling beat-'em-up namesake, Golden Axe Warrior is still a fun curio, with protagonist Ax Battler (really!) making for an appealing Robert E. Howard-styled counterpart to the androgynous elfin Link. It is also notable for its excellent Game Gear port, representing one of the better releases for the failed handheld system.
Beyond Good and Evil
Rayman designer Michel Ancel's Gallic masterpiece, Beyond Good and Evil is colorful and clever, weaving a teen-rated David Icke-like nightmare tale of reptilian alien overlords controlling the naive animal people of the planet Hillys while clandestine fringe reporters attempt to uncover the truth.
Playing as photojournalist Jade, Beyond Good and Evil has the over world, mini games and upgrades of a 3D Zelda adventure, but is nowhere near as sprawling, and can be completed in eight to 10 hours. Featuring a charming, well-rounded supporting cast, sequel rumors persist to this day, with the game attaining a mythos comparable to other M.I.A. titles such as The Last Guardian.
Okami
One of the more obvious choices for inclusion, Okami is notable for being a Zelda-style game where you play as a goddess in the guise of a wolf. This is notable because Okami came out in the same year as an actual Zelda game (Twilight Princess) where you play as a boy who can turn into a wolf.
Both titles were excellent, but Okami is arguably the superior game overall, due to the influence of Bayonetta designer Hideki Kamiya's frenetic combat, the use of a celestial brush to paint objects on the screen, and its refreshing lack of padding—the unskippable intro notwithstanding. It also wins points for its painterly sumi-e art style, which has a timeless quality that the 'mature' Twilight Princess can no longer match.
Solatorobo: Red the Hunter
A DS sequel to obscure PSOne platform anthro-adventure Tail Concerto, the curiously titled Solatorobo (which translates from Japanese as "Sky and Robot"), is something of a swansong for the Nintendo handheld. The title mixes mech combat with an Ocarina-era 3D adventure, Ghibli-esque sky pirates, and the cartoon art style of Larry Hama's groundbreaking comic book Bucky O'Hare. An underrated gem, the title's protagonist Red Savarin proves to be an endearingly cocky hero, while his bipedal mech, Dahak, makes for a fun twist on the Epona standard.
Threads of Fate
Another Square gem for the PSOne, Threads of Fate is distinguished by having the choice of two characters from the outset, which offers differing stories and additional replay value. The boy, Rue, uses his axe and has the ability to shape-shift while the girl, Mint, favors chakrams and wields powerful magic. Colorful graphics and a memorable soundtrack from the composer of Final Fantasy X make this game worth seeking out.
Illusion of Gaia
A globetrotting SNES adventure that takes in several historical periods, Illusion of Gaia (aka Illusion of Time) is less remembered than other top-down Square classics of the era such as Secret of Mana or Chrono Trigger, but it is perhaps the closest the company has come to replicating the Zelda magic, downplaying its RPG elements in favor of a tight action-adventure formula.
Elemental Gimmick Gear
Elemental Gimmick Gear is something of an unsung Dreamcast title, featuring a hibernating hero found cocooned in his Victoriana mech, and a land shrouded in a tentacle-laden mist worthy of Stephen King. E.G.G. has beautifully stylized 2D graphics, mixing earthy terracotta with deep shadows that lend the landscape a tremendous elevation. However, the fully 3D boss fights that punctuate the game's puzzles have aged with considerably less grace.
Crusader of Centy
While Alundra represents a semi-sequel to Genesis title Landstalker, Crusader of Centy (released in Europe as Soleil) represents a more direct response to Nintendo's flagship franchise with its colorful top-down battling and endearing coming-of-age story. Centy deserves bonus points for its unusual story elements, as zoolingual hero Corona begins to question the toll of his monster-slaying antics as the game progresses.
Beyond Oasis
Beyond Oasis (or The Story of Thor, as I knew it in Europe) is a graphically-stunning game that saw its release towards the end of the Genesis' life cycle. It replicates the winning formula of A Link to the Past, featuring additions of a more robust melee system, and a Middle Eastern art style with colorful cartoon graphics reminiscent of Disney Interactive's Aladdin platformer. Its Saturn sequel, The Legend of Oasis (aka The Story of Thor 2), offered up more of the same with an even more lavish art budget.
Alundra
One of the greatest games of the PSOne era ever resigned to a fate of minor cult status, Alundra never received the critical reappraisal of other once-ignored 2D classics of the time, such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Guardian Heroes. A spiritual successor to the isometric Genesis adventure Landstalker, Alundra wears its Zelda influences more clearly than in Landstalker, albeit with the additions of a darker storyline featuring a protagonist who can invade the nightmares of cursed villagers, along with a dedicated jump button and lateral thinking puzzles worthy of MENSA.