Other games like Adventures of Link and Simon's Quest?

[Legend]

I posed this question in another thread already, but it was kinda off topic and I didn't want to throw off the main topic of the thread so I'm posting it here.

 

I recently finished Zelda II: Adventure of Link and Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. I love both those games and really enjoy the hybrid style of action/adventure/rpg feel they have.

 

I was wondering if anyone out there has any suggestions for other similar type games that I could check out.

 

The main systems I play are 2600, NES, Sega Genesis/Sega CD, SNES, PC, Sega Master System, Game Gear, and Gameboy/color/advance.

 

Thanks.

[uglyclone]

NES - Faxanadu

[StanJr]

Crystalis (NES) is the obvious choice.

[BrianC]

Here are some I recommend:

 

SMS-

Wonder Boy in Monster Land

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

 

Game Boy Color-

Shantae

 

Genesis:

Wonder Boy in Monster World

 

Game Boy Advance:

Castlevania Aria of Sorrow

Castlevania Circle of the Moon

Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance

Edited January 11, 2010 by BrianC

[doubleminor]

Battle of Olympus for NES

[Pixelboy]

Blaster Master. It's a little different, but still follows the same general exploration formula.

[nonner242]

Crystalis (NES) is the obvious choice.

 

One of my Favorite games ever!

[MagitekAngel]

I've been playing Faxanadu lately. A bit unpolished, but engrossing nonetheless! Very much a Zelda II clone, albeit with some slightly deeper roleplaying elements.

[StanJr]

It might be a little more RPG than the others, but Secret of Mana (SNES) is similar.

 

I'll also strongly second the vote for Battle of Olympus.

 

[Austin]

I highly recommend Battle of Olympus. I love Zelda II and Simon's Quest, but I think I dig Olympus more. It's more difficult and isn't as repetitive to play these days. Be warned, though--You probably *will* need a walkthrough for this one.

 

As I saw in another thread, Faxanadu is recommended as well. Great game that still holds up well today. I also personally like that one more than the above three, but it does have a different feel than any of the others.

 

I'll also cast a vote on Wonder Boy III for the Master System. Great game. It's available via the Virtual Console section of the Wii store, probably my preferred way to play it these days.

 

Another that's similar in terms of semi non-linear gameplay, Ys III: Wanderers From Ys is also another personal favorite of mine. You can get it on the TG CD and the SNES, although I prefer the Sega Genesis version (It's by far the best version, IMO.. many differences, mostly for the better).

Edited January 13, 2010 by Austin

[Legend]

I looked at Battle for Olympus and Faxanadu. Both seem cool, but man are those enemies annoying.

 

I also found this game for pc called Dracula's Shadow. It's like a revamped version of Simon's Quest.

 

http://horrorquest.altervista.org/

 

Also found an interesting game for the famicom called getsufuu maden by konami. It seems really cool too. You have to find a translation patch on romhacking.net and a faq to figure out what you're doing though.

 

I also remember one action rpg game I loved when I was younger was Popful Mail for Sega CD. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a sega cd.

Edited January 13, 2010 by Legend

[BrianC]

La Mulana and Cave Story are nice freeware platformers with action/RPG elements.

Edited January 14, 2010 by BrianC

[Evil Plant]

Blaster Master for the NES is a good suggestion.

 

I always liked Xexyz for the NES.

 

and Guardian Legend... sort of a Zelda in Space type game.

 

And along those same lines, Air Fortress for the NES is good too.

 

I think all of these games have alternating shooter stages mixed with the adventure... but that suits my taste anyway.

 

... and there's always Super Metroid!

 

or if you like a little Sim City with your action... Actraiser!

[Evil Plant]

Just thought of several more...

 

Kid Icarus (NES)

Montezuma's Revenge (Apple II my personal fav, but the VCS version is great)

Goonies II (NES)

Bionic Commando (NES)

Black Magic (Apple II)

Konami Wai-Wai World (NES - get the US translation at romhacks.net)

 

 

There's actually several NES games with translations that fit the description, particularly by Konami. They tend to be hard as hell. Most of them have translation patches.

 

... might think of more.

[gdement]

Besides the above, I'll add Rygar.

Very fun and simple early NES action adventure game.

 

Goonies II is possibly my favorite of the genre, but that might be partly because it was the first adventure game I ever played.. after Adventure anyway.

Edited January 15, 2010 by gdement

[doubleminor]

Another vote for Goonies II.

 

I spent a very long time with that game.

 

When I was a kid, my step-sister at the time said I belonged with the Goonies; she bought the game for me.

[Ryanw]

Guardian Legend!!

[mbd30]

Game Arts/Sierra-Online released a "Zelda II" clone called "Zeliard" in the late 80's. You can play it with Dos Box. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeliard

[guitarmas]

Crystalis (NES) is the obvious choice.

 

One of my Favorite games ever!

 

I second that!

[Legend]

Started playing battle of olympus. Really fun game, but hard as hell. Not so much the puzzles, but the enemies are just ridiculously hard and respawn way too fast. So far, I've gotten the staff (with fire), the shield, the harp, sword, and hermes boots. I'm trying to avoid walkthroughs and staying good so far.

 

I'm switching it up between battle of olympus and golden ax warrior for sega master system. It's really fun even though it is extremely similar to zelda. It still has its own flavor and differences/improvements.

Edited January 17, 2010 by Legend

[StanJr]

Started playing battle of olympus. Really fun game, but hard as hell. Not so much the puzzles, but the enemies are just ridiculously hard and respawn way too fast. So far, I've gotten the staff (with fire), the shield, the harp, sword, and hermes boots. I'm trying to avoid walkthroughs and staying good so far.

 

I'm switching it up between battle of olympus and golden ax warrior for sega master system. It's really fun even though it is extremely similar to zelda. It still has its own flavor and differences/improvements.

 

 

Battle of Olympus, explore, explore explore. And you MUST make maps in Tartarus, and use the walking on the ceiling ability to avoid as many battles as you can or they will shred you in there. There are lots of hidden fairies and ambrosia that you are going to want. Some of the jumps in the mountains are brutal as well.

 

BoO is a great great game. Enjoy!

[Legend]

the gravity walk thing is a little hard getting used to. Especially trying to go up and down when I want. The collecting money to pay the gods is kinda a pain. The ckeeky monkeys, spear chucking ewoks, and bats are a pain in the butt.

 

I managed to find the first heart. Took a minute to find the hidden door.

 

The little enemies are a pain, but the bosses all seem pretty easy except the medusa thing.

 

Kinda jacked up that the gods charge for their help. What do they need olives for? lol. Wish they had at least a way to earn more than one at a time.

Edited January 18, 2010 by Legend

[StanJr]

agreed, it sometimes requires a good half hour of olive gathering to buy some of the better stuff (that one stupid sword comes to mind), plus having your inventory halved when you die makes me want to cry.

 

But despite all of that, I love this game. The final area is awesome! I too hate those monkeys!

[Legend]

olive grinding

[atarilovesyou]

I seem to remember Battle of Olympus because my cuz back in the day could beat the hell out of that game, but couldn't get past one certain part. Then Gamepro put out a tip; he then beat it quite easily, and promptly forgot about it.

 

Now I'm not sure how cheap that item was, but from this point on I'm not referring to any tactics or faq's...let alone cheats. The fun of these games was often the frustration along with it...hard to describe, but it's something that's lost in todays games, IMO.

 

Punch out...how the hell I'm ever going to beat Tyson, I don't know...so many defeats! But I'll do it, eventually...just to be able to know I did it!...lol. There are some exceptions, such as Simon's Quest...apparently there's no clues regarding the whole kneeling, red jewel thing to summon the tornado, according to the Angry Video Game Nerd. If that's the case, then it's just poor game design...but other than that, try as hard as you can to beat those games legit. It's worth it!