Cool RPG's

[Volrath, the Fallen]

well, there is a Zelda that has that. I think its 2, although don't quote me on that.

[Maraxus of Keld]

Ziggurat said:

But, what is the one thing that all RPG's have in common?
growth from the common battle.
FF has it, Dragon Warrior has it, Secret of Mana has it, even Symphony of the Night has it.
If you can find a true RPG without growth from the common fights, i will humbly concede and accept LoZ as an RPG.

So, in short, the presence of an EXP system or something like it? That's one element, and I'd say the only one that Zelda is missing. I think story and gameplay have more to do with what makes an RPG, and in those respects Zelda qualifies.

[Disco Bandit]

how would you define gameplay in an RPG? there are so many games with a different style of play.
Final Fantasy has a basic turn-based combat system.
Legend/Secret of Mana have a real-time combat system.
Final Fantasy Tactics has a turn-based stratagy system, but is still considered an RPG.
As for the story, it's old and cliche. Save for three, all of the LoZ games have had the same story; Princess Zelda has been kidnapped, you have to get the Master Sword and save her... again. You'd think she would learn self-defence in the time between kidnappings.

[Butcher Orgg(s)]

Not a big RPG fan, but my faves:

Kingdom Hearts
Wandering Hamster (http://www.hamsterrepublic.com and then go download page)

[Baron Sengir]

I think it's really hard to make a definite say as to what is an RPG and what is not. I think it's total opinionated. Personnaly I think if your character grows in power and level, the game is an RPG.

[Disco Bandit]

Ole! someone who kinda agrees with me... i think...

[Baron Sengir]

More or less.

[Disco Bandit]

Ole! ;D

[Disco Bandit]

but, what's your stance on Legend of Zelda? RPG, or not?

[Baron Sengir]

Personnaly I call Zelda an adventure RPG. It isn't a total RPG b/c you don't physically level up, but you do wander around and take on Link's role, so in that sense it is a RPG, but how you gather all these items to make yourself more powerful is why I consider it an adventure game.

[Maraxus of Keld]

Each new item is a new capability. In a sense, you are becoming more powerful. Consider it a substitute for leveling up.
As far as gameplay, you travel from place to place killing monsters, and talking to people here and there, especially in various towns. You learn where you have to go and when, and then you go and accomplish something there. You do the same thing in Final Fantasy.
And there are more than two other characters to interact with. This is why I feel Symphony of the Night is not an RPG: all you do is travel from room to room and kill things; the only other people you see are Maria and Richter, and they really don't do very much. Symphony of the Night, to me, is a platformer with free roaming, not an RPG.

[Butcher Orgg(s)]

Zelda doesn't strike me as an RPG at all; if it was, I'd of listed it. Symphony of the Night seems like saying that Mario is, it just doesn't make sense. An RPG is a largely story based game, which focuses around developing a character both in personality and in power. Zelda doesn't have this. Symphony of the Night hardly has this.

[Majin Havok]

if were all gonna go on and say any game with a leveling system is an rpg then despite the fact this game is blantantly a Fighting game im going to go on and bring up Dragonball Z Budokai 3, it has equip items, equip abilities, story mode, leveling system, and a search for the Dragonball while flying around earth so there for if its leveling system its now known as an RPG. and those who say otherwise are complete and total morons.

[Butcher Orgg(s)]

I didn't say that. I said that it develops the character in PERSONALITY, STORY, and power.

[Disco Bandit]

hmmmm...
Mr. Fabulous has a point, story has a lot to do with the title of an RPG. Alright, I'll take SotN of of my list beacuse of its lack of a story. I'll Replace it with Breath of Fire III.