Looking for something like Zelda 1...

[tempest2k]

thank you for the recommendations everyone! after all i ended up playing oracle of seasons, and after i'm done with the oracle games i'll probably finally give tunic a proper shot. and crosscode will get its time to shine eventually too

 

[KaiserMk7]

Not to spoil anything specific, but Deltarune Chapter 3 has had me itching for a game like Zelda 1 that plays just a little bit smoother. An open action RPG with a focus on exploration and figuring out where to use items. Just like.... something where I can also move diagonally though? It's weird that you can't move diagonally in Zelda 1. I haven't been able to find a patch that adds diagonal movement though.

This is a bit of a low-hanging fruit, but you might want to consider trying some Zelda Classic/ZQuest Classic quests. Many are made with the updated basic movement of the Satellaview release and later game features like the hookshot and swimming. Granted, it's more than a bit unintuitive to actually start a playthrough of a custom quest.

 

[tempest2k]

This is a bit of a low-hanging fruit, but you might want to consider trying some Zelda Classic/ZQuest Classic quests. Many are made with the updated basic movement of the Satellaview release and later game features like the hookshot and swimming. Granted, it's more than a bit unintuitive to actually start a playthrough of a custom quest.

i scoured and i hunted and i could not find one that was just the original quest with diagonal movement! as much as those other QoL additions sound nice, the only one i really want is diagonal movement

 

[KaiserMk7]

i scoured and i hunted and i could not find one that was just the original quest with diagonal movement! as much as those other QoL additions sound nice, the only one i really want is diagonal movement

"BS Style" in particular basically just means diagonal movement and maybe sword swing and charge attack, to the best of my recollection. Granted, most BS style quests also change the graphics and/or level design too, and "first quest but with better qol" is a niche that will have very few and hard-to-find entries. So your problem is understandable.

 

[Adrastia]

View attachment 83218View attachment 83219View attachment 83220*Neutopia II has diagonal movement

There's a Zelda hack for Golden Axe Warrior. I started playing that one without even trying the original.

 

[lonelyrollingstars]

I want to second Alundra and especially Crusader of Centy (maybe the best non-Zelda Zelda game), but I also want to add that, if you want EXACTLY the feeling of Zelda 1 but with more complex graphics or smoother design, consider one of the ROM hacks, many of which are available on this very site. You’d have your pick of several approaches: straightforward remakes, total overhauls with entirely new graphics, even games that are just expansions to the original. Fall of Hyrule and Born of a Legend are good examples of the “total overhaul” category. If you want something closer to the original but still full of new content, try Redux or 3rd and 4th Quest, which try to stay close to the original game while adding a lot of QoL enhancements and new content to explore.