Darksiders II developer Vigil Games’ Ryan Stefanelli says that his studio probably wouldn’t subsist if The Legend of Zelda didn’t exist. Apparently, The Legend of Zelda is Vigil Games’ utmost inspiration for the Darksiders franchise. Stefanelli claims that the reason there aren’t many titles like The Legend of Zelda is because it’s ‘really hard’ to develop an action-adventure game similar to Nintendo’s influential series.

“If Zelda didn’t exist, Vigil Games probably wouldn’t because that’s the game that we most often quote as saying “that’s the genre we want to play in.” I think another reason why we get so many comparisons is because, look, nobody really runs in that crowd. There’s a reason there aren’t many games like Zelda–it’s because it’s really god damn hard to do. It’s really hard to make a game like that. The reason nobody calls a game a Doom clone anymore is because there’s a shitload of first-person-shooters. I mean, which one are you going to compare it to? There’s so many. The genre is literally saturated. But action-adventure games? It’s really easy to draw a comparison to Zelda because there just isn’t anything else like that. It’s the same with God of War. I mean, there are quite a few games in that genre, but, really, there are a few that stand out, like God of War, Devil May Cry. It’s kind of easier to draw a comparison between us because the breed is rare, but we knew we were going to have that problem when we went in. Like I said, not many people try to make games like that, but we loved it, so we wanted to anyway.”

http://mynintendonews.com/2012/08/21/vigil-games-if-zelda-didnt-exist-we-probably-wouldnt/

......

Can't wait for the Wii U version! I hope I'll have a great time with the game as I do with Zelda games.

so how many time do you want to open a thread with alomost the same? is that now the fifth thread or so? we all know that now, zelda, god of war and dmc are big inspirations for the game and without these, there wouldn't be darksiders like we have it now.

it's the same with cod or so, cod wouldn't be like cod without halo, the next halo wouldn't be like it will be without cod...

almost every game is taking inspirations from other games, if it's the art-style, some gameplay mechanics, online or whatever

I haven't opened a single thread that is the same. I post new news as it comes. If you don't like it, that is your problem. Nobody is making you read it or post in it.

They made it clear that Zelda is there biggest "inspiration"(not what I would call it) mulitple times.

Neither Halo or COD would be what they are without Goldeneye 64, so hang that one up.

yes it's their biggest inspiration and then gow and dmc and now? you want to post your war or death on a horse pic and link on a horse pic the third or fourth time to show how it is a rip-off? or war with a sword? or war fighting against a big enemy? which i already explained you like hundred times that they are the apocalyptic horsemen and that war had a fiery horse and a big sword? and death had a "green" horse like he has in the game now?

you know what, just look at all the treads you opened, they are almost all about graphics or how nintendo exclusives are superior or about nintendo in general or how other games copy nintendo games (sure that you had to talk about goldeneye now and didn't realize what i wanted to say with my halo and cod example, just as hint, i didn't want to say that halo is the beginning of the modern shooter lol and one more hint, goldeneye is place number three in my all time favourites behiind ocarina of time and secret of mana) and you know why this sounds so weird? because you say you are pc gamer first, you say graphics aren't so important for you and you said you also owned xbox, own a 360 and a playstation 3 but all you really talk about is "NINTENDO".

I question the validity of "inspired" in a lot of cases. And too simply say "inspired" does not say exactly "how much".

I've noticed a huge shift in the industry and news media to downplay copying...exept for them going full monty  when it involves the propensity tha it may have been done by Nintendo(*cough*U pro controller*cough*accomplishment*cough*Microsfots comments about the Wii U being a 360*cough*.

It is completely ludicrous and crooked if you ask me.

And sense they didn't overtly copy a few aeshetics, that completley alleviations of propensity for them to have copied the game?

You are aware that half of the Zelda's are "not" about saving princess Zelda right? The series has had many themes, plots, art styles, and gamplay mechanics. Link has had many suits and color.

The Link we have now looks nothing like the original.

Nor does Darksiders what?

That video gives me a heavy Twlight Princess feel. The devel design, the combat. The only thing that doesn't look like Zelda is the air combo. That loos like DMC.

The reason there are not more games like Zelda probably has more to do with how they sell than in any difficulty in making them. Just look at games like Okami and Beyond Good and Evil for example.