The Zelda-clone, once a staple of console gaming, is a dying breed. It’s been replaced by story-centric, puzzle-free action RPGs like Kingdom Hearts and linear action-platformers a la Tomb Raider and Uncharted. The recently resurrected Okami might be the form’s swansong, a final tribute to the halcyon days of Golden Axe Warrior, Neutopia, and Beyond Oasis. While most clones have been base imitations, Quintet’s Heaven and Earth Trilogy and Climax Entertainment’s loosely connected series of games beginning with Landstalker were notable variations on Zelda’s exploration and puzzle tropes. Landstalker and its semi-sequels Lady Stalker (far less creepy than it sounds), Alundra (developed by ex-Climax-ers Matrix Software), and Time Stalkers (a traditional turn-based RPG instead of action) were characterized by difficult platforming in addition to swordplay.
You see games made by Climax Entertainment as often as you see Zelda-clones nowadays. They have released only two titles since 2000, 2005’s Kingdom of Paradise on PSP (a middling martial-arts action RPG) and the just released Steal Princess on DS. Steal Princess, at first blush, looks like a return to Landstalker’s isometric platforming (albeit uglier.) It’s distressing to see their output reduced to a trickle, especially since they announced a complete remake Landstalker for the PSP back in 2005 and, so far, have yet to deliver it. The art at the top of this post, dug up by Game Kult and brought to us by Insert Credit, is the first time anyone’s seen anything related to the remake in over two years. It’s never been officially cancelled, though, so here’s hoping that Climax turns their attention back to Landstalker now that Steal Princess has shipped in Japan. The world could use a decent Zelda-clone now that Link’s busy catering to the casual.
This video, a demonstration of Landstalker PSP’s new 3D environments, is the only game media ever shown for the game. Sadness.
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