The Zelda-Like by Square Enix You Never Heard Of

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Square Enix is famous for its classic role-playing games, like the popular Final Fantasy series – especially Final Fantasy VII – and lesser-known titles such as The Last Remnant. But the company has also created games in many other styles. One particularly interesting game combined overhead exploration, fast-paced combat, and stories based on mythology – a unique blend for its time. What truly makes this game stand out, though, isn’t just how it played, but the fact that it’s largely been forgotten.

Gandhara: Buddha no Seisen is a little-known game from Enix. It’s an action RPG played from a top-down perspective, and it feels a lot like the original Legend of Zelda in how it’s designed and how you play. While Zelda borrowed from European and Japanese stories, Gandhara was inspired by Buddhist mythology. Unfortunately, because it was only released in Japan, very few people have ever played or even heard of this unique game.

What Is Gandhara: Buddha no Seisen?

Gandhara is an action role-playing game from 1987 that’s easy to pick up and play. You control a single hero exploring dangerous areas from a top-down perspective, fighting waves of enemies that keep reappearing. Battles are quick and direct, using swords and magic. As you defeat enemies, you earn experience points to make your character stronger. The game also includes survival elements – you need to buy food to stay alive, which adds a layer of strategy to exploring the world.

The game features a straightforward and satisfying way to improve your character, encouraging you to keep playing without feeling overloaded. For its time, it cleverly blended fast-paced action with role-playing elements – a difficult balance that many games back then didn’t manage well. It played similarly to the original The Legend of Zelda (released just a year earlier), but added its own unique features, like a system for leveling up your character.

I’m really fascinated by the inspiration behind Gandhara. The game’s named after an ancient capital city – Gandhara – which was part of the Kushan Empire, in modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. It was a hugely important Buddhist center back in the first century BC, and played a big role in spreading Buddhism all over Asia. Even though the game’s story isn’t a straight-up retelling of history, you can definitely feel that cultural influence throughout the whole experience.

The story begins when the main character is contacted by Akasagarbha, a powerful spiritual being also known as Kokūzō in Japan. They learn the world is facing a terrible threat: the demon king is searching for the sacred Ashes of Buddha, which are the only thing protecting eight different realms. The hero’s mission is to find the ashes first and overcome any demons sent to stop them. Throughout the game, players encounter various Buddhist gods and figures, giving the world a unique spiritual atmosphere uncommon in action RPGs from that era.

Could Gandhara Have Rivaled Zelda In The West?

There are good reasons why the game Gandhara didn’t get released outside of Japan. Back when it came out, Western audiences weren’t very interested in stories heavily focused on religion or specific cultures, particularly those based on Buddhist beliefs. Adapting the game for those markets would have meant making big changes to fit Western sensibilities, and publishers weren’t willing to spend the money on that for a game they thought would only appeal to a small audience.

Enix was still establishing itself as a company at the time. They were concentrating on Western releases of classic fantasy role-playing games that were simpler to promote and understand. An action RPG with endlessly repeating enemies, religious themes, and a very simple story didn’t align with this approach. Furthermore, releasing it so soon after The Legend of Zelda might have been perceived as a rushed attempt to make money, although that concern wasn’t as prevalent then.

Timing was crucial for this game. Action RPGs weren’t widely popular outside of Japan yet, and without the success of The Legend of Zelda to show players what the genre could be, Gandhara likely wouldn’t have worked. Ultimately, it ended up like many other Enix games, staying only in Japan and quietly impacting game design without ever becoming well-known internationally.

Square Enix Looks Gandhara For A New Series

Although the game Gandhara was only released in Japan, its impact is still noticeable today. It clearly draws inspiration from The Legend of Zelda, but also features unique religious-themed designs that have influenced other Japanese games. With some updates – like improved controls, better quality of life features, and English translation – Gandhara could appeal to fans of classic action RPGs and games similar to Zelda. While its gameplay is straightforward, that doesn’t make it any less valuable.

Gandhara feels like an early inspiration for recent Square Enix games. Its mix of fast-paced fighting, stories based on mythology, and overhead perspective are all present in The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. Though not a sequel or remake, the new game likely wouldn’t exist without this earlier, experimental title. You could even see Gandhara as a way to introduce its ideas to a new generation and keep its spirit alive.

Few people know about the game Gandhara, but it was truly excellent and could have competed with The Legend of Zelda. Had it been released at a different time, it might have launched a major franchise instead of Final Fantasy, which came out in the same year. Unfortunately, Gandhara only saw a limited release and was largely forgotten. However, if the new game The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales proves popular, Square Enix might consider reviving it.

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2025-12-29 16:15