Hey, check it out.
SotC was out BEFORE LoZ: TP.
In order for SotC to be a knock-off of TP, there has to be a time-paradox.
The best part is that you can't compare the two games because of the method of which you play:
Zelda - HAY GUISE IMMA RUN AROUND THIS DUNGEON UNTIL I FIND A BOSS TO KILL, K?
Shadow of the Colossus - I'm going to ride around in this massive landscape, using my sword to pinpoint the boss instead of an over-used map, at which point I will destroy it in a way much cooler than anything the Zelda has done ever. EVER.
See, the thing is this: Zelda is for all the hyper active gamers who want to do something RIGHT NOW, while Shadow of the Colossus is more for the big payoff. You had one moment like that in TP, I had roughly 16. So, some people may like it, and some may not, it's just a matter of whether or not you have enough patience to play.
Name an epic boss from Zelda, and how you beat it.
I'll name one from SotC, and how you kill it.
Have others judge which is more awesome (and by others, I mean non-biased others, leaving out birdman and a multitude of others.)