* You clearly play a role: you're Link.
* Link has hit points/levels (hearts).
* You get equipment and an equipment inventory screen to manage it, and equipment upgrades over time, including new weapons and armor and magic spells.
* You can customize your character, by skipping optional hearts/equipment.

You don't have much character development in Zelda games, but you don't have much of that in Chrono Trigger either, which is clearly an RPG.

Legend of Zelda: RPG or not?