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Computer Games That Defined RPGs In the 1980s
adeelarshad82 writes "The 1980s were huge for RPGs. This genre was one of the most defining game forms in the computer gaming world. A recently published article strolls down the memory lane to look back at classic computer games that both defined and extended the definition of the RPG in the 1980s. The roundup includes some obvious ones like Ultima and The Bard's Tale, and others which you may never have heard of."
Nuff said. Great series...humor was great.
Alot of those games are available for purchase at GOG.com Disclaimer: Not affiliated with GOG.. just a customer. :-)
Wasteland. The spiritual ancestor of the Fallout series.
Sierra Games was big back in the day, and the Kings Quest series from memory were almost as big as the Leisure Suit Larry series.
This article addresses computer games. Zelda, Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy are classics, but still console games.
See the title... Computer games.
Circumcision is child abuse.
I like how if you run away from melee range, the melee guy gets a free swing at your back. I like aiming lightning bolts in a line and bouncing them off walls. I like trying to get as many creatures in a fireball without having allies inside. I liked the initial quest to clear the slums of monsters.
Between Pool of Radience/Wasteland/Final Fantasy 1 and Legacy of the Ancients, I learned a lot about where game design can bring you in terms of successful systems.
God spoke to me
Has everyone forgotten this classic?
As a note, Wizardry 1 was really awesome - it was hours and hours and hours of fun. Trebor and Werdna ruled!
The original Final Fantasy wasn't released in the U.S. until 1990, and the original Zelda is more of an action game than role-playing.
Many of the games in the slideshow are a lot more like Shadowgate than Zelda or Dragon Warrior.
That is all.
People asked Squaresoft Enix if they would ever consider doing open-world, really long Final Fantasy games again, or if they'd consider making a remake of the older ones. They said it would be almost impossible to update those games to PS3 graphics because the amount of work involved to produce such a game would be too high.
Which shows us the problem with modern consoles: great graphics, decent or terrible gameplay, short-ass games.
I myself didn't like FF13 at all. I enjoyed FF13-2 a lot more, but goodness that game was short.
If he explores all forms and substances Straight homeward to their symbol-essences; He shall not die.
Title of this article: Computer Games That Defined RPGs In the 1980s When was FF7 released?
Besides, FF6 was better :P
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
Just because in your mind they faded into obscurity doesn't mean they weren't profoundly influential.
These games by and large predate those JRPGs. Dragon Quest, in fact, was inspired by Wizardry and Ultima. Final Fantasy also sees it's roots in those early RPGs. Both have been extremely influential, particularly amongst JRPGs, but they weren't the originators of the genre.
The Legend of Zelda is more unique because of it's arcade-like elements and reduced emphasis on conventional RPG elements. While it's been influential I don't think it's quite had the direct impact of those other games, particularly within the RPG world.
And the most important aspect of all is that this article is about COMPUTER games.
No, they had Dungeon Master there. Also, the fact that they are PCmag may be a clue as to why all their screenshots were taken on PCs.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
Absolutely wrong. CRPGs were huge back in the late 80's and early 90's, with Ultima, Bard's Tale, Wizardry, Wasteland, etc. Baldur's Gate made the genre popular again but it definitely didn't create "the western scene."
NETHACK! Classic, genre-defining game. Unbelievably funny as well (where else do you get to write a spell with a magic marker(!)?)
and Douglas Adams' BUREAUCRACY. Very difficult even now, but doable.
Operation Guillotine is in effect.
U7 was released in 1992, that is not the 80's but thanks for your pointless input
READ THE FUCKING TITLE if your confused
I used to play telengard on my Atari 800xl. Great oldie!!
A series of articles I enjoyed:
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132024/the_history_of_computer_.php?print=1
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/130124/the_history_of_computer_.php?print=1
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/129994/the_history_of_computer_.php?print=1
Not a top ten list, and pagination defeated by print mode.
Get the torrented version.
Indeed, the early Ultima games were fairly big in Japan, and the first Final Fantasy game was an attempt to cash in on that by a company which was taking one more throw of the dice before it expected to go out of business (hence the title).
Acknowledging your point about this being a list of computer games rather than video games - if there was a Japanese RPG that deserved a place on the list, it would be the second Final Fantasy game. That's where you start to see the elements that would define JRPG storytelling (as opposed to the Western equivalent) introduced.
This guy is playing through all of the computer RPGs ever released in chronological order and gives them a critical, but fair review from a modern perspective in addition to interesting observations while he's playing them. He's currently at the end of 1988. It's definitely worth reading if you're interested in the history of CRPGs.
Those games didn't define RPG's, paper and pencils Dungeons and Dragons did that. Those games just advanced it to the masses.
I've got 101 mod points and you can't have them!
to be a small 1 pointer at the bottom of an old thread, but in case anyone is still mining...
In addition to wasteland which was already mentioned (which finally has WL2 coming!!) I think there was another awesome RPGs not mentioned:
Alternate Reality (the dungeon)
This great game has it all - humor, great music, discovery, tons of monsters and items and a neat story. It's really hard, but worth it.
http://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=http%3A//www.lemon64.com/games/details.php%3FID%3D101
and a modern reboot:
http://www.crpgdev.com/
You can only be young once, but you can be immature forever.