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[cicero]

Here's a list of some of the old First Person RPGs. I have finished all of the below except one that is mentioned (RoA1). I did not post about the most famous ones (M&M3-5, Wizardry, EotB etc.) as everybody knows them and has played and loved them

Honestly, I think it would be nice to see you comment on M&M3-5, Wizardry, and EotB as well! Go all out!@#

 

[CadetMahoney]

check out the box for Dungeon Master 2 FMTowns, very nice.

http://dmweb.free.fr/?q=node/616

 

[StoppedInTracks]

Honestly, I think it would be nice to see you comment on M&M3-5, Wizardry, and EotB as well! Go all out!@#

Read the thread There are 3 parts of my megalist - all linked from the OP.

 

[HylianTom]

Games from Might and Magic series just hit a sale on gog.com

http://www.gog.com/promo/might_magi...nt=news&utm_campaign=premium_promo_botanicula

Hoy moly! Thank you so much! This could be what I've been waiting for - a way to easily play them all on one computer! Oh my goodness..

 

[Dead Man]

Amazing thread. EotB was one of the games that got me seriously into gaming back when, so many here that I need to try. M&M6 looks amazing.

 

[Alexios]

Why aren't the wizardry games on gog or anywhere, I wanted to try one (VII or Wizards & Warriors) :/

Anything comparable I can buy?

I don't like the look of the M&M games.

 

[Ledsen]

Why aren't the wizardry games on gog or anywhere, I wanted to try one (VII or Wizards & Warriors) :/

Anything comparable I can buy?

I don't like the look of the M&M games.

Get Arx Fatalis if you don't mind playing only one character. It's pretty modern and a good way to see if you like the general feeling of the genre.

 

[Xander51]

This is a fantastic thread. The first of these games I played were the older Might and Magics. I wasn't very good at them as a kid, but I still enjoyed them, and also Wizardry.

 

[magicalsoundshower]

Awesome thread. I honestly had no idea Might & Magic 6 was that good, I thought the common concensus was that it didn't really approach 3,4 and 5. Too bad it doesn't really look as charming as they do nowadays. I've only beaten 4 and 5 and got somewhat far in 3 even though 3 seemed like the best game out of the three. All of them are awesome games, though, the visuals, gameplay and mechanics feel so... right!

By the way, was it the Sega CD or the Turbo Duo port of MM3 that had the super out there space age soundtrack?

Oh, and one more thing: I don't think the Ravenloft games had Super VGA graphics, instead they used the somewhat uncommon 320x400 resolution which still counts as VGA.

 

[Alexios]

Get Arx Fatalis if you don't mind playing only one character. It's pretty modern and a good way to see if you like the general feeling of the genre.

But it's not like Wizardry, it's real time and stuff. I've played it. And I don't mind outdated graphics if they're pleasing and a bit consistent, hence why I wanted to try those Wizardry games mentioned (and have a few tens of games on gog, other older games on Steam, loads of retro low budget indie games, etc), the M&M games just seem to be quite ugly regardless of the tech.

 

[Toma]

Whats the general consensus on Wizardry 8? How does it compare to all the other Wizardries? Its the only mainline wizardry I've played and I loved it to hell and back. Tried reinstalling it a while back but it looks so ugly now Maybe I'll try one of the others.

 

[Danne-Danger]

Whats the general consensus on Wizardry 8? How does it compare to all the other Wizardries? Its the only mainline wizardry I've played and I loved it to hell and back. Tried reinstalling it a while back but it looks so ugly now Maybe I'll try one of the others.

You're ugly! I think it looks pretty great from time to time if you add a lot of AA. Though Trynton always makes me feel a bit nauseous.

Anyway, it's one of the best games ever made so I'm sure it stacks up quite nicely!

 

[HylianTom]

Awesome thread. I honestly had no idea Might & Magic 6 was that good, I thought the common concensus was that it didn't really approach 3,4 and 5. Too bad it doesn't really look as charming as they do nowadays. I've only beaten 4 and 5 and got somewhat far in 3 even though 3 seemed like the best game out of the three. All of them are awesome games, though, the visuals, gameplay and mechanics feel so... right!

6 was and still is absolutely wonderful. The music is great, the towns are varied enough, there are tons and tons of sidequests, the landscape is dotted with really fantastic caves, dungeons, tombs, mines, etc.. many of which are gigantic and easy to get lost within. The character creation and development process is probably in my top three favorites.

I could gush about 6 (and 7, to be quite honest) for a long time. And I still replay them about every four or five years, usually when the weather turns cold and it's nasty outside. It's the kind of game where you start at 8AM, and when you look up at the clock, it's midnight. Not many games do that to me any more.

 

[Sentenza]

How did I miss this thread?
Subscribed.

Anyway, I still consider Ultima Underworld II one of the most compelling experiences in my whole gaming "career".
It was enormous, challenging, enthralling, filled with details and it had mind-blowing level design.
Even just the dungeon under Lord British's castle had so much content that it could be an average dungeon crawler by itself... And it was just one out of many other dungeons in the game.

 

[Gattsu25]

But it's not like Wizardry, it's real time and stuff. I've played it. And I don't mind outdated graphics if they're pleasing and a bit consistent, hence why I wanted to try those Wizardry games mentioned (and have a few tens of games on gog, other older games on Steam, loads of retro low budget indie games, etc), the M&M games just seem to be quite ugly regardless of the tech.

If you want a newer turn-based dungeon crawler you can always play Wizardry 8.

If that's still not your style you may want to wait for Etrian Odyssey 4 which isn't out yet but it's a japanese dungeon crawler (meaning that, interface and gameplay wise, it is a Wizardry 1-6 clone with a gimmick) that sounds like it will have decent enemy animations. Based on what I've seen, you'll have to suffer through some of the industry's most reprehensible loli artwork, though.

 

[magicalsoundshower]

How did I miss this thread?
Subscribed.

Anyway, I still consider Ultima Underworld II one of the most compelling experiences in my whole gaming "career".
It was enormous, challenging, enthralling, filled with details and it had mind-blowing level design.
Even just the dungeon under Lord British's castle had so much content that it could be an average dungeon crawler by itself... And it was just one out of many other dungeons in the game.

Amen, UW2 will always be my favourite game ever. Aside from some minor issues, it's just that well-designed and always a blast to play. I don't think anything else will ever top it, although I admit Fallout: New Vegas really impressed me recently.

 

[kamorra]

Are there any good dungeon crawlers for Android?

 

[Mr_Appleby]

yes, yes we can. this thread is awesome. i haven't even played half of these games. Thanks to GOG though last year I bought M&M I-VI, both Ultima Underworlds and Stonekeep. I'm inspired have a go at Mandate of Heaven after this thread.

Are there any good dungeon crawlers for Android?

i'd like to know this too. All the ones i've found so far have been fairly not great.

 

[Alexios]

If you want a newer turn-based dungeon crawler you can always play Wizard 8.

Where's that sold?

If that's still not your style you may want to wait for Etrian Odyssey 4 which isn't out yet but it's a japanese dungeon crawler (meaning that, interface and gameplay wise, it is a Wizardry 1-6 clone with a gimmick) that sounds like it will have decent enemy animations. Based on what I've seen, you'll have to suffer through some of the industry's most reprehensible loli artwork, though.

No DS.

 

[Gattsu25]

Where's that sold?

Blame the Kindle Fire keyboard

Wizardry 8 was what I meant to type

 

[Alexios]

Wizardry 8 was what I meant to type

Where's that sold?

 

[Gattsu25]

Where's that sold?

I got it from Amazon in a Wizardry 1-8 collection.

Here's the standalone game: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008GKGT/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Edit: Whoops, bad memory. I bought the standalone game, as well.

 

[Mr_Appleby]

Where's that sold?

Amazon or Ebay. I see a bunch of copies in both places.

 

[cicero]

Amazon or Ebay. I see a bunch of copies in both places.

Those prices...

I sure hope GOG gets the Wizardry series soon.

 

[Alexios]

So, back to square one since it's in the same situation as 7 that I first mentioned... Thanks...

 

[Mr_Appleby]

Those prices...

I sure hope GOG gets the Wizardry series soon.

yeah pretty brutal :/

 

[bloodydrake]

i think Microprose's The Legacy:Realms of the Haunting fits into this category pretty well.
Its a first person tile moment Real time RPG, but its a gaslight Call of Cthulhu setting.

Really was pretty damn amazing for a dos game back in the day being able to resize and move all the windows and everything.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Where's that sold?

No DS.

You have a PS2 or PS3? I recommend either Tale of the Forsaken Land or Labyrinth of Lost Souls. Might as well go after the namesake (J) titles.

They're damn close, especially Forsaken Land.

Heck, if you got some time, I'll show you why it's so good.

 

[UncleSporky]

I booted up M&M1 from the gog pack and wow, that game is way worse than the NES version! I actually enjoyed the NES one previously and was looking forward to playing the superior PC version! Guess I could've just looked at some screenshots, but also the music.

 

[Dandare4444]

I started Dungeon Master 2 last night, i never did play it back in the day, but then again i played DM1 and never finished it, i'm enjoying is so far but i'm not even out of the first area yet, still got a few mudworms to kill yet. I must say thank god for xpadder though, i've mapped movement to my d-pad and turn to the shoulder buttons, my poor wrists can't handle keyboard dancing like they used to :-(

 

[gunstarhero]

And of course, this classic:

I know it's not Western and not extremely deep, but I loved this game so much back in the day. The art style is great, the music is great. I still break it out on the Virtual Console sometimes.

Shining in the Darkness was my first real first-person dungeon crawler - loved every minute of it. Probably doesn't match up in terms of scale to the more western stuff listed here in the thread, but the character/monster design won me over. Easily in my top 10 of classic RPGs/adventure type games.

I seem to remember a sequel...Holy Ark? I remember that being a much bigger game.

It'll never happen, but I would love these games to get a reboot.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Shining in the Darkness was my first real first-person dungeon crawler - loved every minute of it. Probably doesn't match up in terms of scale to the more western stuff listed here in the thread, but the character/monster design won me over. Easily in my top 10 of classic RPGs/adventure type games.

I seem to remember a sequel...Holy Ark? I remember that being a much bigger game.

It'll never happen, but I would love these games to get a reboot.

Shining The Holy Ark was on the Saturn, yes. A bit darker, fantastic game.

 

[gunstarhero]

Shining The Holy Ark was on the Saturn, yes. A bit darker, fantastic game.

Ah! Almost was going to say Sega CD :-/

Great game!

 

[Acosta]

How did I miss this? Awesome thread, subscribed.

I'm an absolute pussy for Dungeon Crawlers I must say. I have always tried to get into them, but I hate puzzles with passion, getting stuck and doing circles without being able to do anything else or having a single clue of what to do, it makes me sick (for real!).

What are the most combat oriented that you would recommend?

 

[fates]

For fans of Eye of the Beholder, there's a Neverwinter Nights module adaptation for it. It's not first person sadly, but it's an otherwise faithful adaptation.

 

[Alexios]

You have a PS2 or PS3? I recommend either Tale of the Forsaken Land or Labyrinth of Lost Souls. Might as well go after the namesake (J) titles.

They're damn close, especially Forsaken Land.



Heck, if you got some time, I'll show you why it's so good.

Nope. Anything on PSP?

 

[Danne-Danger]

You have a PS2 or PS3? I recommend either Tale of the Forsaken Land or Labyrinth of Lost Souls. Might as well go after the namesake (J) titles.

They're damn close, especially Forsaken Land.



Heck, if you got some time, I'll show you why it's so good.

It's horribly slow though. Everything about it is slow, menus, animations, post-stat screens. I gave up on it because I felt it was wasting too much time between the goodies. A real shame since it's a great game if you have the patience for it.

Coming off that and jumping into Wizardry 8 is such a relief. Fast pace, no nonsense and fifty times the depth. The interface design in W8 must be the best I've ever seen, barely anything comes between the player and the game. A thing of beauty.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Nope. Anything on PSP?

The good ones never left Japan, like the Elminage games. All we got was Class of Heroes.

Persona 1 is a dungeon crawler, technically. You could do much worse.

It's arguably the best PSP FPDC available in the US.


But really, you need a DS.

It's horribly slow though. Everything about it is slow, menus, animations, post-stat screens. I gave up on it because I felt it was wasting too much time between the goodies. A real shame since it's a great game if you have the patience for it.

Coming off that and jumping into Wizardry 8 is such a relief. Fast pace, no nonsense and fifty times the depth. The interface design in W8 must be the best I've ever seen, barely anything comes between the player and the game. A thing of beauty.

I agree, it can be pretty slow paced, but the story and atmosphere is so well presented that I'm willing to overlook it. TotFL is a game you block out the outside world for.

 

[ipukespiders]

I have nothing to add except that this is probably the greatest thread ever.
So many new (old) games to check out.

 

[DigitalDevil]

Are there any good dungeon crawlers for Android?

DOS box turbo is your friend. Transfer games to your phone using swiFTP, run and enjoy the PC classics on your phone. I'm playing Xeen right now on my razr maxx.

 

[Ketch]

But really, you need a DS.

What is the best one of these I can play on my 3DS? Just realized my 2 week vacation starts the day Grimrock comes out... =(

Edit: I have very little experience with the genre... played some old school one on Commodore 64.. boxart had a mean looking dude on a throne of bones or something... and then I played some Doom RPG on my phone some 15 years later. Looked up Etrian Odyssey and The Dark Spire on Amazon.... expensive.

 

[gunstarhero]

Shining The Holy Ark

 

[Gattsu25]

DOS box turbo is your friend. Transfer games to your phone using swiFTP, run and enjoy the PC classics on your phone. I'm playing Xeen right now on my razr maxx.

This sounds...glorious

 

[Tain]

Excellent posts, StoppedInTracks. I was totally unfamiliar with a ton of these games. Cost me some cash on GOG! It's a lot of fun to try these out (The Might and Magic series, mostly), even if I don't see myself finishing them.

 

[Benedict]

Have some old uk magazines with dungeon crawler reviews. Might try and scan them if I get the time and if there is any interest.

 

[dock]

Shining the holy ark is my only real experience of this genre, and I really enjoyed it. I've always meant to get into Shining the Darkness.

I've generally struggled with the interface, and text heavy nature, of the PC games. I'm mostly a console gamer, however.
I tried the recent Wizardry demo on PSN and had a miserable time with it.

Are there any other console-style games in this genre?

 

[Night_Trekker]

Are there any other console-style games in this genre?

Check out Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land (PS2). It isn't a "real" Wizardry game, but it's a damn good dungeon crawler. I wish someone would fan-translate the Japanese-only prequel :/

Of course, the Etrian Odyssey games are awesome, and they make really great use of the touchscreen for map-making.

I've always wanted to play Shining the Holy Ark. I gotta get my hands on a Saturn...

 

[Photon]

This thread needs more Captive.

 

[StoppedInTracks]

Have some old uk magazines with dungeon crawler reviews. Might try and scan them if I get the time and if there is any interest.

Please do! Camera photos will suffice no need to scan them.

 

[taoofjord]

Thanks a ton for this thread! I've been a massive fan of Lands of Lore 1 since I played it way back when. I recently started playing it again and it has also aged wonderfully. I highly recommend anyone interested in the genre to give it a shot. I think it's one of the best looking pc games from back then (shame about the ugly sequels). Fantastic art direction and a hell of a lot of fun.

I look forward to trying out a bunch of the others that I haven't played.