So what are the best early 80's CRPGs?

[Gandhara]

CRPG = Computer RPG

Ive tried a good handful of them but would love to learn about more worthy titles.

some favorites are Temple of Apshai, Sorceror of Siva, Telengard, Beneath Apple Manor, Tunnels of Doom, the Wizardry titles..Ultima series, thats all so far.

ive never played stuff like Rogue and ive not tried Hellfire Warrior yet.

[Jorpho]

CRPG = Computer RPG

Are you aware that "CRPG" is often used to refer to "Character RPGs" and often turns up as an alternative to "JRPG"? (That is, the kind of game where you play a particular character with a set story and dialog, quite contrary to the "computer RPGs" to which you refer?) Just sayin'.

Rogue is something else entirely, I understand.

[Neb6]

I think Rogue is a great one for anyone interested in RPGs to try out. It's a great example of accomplishing a lot with very little.

Questron II was fun. I think some of the more experienced RPGers out there consider it to be a bit too simple, but I liked it.

Eventually, I plan to go back and play the classics on an Apple II (Ultima, Apshai, etc...).

[Daltone]

Are you aware that "CRPG" is often used to refer to "Character RPGs" and often turns up as an alternative to "JRPG"? (That is, the kind of game where you play a particular character with a set story and dialog, quite contrary to the "computer RPGs" to which you refer?) Just sayin'.

Rogue is something else entirely, I understand.

Minor thread derailment... I have always thought it was Computer RPG too. I'd never even heard the phrase "Character RPG" until just now!

[Alpha2099]

Are you aware that "CRPG" is often used to refer to "Character RPGs" and often turns up as an alternative to "JRPG"?

I was always under the impression that CRPG = Console RPG, like PlayStation and Xbox.

[Daltone]

All of a sudden I understand why the OP defined CRPG in the first post..

[Buyatari]

try Sword of Fargoal

[Edmond Dantes]

Almost any game based on Dungeons & Dragons is good (except possibly Heroes of the Lance--never played it but I've heard its bad).

Also Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday and its sequel, Matrix Cubed.

Try Battletech: The Crescent Hawks Inception (a mecha RPG decades before Xenogears!)

The Bard's Tale Trilogy is hit or miss but if you liked Wizardry you might like Bard's Tale since they're a lot alike (although I prefer Wizardry just a bit).

The Might and Magic series, although for the first one you want the NES port.

QUEST FOR GLORY.

[Griking]

Minor thread derailment... I have always thought it was Computer RPG too. I'd never even heard the phrase "Character RPG" until just now!

Same.


As for suggestions, I grew up on the classics; Ultima, Bard's Tale, Wizardry & Might & Magic.

Other suggestions

I loved Alter Ego. It's not a traditional RPG but it really affected me when I was a kid and played it.

You can't go wring with any of the SSI RPGs especially the Gold Box games

and finally, Wasteland.

[bioshockfan]

Almost any game based on Dungeons & Dragons is good (except possibly Heroes of the Lance--never played it but I've heard its bad).

Also Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday and its sequel, Matrix Cubed.

Try Battletech: The Crescent Hawks Inception (a mecha RPG decades before Xenogears!)

The Bard's Tale Trilogy is hit or miss but if you liked Wizardry you might like Bard's Tale since they're a lot alike (although I prefer Wizardry just a bit).

The Might and Magic series, although for the first one you want the NES port.

QUEST FOR GLORY.

Totally agree with all your choices.

I also really enjoyed

Dungeon Master and Eye of the Beholder series

[Jorpho]

Those aren't really early 80s, though, are they?

If we're going to go nuts, some people have nice things to say about The Magic Candle trilogy.

[Soviet Conscript]

Those aren't really early 80s, though, are they?

If we're going to go nuts, some people have nice things to say about The Magic Candle trilogy.

no, more like late 80's early 90's

when I think about early 80's CRPG's I think Wizardry and Ultima. those are really the two big early 80's ones

Dungeons of Daggorath hasn't been mentioned.

[goldenband]

Dungeons of Daggorath is great, incredibly atmospheric and stressful (in a good way). My family couldn't afford a fancier machine than the CoCo when I was a kid, so DoD helped to make up for all the great games (Ultima, et al.) I read about but couldn't get to play.

These days I'm a regular reader of the CRPG Addict, who's trying to play through all the CRPGs ever made. Originally he was just doing DOS (where he's reached 1990) but now he's including games he skipped over on other platforms, and he's actually about to do Dungeons of Daggorath.

I did ultimately get to play the NES ports of Ultima III and IV, both of which I enjoyed a great deal. I'd still like to go back and play the series on a 1980s computer, though -- ideally, starting with Akalabeth.

[Jorpho]

I'd still like to go back and play the series on a 1980s computer, though -- ideally, starting with Akalabeth.

Unless you purposefully want to expose yourself to a lot of avoidable anguish, there's really no reason not to just stick with DOSBox.

[Soviet Conscript]

Unless you purposefully want to expose yourself to a lot of avoidable anguish, there's really no reason not to just stick with DOSBox.

If I only got a dime every time you post that response.

id have like....close to a dollar

These days I'm a regular reader of the CRPG Addict, who's trying to play through all the CRPGs ever made. Originally he was just doing DOS (where he's reached 1990) but now he's including games he skipped over on other platforms, and he's actually about to do Dungeons of Daggorath.

huh...I'm going to check that page out. does he actually have to beat all the games or just play them? I have a similar insane goal but it encompasses all RPG's. I've currently beaten 139 RPG's on various platforms.

[goldenband]

Unless you purposefully want to expose yourself to a lot of avoidable anguish, there's really no reason not to just stick with DOSBox.

Sure, I'd use emulation to some extent -- either DOSBox or an Apple II emulator -- and I don't see myself paying the prices that Ultima stuff has started to go for. That said, if I happen to pick up the C64 version of one of the games, I'd certainly give it a go.

huh...I'm going to check that page out. does he actually have to beat all the games or just play them? I have a similar insane goal but it encompasses all RPG's. I've currently beaten 139 RPG's on various platforms.

He generally tries to beat them all (and until a couple weeks ago he'd had a long unbroken win streak going), but he doesn't require it. He sets himself a minimum time limit for each game, after which he can quit if he hates the game or has run into loads of bugs.

[Rickstilwell1]

Which computer RPG was Tom Hanks playing in the movie "Big"? Is it a good game?

[Gameguy]

Which computer RPG was Tom Hanks playing in the movie "Big"? Is it a good game?

That would be "Cavern of the Evil Wizard", which was just made up for the movie. It wasn't a real game.

Someone recreated it though, and it's now playable online as a real game.
http://www.bomtoons.com/biggame.html

[wizardofwor1975]

try Sword of Fargoal

I agree Sword of Fargoal is a good place to start. If you’re into the C64 you may also want to try Gateway to Apshai, the Temple of Apshai, and the Temple of Apshai Trilogy. All of them are really good. My personal favorite is Gateway to Apshai. For a 30+ year old game it keeps me coming back. Kind of reminds me of the original Zelda on the NES: Hanging out in dungeons, killing monsters, and looting treasure.

[wizardofwor1975]

Totally agree with all your choices.

I also really enjoyed

Dungeon Master and Eye of the Beholder series

I agree Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday, Matrix Cubed, and Battletech: The Crescent Hawks Inception are all really good games. I also really like the Mars Saga (AKA Mines of Titan for DOS). Another great one to try would be Roadwar 2000. It's a Mad Max style game.