Great topic, Bill, and great response, Calibrator.
I managed to hunt down the original versions of all the games in ROM form, though some were of course easier than others to find. The 1986 remakes are nearly ubiquitous; it's harder to find the originals.
As much as I love these games for their historical value, I can't see myself sitting down to play them. If I did, I'd probably opt for Ultima III, and even then getting all the way to the end would be a real chore. I might note that I've made two efforts in recent years to get through Pool of Radiance and failed both times. Interfaces have just evolved so much since 1988. It's hard to deal with the many cumbersome aspects that we didn't even notice back then. Heck, I even noticed it when I was playing Might & Magic: Mandate of Heaven and Ultima Underworld; there have been so many improvements in graphic technology that it's hard to see past the limitations. While this is acceptable in a classic action game, it is harder to get into a RPG. Adventure games also benefit because there is always the story, puzzle, and character factors, but there's no denying that good graphics have always been part of CRPGs.
I've heard The Black Gate praised so often that I'd feel tempted to really give that game a real chance to grow on me. Even there, though, the interface is dated and would require a very open mind to get into. Later Ultima games got mixed reviews even back then, so I'd probably pass on those.
Of course, so much of this has to do with what you grew up with and enjoyed back in the day. The nostalgia factor makes up for lack of mouse, blocky graphics, etc.
Honestly, if I were determined to sit down and play through a classic CRPG I'd opt for something like Wasteland or Autoduel, or possibly the interesting Ultima games that used the Ultima engine but for a different purpose (I believe those are called Ultima Adventures). One I saw was based on an Amazon theme and looked very intriguing.
I should make a list of CRPGs that have stood the test of time and still play well today. I know for sure that this would be a much different list than what I consider the most important or influential CRPGs. Just a quick stab at it--
Sword of Fargoal. Easy to pick up and play--highly recommended.
Bloodstone: An Epic Dwarven Tale. I played a little of this game and really enjoyed it; it's supposed to be a prequel to the Magic Candle series.
Rogue. There are many versions of this out there, but I'd probably go for Nethack. I still fire this up and play occasionally.
Dungeon Master. Another old game that plays surprisingly well today.
The Dark Heart of Uukrul. Similar to the Gold Box games, but with a smoother interface and lower learning curve.
Great topic, Bill, and great response, Calibrator.
I managed to hunt down the original versions of all the games in ROM form, though some were of course easier than others to find. The 1986 remakes are nearly ubiquitous; it's harder to find the originals.
As much as I love these games for their historical value, I can't see myself sitting down to play them. If I did, I'd probably opt for Ultima III, and even then getting all the way to the end would be a real chore. I might note that I've made two efforts in recent years to get through Pool of Radiance and failed both times. Interfaces have just evolved so much since 1988. It's hard to deal with the many cumbersome aspects that we didn't even notice back then. Heck, I even noticed it when I was playing Might & Magic: Mandate of Heaven and Ultima Underworld; there have been so many improvements in graphic technology that it's hard to see past the limitations. While this is acceptable in a classic action game, it is harder to get into a RPG. Adventure games also benefit because there is always the story, puzzle, and character factors, but there's no denying that good graphics have always been part of CRPGs.
I've heard The Black Gate praised so often that I'd feel tempted to really give that game a real chance to grow on me. Even there, though, the interface is dated and would require a very open mind to get into. Later Ultima games got mixed reviews even back then, so I'd probably pass on those.
Of course, so much of this has to do with what you grew up with and enjoyed back in the day. The nostalgia factor makes up for lack of mouse, blocky graphics, etc.
Honestly, if I were determined to sit down and play through a classic CRPG I'd opt for something like Wasteland or Autoduel, or possibly the interesting Ultima games that used the Ultima engine but for a different purpose (I believe those are called Ultima Adventures). One I saw was based on an Amazon theme and looked very intriguing.
I should make a list of CRPGs that have stood the test of time and still play well today. I know for sure that this would be a much different list than what I consider the most important or influential CRPGs. Just a quick stab at it--
Matt Barton, Managing Editor
Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA
Email: matt@armchairarcade.com