The Oldest DOS RPGs

mbarton · Post by **mbarton** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 7:35 am

Hi, folks! One of our writers over at Armchair Arcade is writing an article comparing computer role playing games with console role playing games (i.e., Ultima vs. Zelda). Anyway, we were trying to figure out what the earliest and best DOS based RPGs games were. Do you all know of any must-mention DOS RPGs circa 1983? He's got ROGUE down, but none of us know too much about this title.

Anyway, feel free to wax on about DOS RPGs! Hopefully you won't mind being quoted in the article!

CloudCobain · Post by **CloudCobain** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 9:26 am

Weren't the old Ultimas the first?

Or are we talking... Hugo House of Horrors?

Post by **Dogbreath** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 1:26 pm

Rogue was modified to make Hack, which was again modified to create Nethack, which is still under development to this day.

Probably one of the most important early DOS RPGs would be Wizardry. (1981?) though it was originally released for the Apple II it was also made for DOS when DOS first came around. And, of course, you have to include Zork. (1982)

Are you looking for any later era DOS RPGs? I have played a huge amount from late 80s/early 90s...

Dopefish · Post by **Dopefish** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 10:44 pm

Some historically important computer RPGs. I'm not including things like Rouge because they don't count as role playing at all.

Akalabeth (Ultima 0, no real plot)- 1979 - the first computerized RPG I know of
Ultima I - 1980? - more of an actual game
Utima IV - 1984? - The first computer RPG to feature an actual story that isn't just "go kill that really strong evil guy and save the kingdom". This was also for NES and Master but I'm not sure when those were released.

Console RPGs:
Legend of Zelda (NES) - 1986 - does this count as an RPG? If so I think it's the first for consoles. Besides, Ys is better.
Dragon Warrior/Quest (NES) - 1987 - dull gameplay and no story progression make this game pretty dull by modern standards
Phantasy Star (Master) - 1988 - This game has the best graphics of any Master game I've seen (which is way better than anything NES could do). It had a great story, and was hard enough to keep me busy for a few months. I would consider this the first good RPG for consoles.
Final Fantasy (NES) - 1990 - Even though this game came out after Phantasy Star II and Dragon Warrior III (maybe II, I'm not sure) for some reason everyone seems to think that it's historically important for some reason so I'm putting it on my list.

Of course, the origin of all RPGs in Dungeons & Dragons.

Post by **wardrich** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:31 am

what about Wonderboy for the SMS... that's gotta be one of my favourite games of all times

-Richard-

Kazer0 · Post by **Kazer0** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:27 pm

Chrono Trigger for SNES is my favorite to this day. Not Dos tho.

adamjsawyer · Post by **adamjsawyer** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:35 am

Not really early RPGs, but certainly early D&D RPGs and old classics:
Pool of Radiance
Curse of the Azure Bonds
Secret of the Silver Blades
Pools of Darkness
I played through the entire series (again) a couple of years ago, although I could never finish Pools of Darkness due to the ridiculously difficult final battle

cheers
adam

Sorcerdon · Post by **Sorcerdon** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 8:51 am

The first RPG ever created - i believe - is "Doungeous and Dragons"

Dopefish · Post by **Dopefish** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 4:41 pm

Indeed.
Dungeons & Dragons was a pen and paper RPG released in 1974.

Post by **Dogbreath** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 1:17 am

Not the first, though. It was based on another game that was made in 1968.

Dopefish · Post by **Dopefish** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 8:29 am

The game was Chainmail but that was just a miniatures combat game, like Warhammer only without any fantasty elements (although a fantasy expanion was released).
Chainmail was based on games that have been around since the 1800s.

Dungeons & Dragons was the first game that let player control only one player.

Eugene Esterly III · Post by **Eugene Esterly III** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 5:45 am

Dogbreath wrote:Rogue was modified to make Hack, which was again modified to create Nethack, which is still under development to this day.

Probably one of the most important early DOS RPGs would be Wizardry. (1981?) though it was originally released for the Apple II it was also made for DOS when DOS first came around. And, of course, you have to include Zork. (1982)

Are you looking for any later era DOS RPGs? I have played a huge amount from late 80s/early 90s...

The DOS version of Wizardry was released in 1984, 3 yrs. after the 1981 Apple II released of Wizardry.

Annorax · Post by **Annorax** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:04 pm

The oldest DOS RPG I know of was mentioned above, Akalabeth (Ultima 0) from 1979.

benelliott · Post by **benelliott** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:23 pm

does any body remember this game, im not sure of the name, but it reminds me or hugo's house of horror, but you this character and you start out in a bedroom w/ your bed, a dresser and a door, you have to get the credit card under the dresser and if you go out side and ring the dorbell next door, some guy throws bread at you ... i know its a weid discription...

b3n

Quatroking · Post by **Quatroking** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:26 am

that IS hugo's house of horrors 3 if ur char is a girl (yegh)
i have all Hugo's, so i know what u mean. (NO i don't have that stopid "hugo"trolls!)