The Codex’s Best Computer RPGs (pre-Diablo)

[PEACH]

4 - Wizardry VII
2 - Might and Magic: World of Xeen
2 - Betrayal at Krondor
2 - Ultima Underworld

 

[Rulae]

5 - Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant
2 - Pool of Radiance
1 - Wizardry 6: Bane of the Cosmic Forge
1 - Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
1 - Ultima Underworld 2: Labyrinth of Worlds

 

[Moaning_Clock]

Why isn't NetHack on the list?

 

[Elwro]

Why isn't NetHack on the list?

Maybe folks decided that the 3.4.3 was the version everyone really played? Just a guess... [Probably a wrong one]

 

[Kalarion]

Exile 3: the Ruined World- 5 points.
Might & Magic 3: Isles of Terra- 1 point.
Dark Heart of Uukrul- 1 point.
Wizardry 5: Heart of the Maelstrom- 1 point.
Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant- 2 points.

Exile 3 is in my opinion the absolute pinnacle of shareware RPGs. Jeff Vogel's name should ring down the halls of CRPG history solely for this accomplishment. I paid cash, in an envelope, mailed by standard USPS, to unlock it. It was the first and only Shareware game I paid for (thank God, the $20 bill wasn't stolen en route :D).

MM3 was my first. I loved figuring out that the best play was to immediately leave the city and go pillaging orc camps, razing them to the ground for piles of xp and loot. Great fun.

Dark Heart of Uukrul is the true gentleman's choice of prestigious dungeon crawler. First person exploration, good riddles, excellent pacing and tension. The crossword puzzle and solving the final map were the highlights for me. 14 year old Kalarion's brain got a serious workout. I consider it a spicy bonus that the developer basically trolled everyone with how he made stats and spells work :D.

Wizardry 5 was my first as well. It's fun.

If I had to pick one crawler from Ye Olden Dayes, Wiz 7 would be it. Unfortunately we can't pick Grimoire :D.

 

[V_K]

Personally, I'd say that "spot the decline enabler" choice is MM3-5, which are the original popamole.
Now let the butthurt flow!..

Nah, these would be a kid's first CRPG. Which is not properly monocled, but commendable in some ways.

Even if it were so (which it's not), how else would you call someone who votes "a kid's first CRPG" as the best of an era?

 

[Cpt. Dallas]

Wizardry 1: 5 pts
Autoduel: 4 pts (more for nostalgia. I highly preferred the original plastic box, dice, and paperboard vehicle version)

 

[V_K]

Hopefully my selection will help to keep blobbers away from top 3 spots

2 points - Realms of Arkania 2: Star Trail

 

[Lord_Potato]

Hopefully my selection will help to keep blobbers away from top 3 spots

2 points - Realms of Arkania 2: Star Trail

It's not a blobber because your party fights as individual characters on a separate tactical map, not as a single blob with dozen of hands.

Besides, you can divide your party also during movement, so even between combats it does not always 'blob' together.

 

[Thal]

Why isn't NetHack on the list?

Maybe folks decided that the 3.4.3 was the version everyone really played? Just a guess... [Probably a wrong one]

The weird thing is that out of classic roguelikes, only Rogue is on the list, so it can't be due them not being rpgs.

 

[Thal]

Personally, I'd say that "spot the decline enabler" choice is MM3-5, which are the original popamole.
Now let the butthurt flow!..

Nah, these would be a kid's first CRPG. Which is not properly monocled, but commendable in some ways.

Even if it were so (which it's not), how else would you call someone who votes "a kid's first CRPG" as the best of an era?

The poll should be scrapped entirely, and a spoiler-free playthrough of Wizardry IV should be declared as the best and, in fact, the only real crpg.

 

[buffalo bill]

Deuce Traveler is there some reason that most early roguelikes are not included on the list?

For instance, Moria (1983), NetHack (1987), Omega (1987), Angband (1990), and Ancient Domains of Mystery (1994) are excluded. Is it because some of them had extended development post-release? Anyway, I prefer some of these games to other classics, and would change some of my votes if they were included. Specifically, I'd drop Rogue and Quest for Glory 1, and replace them with Omega and ADOM.

 

[Polanski]

Rogue: 5 points
NetHack: 5 points

I vaguely remember playing some of the others, but none are great memories.
96-98 though

 

[Fowyr]

Deuce Traveler is there some reason that most early roguelikes are not included on the list?

For instance, Moria (1983), NetHack (1987), Omega (1987), Angband (1990), and Ancient Domains of Mystery (1994) are excluded. Is it because some of them had extended development post-release? Anyway, I prefer some of these games to other classics, and would change some of my votes if they were included. Specifically, I'd drop Rogue and Quest for Glory 1, and replace them with Omega and ADOM.

Dunno about Deuce Traveller's reasons, but that was my argument:

Problem with roguelikes, and I love them, that they are really have a very long life. ADOM is from 1994, but it really took off only in 1998-1999. Unreal World is from 1992, but it became complex and fun game only after that 1996 cut-off year. Even multitude of Angband variants was less complex than in 1998 or, God forbid, 2003.

Also DT said this several pages back:

Feel free to vote for a game not on the list as some have. Although the list isn't perfect, the Ring of Prestigious Gentlemen felt that the posted list was the best we could agree upon without having to go into another week or two of debates about whether or not the game was a CRPG or had enough popularity to have a chance of making it as more than just an outlier.

This list mostly provided to stir your memory, after all every old RPG-connoisseur has tens of games under his belt and easily could forget a game or two.

 

[kubics]

5 points each for:

Hero's Quest (Quest for Glory 1): So You Want to Be a Hero (Sierra)
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands (SSI)

 

[Dragon]

Fuck, I'm old...

2 points each, can't choose, eyes too watery :

The Lord of the Rings Volume 1 (Interplay)
Eye of the Beholder (Westwood)
Might and Magic 3: Isles of Terra (New World Computing)
Ultima 7: The Black Gate (Origin)
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands (SSI)

 

[Decado]

People can vote for games not on the list, as per DT's original post.

 

[buffalo bill]

Deuce Traveler is there some reason that most early roguelikes are not included on the list?

For instance, Moria (1983), NetHack (1987), Omega (1987), Angband (1990), and Ancient Domains of Mystery (1994) are excluded. Is it because some of them had extended development post-release? Anyway, I prefer some of these games to other classics, and would change some of my votes if they were included. Specifically, I'd drop Rogue and Quest for Glory 1, and replace them with Omega and ADOM.

Dunno about Deuce Traveller's reasons, but that was my argument:

Problem with roguelikes, and I love them, that they are really have a very long life. ADOM is from 1994, but it really took off only in 1998-1999. Unreal World is from 1992, but it became complex and fun game only after that 1996 cut-off year. Even multitude of Angband variants was less complex than in 1998 or, God forbid, 2003.

Also DT said this several pages back:

Feel free to vote for a game not on the list as some have. Although the list isn't perfect, the Ring of Prestigious Gentlemen felt that the posted list was the best we could agree upon without having to go into another week or two of debates about whether or not the game was a CRPG or had enough popularity to have a chance of making it as more than just an outlier.

This list mostly provided to stir your memory, after all every old RPG-connoisseur has tens of games under his belt and easily could forget a game or two.

This is fair enough, and I sort of figured as much. I know the list won't be changed now, but I'll note that not all of the important early roguelikes received extended develop—specifically, I believe that Omega was completely finished in the 80s.

 

[Sinatar]

4 - Might and Magic: World of Xeen
3 - Curse of the Azure Bonds
2 - Ultima Underworld
1 - Dark Sun: Shattered Lands

 

[MurkyShadow]

2 Points to:
The Bard's Tale 1: Tales of the Unknown (Interplay) 1985

2 Points to:
The Bard's Tale 3: Thief of Fate (Interplay) 1988

2 Points to:
Pool of Radiance (SSI) 1988

2 Points to:
Curse of the Azure Bonds (SSI) 1989

2 Points to:
Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant (Sir-Tech) 1992

 

[DemonKing]

Wizardry Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord - 3 Points
Eye of the Beholder 2 - 3 Points
Land of Lore: Throne of Chaos - 2 Points
Wizardry VI - 1 Point
Pool of Radiance - 1 Point

They're the ones I can recall getting multiple playthroughs.

 

[Moaning_Clock]

Maybe folks decided that the 3.4.3 was the version everyone really played? Just a guess... [Probably a wrong one]

In my case it's a right one - and some of the new versions which came out of nowhere after 10 years of hiatus

 

[Skall]

5-title max means some of the underdogs won't get mentioned as there are enough classics to fill the minimum:

3 - Ultima 7: The Black Gate
3 - Betrayal at Krondor
2 - Ultima Underworld
1 - Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
1 - Dungeon Master

 

[dacencora]

It's interesting that Ultima IV consistently ranks as more popular here than Ultima V (which hasn't got any points so far). Ultima IV was more groundbreaking, but V plays a whole lot better.

Ultima IV is "spot the decline enabler" choice

That would be Ultima VII, Ultima IV is the anti-combatfag choice, which is not the same.

Personally, I'd say that "spot the decline enabler" choice is MM3-5, which are the original popamole.
Now let the butthurt flow!..

I am a little butthurt. I freaking love MM3. The music, the gfx, the gameplay. It’s all top-notch. No way it can be considered popamole.

 

[V_K]

The music, the gfx, the gameplay.

I love how you put gameplay last. Speaks volumes.