The oldest WRPG with decent writing

[Boomer_007]

In Ultima 7 we have both – lots of text in game (dialogs, books) and paper "The book of Fellowship" which critically important and contains lore, map with location names, rune translations and spell descriptions. Many of this information is absent in actual game. And this is pretty early example (1992) - it's like "transition phase" between "all text in manual" and "all text in game" eras. Nowadays we have things like Mass Effect with "Codex" inside (Reminds me Civilopedia from Civilization), but it’s still lore dump and still separated from the actual game.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Realms of Arkania HD

 

[samuraigaiden]

Here's a thought. There are no storyfag JRPGs. Where did CRPGs go wrong?

 

[Ysaye]

I liked the story in "The Immortal"; mechanically it a simple dungeon crawling descent but there are a few twists in the characters of the world and the objective of the main character.

 

[Lilura]

Where did CRPGs go wrong?

PS:T.

 

[Corvinus]

PS:T.

Please elaborate. I have never played this game, mainly because the I'm not fond of the "multiverse" as a concept, but I've heard nothing but praise of it from people online and friends.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Please elaborate

Storyfags

 

[Butter]

How many actual storyfag CRPGs are there? 3? I don't just mean games like Mask of the Betrayer, where effort was put into the story, but games where there's negligible gameplay in deference to the story. CRPGs went wrong when Bioware decided to add dating sims to the mix in BG2.

 

[holla_cabezas_de_mierda]

You nerds, how did this devolve into a discussion about manual writing? When I buy games it's with the intention of having my eyes on the PC monitor, not any side books.

Refusal to acknowledge that RPGs before the late 90s barely had any story whatsoever.

its like talking about the acting in soriety girls anal rush weekend #2

 

[Lilura]

Please elaborate.

What ERYFKRAD said. But my retrospective is here. Recent edits have heightened criticism. Over the years, I've modded out most of PS:T's dialogue, which let's me play the game in peace, like IWD.

 

[octavius]

Please elaborate.

What ERYFKRAD said. But my retrospective is here. Recent edits have heightened criticism. Over the years, I've modded out most of PS:T's dialogue, which let's me play the game in peace, like IWD.

What? But then it's not authorative any more.

 

[bylam]

My vote goes to Krondor but if pressed for something else, there is another 1992 action rpg from SSI called The Summoning that had a short story in the manual that was a lot better than a short story in a game manual from 1992 has any business being.

The short story that lamely rips off the St Crispin's Day speech from Henry V? It's certainly an example of good writing - just not that of the person who wrote the short story.

I loved the gold box manuals so I am probably biased towards those games. At the very least the Curse of the Azure Bonds had some great drama moments when the bonds compelled you into shitty situations. Also - Moander.

 

[Wayward Son]

Please elaborate.

What ERYFKRAD said. But my retrospective is here. Recent edits have heightened criticism. Over the years, I've modded out most of PS:T's dialogue, which let's me play the game in peace, like IWD.

Sooo... you removed the dialogue in a game where the focus was on dialogue and the combat was absolute ass?

In response to the original question, I quite liked Wasteland and Dragon Wars’ manual text and iirc the steam version of both of these actually adds it into the game in the form of a clickable link that opens a sub-window in the game window. Ergo I consider them to be part of the in-game story and writing, since their removal and placing into a separate paragraph book was obviously a concession to the space limitations of a 5+1/4” or even a 3+1/2” floppy.

 

[ebPD8PePfC]

The earliest well written crpg was ドラゴンエイジ:インクイジション, released in 2014.
Either that, or Star Control 2, which was released half a year before Betrayel at Krondor.

 

[Grauken]

Star Control 2 is an action-adventure though

 

[Nano]

Star Control 2 is an action-adventure though

Did you intend to contradict the Codex's favorite bear?

"Star Control 2 has been considered one of the best computer game ever developed, and for me, it remains my favorite CRPG of all time." --Tim Cain

 

[Unkillable Cat]

Tim Cain isn't right on everything.

I'll pitch in a vote for Dragon Wars as well - I still fondly remember the opening fight where you can choose to turn around and try to take on the guards, but the game warns you about them looking like they would kick in your spleen... and then you engage combat with them and the game describes the guards as 'expert spleen-kickers'.

 

[Wayward Son]

Ahh good old Dragon Wars. From a time when humor was allowed and a game didn’t have to be 100% SERIUZ BIZNISS all the fucking time

 

[Bruma Hobo]

If we stretch the definition of RPG a little, then Alter Ego is certainly a contender. And it's clearly more of an RPG than the late Ultima games (like U7 or Martian Dreams) or even Lands of Lore in my opinion.

 

[Lilura]

Sooo... you removed the dialogue in a game where the focus was on dialogue and the combat was absolute ass?

Don't worry, storyfag. As a lone-wolf commentator going up against massive monetized sites, I'm only ranked fifth in the world:

I promise not to use my growing influence to devalue the underserved legacy of PS:T.

 

[Wayward Son]

Apparently you’re illiterate. The only thing worth seeing in that game was the dialogue. You’re removing it so you can play the REALLY shitty gameplay. That’s like the opposite end of the autism spectrum from when someone puts IWD:EE on Narrative mode. Same shit, opposite end.

 

[Boomer_007]

No mention of Quest for Glory?
One of the very few series, old or new, where NPCs felt like they had actual personalities. Plus it hits the very delicate balance of funny, serious and charming, which is no small feat in itself.

If we mention Quest for Glory, maybe we also need to mention Neuromancer from 1988.

 

[V_K]

No mention of Quest for Glory?
One of the very few series, old or new, where NPCs felt like they had actual personalities. Plus it hits the very delicate balance of funny, serious and charming, which is no small feat in itself.

If we mention Quest for Glory, maybe we also need to mention Neuromancer from 1988.

I might be wrong on that, but my understanding is it's much less of an RPG because you need to get specific skill upgrades in specific order to get through the main quest - i.e. there's no variation in viable builds.