SMS VS NES

[Zoltor]

Wha? It wasn't even close to the first RPG. The genre was on computers since the mid '70s and consoles since 1982.

Noone had a computer back then(nor were they commonly used in schools at the time), so for all intensive purposely, it was.

Also lol the 70s, I think It's a given that no RPG could be made in the 70s(unless It's a text mud perhaps), so let me rephrase it, like the first "real" RPG.

Also the closest thing I know of on consoles in the 70s/early 80s, is Sword Quest, which Isn't a RPG, It's an "Adventure" game.

[Thenewguy]

I have completed all three Master System RPGs in an impulsive gaming marathon

You're missing some

1. Phantasy Star
2. Ys
3. Ultima IV
4. Dragon Crystal
5. Miracle Warriors
6. Spellcaster possibly counts (RPG elements come more into play later on in the game)

[Zoltor]

You're missing some

1. Phantasy Star
2. Ys
3. Ultima IV
4. Dragon Crystal
5. Miracle Warriors
6. Spellcaster possibly counts (RPG elements come more into play later on in the game)

Dragon Crystal, I've never heard of it, what's it like, and is it good?

[NeoZeedeater]

Noone had a computer back then(nor were they commonly used in schools at the time), so for all intensive purposely, it was.

Also lol the 70s, I think It's a given that no RPG could be made in the 70s(unless It's a text mud perhaps), so let me rephrase it, like the first "real" RPG.

Also the closest thing I know of on consoles in the 70s/early 80s, is Sword Quest, which Isn't a RPG, It's an "Adventure" game.

This is what an RPG in the '70s looked like. It's not just text.


Also, even if you ignore the earliest niche games on mainframe computers, there were successful RPGs in the early '80s on Apple and Commodore computers like Ultima, Wizardry, etc..

And for consoles, I wasn't talking about Sword Quest, I was referring to games like Dragonstomper and AD&D: Treasure of Tarmin.

[Thenewguy]

Dragon Crystal, I've never heard of it, what's it like, and is it good?

In my opinion its the weakest RPG on the list, but its alright, it generally gets mixed reception with some people liking it and others feeling that its forgettable.

Essentially its a Rogue-like which spawns random layouts and items, you play it till you die.

Its very simple, but the random items can make it compulsive, and its easy to pick up and play.

[sheath]

I forgot about Ultima IV, but I didn't like the NES games so that might be why. I have never heard of Dragon Crystal, I will have to look into that one.

[Zoltor]

This is what an RPG in the '70s looked like. It's not just text.


Also, even if you ignore the earliest niche games on mainframe computers, there were successful RPGs in the early '80s on Apple and Commodore computers like Ultima, Wizardry, etc..

And for consoles, I wasn't talking about Sword Quest, I was referring to games like Dragonstomper and AD&D: Treasure of Tarmin.

Oh ok hm.


Didn't Wizardry come out around the same time as Dragon Quest though? Neverheard of Dragonstomper though(being a 2600 game supposedly, doesn't fill me with faith, that's for sure). There is only one SS at gamefaqs, so It's hard to tell, can you tell me how the systems/menues worked?

I've played alot of the AD&D games, not that one though, so I can't be sure, but the other D&D games are only RPGish.

[Zoltor]

In my opinion its the weakest RPG on the list, but its alright, it generally gets mixed reception with some people liking it and others feeling that its forgettable.

Essentially its a Rogue-like which spawns random layouts and items, you play it till you die.

Its very simple, but the random items can make it compulsive, and its easy to pick up and play.

Wait what, a Rogue-like before the 16 bit systems, meh no doubt, but I'm intrigued now. Ouch no save/PW system?

Yea It's human nature, we love to hunt for the mighty shiny

[Thenewguy]

I forgot about Ultima IV, but I didn't like the NES games so that might be why.

The two versions are very different, the NES version was Japanesed-up, whilst the SMS version is more faithfull to the original game, so it may be worth trying out both.

[NeoZeedeater]

Oh ok hm.


Didn't Wizardry come out around the same time as Dragon Quest though? Neverheard of Dragonstomper though(being a 2600 game supposedly, doesn't fill me with faith, that's for sure). There is only one SS at gamefaqs, so It's hard to tell, can you tell me how the systems/menues worked?

I've played alot of the AD&D games, not that one though, so I can't be sure, but the other D&D games are only RPGish.

Dragon Quest = 1986, Wizardry = 1981.

In between that time, there were a lot of RPGs released on Japanese computers. Most imitated the gameplay of Western games like Ultima and Wizardry but with increasingly Japanese-looking art styles (and sometimes hentai) as time went on. And Japan made a bunch of ARPGs in the Dragon Slayer/Hydlide vein. Even on the Famicom, Bokosuka Wars and Hydlide predate Dragon Quest. And in English, it was mentioned before that Sega released a few JRPGs here before Dragon Warrior.

Dragonstomper is turn-based for battles and has a menu system with commands like use, fight, and move. You can buy items in shops. The graphics are simplistic but the game is for the Supercharger add-on so it's more advanced than most 2600 games. I played through it a few years ago and I think it has aged pretty well. It's relatively short so I didn't get sick of it.

And AD&D: Treasure of Tarmin is also a turn-based RPG. It lacks shops but the 3d dungeons were impressive. The other D&D game on Intellivision isn't an RPG though; it's more of an action-adventure maze game that happens to use the D&D license.

Dragon Quest was obviously very significant for mainstreaming RPGs in Japan even if it was quite derivative of a bunch of games before it.

[j_factor]

Um... it was like the first RPG, and while it didn't have the refinement of the ones after it(It's bare bones), thus seems meh today, when we have a metric ton of greats, but it was grounbreaking when it first came out, to the point that it very much belongs in such a list(It's not like the title of the topic asked for a top 10 list or something).

In short, like it or not, It's still a good game, It's just there are so many amazing RPGs out there now, it just makes it seem meh/pointless to play.

I don't just think it's bad in comparison to other RPGs, I think it's bad on its own. Even if I pretend it exists in a vacuum, it's still not a good game IMO. Being the first something or other does not automatically make for a good game.

Dragon Warrior was most certainly not the first RPG anyway. RPGs go back to the mid-70's on mainframe computers, and the first "real" RPG (with graphics and on a consumer platform) was Temple of Apshai in 1979. Nor was it the first console RPG; that honor goes to Dragonstomper in 1982. Nor was it the first Japanese-developed RPG; that would be (arguably) Bokosuka Wars in 1983. Nor was it the first console RPG in Japan; that would be the Famicom port of Bokosuka Wars released in 1985. Nor was it the first Japanese RPG to be released in the US, as Phantasy Star preceded it. Nor was it the first NES RPG in the US, as the system's port of Ultima: Exodus was released earlier. That port was developed by a Japanese company, too, making it the first Japanese-developed RPG release for the US NES. Dragon Warrior wasn't even the first RPG originally created by a Japanese company to be released for the North American NES, as it was preceded by both Hydlide and Legacy of the Wizard (albeit by only a couple months). In short, the only "first" for Dragon Warrior is that it's the first in its series.

edit: Oops, a zillion posts were made while I was typing this up. :/

[Daria]

You're missing some

1. Phantasy Star
2. Ys
3. Ultima IV
4. Dragon Crystal
5. Miracle Warriors
6. Spellcaster possibly counts (RPG elements come more into play later on in the game)

I also include
7. Golvelius - Zelda Clone
8. Golden Axe Warrior - Zelda Clone
9. Wonder Boy III - Dragon's Trap - Sidescrolling Action RPG
10. Lord of the Sword - Side Scrolling Action RPG

I also voted for the NES just for the sheer library size. I grew up with an NES so I'm may be biased but it seems like for every great SMS game, there's two or three awesome NES games just like it.

J-Factor: Dragon Warrior gets props for being the first ridiculously popular RPG. It was the Final Fantasy 7 of the '80s. :P

[j_factor]

J-Factor: Dragon Warrior gets props for being the first ridiculously popular RPG. It was the Final Fantasy 7 of the '80s. :P

I'm not even sure I can agree with that. I don't get the impression that it was really that popular in the US at the time, and it wasn't released in Europe at all. It was of course extremely popular in Japan though.

It's still a landmark game and important to the genre of course, it's just not the absolute "first" in any concrete category.

...And more importantly, it still sucks.

[Daria]

I'm not even sure I can agree with that. I don't get the impression that it was really that popular in the US at the time, and it wasn't released in Europe at all. It was of course extremely popular in Japan though.

It's still a landmark game and important to the genre of course, it's just not the absolute "first" in any concrete category.

Oh no I meant Japan. I mean hell, in the US they were just giving it away.

[j_factor]

Well, even in Japan, Xanadu was very very popular in its day (1985). Dragon Quest outsold it, but an argument can be made for Xanadu. Also Dragon Quest wasn't an immediate smash I don't think; it was more of a sleeper, building popularity over time, including upon the release of its first sequel just 8 months later.