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Really Obscure RPGs

MurkyShadow

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Schwert und Magie

..was a series of text-based RPG-light titles on the C64. Don't know if there ever was an english version.
They have a certain charm, reminiscent of 80s/90s adventure modules for various PnP RPGs and CYOA books.

IIRC, they also allowed you some sort of import of your hero between modules, but had some level-scaling mechanics, so it was a bit pointless to do so.

I remember those games. There have been eight parts. I remember getting those in a local mall as a kid.
They weren't too complex, but they had solid writing and good atmosphere. You often had multiple
ways to approach a situation. Sneak and listen in to a conversation, walk up and talk openly or
charge into a group of 20 lumberjacks. The game could be quiet snarky and say, you must be
very brave, and get a bonus to strength (may have been another skill), but you don't seem
to be that bright, and get a malus to intelligence. I thoroughly enjoyed it. But I couldn't say
how it would hold up today. But back then it was a nice little text adventure.

It seems it has never been translated. There's some basic info:
http://www.gamebase64.com/search.php?f=0&t=0&s=Schwert+und+Magie&b=Go!&d=18&h=1&a=0
 

JarlFrank

I like Thief THIS much
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Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag.
All right guys, Jarl here with another maximally obscure, utterly unknown RPG from the olden days that nobody ever heard of.

The Search for Freedom

This is an unusual but pleasant one-man indie game from the 90s: rather than cloning Ultima or Wizardry like everyone else does, this guy cloned the Gold Box games. Which means first person dungeon exploration + top-down tactical battles. Nice.

I found it by browsing an abandonware site by category. That abandonware site is the only place on the entire internet where I even found the game. It doesn't exist anywhere else. I didn't find it on other abandonware sites. It's not on Mobygames.
Here's the link: https://www.old-games.com/download/5960/search-for-freedom-the

EDIT: I just googled again, putting "The Search For Freedom" in quotation marks so google would spit out only things directly related to the game, and found it on archive.org, too:
https://archive.org/details/FREEV12

But... yeah. That's it. Uploads on archives and abandonware sites without any description of the game. Just the download link. No reviews anywhere. Nothing. This is as obscure as it gets, folks.

I gave the game itself a try. It's decent. Nothing groundbreaking, but decent. Enjoyable if you liked the Gold Box games. It doesn't use D&D rules but its own ruleset, which is obviously inspired by D&D. Same stats, similar spells. It comes with an extensive manual in a .txt file that describes the mechanics in detail: races, classes, stats, spells, items, etc. It mostly follow classic fantasy conventions, giving you humans, dwarves, and elves as playable races... oh, and teddy bears. Yes, teddy bears. They're this game's halfling replacement, the thiefy/roguey race.

One interesting thing about this is the copy protection. The download comes with an installer. You install it to a certain folder, and the game will only work when you run it from that folder. If you copy it anywhere else it will recognize that it has been copied and won't run. So when you mount your drive in DOSBox, make sure it's ALWAYS on the same drive letter. If you install it to C:\Freedom, it ALWAYS has to be run from C:\Freedom or it won't work.

Overall, it's a fun game and worth a try. Also it's probably the most obscure thing I've dug up yet. Have fun.

title01.gif



Oh, and then there's Walls of Bratock and its even more obscure sequel, Flame Storm.

They're still for sale over on itch.io in a complete package containing all of the guy's games: https://exequor.itch.io/osp-complete-archive

Just as withThe Search For Freedom, it's hard to find much about the games anywhere, but this time at least the creator of the games has his own website where he talks about them a bit:
http://www.christianboutin.com/mainsite/?1prjt[fstm]

Flame Storm also has nice tactical combat!
fstm_15.gif


The demo versions for the games are freely available on the creator's website and definitely worth checking out, especially Flame Storm.
 
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CryptRat

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There's a page dedicated to The Search For Freedom : https://mocagh.org/SearchForFreedom/
I got my demo copy by asking the creator which pointed me to the site, he seems also to be an old game presever by the way.
I may buy a registered version someday but I haven't really played the demo yet.
 

newtmonkey

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Very nice find JarlFrank !
The Bratock games look really interesting, will definitely give them a shot at only $5 for the both of them.

[Edit]
The Tournament of Zulula
LOLZ I remember downloading this from some BBS back in the day
 

JarlFrank

I like Thief THIS much
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Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag.
Your man Jarl's back with another obscure-as-fuck find!

http://shrines.rpgclassics.com/pc/freakfarm/

Freak Farm RPG, where you play as a tomato that has to escape a farm ran by a mad farmer who wants to conquer the world by mutating his fruit and animals with radioactive waste!

It's utterly simplistic: run around, get random encounters, grind for levels until you can defeat the farmer. It does have multiple endings though depending on how you escape and at which level you defeat the farmer! And it has hilarious enemies like a two-headed chicken named Cockadoodletwo, or an undead vampire cow called Cownt Dracula. Took me about an hour to play through the entire thing, so it won't take much of your time. Cute little freeware RPG.


Also, I've seen this terrible-looking thing on Mobygames and have been looking for the game for a long time, out of morbid curiosity: https://www.mobygames.com/game/dinoland-adventure

I've finally managed to track down a working download link.
Here it is: http://www.geocities.ws/jebadeezer/dinomattgames/thedinolandadventure.html

Took me a while to find because "Dinoland Adventure" throws out a lot of results not related to this thing, and the only place it's hosted on is a Geocities site, and Geocities has been dead for a long time so it's not that easy to find either.

But yeah, here it is. An ancient, long-forgotten relic from the late 90s, a simplistic game that would just a few years later have been hosted on Newgrounds rather than being its own downloadable game. You choose a character, walk around and kill dinosaurs for money, then buy better equipment with that money. That's all there is to it, but it's a cool little curiosity I'm glad I managed to dig out from the dusts of time.

The download also includes other games made by the same guy, and.... well, they're exactly like those simplistic flash games you'd find on places like Newgrounds around 2003 or so.
 

JarlFrank

I like Thief THIS much
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Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag.
Oops. Missed that post!

Don't worry, next time I'll post a whole bunch of stuff that hasn't been posted yet - cause I'm trying to get Mac emulation working in order to play Jewels of Arabia: Dreamers, and I found plenty of other Macintosh-only RPGs!
 

Tito Anic

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I think, this belongs here. Looks really good. The author is Codex poster hitfan(?)

https://psytronik.itch.io/realms-of-quest-trilogy

Realms Of Quest Trilogy (VIC20) [FREE]
A downloadable game

Download NowName your own price
realms_logo.png


A TRILOGY OF RPG GAMES FOR THE VIC20 COMPUTER!

Enter Realms of Quest III, the computer game that offers you the chance to assemble a party of six adventurers who undertake heroic acts in a vast world of deep dunjons to explore, fantastic creatures to fight you, and treasures to be won.

The adventure is not for the faint of heart, it is a challenging but rewarding experience. You are invited to discover for yourself the following features that await you in this grand computer role playing game for the Commodore VIC-20*:

• 12,000+ lines of assembly language, compiled into a fast and responsive game-playing experience.

• An easy to understand, intuitive, user-friendly menu system and interface.

• Multi-color graphics along with a 3D first person perspective when you explore the underground dunjons.

• Over 70 monsters, where each of them is represented with it’s own portrait during combat.

• 40 magic spells, 8 races, 8 classes and many different weapons, armor, potions and special items.

• In-context game music, a "surface" world map, along with joystick support (32K version).

• The double-sided disk includes the complete Realms of Quest Trilogy along with several other games by the author: Dunjon II, Ringside Boxing, Break-Fast, Napoleon Simulator, plus many more. 20 games in all!

• A detailed and illustrated 36 page instruction manual with several tables and charts for easy reference.

* - Realms of Quest III requires 32K memory expansion. Realms of Quest III: Dunjon Crawler requires 16K. The rest of the games in this package (including Realms of Quest I + II) can be run on the unexpanded VIC-20.

roq_01.jpg
roq_02.jpg


** REALMS OF QUEST III STORY **

It has been a thousand years since the great bards had written the epic poem telling the legend of a hero who had slain the demon wizard, Nikaedor. The hero, though mortally wounded, shouted a final cry of victory: “Hark! The Evil Wizard and his Eternal Orb no longer hold dominion over this land”.

It has been a thousand years since…

And now, bandits, orcs, highwaymen and all sorts of vile creatures have gotten bolder. Where they roamed before as mere nuisance, they now dare more often, and even well armed escorts are no longer safe from their attacks. They wander from their wilderness and abandoned ruins of the Land of Rivar to threaten cities within our borders. Sanctuary can no longer be guaranteed.

Then came a far worse day; a day that saw superstition pierce to reality. Dragons, as told in ancient tales from a time beyond memory, began terrorizing our lands. By these tales, it was believed that upon every new moon, the sacrifice of a young maiden, pure in heart and and virtue, would spare the fate of the dragon’s breath. And thus the villages renewed these rituals of terror in order to save themselves.

The dragons sounded a flood of orcs, kobolds, ogres and all sorts of deformed humanoids to rally and attack. Once believed our symbol of strength, peace and protection, the King’s castle was ransacked a year after the first of the dragons was seen. The great Land of Rivar was now reduced to a vassal colony and would pay tribute to all things evil.

Sages and scribes scurried through the ancient texts, desperate to find answers. In the scant remains of the Lyceum of the King's castle, only a fragment of the ancient poem was found:

“The daemon hath been defeated and a new day begun.
A day to last a thousand years ‘til the setting of the sun.”

The scholars argued on its meaning. In the end, they settled to a one common fear: “Nikaedor”. The legends told his power was so great that he could reverse his own death by himself. All shuddered at the thought.

The King sent forth his finest on a scouting mission to the old ruins of Nikaedor's lair; warriors of unyielding strength, magic wielders of cunning sorcery. After the passing of several moons, their bodies floated in the moat of our once-beloved castle . Struck with shock and grief, a journal was retrieved from their watery grave. The final entry petrified those with ears to hear it:

“Nikaedor has returned. Death to those who fail to pay tribute on this day and forever. Hail Nikaedor!”

roq_03.jpg
roq_04.jpg


akDdhk.png


** SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS **

Realms Of Quest is a trilogy of games for the Commodore VIC20. You can play the game in an emulator (we recommend VICE) or you can port the game onto real VIC20 hardware if you have the resources to do so.

Realms of Quest III requires a 32K memory expansion. Realms of Quest III: Dunjon Crawler requires 16K. The rest of the games in this package (including Realms of Quest I + II) can be run on the unexpanded VIC-20.

The download file features the .d64 (disk version) of the game + game instructions.

https://psytronik.itch.io/realms-of-quest-iv

Realms Of Quest IV (VIC20) [FREE]
A downloadable game

Download NowName your own price
coPLCu.png


4dP%2FQG.gif


The adventure continues in Realms of Quest IV where you assemble a group of heroes to do battle against the mysterious Time Lords inside the Dungeon. Thus befalls you, brave adventurer, to accept the challenge and venture forth into the labyrinth below to ensure that evil and chaos do not rise. If you can survive the perils that await beneath, there lay riches, glory and the immortality of your name.

realms4_02.gif


Realms of Quest IV Features:

• 10 Dungeon Levels which have been designed by hand with numerous rooms, secret passages, riddles and traps to traverse and overcome.

• 10 races and 12 classes to choose from to create 8 players for your party.

• You will meet other heroes to help and guide you during your quest.

• Over 100 unique graphical portraits that depict the various monsters that you'll encounter as you travel throughout the Dungeon.

• Over 135 types of equipment to represent weapons, armor, gems, jewelry, potions, scrolls and miscellaneous magical items.

• 60 magic spells that you can cast.

• 3 game fonts to choose from.

• A 16 page instruction manual is also included.

All of this for your Commodore VIC-20, a disk drive and 16K of expansion memory. 24K is recommended as it features reduced disk loading times, an improved 3D graphical perspective and game music.

C64 Bonus:- Includes previously unreleased ULTIMATE QUEST: CATACOMB for the Commodore 64!

realms4_03.gif

The C64 gets in on the action with ULTIMATE QUEST!

Side two features the Special Anniversary Editions of Realms of Quest I & II for the Unexpanded VIC-20. Also featured is the long-awaited Ultimate Quest: Catacomb for the Commodore 64 - originally created in 1989, now finally completed.

coPLCu.png


** SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS **

Realms Of Quest IV is a game for the Commodore VIC20. You can play the game in an emulator (we recommend VICE) or you can port the game onto real VIC20 hardware if you have the resources to do so.

Realms of Quest IV requires a 16K memory expansion. (24K is recommended as it features reduced disk loading times, an improved 3D graphical perspective and game music).

The download also features the bonus title Ultimate Quest: Catacomb - a game designed to run on a standard Commodore 64.

The download file features the .d64 (disk version) of the game + game instructions.
 

ProphetSword

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All right guys, Jarl here with another maximally obscure, utterly unknown RPG from the olden days that nobody ever heard of.

The Search for Freedom

Holy hell! I've been searching for this game for over 20 years. I played a shareware version of it a long, long time ago and could never find it again. Amazing find!
 

Tito Anic

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Magalan
Played this gem and liked it very much. Developers page doesnt work but i included download link from other site. Enjoy!

Cardhalia (English)
Cardhalia-4.jpg


Introduction
A classic grid-based crawler made by a couple game loving Czech kids. Cardhalia was originally released for the Czech market but later translated to english for all us crawler fans to enjoy!

There’s very little information to be found about this game.

From the developer:

Cardhalia is a grid-based dungeon game we created quite a long time ago now. As the game was very successful in those times in Czech Republic, we were asked to create an English version so it can be played by people who doesn’t know the Czech language. We decided to proceed this idea and hope that you will appreciate it.

Please note that this game was created ten years ago by 16-18 years old guys. We had no ambitions back then to develop a commercial product. If you find the graphics slightly weird or software too primitive, then yeah, you’re right. Remember, it was and still is just a freeware game created by kids as an experiment of “how to do it”.

Despite being an experiment it has good looking graphics for a 10 year old crawler, and the gameplay has some nice touches.

They are supposedly working on a sequel, Cardhalia 2: Tales of the Kingdom, which looks to be a classic crawler with some serious hand-drawn eye candy.

More information
www.say-realm.com
www.indieretronews.com

Screenshots (Windows)

Download link:

 

Darth Canoli

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Tito Anic Interesting, is it turn-based ?

Edit : checked the website, they say : real-time.
Pity, how is it compared to Ishar 3 ?

Anyone played Amberstar ?
Old-games seems to praise it.

3878-3-amberstar.jpg


3878-1-amberstar.jpg


3878-7-amberstar.jpg



Description :


Lord Tarbos brought terror to the land of Lyramion, before being locked away in a secure prison. Now, Marmion is trying to release him, with the intention of spreading horror through the land Your task is to find the 13 pieces of the Amberstar, to ensure that you can get there first

Amberstar is a top-view role-playing game. Initially you are alone, but can make contact with other characters who will hopefully join your team. 90 different spells across 3 classes are incorporated into the game, as is an auto-mapping and auto-saving system.

Amberstar is the first epic adventure in an unfinished trilogy by the German company Thalion. The second part of the trilogy was never released for PC, which is a pity. This game is huge and colorful, with cartoon graphics and music that isn't perfect but still does a nice job. There is a big map (included among the extras) you will need to explore and many places for you to visit before you reach the ending.

[...]

Amberstar is a classic epic RPG. There are two modes in which a player can explore. The first one, a 3D view, you will encounter in towns and other special places like towers, dungeons, homes etc. When you move in this mode, an automap will be displayed, showing you the places you have seen and the places you have not yet visited. To leave this mode, you will have to reach the exit. There are some big cities in Lyramion, such as Twinlake (where you will start), Crystal, the city of Paladins and many more that you will find on your journeys. There are several ways of traveling: The first - and easiest - is on foot, but you need to watch your step. You can also buy a horse from the stables, or you can travel by ship - if you manage to get the 5000 gold pieces together. However, the best way of traveling is by the flying eagle or magic disk. There are also teleport wing gates all over the land.

The battles in Amberstar are turn-based. You give a set of orders to your party members and then press the 'turn' button to execute those orders. You can attack, parry, use magic, flee and so on. If your battle is a success, you will acquire some experience points and get the loot. Characters:

[...]

Check the link above for more info.
 
Last edited:

Skdursh

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Found this game called "Flare: Empyrean Campaign" recently while scraping through indiedb. It can be found for download here (https://dorkster.itch.io/flare). I haven't played it yet, but Flare is apparently an open-source game engine used for making specifically isometric ARPGs and Empyrean Campaign is the game made with it by the developer of the engine. It seems to have generally good feedback in the comments. Thought I'd throw it into the hat here to see if anyone's tried it.
 

Deleted Member 16721

Guest
Not exactly obscure, but has anyone actually finished Konung 1 or 2?

Tried first one ages ago and fuck, what an unplayable mess it was.

I didn't finish Konung 2 but I got very far in it. If you can deal with the slow movement speed and very slow overall pace it's actually a pretty good RPG with some cool ideas.

I have a boxed copy of Konung 1 that I haven't played yet. I do like the graphics of the first two games quite a bit.
 

Skdursh

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Has anyone mentioned "Hard to be a God" yet? Russian RPG about a guy in some sort of secret society during medieval(?) times (not sure exactly how to describe it, but some of the outfits remind me of the Spanish Inquisition) but with sci-fi elements, future-guns and dinosaurs. It's by the same guys who made the somewhat janky Sea Dogs series games (City of Abandoned Ships is another great game by them that doesn't seem to get the love it deserves, especially with the Gentlemen of Fortune overhaul mod). It's worth checking out if you haven't ever heard of it and like the janky but inventive era of RPGs made during the mid-2000s. Gameplay footage here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvCX5OvmG_I Steam link here - https://store.steampowered.com/app/391030/Hard_to_Be_a_God/
 
Last edited:

Zed Duke of Banville

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Has anyone mentioned "Hard to be a God" yet? Russian RPG about a guy in some sort of secret society during medieval(?) times (not sure exactly how to describe it, but some of the outfits remind me of the Spanish Inquisition) but with sci-fi elements and future-guns .
It's based on the famous science-fiction novel Hard to Be a God by the Strugatsky brothers, published in 1964. :rpgcodex:
 

Skdursh

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Grauken

Gourd vibes only
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What we really need is people doing Let's plays of those games here so that we know which are really terrible and which are merely mediocre. Also, I like to see some Codexers go even more insane
 

Lord_Potato

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Well, let's plays are kind of demanding for me right now but I posted reviews for Another War, Gorasul: Legacy of the Dragon and Heath: the Unchosen Path (Golden Land 1) in this very thread.

I'd love to do more of these but to tell the truth some of these games are intimidating, with their scale and supposed shittiness (I'm looking at you, Metalheart: Replicant's Rampage).

Though lately I feel a strange urge to play and review Anito: Defend the Land Enraged, so who knows, maybe I'll just do that soon.
 

Skdursh

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Odium aka Gorky17

It's turnbased squadbased resource-management RPG. Very nice game. Shame it's so short.
Good game, but I'm not really sure it's all that obscure. It's on a whole lot of "Underrated RPG" lists, is sold on GOG and has about 1200 reviews on Steam.
 

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