After more than nine years I've finally reached the year 2001 on my chronological play list.
Partly inspired by all the crud being released in the years 2007 - 2010, partly inspired by The CRPG Addict, and GOG providing good old games cheaply, I decided to stop replaying the same games over and over, and look back to the beginning since looking forward was just too depressing. I don't play only CRPGs, though, but also FPS and TBS games, and I limit myself to the games I know or think I will like.
I must admit that Wizardry 1 (1981) intimidated me back then, so the first DOS games on my list were The Bard's Tale, Ultima IV and Phantasie. But the very first game was the ZX Spectrum game Tir Na Nog from 1984. I had planned on playing lots of Spectrum games, but in the end the UI is just too cumbersome for most games when using emulator, so I ended up only playing Tir Na Nog, Dun Darach and Marsport, all by the great two man outfit Gargoyle Games. I completed the first two games, but they were much smaller than I remembered them. I gave up on Marsport halfway through, since the gameplay was just too limited. I also tried to play old favourites like Fairlight and Heavy on the Magic, but the UI combined with real time was too much for me. I was impressed that the CRPG Addict completed HotM, though.
Anyway, the Spectrum gave me many good gaming moments as a kid, and many memories, but that's all it is now: memories.
I found that old Amiga and DOS (and Apple, which was often the machine most old CRPGs were made for) have aged much better. Or maybe it's pure CRPGs that have aged better than other genres?
The first game with no RPG elements I played was probably Civilization from 1991.
Some statistics after nine years.
Games (including expansions and mission packs) played: 131
Completed: 114
Games I either didn't want to replay at all or didn't complete, because I completed them before: 8
Didn't complete due to bugs: Star Command, Starflight 2, Wasteland, Wizardry 5 and Anvil of Dawn, the last two at the very end.
I can probably count on one hand the games I didn't finish because I screwed up or didn't have the willpower to finish. So this project has certainly taught me to complete what I start.
User made maps and fan missions completed, ranging from small single maps to large campaigns or Mega WADs:
Games of the Year (and Runner(s) Up beneath):
1984: Elite
Lords of Midnight
1985: Ultima IV
The Bard's Tale
1986: Might&Magic 1
Starflight
1987: Dungeon Master
Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna
1988: Pool of Radiance
Might and Magic 2
Ultima V
1989: Chaos Strikes Back
The Magic Candle
Curse of the Azure Bonds
The Dark Heart of Uukrul
1990: Wizardry 6: Bane of the Cosmic Forge
Champions of Krynn
1991: Civilization
Disciples of Steel
Pools of Darkness
1992: Ultima Underworld
Dark Queen of Krynn
Darklands
1993: Doom
Betrayal at Krondor
Master of Orion
1994: System Shock
Nahlakh
Doom 2
X-COM: UFO Defense
1995: Heroes of Might and Magic
Jagged Alliance
1996: Diablo
Heroes of Might and Magic 2
Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri
1997: Fallout
Outlaws
1998: Thief: The Dark Project
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven
Unreal
Fallout 2
Half-Life
Baldur's Gate
1999: Heroes of Might and Magic 3
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
Age of Wonders
2000: Diablo 2
Deus Ex
Icewind Dale
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Evil Islands: Curse of the Lost Soul
Partly inspired by all the crud being released in the years 2007 - 2010, partly inspired by The CRPG Addict, and GOG providing good old games cheaply, I decided to stop replaying the same games over and over, and look back to the beginning since looking forward was just too depressing. I don't play only CRPGs, though, but also FPS and TBS games, and I limit myself to the games I know or think I will like.
I must admit that Wizardry 1 (1981) intimidated me back then, so the first DOS games on my list were The Bard's Tale, Ultima IV and Phantasie. But the very first game was the ZX Spectrum game Tir Na Nog from 1984. I had planned on playing lots of Spectrum games, but in the end the UI is just too cumbersome for most games when using emulator, so I ended up only playing Tir Na Nog, Dun Darach and Marsport, all by the great two man outfit Gargoyle Games. I completed the first two games, but they were much smaller than I remembered them. I gave up on Marsport halfway through, since the gameplay was just too limited. I also tried to play old favourites like Fairlight and Heavy on the Magic, but the UI combined with real time was too much for me. I was impressed that the CRPG Addict completed HotM, though.
Anyway, the Spectrum gave me many good gaming moments as a kid, and many memories, but that's all it is now: memories.
I found that old Amiga and DOS (and Apple, which was often the machine most old CRPGs were made for) have aged much better. Or maybe it's pure CRPGs that have aged better than other genres?
The first game with no RPG elements I played was probably Civilization from 1991.
Some statistics after nine years.
Games (including expansions and mission packs) played: 131
Completed: 114
Games I either didn't want to replay at all or didn't complete, because I completed them before: 8
Didn't complete due to bugs: Star Command, Starflight 2, Wasteland, Wizardry 5 and Anvil of Dawn, the last two at the very end.
I can probably count on one hand the games I didn't finish because I screwed up or didn't have the willpower to finish. So this project has certainly taught me to complete what I start.
User made maps and fan missions completed, ranging from small single maps to large campaigns or Mega WADs:
Doom 1+2: 49
Duke Nukem 3D: 13
HoMM 2: 26
HoMM 3: 28
Unreal: 3
Half-Life: 5
Thief 1: 24
Thief 2: 7
FRUA: 90
I'm surprised at the number of FRUA modules completed, but I guess it explains why I'm tired of FRUA.
I play the FPS games on Normal difficulty, while the Thief and TBS games I play on highest difficulty.
My high scores for HoMM 2 and so far for HoMM 3:
Duke Nukem 3D: 13
HoMM 2: 26
HoMM 3: 28
Unreal: 3
Half-Life: 5
Thief 1: 24
Thief 2: 7
FRUA: 90
I'm surprised at the number of FRUA modules completed, but I guess it explains why I'm tired of FRUA.
I play the FPS games on Normal difficulty, while the Thief and TBS games I play on highest difficulty.
My high scores for HoMM 2 and so far for HoMM 3:
Games of the Year (and Runner(s) Up beneath):
1984: Elite
Lords of Midnight
1985: Ultima IV
The Bard's Tale
1986: Might&Magic 1
Starflight
1987: Dungeon Master
Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna
1988: Pool of Radiance
Might and Magic 2
Ultima V
1989: Chaos Strikes Back
The Magic Candle
Curse of the Azure Bonds
The Dark Heart of Uukrul
1990: Wizardry 6: Bane of the Cosmic Forge
Champions of Krynn
1991: Civilization
Disciples of Steel
Pools of Darkness
1992: Ultima Underworld
Dark Queen of Krynn
Darklands
1993: Doom
Betrayal at Krondor
Master of Orion
1994: System Shock
Nahlakh
Doom 2
X-COM: UFO Defense
1995: Heroes of Might and Magic
Jagged Alliance
1996: Diablo
Heroes of Might and Magic 2
Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri
1997: Fallout
Outlaws
1998: Thief: The Dark Project
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven
Unreal
Fallout 2
Half-Life
Baldur's Gate
1999: Heroes of Might and Magic 3
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
Age of Wonders
2000: Diablo 2
Deus Ex
Icewind Dale
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Evil Islands: Curse of the Lost Soul
Last edited:
