Are there any true RPGs for the 2600?

[Snider-man]

Sorry, but the FIRST role-playing game did not hit consoles until Final Fantasy 1.  All the other games mentioned here (ET, Raiders, Adventure) are adventures.  *No stats* which is a mandatory component for a true RPG.   Final Fantasy 1 on the Original Nintendo was the first stat-based role-playing game.)

 

Ah, nice try, but Dragonstomper DOES have stats for the character as I recall - STR and DEX. In fact, you call 'em up when you use - wait for it - STAT on your menu. Ahem.

[DracIsBack]

I find both versions of Dark Chambers unplayably boring, but NES Gauntlet's quite addictive.

 

(BTW, you do know Tengen was, for all intents and purposes, Atari, right?

 

And you know that GAUNTLET and DARK CHAMBERS are, for all intents and purposes, DANDY, right?

 

I have GAUNTLET and DARK CHAMBERS and I find them both boring after a while. I did like DARK CHAMBERS ability to ressurect your friend, though.

[DracIsBack]

but the FIRST role-playing game did not hit consoles until Final Fantasy 1

 

What about Phantasy Star?

[Adrian M]

but the FIRST role-playing game did not hit consoles until Final Fantasy 1

 

What about Phantasy Star?

 

Phantasy Star came out in 1987, I believe.

 

As I stated before, DragonQuest (Dragon Warrior in the USA) came out in 1986 for the (famicom) NES in Japan. Having said that, I'm positive that other Japan-only RPG's hit the Famicom even earlier than this, but the Dragonquest series is the game that seems to have translated many of the elements of PC RPG's of the era successfully into an easily digestable console form.

[Megamaniac]

I'm still waiting for someone to do an Ultima III or Ultima IV port for the 2600.

[cvga]

What about Crypts of Chaos?

 

You kill monsters, get treasure, and have to keep your "hit count" above zero.

 

You have a weapon (which you need to recharge from time to time) and are assigned a status ranging from Serf to Knight based on your play.

 

I think this would qualify as an RPG.

 

I've made it sound so good I might have to pull it out and play some even though I had it as a kid and never thought much of it

[liveinabin]

As I stated before, DragonQuest (Dragon Warrior in the USA) came out in 1986 for the (famicom) NES in Japan.  Having said that, I'm positive that other Japan-only RPG's hit the Famicom even earlier than this, but the Dragonquest series is the game that seems to have translated many of the elements of PC RPG's of the era successfully into an easily digestable console form.

 

Actually I'm pretty certain Dragon Quest was indeed the first console RPG anywhere in the world. Of course there were LOADS of computer RPGs stretching right back to the 70's. heck, it doesn't take a genius to figure that amongst the kind of people who were into D&D, there were a fair few who were also interested in computers.

[RCmodeler]

What about Crypts of Chaos?  You kill monsters, get treasure, and have to keep your "hit count" above zero.

 

By that definition, PAC-MAN is an RPG. Sorry, no. Crypts is an adventure game like... Adventure.

 

 

 

 

Sorry, but the FIRST role-playing game did not hit consoles until Final Fantasy 1.  All the other games mentioned here (ET, Raiders, Adventure) are adventures.

RPG's had been available on old PC's ....

PCs are not consoles. You know that Adrian.

 

 

 

As for this Dragonstomper... I have not even heard of it. When was it released? Who made it? Besides Strength and Dexterity, what other stats did the character have? Does the Dragon have stats?

[Adrian M]

 

PCs are not consoles.  You know that Adrian.

 

 

I know and I even clarified that in my response:

 

RPG's had been available on old PC's since the dawn of time. While not necessarily consoles, games like Wizardry, Ultima, and various D&D adventures hit old computers like the Apple II and C64 YEARS before the words Final Fantasy were uttered.

[Big Player]

As for this Dragonstomper... I have not even heard of it.  When was it released?  Who made it?  Besides Strength and Dexterity, what other stats did the character have?  Does the Dragon have stats?

 

http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html...wareLabelID=155

[The Eidolon]

Dragonstomper is a casette-based game for the Supercharger

system, playing on the Atari 2600. It is an excellent game and

fits most people's definition of an RPG. Your character has two

physical stats, strength (essentially hit points) and dexterity, which

determine how hard you are to hit. You can acquire items to improve

your stats and perform various other effects (find traps, keys to

open doors, etc). There are also multiple weapons you can acquire with

different range and damage potential. The combat is a simple turn-based

system with the button bringing up a menu of commands. Enemy stats

are all hidden, but I know they have hit points and probably some factor

that determines how hard they are to hit. (not sure). It's definitely

worth a look, and I can't think of any stronger candidate for the first

"true" console RPG. Since the difference between RPG's and adventure

games (and consoles and computers, for that matter) is a bit arbitrary,

there will always be room for difference of opinion. But seriously, try

out Dragonstomper if you get the chance. It plays well on most

emulators and is a fun little game.

 

--The Eidolon

[Numan]

FF1 is not the first RPG, and here's why:

 

You have Dragonstomper, a game where you buy things, utilize them, have combat, health points, and there is an ending to it.

 

You have Treasures of Tarmin, where you have your health and magic stats. You can also choose to play as a fighter or a magic user. Here you find items and utilize them, and there is an ending.

 

You have Gateway to Apshai (Colecovision). You have a bunch of stats and it is a dungeon crawler. Don't know if there is an ending.

 

You have Tower of Doom (Intellivision). This game has an ending, it has stats, and it has different character classes: from the Peasant to the Knight.

 

I'm sure there are other examples people can reference, but this is just a few for good ol' RC.

[cvga]

What about Crypts of Chaos?  You kill monsters, get treasure, and have to keep your "hit count" above zero.

 

By that definition, PAC-MAN is an RPG. Sorry, no. Crypts is an adventure game like... Adventure.

 

 

I don't think you've actually played Crypts of Chaos. It's certainly not the same type of game as Pacman or even Adventure for that matter. By your criteria, an RPG has "stats". Check out these screenshots (courtesy of AA).

 

http://www.atariage.com/screenshot_page.ht...wareLabelID=117

 

In the 3rd picture you can see your inventory including weapons, etc. The upper left hand corner shows your hitpoints and the upper right hand corner shows your score which determines the level/status your character has reached.

 

What is specific to FF1 that makes it an RPG and CoC not an RPG?[/url]

[RCmodeler]

Well...

(looks around)

(runs away)

 

ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

 

 

 

But seriously, I have not played Crypts, so can not really make a definitive decision. However, you are talking to a guy who thinks Legend of Zelda is NOT a role-playing game. I'm very anal-retentive about the distinction between Adventure and Role-Playing games.

 

Zelda is not an RPG in my humble opinion, and neither are most of the titles listed on this thread. They fall into the same category as Pitfall... adventure.

[cvga]

However, you are talking to a guy who thinks Legend of Zelda is NOT a role-playing game.  

 

I don't consider Zelda an RPG either. I would classify it into the same category as Adventure. I might be able to be convinced that Crypts of Chaos isn't an RPG but based on the definitions that people were tossing out, I think it qualifies.

[StanJr]

The creatures in Dragonstomper do indeeed have HP and ATT stats. I created a comprehensive strategy guide for this VCS RPG over at atarinvader.com

 

You can check it out if you like.

[smile_walle]

The creatures in Dragonstomper do indeeed have HP and ATT stats.  I created a comprehensive strategy guide for this VCS RPG over at atarinvader.com  

 

You can check it out if you like.

 

Wow cool to hear that! Yeah I would like to check at atarivader.com!

[Brad2600]

I'm just wondering because I keep hearing all these RPG like titles around this board like "Midnight Magic"  "Quest" and others.

 

Midnight Magic is a pinball title.

 

There is the Homestar Runner RPG that is going to be coming out.

 

I wonder if Adventure qualifys as a RPG as well?

[bjk7382]

Man, this thread keeps saying the same thing over an over again. I have been reading the whole thing as it goes and Adventure has been discussed already.

 

How about we mention dragonstomper for the 45th fucking time? Yeah it is an rpg! it is about the only one, lets move on

[smile_walle]

Man, this thread keeps saying the same thing over an over again. I have been reading the whole thing as it goes and Adventure has been discussed already.  

 

How about we mention dragonstomper for the 45th fucking time? Yeah it is an rpg! it is about the only one, lets move on

 

Hahaha, yeah true same thing all over again again about Dragonstomper! Yeah agreed with you only true RPG game for an Atari 2600!

[Serguei2]

About RPG: when the hero build up his strenght to become stronger and using items like potions, antidotes...

 

I call Final Fantasy and Zelda are RPG games.

 

 

Serguei

[DuckandCover]

I think that the argument for Crypts of Chaos as an early RPG could be made. You have "hit points" and accumulate charges for items and treasure as you traverse the crypts, doing battle with a wide variety of monsters. It's a fun dungeon crawl, one that I still find addictive. The game's prgrammer John Marvin indicated in an interview on CyberRoach that he was an avid Dungeons and Dragons player, and that D&D heavily influenced the game's design.

[StanJr]

What about Sword of Saros. you have stats and collect and use items. There is also a degree of puzzle solving.

[JB]

About RPG: when the hero build up his strenght to become stronger and using items like potions, antidotes...

 

I call Final Fantasy and Zelda are RPG games.

 

 

Serguei

Zelda doesn't fit as I see it.

The character has no stats. All that changes is the items in his posession.

He never gets stronger. He never gets tougher. He never gets anything but loaded down with more items.

His "hit points" are heart containers. Magical items, to be sure, but still items.

 

If Zelda is an RPG, than so is Megaman X.

 

And if anyone trys to classify Megaman X as an RPG then ... I have no hope for the world.

[RCmodeler]

I haven't played Megamax X. How is that game an RPG?