The Dungeon Crawler Thread

Arkhan Asylum · 05/03/2012, 09:09 AM

PCE is no stranger to Dungeon Crawlers. We've got Order of the Griffon, FIVE FUCKING WIZARDRY GAMES, two M&M games.. and some others.

Who here's played a lot of them? What are your favorites, and what are your complaints.

My favorite biased one is Wizardry V (my favorite Wizardry). This is the best version of Wizardry V.

My biggest gripe about dungeon crawlers is OoTG doesn't give you free-reign with your character creation, so it cheapens the D&D experience.

also, we got no Ultimas. Fuck that.

grahf · 05/03/2012, 09:26 AM

I've been meaning to pick up one of the Wizardrys. What's the best (non-biased) one for the PCE? Or would I do better with Might and Magic?

SuperDeadite · 05/03/2012, 09:36 AM

DRAGON KNIGHT I and II FOR THE MOTHER FUCKING WIN!
Madou Monogatari is also awesome, but it's more of a puzzle game.

NecroPhile · 05/03/2012, 09:45 AM

I've played all of the US titles (Double Dungeons, Order of the Griffon, Might and Magic III, and Dungeon Master), but haven't gotten into the PCE ones yet. I really wanna get a copy of Madou Monogatari (the only PCE title I've spent much time with), but it's awfully pricey.

Arkhan Asylum · 05/03/2012, 09:49 AM

Quote from: grahf on 05/03/2012, 09:26 AMI've been meaning to pick up one of the Wizardrys. What's the best (non-biased) one for the PCE? Or would I do better with Might and Magic?

The thing is, they're all about the same. They use the same engine and gameplay style, so it's really down to which story you like most. V is just the most polished visually.

I&II doesn't disappoint as far as a fresh starter.

They're all good. Get any of them!

BigusSchmuck · 05/03/2012, 10:09 AM

If you want a challenge, start with 3 and 4 especially 4 considering the remake never made it here in the states. The 4th one added all sorts of cool stuff like the ability to replenish your monsters, sacrifice items to get more monsters and they actually gain levels in this version whereas in the original you didn't have that ability. Oh yeah, the loading times seem to be a bit more bearable with a arcade card although that just may mean me.

roflmao · 05/03/2012, 10:22 AM

Are there any Youtube gameplay videos of the PCE versions of Wizardry? I hear that they are 90% English, and therefore playable by folks that can't read moonspeak (me), but I'd like to see how they play before I pick any up. I didn't even know they were released for the PCE until I joined these forums.

The only Dungeon Crawlers I've spent any real time with are OotG and Double Dungeons, but of with I really enjoy (and neither of which I've beaten). I've never played Might and Magic III or Dungeon Master for the TG, but I played them like crazy on my PC bitd, especially Dungeon Master.

Which reminds me, there's a new PC game called Legend of Grimrock that I've been wanting to check out. It looks to be along the same vein as the old school dungeon crawls.

BigusSchmuck · 05/03/2012, 10:26 AM

<< video for 1 and 2, can't find 3 and 4 unless you want to look at the playstation version of 4.

hoobs88 · 05/03/2012, 10:27 AM

I played through Double Dungeons with a buddy of mine back in the 90's when I first got it. I don't feel like the game has any replay value. I've played through Order of the Griffon 3 times with different parties (and also to map it out). I started playing through Dungeon Slayer: Hero of Legends and never finished it since I lost interest in RPG's. I was hoping that my interest would be renewed when Mysterious Song is released.

Arkhan Asylum · 05/03/2012, 10:28 AM

Grimrock is excellent. I finished it twice.

Play any NES Wizardry, or SNES one.

PCE plays the same.

roflmao · 05/03/2012, 10:30 AM

Quote from: BigusSchmuck on 05/03/2012, 10:26 AM
<< video for 1 and 2, can't find 3 and 4 unless you want to look at the playstation version of 4.

Thanks! I could have sworn I searched YT before for gameplay footage. I can't believe "PCEngine" and "Wizardry" are in the title...

Arkhan Asylum · 05/03/2012, 11:01 AM

The only thing youll miss out on is being informed that you were just decapitated!

shubibiman · 05/03/2012, 12:40 PM

Laplace No Ma, Death Bringer are other dungeon crawlers. There are quite a few in japanese unfortunately.

VestCunt · 05/03/2012, 12:48 PM

I have all of the games you (Arkhan) mentioned, but I'm afraid the amount of time I've logged is absolutely pathetic.

I've cleared OotG and played Double Dungeons a fair amount, but I've barely touched the others.

I played a ton of MMIII on my Mac Performa in the mid-Nineties and that kind of killed my appetite for the TG version. I recently picked up the SNES port (loose) to try out with the SNES Mouse, but I haven't played it yet.

Haven't played Dungeon Master.

I also purchased MMI (loose PCE and complete NES) and haven't played them. Also got Wizardry 1 & 2 on NES, 3 & 4 PCE, and 5 SNES, but haven't played them.

So yeah, I'm going to hell.

Most of my gaming these days is twenty-minute chunks of shooters and platformers. I only find time for about one RPG a year (last year I beat Times of Lore, CF2, and Neutopia). My current to-do list is almost all disObey:
1) Eye of the Beholder - SNES (halfway through)
2) Warriors of the Eternal Sun (1/3 through)
3) Pool of Radiance (barely started, seems the most similar to OotG)
4) Exile 2 (on the last level, been meaning to beat this one for years)
5) beat the remaining Ultima home ports - Warriors of Destiny, Black Gate

Arkhan Asylum · 05/03/2012, 01:11 PM

Pool of Radiance is easy. Be sure to access the secret in the slums over and over until you get +5 armor, lol.

It involves reloading your save BUT WHO CARES!11!2

It's pretty nice how many good dungeon crawlers we got on PCE though. Having 5 Wizardries and 2 M&Ms is great.

M&M 1 for PCE is different. It's still great, and IMO one of the best versions, but its different. It's all Anime/Happyfaced.

Emerald Rocker or Runinruder did a nice review of it explaining some of the derp-moments in it.

Overall though, it plays exceptionally well. The fact that they gave the characters actual .... characteristics...? as opposed to names on a list, is also great.

http://www.unlimitedzigworks.com/480/pce-might-and-magic-cd.html

See there. It's a really great spin on the original M&M concepts.

The NES one is great also.

Might and Magic fucking rules in general.

You're best off assuming M&M 1 for PCE is not the M&M1 you played on DOS. Just treat it as a new game.

NecroPhile · 05/03/2012, 01:20 PM

Quote from: shubibiman on 05/03/2012, 12:40 PMLaplace No Ma, Death Bringer are other dungeon crawlers. There are quite a few in japanese unfortunately.

How playable is Laplace No Ma for a dipshit like me that can't figure out moon runes to save his life, or is it good enough to bother with?

Arkhan Asylum · 05/03/2012, 01:39 PM

Quote from: NecroPhile on 05/03/2012, 01:20 PM
Quote from: shubibiman on 05/03/2012, 12:40 PMLaplace No Ma, Death Bringer are other dungeon crawlers. There are quite a few in japanese unfortunately.
How playable is Laplace No Ma for a dipshit like me that can't figure out moon runes to save his life, or is it good enough to bother with?

Laplace No Ma is excellente'.

You can trial/error the menus easily and get yourself situated and succeed at it.

It's not a very complex game either. Plus, it's motherfuckin creepy.

Bernie · 05/03/2012, 03:31 PM

Man!! I gotta get me those Wizardry games for the Duo.

I love MM III for it. Hated OoTg tho... And China Warrior is a big turd......just kidding...

shubibiman · 05/03/2012, 03:37 PM

Quote from: NecroPhile on 05/03/2012, 01:20 PM
Quote from: shubibiman on 05/03/2012, 12:40 PMLaplace No Ma, Death Bringer are other dungeon crawlers. There are quite a few in japanese unfortunately.
How playable is Laplace No Ma for a dipshit like me that can't figure out moon runes to save his life, or is it good enough to bother with?

I guess it's not that hard to figure out but as I understand japanese, my opinion is a littel bit biased. You can create a fair amount of characters and have to choose 4 of them. You have several classes such as scientist, journalist or detective, depending what skills you choose to develop. I haven't played too far in the game but I thought it was cool and I liked the fact that you were in a haunted mansion rather than in a dungeon.

grahf · 05/04/2012, 05:18 AM

That "bad" review of Might and Magic makes me want to play it more. It seems like the lack of customization would make it a nice game to just jump into.

I completely forgot I owned Laplace No Ma. Gonna give that one a spin (finally) now.

Arkhan Asylum · 05/04/2012, 08:57 AM

Quote from: grahf on 05/04/2012, 05:18 AMThat "bad" review of Might and Magic makes me want to play it more. It seems like the lack of customization would make it a nice game to just jump into.

I completely forgot I owned Laplace No Ma. Gonna give that one a spin (finally) now.

It's bad if you take it as an enhanced M&M 1.

I think the only part that really does suck, is the lightning bow incident.

BlueBMW · 05/04/2012, 08:57 AM

I havent played the earlier dungeon crawlers as much as slme of you guys. I derped around with ultima 1-4 on my atari 800 as well as zork 1 and 2. Those games came in a big lot of atari stuff my dad bought years ago.

The games Ive played a ton of are Might and Magic 6-8. Ive only done 8 once but 6 and 7 ive gone through at least 4 times each since they were new.

grahf · 05/04/2012, 11:02 AM

I have no idea what a lightening bow is supposed to do, so I guess I won't miss it

.

I just played Laplace No Ma for a few hours, and it's pretty cool. I'm good on the Japanese part, but still figuring out the weapons and stuff. It's pretty cool.

Arkhan Asylum · 05/04/2012, 11:18 AM

It provides you with a great way to fuck shit up.

I *think* Amuru could use it (I think Paladins can use bows too)

Though, why you'd want to do something like that is beyond me, because that would make him blow.

I haven't played M&M1 for DOS in a loooooooong time, but IIRC, Knights and Pallies can use bows...

but have to be placed in the back rank...

which means your wizards are in the front

and that would be retardy.

I may go experiment with this shit later today. It's been awhile since I explored the DOS Secrets of the Inner Sanctum!