Rose Tinted Memories of CRPGs

[GameBanshee News]

Armchair Arcade is offering up a new editorial called "Rose Tinted Memories of CRPGs", in which the author offers some of his more memorable CRPG experiences.

I list Ultima III as my fav, I also love VI but can take or leave every other Ultima. A lot of people rave on and on about how great U-VII was and U-IV but for me, U-III is really the bomb. By the time of Ultima III they had worked the rough edges off Ultima II and honed it into a good, focused game.

Through these rose tinted memories, Ultima III really captured my imagination; I had an entire continent to wander around, with its own individual towns and people in them that I could talk to. I was mesmerized by the scale of it all... And then to find the hidden continent through the whirlpool! I remember writing down all the clues people said in every town, taking copious amounts of notes.

The story unfolded piecemeal, bit by bit as the player explored the land and dungeons. The hallmark of the epic discovery.

I have somewhere in my parents house, old notebooks filled with character conversation and notes on what everyone said to keep track of all my clues and who said what about what/whom.

Ultima III through VI were all excellent, but I still think Ultima VII: The Black Gate and Ultima VII: Serpent Isle are my personal favorites. Good times, good times.

[fable]

Not to mention those two spinoffs of Ultima VI, the Savage Empire, and Martian Dreams. Both were great--I think they were largely produced by Spector, unless I'm mistaken.