Thread 12015346

I like games where you explore big dungeons. Megadungeons, in TTRPG terms. I always find them comfy, oddly. Ultima Underworld, Arx Fatalis, Grimrock on the more modern side of things, just for another example. Doesn't have to be first person or a blobber.

What are some good retro games with this vibe? I'd prefer at least some kind of context or excuse plot/verisimilitude for the sake of comfiness, so Nethack and most other roguelikes are out. Also doesn't have to be a 'dungeon' dungeon, per se. Like honestly I'd consider Resident Evil 1 almost close enough. You're in a big spooky area exploring it.

Also did all ye olde Wizardrys so yeah. No need to mention those.

The Darm tower in Ys 1 is pretty fun

>>12015346 (OP)
If you ran out of Wizardry and Ultima games to play there's always Gold Box D&D, though not all of them are actually good. They don't get the attention from modern retro gamers that Ultima & Wizardry get, but the good entries are just as good, and I honestly always preferred them to Ultima 4/5's pretentiousness anyway.
They're extra comfy because they use outdated D&D rules that are very simple once you understand them, and there's almost no starting restrictions on what you can buy or where you can go. I've never tried it but apparently you can go straight to the final boss in Pool of Radiance if you know where he is.

Megami Tensei 1-2, Shin Megami Tensei 1-2, and all the Etrian Odyssey games are also good, though they're heavily consolized, megaten moreso than Etrian Odyssey. That said, Etrian Odyssey has the same problem as Gold Box D&D, some of the games are total classics, others are just tedium to pad the game out to 100 hours. Also, it's crazy to think that Etrian Odyssey 1 is retro by the rules of this board but, early 2007 is early 2007.

>>12015346 (OP)
Since you mentioned RE1 try out Legacy: Realm of Terror

>>12015630
>Etrian Odyssey 1 is retro by the rules of this board
Not retro cos its on NDS.
Only 2007 PC games like Crisis are technically regarded as retro on this board.

>>12016025
Ah, disregard that then. I guess I never read the platform cutoff right.

>>12015346 (OP)
Zork

>>12015630
>outdated D&D rules
It's called AD&D, scrub.

>>12016328
>>>/tg/

OP, you should check out Darkstone. It's a pretty good game that never gets mentioned. A bit like Diablo, but it's own thing. You can run with a party of one or two characters and swap who you are in control of. You can even do 2 player co-op. It's got a crisp, classical feel. The dungeons are the centerpiece. I don't know that they're really gigantic and expansive (haven't played in years), but I remember I had a lot of fun with it and it's a well regarded game. Also, Icewind Dale 1 & 2 obviously both fit your interest. Those games are all about dungeon crawling with a party from 1-6 units. Excellent games.

>>12016332
Thank you for helping yourself out.

>>12016345
I'm good

Oh yeah, how could I forget. OP, you want Castle of the Winds. Excellent late 80s/early 90s roguelike dungeon crawler. Truly, a great game. Loosely based on norse mythology. The first one is a nice jaunt into the ground. The second is a lot bigger. Together, they both make a fantastic dungeon crawling experience; exactly what you're looking for. Tons of monsters, items, traps and spells for such an old game. There's even a bestiary in game. Best way to control your character is click & drag (so you can go diagonal). Sometimes you run into situations where you need to find the hidden door. Divination spells are crucial. The 2D sprites are chock full of character.
This guy set up a way to play it easily on modern PCs.
https://www.reddit.com/r/CastleOfTheWinds/comments/1g23l68/cotwine_v09_playable_out_of_the_box/

>>12015346 (OP)
Phantasy star I is half dungeon crawler

>>12015346 (OP)
King's Field IV
Thief

>>12016080
How is it a TTRPG?

Shinining in the darkness is a very comfy dungeon crawl. The animated icons give it a nice aesthetic compared to PC titles.
Its actually hardest early on when you have a solo hero, before the other two party members join.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6YbR8Wnd_54&pp=0gcJCRsBo7VqN5tD

>>12015510
Probably not what OP was asking for but I literally thought of this. It's like half the game.

>>12017165
Shining the Holy Ark is better

Also, give Shadow Tower a try. If you can get past the brutal/shitty early parts the game is pretty fun and probably in line with what you're looking for.

>>12017323
Shining ark is one of the ugliest games ever made though, due to early "we need to brute force 3d into everything" design philosophy. Doesnt come close to the sprites of the genesis game.

>>12016360
My first roguelike I got off a 100 games disc. I definitely recommend

>>12017521
>a 100 games disc
What else was on there that was good? I'm trying to find an old game I played as a kid in the early-mid 90s. The most I can remember is if you found the sword (I think it was hidden in a mountain tile), then there was a cutscene and I think that was game. It's a little foggy. I remember there was an Inn real near the start and possibly bats? Ring any bells?

Elminage.

Brandish 1 and VT/4
Relics series
Baroque

>>12019112
what game is this? and relics series? never heard of them. Baroque is a good one, can't believe I forgot about it in the OP.

>>12017429
Nah

>>12019287
Brandish 4

Here's the original Brandish VT for comparison.