The Dungeon Crawler Thread

[Arkhan]

PCE is no stranger to Dungeon Crawlers.  We've got Order of the Griffon, FIVE f*ckING 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.  f*ck that.

[grahf]

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]

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

[Necromancer]

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]

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? 

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]

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]

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]

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

[hoobs88]

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]

Grimrock is excellent.  I finished it twice.


Play any NES Wizardry, or SNES one.

PCE plays the same.

[roflmao]

<< 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... :oops:

[Arkhan]

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

[shubibiman]

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

[vestcoat]

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]

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 f*cking 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.