Your first CRPG?

[Naniyue]

  Unless you count a couple of brief classroom excursions with Adventure to Atlantis on the Apple IIe (monochrome) back in 1986, my first CRPG was Wizardry on the NES.  It was on sale, and I could just barely afford it.  Swords and Serpents was also available, but something told me to get Wizardry.  I did play Swords and Serpents later, and actually liked it, but I am glad I cut my CRPG teeth on a colorful and sonorous version of Wizardry.

  Maybe this is partially why I tend to shy away from most JRPGs, as I feel the first person perspective is more immersive.  This led me to my second CRPG, the NES version of Might & Magic, which soon became my favorite classic series.

  What was your baptismal CRPG?

[_joshuaTurbo]

My first ever was Bard's Tale on NES. I thought it was super cool, and I loved the party system. I had a hard time getting into games where you started by yourself, or never had people join your party.

[Naniyue]

Translation of the Famicom version of The Bard's Tale, bringing back content cut from the US release:

https://www.romhacking.net/translations/7179/


The NES really did have some interesting first person RPGs:

Deep Dungeon III, English translated.  Be sure to get the bug fixes and graphics changes.
Deep Dungeon IV, English translated.  You start out with one character but gain more.
Might & Magic, of course! Again you start with one character but can VERY quickly get more at the inn.  There's also a restoration patch, if you like.
Swords & Serpents.  Up to four human players! Or control all four solo.

Anyone else?  In addition to The Bard's Tale, I was thinking that Ultima or Wasteland would have been mentioned by now!  Or even the SSI gold box games.  Of course, Final Fantasy or Dragon Warrior/Quest on the Japanese side of things.