tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post6832017544409812431..comments2024-03-28T04:44:28.648-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Game 148: Halls of Death (1981)CRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-23173401730371309902022-06-08T01:44:47.243-04:002022-06-08T01:44:47.243-04:00In page 30 of April 1981 Computing Today it says t...In page 30 of April 1981 Computing Today it says the staff got the game before Christmas, and there is an ad in January 1981 Personal Computer World, so the game was published at late 1980.<br /><br />There is a screenshot in April 1981 Computing Today from the Commodore PET version. It was the same game without color and without the first person view of the rooms or the graphics for character and monsters during combat.Exploradorrpghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491422055928443184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-45977310579407573142022-06-02T21:22:48.836-04:002022-06-02T21:22:48.836-04:00Thanks for posting these! I love when people hunt ...Thanks for posting these! I love when people hunt down old reviews of games to get the contemporary perspective. Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-25816380534453704522022-05-25T18:07:46.632-04:002022-05-25T18:07:46.632-04:00Two contemporaneous reviews of the game were indee...Two contemporaneous reviews of the game were indeed rather positive:<br /><br />- The one in 'COMPUTING TODAY', April 1981, calls it "less complex than Temple of Asphai [...], but it is fast moving and exciting." It mentions that retreating doesn't always work ('you may [...] be told ”this is no place for cowards, he swings” ') and that levels are randomly generated which after teleportation can place you in a walking dead situation. It says that of the games reviewed, "Halls of Death (£14:cassette) is by far the fastest moving and will have your palms sweating and heart pounding time after time, it also has the advantage of a stored character and rating that you may improve over along [sic] period."<br />(https://archive.org/stream/computing-today-1981/ComputingToday198104_djvu.txt)<br /><br />- Another one can be found in 'Computer & Video games', Issue 4 (February 1982). The reviewer thinks "[o]ne of the best features of the game is the combat, which has a realistic points system. If you remain undecided on what to do, your opponent carries on fighting — usually with nasty results." He adds: "Watch out for some special effects from some of the monsters - it pays to run from some of them."<br />(https://retrocdn.net/images/4/44/CVG_UK_004.pdf, page 76)<br /><br />Both are also listed / referenced here:<br />https://magazinesfromthepast.fandom.com/wiki/Halls_of_Death.<br /><br />HoD shows up in a couple other ads from 1981-1982, too. See e.g. <br />the second and third shown on this page: http://8bitag.com/info/catacombs.html (which funnily also contains an unrelated letter of 1984 titled "An addict's advice" - though that refers to adventure games)<br />or https://archive.org/stream/PersonalComputerWorld1982-07/1982-07_djvu.txt.<br /><br />None of this sheds more light on the exact publication date, though it seems to indeed hint at late 1980 or early 1981.Buscanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-37072844609003490702020-03-17T11:18:16.087-04:002020-03-17T11:18:16.087-04:00this game is 83 on master game list but 81 on game...this game is 83 on master game list but 81 on game ranking sheetmobymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09646872746203613722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-85794134591681195892017-05-22T01:03:43.041-04:002017-05-22T01:03:43.041-04:00I was prepared to be skeptical, but based on your ...I was prepared to be skeptical, but based on your comment, I did some more searching and I found a single ad in the June 1981 "Commodore Club News" which confirms the PET release and the fact that it was around at least 2 years earlier. The ad refers to recent reviews, so I can't imagine it was much earlier than 1981, maybe 1980. I'm updating some information above accordingly. Thanks for the comment!CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-80215554342484296182017-05-11T15:04:37.284-04:002017-05-11T15:04:37.284-04:00Halls of death was available well before 1983. I ...Halls of death was available well before 1983. I bought and played it on the PET Commodore which we owned in the late 70's and played into the early 80's.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14495981583586164094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-79664771391044413972017-04-07T17:09:21.264-04:002017-04-07T17:09:21.264-04:00I remember that on C64 the game was coded in BASIC...I remember that on C64 the game was coded in BASIC and you could just look at the game internal code by doing sort of break at some point.<br />Very good time spent crawling through these Halls of Deaths, I loved that game !Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09404550030383714045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-72128807632638997112015-03-27T17:32:16.030-04:002015-03-27T17:32:16.030-04:00Yeah, the 286's were the last machines that we...Yeah, the 286's were the last machines that were crap for gaming. <br /><br />On the 486 in 1994, I was playing Arena, Front Page Sports Football/Baseball, the Panzer general series, Master of Magic, Red Baron, Simcity... and many more. I liked my Sega, but the 486 era was a very good time to be a PC gamer once you learned all the DOS memory saving tricks and commands.Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-41906845379687937642014-06-19T06:14:20.051-04:002014-06-19T06:14:20.051-04:00*knows* of course. I SO wish there was an edit fun...*knows* of course. I SO wish there was an edit function sometimes :(fireballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01094871771537115267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-12924933929454146152014-06-19T06:12:16.239-04:002014-06-19T06:12:16.239-04:00Posts like these are exactly why I have to break f...Posts like these are exactly why I have to break from catching up and reading newer blog entries. Games that nobody nows anything about...until our dear addict digs them out of the dirt. fireballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01094871771537115267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-75805772615192295342014-06-14T10:24:10.195-04:002014-06-14T10:24:10.195-04:00King's Bounty is short, but the randomization ...King's Bounty is short, but the randomization in the setup ensures that it's replayable. I still take it out for a spin once every year or two, and it's still a good game. One of these times I have to try an all-undead lineup.<br /><br />I just hope fanatic commenters don't spoil the game like they tried to do for Sword of Aragon. Harlandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-71434161679074281492014-06-14T09:38:31.307-04:002014-06-14T09:38:31.307-04:00"Winning" this game sounds like "wi..."Winning" this game sounds like "winning" an arcade game by entering your initials for the high score. Or possibly earning a "kill screen."Victarhttp://www.victarfanfics.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-73823821936252073292014-06-13T22:45:27.390-04:002014-06-13T22:45:27.390-04:00See? He just wants to make you say it.See? He just wants to make you say it.Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-73590144100024516312014-06-13T16:56:18.974-04:002014-06-13T16:56:18.974-04:00486s were excellent gaming pcs (as were 386s - ah ...486s were excellent gaming pcs (as were 386s - ah my first pc a 25mhz 386 costing something like £1700 as I recall) :)Red_Cardinalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12119321537913665046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-44663780511690589642014-06-13T15:27:07.207-04:002014-06-13T15:27:07.207-04:00Hmm seasoned adventurer (drooling dragon)
From Su...Hmm seasoned adventurer (drooling dragon)<br /><br />From Superhero to Guardian it was something like three dragons and a wraith (that is, not too difficult), so I just have to do that 7 more times and I'm done. If I do it that is, which I don't :Pgboukenshahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12106689617071459570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-91053689998417098072014-06-13T15:26:30.516-04:002014-06-13T15:26:30.516-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.gboukenshahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12106689617071459570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-85056016770729555992014-06-13T15:14:00.958-04:002014-06-13T15:14:00.958-04:00I bet the dragons like snacking on Seasoned Advent...I bet the dragons like snacking on Seasoned Adventurers. Nom nom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-53387426545916061132014-06-13T14:51:35.145-04:002014-06-13T14:51:35.145-04:00I think the score titles are: 0 Apprentice Bumpki...I think the score titles are: 0 Apprentice Bumpkin, 50 Bumpkin, 100 Yokel, 300 Peasant, 500 Novice, 600 Trainee Warrior, 750 Warrior, 1000 Swashbuckler, 2000 Apprentice Hero, 3000 Hero, 4000 Seasoned Adventurer, 5000 Dragon Slayer, 7000 Champion, 9000 Necromancer, 12000 Sorcerer, 15000 Mage, 20000 Superhero, 30000 Guardian, 40000 Lord, 50000 Paladin, 60000 Master of Power, 75000 Master of Wisdom, 100000 Ruler of Light<br /><br />So if you've made it to Guardian, that's about a third of the way. Hope you like grinding!Xnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-82855058125398860582014-06-13T14:30:46.820-04:002014-06-13T14:30:46.820-04:00That was great. The image does really make it look...That was great. The image does really make it look like the protagonist is mugging the poor thing.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-55193913479901803172014-06-13T14:29:55.048-04:002014-06-13T14:29:55.048-04:00What drew you to that conclusion? I rated Lord of ...What drew you to that conclusion? I rated <i>Lord of the Rings</i> three times as high.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-50634905276384226832014-06-13T14:27:45.169-04:002014-06-13T14:27:45.169-04:00I'm going to let Trickster take the lead on Qu...I'm going to let Trickster take the lead on <i>Quest for Glory II</i>. I'll start my posts after he does. As for the upcoming list, I still have to finish <i>Dragonflight</i>. It's not so bad.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-88372694288678906932014-06-13T14:25:40.460-04:002014-06-13T14:25:40.460-04:00Let us know if you ever make it to "Ruler of ...Let us know if you ever make it to "Ruler of Light!"CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-42966645810488984112014-06-13T06:47:37.380-04:002014-06-13T06:47:37.380-04:00I hadn't forgotten King's Bounty, but I he...I hadn't forgotten King's Bounty, but I heard that it's a pretty short game. Alexander Sebastian Schulzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15135338616598357444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-83982107658764700692014-06-13T05:46:28.794-04:002014-06-13T05:46:28.794-04:00Precisely. In that sense, I'm reminded of Migh...Precisely. In that sense, I'm reminded of Might & Magic 6 when my level 30+ party members could level an entire dungeon filled with hundreds of Gogs and Magogs and come out with not a scratch. Just like HoMM4.Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-48073306429064578842014-06-13T02:28:48.320-04:002014-06-13T02:28:48.320-04:00HoMM IV campaigns are effectively CRPGs. I didn...HoMM IV campaigns are effectively CRPGs. I didn't feel that way for any of the rest of the series. The King's Bounty reboots are also CRPGs in my opinion.<br /><br />The basic principle that changed was that your hero went from being a passive container for armies to an entity on the battlefield that could 'party' with other heroes. When sufficiently leveled most heroes were armies unto themselves.Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.com