tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post8789754536922639460..comments2024-03-19T02:45:56.380-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Game 261: Heimdall (1991)CRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-77154494807903148652020-01-15T19:15:48.193-05:002020-01-15T19:15:48.193-05:00How disappointing that they didn't call it Jer...How disappointing that they didn't call it Jerzy Shore!<br /><br />(Yes, I know, it sounds like "yeh-zhih" in Polish. But c'mon, work with me here.)PK Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14416777230563913195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-1786872514160885022017-10-03T14:39:13.624-04:002017-10-03T14:39:13.624-04:00Always been surprised they never made a WFRP CRPG,...Always been surprised they never made a WFRP CRPG, but then again you can count the number of computer RPGs that were adapted from an existing tabletop RPG that isn't D&D on two hands.Lughnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-67162290502712510772017-10-02T12:20:03.259-04:002017-10-02T12:20:03.259-04:00"the braid-shearing with axes is taken from F..."the braid-shearing with axes is taken from Fleischer's 1958 movie The Vikings." Ha! It sure is. Here's the scene.<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5qZhlQa0AU<br /><br />They even kept the girl's expression. Thanks!CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-55719781052968412672017-10-01T08:36:34.314-04:002017-10-01T08:36:34.314-04:00I'm catching up on your reviews, so here are a...I'm catching up on your reviews, so here are a few nerd items<br />- according to Norse mythology it should be Odin's spear ( a throwing spear actually ) and Frey's sword ( the fool gave it away so he could marry a giantess, and it would bite him in the ass at Ragnarok )<br />- the braid-shearing with axes is taken from Fleischer's 1958 movie The Vikings, it's Kirk Douglas' character that does it ( in order to prove the woman had not been unfaithful while her husband was away vikinging )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-91195064526375479502017-09-17T13:26:25.446-04:002017-09-17T13:26:25.446-04:00I was about to say, that is an odd way to refer to...I was about to say, that is an odd way to refer to one of the most famous and respected RPGs of its era...Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-23053320293228581122017-09-13T22:00:57.357-04:002017-09-13T22:00:57.357-04:00Warhammer fantasy role play?Warhammer fantasy role play?Weaselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05873440251698488032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-82282194854631358212017-09-12T20:00:07.400-04:002017-09-12T20:00:07.400-04:00"I distinctly remember a review of Wizardry V..."I distinctly remember a review of Wizardry VI in one of the bigger German video game magazines (must have been PowerPlay, I believe)."<br /><br /><br />I think Wizardry VI became 89 % rating in Powerplay which made it an outstanding came (they were rather critical in that paper). Wizardry VII got 94 % and was one of the best reviewed games in that Magazine ever. <br />Ultima and AD&D games got also good reviews, as well as some of the german RPGs (Amberstar/Amberworld). <br /><br /><br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12414064876990396121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-37134506869615511462017-09-12T01:24:04.552-04:002017-09-12T01:24:04.552-04:00And, at the very least, a Polish version (Warsaw S...And, at the very least, a Polish version (Warsaw Shore). :)KarbonKittynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-69768664013338057832017-09-11T22:35:00.625-04:002017-09-11T22:35:00.625-04:00I remember getting this game at Egghead Software b...I remember getting this game at Egghead Software back in the day. It was fun for a bit. Got Thor's hammer, but then encountered game-stopping bugs on the next land and ended up returning it to the store.dalonedrauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14755423675945689602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-43745905881447850682017-09-11T16:46:40.319-04:002017-09-11T16:46:40.319-04:00Core design games used to have that cartoon look (...Core design games used to have that cartoon look (that is, until tomb raider killed all the other series), even the ones that weren't developed by the 8th day. There was probably an overlap of staff between the different developers.RuySanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05560670798869378094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-68241143424709076702017-09-11T16:00:24.950-04:002017-09-11T16:00:24.950-04:00Another way to look at it is to compare to archite...Another way to look at it is to compare to architecture. The 20th and 21st centuries have shown us a bewildering array of architectural styles, construction techniques, and even building purposes.<br /><br />However, all that originality is built on a small number of different types of construction. The Burj Khalifa is a unique structure that is extremely original - but the underlying technology is not all that different from that used to build the Sears Tower.Gnomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920812227941556716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-12987305101273557832017-09-11T13:55:29.181-04:002017-09-11T13:55:29.181-04:00VK, when I replayed Heimdall 2 last year I looked ...VK, when I replayed Heimdall 2 last year I looked at youtubes of the Amiga or PC versions and they were exactly the same game (except for the gorgeous music in CD32 and its lack of mouse support). This is not "Myth: History in the making" :)Risingson Carloshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08915480026187953569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-83655419539974244692017-09-11T13:53:52.025-04:002017-09-11T13:53:52.025-04:00Weird developer this one. There are some stylistic...Weird developer this one. There are some stylistic connections to Litil Divil, and I think that those graphics that you see too cartoony are just lovely and unique. I never got into this game, but I still love Heimdall 2 to pieces (Martin "Atjazz" Iveson and Nathan McCree did such a good work in the music for Heimdall 2 than when I saw Iveson djing some years ago I thanked him for what he did in this game, startling him quite a lot). What I really think is that for each their own: there are certain aspects of gameplay in classic crpgs that actually are appealing to the author here (and again I am jealous for that: they don't click for me anymore), but I still find some of those games, some of these trial and error and some of these cartoony stuff really lovely. That's all.Risingson Carloshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08915480026187953569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-7979861821495753942017-09-11T11:54:23.159-04:002017-09-11T11:54:23.159-04:00I used to read Amiga Power, known to underrate gam...I used to read Amiga Power, known to underrate games, and they gave U6 90%, which is one of their highest rating games ever.<br /><br />I think Legend was the only RPG with a higher score (91%).RuySanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05560670798869378094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-78139301438933206952017-09-11T09:53:31.291-04:002017-09-11T09:53:31.291-04:00There were certainly some games that were primaril...There were certainly some games that were primarily for the Amiga/Atari ST where a mouse could be assumed. But until about 1990 I don't think many UK publishers liked the idea of cutting out the C64/CPC/Spectrum owners entirely. It was always interesting playing one of the handful of down-ported games where I'd have to steer the pointer with my joystick...<br /><br />My Ultima VI comment is mostly based on general grumblings online and this review - http://amr.abime.net/review_1240<br />It's interesting to see that German magazines rated it much more highly.Ben Sizerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16973645498493273495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-45348858426630345192017-09-11T08:02:57.204-04:002017-09-11T08:02:57.204-04:00EDITH would like me to add that she just checked o...EDITH would like me to add that she just checked out the review and to be precise, it's more "Nobody knows Sir-Tech, but hardcore RPG fans know and love the Wizardry series. Also, this game is visually lame, which is a huge improvement over prior titles." In another review, the magazine basically said "While nobody here knows these games well, they're well-loved in the U.S."<br />So some knowledge was there, but PP made sure to phrase it in such a way as to make them sound like the experts.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16594966196618648451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-73638425453092233372017-09-11T07:56:41.749-04:002017-09-11T07:56:41.749-04:00I distinctly remember a review of Wizardry VI in o...I distinctly remember a review of Wizardry VI in one of the bigger German video game magazines (must have been PowerPlay, I believe). The review all but said "From what we hear, prior Wizardry titles exist, but they're really a fringe phenomenon, and moreover they have bad graphics. This one at least looks non-eye-cancer-inducing, and the gameplay is surprisingly good."<br /><br />This from a magazine that claimed to be incredibly well-informed about its subject matter.<br /><br />I believe it's not so much that people in Europe didn't want to adopt US genre concepts, but that they simply didn't know much about them.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16594966196618648451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-6941439000034888822017-09-11T06:56:10.271-04:002017-09-11T06:56:10.271-04:00I agree on most counts, except:
- Ultima VI was a...I agree on most counts, except:<br /><br />- Ultima VI was actually very good on the Amiga, as long as you had an hard drive. I didn't, and still enjoyed it a lot, but I must have had too much free time back then. It was also publicitized extensively on the magazines of the time, altough i really don't know if it sold well.<br /><br />- As for the interface issues, many Amiga games, specially most RPG's and Strategy one were actually too mouse dependant almost to a fault (some keyboard shortcuts would help). The fact that heimdall required both a Joystick and a Mouse was an anomaly, and it didn't made much sense.RuySanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05560670798869378094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-74476889677275417282017-09-11T06:43:00.991-04:002017-09-11T06:43:00.991-04:00I think I mentioned this on a previous posting, bu...I think I mentioned this on a previous posting, but the way I remember it, there was no active decision to not copy American games - we just didn't get to play them. You're right in saying that the big titles did get released on the Amiga, but the majority of us didn't have computers even that powerful until 1991 or 1992. I didn't get a PC capable of playing games on until 1994. We were still releasing new 64K 8bit cassette-loading hardware in 1990!<br /><br />There were some titles that did get ported down to our Amstrads, Commodores, and Spectrums, but often didn't translate well enough to inspire people into thinking that they were worth emulating.<br /><br />That even applied to Amiga games - look at how bad Ultima V and VI were on the Amiga, followed by Ultima VII not even being released on the platform.<br /><br />And hardware constraints were an issue - bigger games wouldn't run on the 64K hardware, and many popular machines had no disk drives (never mind hard disks!). <br /><br />Oh, and we typically had no mice for input, except on the expensive machines. You mention not having a joystick, and also remark on how the interface has no icons, but this was standard practice when most of the market was still joystick-reliant. A game in 1991 that required a mouse on all platforms would not have fared well here.<br /><br />To sum up, it was a very different market in several ways, but they started converging rapidly in the post-Doom days.Ben Sizerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16973645498493273495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-50421430539880705642017-09-10T21:24:53.078-04:002017-09-10T21:24:53.078-04:00In Finland rpg:s were a big deal. Especially Ultim...In Finland rpg:s were a big deal. Especially Ultimas, Dungeon Master and Gold Box games got great reviews and apparently sold well. For some reason Might and Magic 3 was the first one of the series to become hit here and Wizardry/Bards Tale/Wasteland/Starflight never were a huge thing here either. JonTzu_finnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-68585505629763230402017-09-10T13:29:17.797-04:002017-09-10T13:29:17.797-04:00It's fascinating to read more about Heimdall. ...It's fascinating to read more about Heimdall. I never played the game myself, but it regularly featured on a 90s competitive video gaming TV show in the UK. Specifically, the "cutting the maiden's hair" mini-game. I didn't realize there was a whole other game beyond it until years later.<br /><br />I don't know what to tell you about why UK RPGs were so weird. I wonder if it had something to do with us not having our own big table-top RPG to draw inspiration from, like Germany with its "The Dark Eye". We either had the choice of making RPGs that felt like they came from Germany, the USA, or Japan, or go with something more unique and "British" that ended up becoming a rough curiosity. That eccentricity lead to games like Lemmings and Populous around that time, so it wasn't all bad, but I don't recall us ever making an RPG that resonated the same way.Mentohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12666135395522594894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-59764905801687219102017-09-10T06:20:35.687-04:002017-09-10T06:20:35.687-04:00Llanfairpwllgwyngyll Shore! Sounds like a winner. ...Llanfairpwllgwyngyll Shore! Sounds like a winner. Lots of sounds.deiseachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13992056535859763243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-89738017889763463002017-09-09T23:04:14.271-04:002017-09-09T23:04:14.271-04:00That's it, I knew I remembered it wrong.That's it, I knew I remembered it wrong.Mr. Pavonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13286558267156792637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-88971099015613148282017-09-09T15:52:35.495-04:002017-09-09T15:52:35.495-04:00Is it just me, or does the art look like it was do...Is it just me, or does the art look like it was done my Phil Foglio?JPublicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-15550311987163471702017-09-09T10:55:41.283-04:002017-09-09T10:55:41.283-04:00Addict, just as a side note, I've noticed that...Addict, just as a side note, I've noticed that you don't specifically cite the platform you're playing on in your first posts on multi-post games. Perhaps there's a hidden logic to that (I know your final post always mentions it), but otherwise as a reader it'd be helpful to know from the get-go what version is being played.<br /><br />As for Heimdall, I've never played it, though I do own the Sega CD version and have been meaning to give it a shot.PK Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14416777230563913195noreply@blogger.com