tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post3521739749051546242..comments2024-03-18T20:47:19.851-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Game 50: War in Middle Earth (1988)CRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-876146510632699742021-06-12T00:27:29.946-04:002021-06-12T00:27:29.946-04:00Searching around a bit more, it seems that the acc...Searching around a bit more, it seems that the accounts I originally read about the game's development have it backwards. They suggested that Synergistic produced the original game and that a "simplified" version was released for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. I'm now beginning to think that the "simplified version" was in fact the original version, somehow Synergistic found out about it and made an agreement with Melbourne House to publish design own, expanded version for DOS, Amiga, and Atari ST. According to MobyGames, the Singleton version lacked the "RPG elements" of the Synergistic version, but I'm not sure entirely what those are. Either way, I'm going to post an edit to the updated entry.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-92168459962025858702021-06-12T00:09:16.241-04:002021-06-12T00:09:16.241-04:00I just put an edit at the top of this entry to mak...I just put an edit at the top of this entry to make it more likely that people will read my follow-up instead of the original:<br /><br />http://crpgaddict.blogspot.com/2020/12/revisiting-war-in-middle-earth-1988.html<br /><br />Greg, do you have any source that's clear about Singleton's role in this game? He's credited only for the "game concept" in the manual. Since Synergistic was an American developer, it's possible that he didn't have any more to do with it than Robert Clardy checking out and liking his previous games and wanting to build something similar for this one. Or he might have flown to Seattle and participated materially in the development. I haven't found anything that clarifies either way.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-44923525824148875422021-06-11T15:53:27.672-04:002021-06-11T15:53:27.672-04:00My first hero among video game developers, who die...My first hero among video game developers, who died far too young and with unfinished business (for decades I waited for Eye of the Moon).PetrusOctavianusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-79443140311586623492021-06-11T15:01:27.460-04:002021-06-11T15:01:27.460-04:00Very little mention here of the author of the game...Very little mention here of the author of the game: Mike Singleton. He was responsible for some renowned 8-bit computer strategy + adventure games, especially "Lords of Midnight" for the ZX Spectrum.Greg Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10730868092902552857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-84804953181760930932021-01-21T20:12:59.793-05:002021-01-21T20:12:59.793-05:00If someone here is looking for a Lord of the Rings...If someone here is looking for a Lord of the Rings RPG-like war game, check out Mount & Blade. There is an amazing mod for it called Last Days of the Third Age. I've spent a lot of time on that, lots of fun building up my armies both good and evil.Zack Macomberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18077050078436768492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-57476134857656252602017-12-15T18:40:43.229-05:002017-12-15T18:40:43.229-05:00The best Middle Earth game I've played is Lord...The best Middle Earth game I've played is Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO). It does a very quality rendition of Middle Earth and is very open-ended.Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15825372787491866657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-82947638251100272742017-08-17T19:35:32.223-04:002017-08-17T19:35:32.223-04:00Yeah, I think I agree. I also tried it and find i...Yeah, I think I agree. I also tried it and find it kind of annoying. I think I'll try Mass Effect and see how that goes.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515363016654169224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-572806142661431332017-08-17T15:49:50.584-04:002017-08-17T15:49:50.584-04:00Action adventure games and RPGs have some similari...Action adventure games and RPGs have some similarities, and depending on a player's desire, both genres might scratch that player's particular itch. <br /><br />Where the games tend to differ is the skills required to progress the plot. An action-adventure game might require player dexterity, pattern-recognition or attention to detail to deal with a problem, whereas an RPG is more likely to require figuring out a new approach within a tactical combat system (Or in unfortunate cases, grinding more).<br /><br />If you wanted the RPG experience, it doesn't seem like LBA would suffice, I've not played it but watching clips of gameplay leads me to think it's a straight action-adventure.<br />Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-42655046178380244152017-08-17T13:08:27.097-04:002017-08-17T13:08:27.097-04:00Yes, I can relate to wanting to find every secret ...Yes, I can relate to wanting to find every secret and get the best ending when I was a kid.<br /><br />Anyway, I already own Mass Effect and its sequel (got them through Origin On The House). Also, I have Little Big Adventure and its sequel, and they are supposed to appeal to adventure game fans. It's called an "action-adventure RPG" on Steam (http://store.steampowered.com/app/397330/Little_Big_Adventure__Enhanced_Edition/). A reasonable entrypoint or too much of a stretch to consider a representative RPG?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515363016654169224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-70996637744720454562017-08-16T13:49:15.505-04:002017-08-16T13:49:15.505-04:00Grinding is a slippery slope. My experience has be...Grinding is a slippery slope. My experience has been that it's usually optional, with the game offering a fair challenge using strategy to overcome obstacles. In some cases, it's basically required (i.e. if you don't grind, there's no way to beat the next boss), and that's where things get hairy. When do you stop grinding? How many levels is enough? What's the intended challenge?<br /><br />I'm currently playing a game where I'm stuck at a boss that appears to require some grinding to beat. He always goes first, and does over half my HP in damage. Given that I don't have a lot of options for strategy. If the game is well designed (in this case I have my doubts) then I'm either in the wrong area, or missing some items/equipment to make it manageable.<br /><br />As a kid, grinding was a side effect of an incessant need to step on every tile in the overworld. I'd walk back and forth over the entire world of an RPG looking for any hidden caves or areas. That's one of the reasons I never really took to rogue and the -likes.<br /><br />Hope you check back in, and let us know what you liked. I'd probably have more suggestions based on that.Zenic Reveriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16441583549326102945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64786868523549944832017-08-15T19:18:35.605-04:002017-08-15T19:18:35.605-04:00OK, good, thanks for these recommendations then.
...OK, good, thanks for these recommendations then.<br /><br />Good to know about that with Wizardry.<br /><br />I don't know why anyone would find grinding per se rewarding unless it's a way to kind of just blow off steam or zone out while you repeatedly kill easy enemies.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515363016654169224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-79733430567459287142017-08-14T21:38:53.483-04:002017-08-14T21:38:53.483-04:00Grinding is something that splits the RPG communit...Grinding is something that splits the RPG community a bit. Some find it rewarding, some find it annoying. The games I recommended are pretty grind-light.Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-11782427969335125272017-08-14T21:03:55.773-04:002017-08-14T21:03:55.773-04:00Grinding is optional in the ones I mentioned. Wiza...Grinding is optional in the ones I mentioned. Wizardry probably requires the most grinding in some fashion (either repeated short expeditions, or clearing early floors multiple times to make later floors easier).Zenic Reveriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16441583549326102945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-80274893684018793672017-08-14T19:28:21.565-04:002017-08-14T19:28:21.565-04:00Thanks so much, I will take a look at these. By t...Thanks so much, I will take a look at these. By the way, besides maybe the ones on Chet's Must Play list, do any of these games inevitably involve a lot of grinding (unless maybe you're some kind of master battle tactician or something)? I generally had a good time with FFVII (I played the PC version, by the way) other than this aspect. Or do you think grinding is fun and/or pretty much an essential part of RPGs?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515363016654169224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-4683683645757926202017-08-14T18:09:10.817-04:002017-08-14T18:09:10.817-04:00X-Com: Enemy Unknown is not brutally hard...are yo...X-Com: Enemy Unknown is not brutally hard...are you thinking of it's 1994 predecessor?Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-83636395480427492352017-08-14T15:17:49.381-04:002017-08-14T15:17:49.381-04:00Well, if we're suggesting console games:
Vand...Well, if we're suggesting console games:<br /><br />Vandal Hearts - makes tactical combat even easier.<br />Magician - side-scrolling ARPG, light and short.<br />Shining in the Darkness - easy dungeon crawler.<br />Soul Blazer - another easy top-down ARPG.<br />Starflight - DOS or Genesis version -- doesn't burden you down with a lot of statistics, while giving open exploration.<br /><br />I'd also say dip a toe in all the games on Chet's Must Play list, and see if any of them catch your fancy.Zenic Reveriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16441583549326102945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-91029583352902445432017-08-14T13:22:03.803-04:002017-08-14T13:22:03.803-04:00Also I'd go for something like Final Fantasy T...Also I'd go for something like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance over X-COM as a tactical RPG. X-COM is BRUTALLY hard, and has RPG elements, enough to meet Chet's criteria, but only just. FFTA is a lot more of a traditional RPG, and easier for a new player to learn.<br /><br />IF you do play X-COM, get OpenXCom, it fixes the game So much. Also spend an hour on the wiki if you don't want to get murdered in the face over and over.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-12661007286360766472017-08-14T13:20:05.521-04:002017-08-14T13:20:05.521-04:00I don't think the AD&D rules actually matt...I don't think the AD&D rules actually matter that much. Stay away from material added by BG2: Only use the basic classes. Stats generally make sense. Wizards need int, fighters need Str and Con, and so on. Magic weapons with +s are better. You can figure out what spells do without knowing the rules too deeply.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-20584541317298259592017-08-13T15:32:43.683-04:002017-08-13T15:32:43.683-04:00Baldur's Gate isn't that newbie friendly t...Baldur's Gate isn't that newbie friendly thanks to the wall of AD&D rules.<br /><br />Newbie friendly games in their respective genres:<br /><br />Traditional CRPG - Avernum: Escape from the Pit<br />Roguelike - Dungeons of Dredmor<br />First-Person ARPG - Mass Effect<br />Top-down ARPG - Bastion<br />Tactical RPG - X-Com: Enemy Unknown<br />Strategy RPG: King's Bounty (the remake)<br /><br />All of these are super accessible and loads of fun in my opinion.Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-82077008175820926212017-08-13T15:11:20.618-04:002017-08-13T15:11:20.618-04:00Honestly, I would give Fallout 1 another go. It to...Honestly, I would give Fallout 1 another go. It took me a few tries to get into it, but it's worth it- and the game honestly is pretty short. Don't be afraid to look for help if you get stuck, everyone starts somewhere. Other than that, all the Infinity Engine games are pretty accessible, if you find Baldur's Gate a bit too difficult, you may enjoy the more dialogue and reading heavy focused gameplay of Planescape Torment. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-91609141794695051772017-08-12T14:53:13.453-04:002017-08-12T14:53:13.453-04:00I'm fine with anything as long as it's con...I'm fine with anything as long as it's considered generally fair and balanced. Ideally it would also get a high "GIMLET" score on this blog. I'll try Baldur's Gate. Anything else?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515363016654169224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-85839723900145384692017-08-11T14:14:30.678-04:002017-08-11T14:14:30.678-04:00I really started with Baldur's Gate, and it is...I really started with Baldur's Gate, and it is now available in a very nice Enhanced Edition.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-46153441336501437892017-08-11T12:48:21.300-04:002017-08-11T12:48:21.300-04:00It depends on what you're interested in regard...It depends on what you're interested in regarding CPRGs: strategy, story, character development, open world...Zenic Reveriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16441583549326102945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-34285707238025702372017-08-10T19:37:34.774-04:002017-08-10T19:37:34.774-04:00I can't believe that I still have an original ...I can't believe that I still have an original boxed copy of this game. It still has the 5.25" disks, instruction manual and a nice fold-out map. I don't know if I ever played this game when I was a kid -- I don't know how I got it, maybe a gift from a relative, since I wasn't that interested in RPGs until I stumbled onto this blog.<br /><br />I liked the Sierra Quest for Glory games and Westwood's Lands of Lore when I was a teen but otherwise preferred PC adventure games and Nintendo. I doubt anyone considers Zelda games RPGs (and they're not CRPGs obviously), though. I tried to give Fallout 1 a try a few years ago. The only sort-of RPGs I've won have been QFG 1, 3 and Final Fantasy VII.<br /><br />Any suggestions for a CRPG novice for games that might be more suited to someone without almost any RPG experience, skill or talents?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515363016654169224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-84657897220448242982016-04-13T02:04:26.718-04:002016-04-13T02:04:26.718-04:00I would generally agree that the author was not re...I would generally agree that the author was not really good, I actually by accident started reading him with the second book (and in a translation he disapproved of), it was more fast paced and to my mind more "epic". But still you have to credit him for single handedly creating a new genre, without him many games here might not exist. In this game you either have to be a fanatic or cheat to find all the necessary items with the looking glass to get the alliances, I admire Singleton but not for this. Still it was somewhat good looking on the Amiga at the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com