tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post8438405980947158284..comments2024-03-28T20:51:01.807-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Magic Candle: Final RatingCRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-24546426930721149902023-12-04T23:09:24.169-05:002023-12-04T23:09:24.169-05:00As I've been reading the Magic Candle posts, a...As I've been reading the Magic Candle posts, and reflecting on my own partial play through a year ago, I kept recalling there being something different about the way talking to NPCs felt in Ultima IV/V vs. in Magic Candle. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.<br /><br />I think this part of this post nailed it - <br /><br />"I didn't like that the NPCs never asked you anything back, giving you no roleplaying options. And I didn't like that almost everything they said was plot-driven. Ultima IV-V had NPCs who would chat with you a little bit, too, offering words of wisdom or funny observations. "<br /><br />I liked how robust the story was in Magic Candle, and NPCs were certainly a big part of that, but as a point comparison I liked the Ultima style better. It was partially because I think it made for a more natural feel for NPCs to also talk to you about mundane matters or intersting-but-not-plot-related topics. And, by doing so, I felt like simply figuring out what information was relevant to the plot was an additional and fun challenge. The combination of these things made the world feel more immersive to me. <br /><br />U3_Guruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12044735933085333528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-86102980676232926342018-08-15T21:13:38.645-04:002018-08-15T21:13:38.645-04:00I welcome everyone's opinions, but I find it a...I welcome everyone's opinions, but I find it amusing that after 8 years and 300 games, some people still think I need to be schooled as to what an "RPG" is. HQ meets all of the elements of my definition of an RPG, and many others' besides, whereas "shallowness" appears, I dare say, in no one's definition but yours.<br /><br />I agree with you that TMC has an excellent story and game world. I don't think it holds up in some other areas. And I wanted it to be over about 6 hours before it actually was, which is something I never felt with U4, U5, or HQ. If that's not true for you, great. Everything here is subjective.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-58577334960028256652018-08-15T14:28:06.808-04:002018-08-15T14:28:06.808-04:00The game came out in the year exactly between ulti...The game came out in the year exactly between ultimas v and vi. I was a huge ultima fan and discovered magic candle much later. The depth of the quest and the fact it´s not a plagiarized ultima engine are very important points to note in my view. It is a hard game, slow, but the story and depth of ideas in it, and like u4, the idea that there is no final-boss to kill, shows the ingenuity of this game. It came out when ibm-compatibles were hardly capable of much graphically and soundwise. It packed in a lot for its time. I respectfully disagree with you Chester. I´m a diehard ultima fan and also a might and magic series fan. Magic Candle is just as good as those other two series. I say it´s a draw and that a score of 69 is well deserved by ultima 4, 5, 6, all the Might and Magic series, and at least the first Magic Candle (and possibly the second). I spent countless hours on them all exploring them fully both without cheats, then with cheats and absorbing totally in the storylines/manuals. Also I have to say that giving Hero´s Quest one point more than MC is bordering on insane. HQ is not really an rpg. I´m also a big point n click gamer and if you check out adventuregamestudio with some of its best offers, or just refer to the King´s Quest games, I mean honestly HQ might be on the border but it´s just still not an rpg. It´s too shallow. Ps I do say all of this with respect and no ill will, it is all my opinion but done with whole of heart.zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06067557827544579732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64956131210651840642018-06-28T01:58:15.022-04:002018-06-28T01:58:15.022-04:00This is one of the games that even though I have n...This is one of the games that even though I have never played was always on my radar (along with dark heart of Uuruk) and while the sound is awful the graphics seem nice and colorful and frankly the game play seems great to me.<br />Oh as a side comment since you played Darkspire are you planning on playing The Summoning? It is one of the most underated games ever and favorite of mine<br />and good luck with Wizardry 7, now that is a monster game and perhaps the best blobber of all timeRaul Vitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09194073461128798356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-8454054032672829992015-03-08T15:58:53.573-04:002015-03-08T15:58:53.573-04:00I can remember a lot about game mechanics, but I h...I can remember a lot about game mechanics, but I have the worst time remembering game graphics. I always think of <i>Ultima 5</i> as having monochrome graphics, for instance, when in fact it's quite colorful. I was just thinking of <i>Swords of Glass</i> the other day, but imagining it with the same graphics as <i>Wizardry</i>.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-75251117922256584352015-03-07T04:34:02.187-05:002015-03-07T04:34:02.187-05:00I enjoyed the Magic Candle posts. I spent probabl...I enjoyed the Magic Candle posts. I spent probably weeks of evenings playing this to completion when I was 17 or so. All I could remember before the posts started was the mushrooms, leaving a character to make gold, and a general sense that the end battle was relatively easy (not that I ever minded such things). I figured that the posts would jog loose a lot of memories about the details and plot points of the game, but I have to confess that nothing you've written about the game is remotely familiar to me. Such is the power of a poor memory 20 years on! (though a general inability to remember plot points in books and tv shows is quite handy when I get around to re-reading or re-watching something I know I liked the first time around . . .)Jeremy Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11398438801903631183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-77839631098212660082012-10-17T11:10:01.134-04:002012-10-17T11:10:01.134-04:00Oh, I know that now, but didn't during first v...Oh, I know that now, but didn't during first viewing at 80s. Random Encounternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-86617345456003650732012-10-16T15:17:11.192-04:002012-10-16T15:17:11.192-04:00But with those B movies you know they didn't h...But with those B movies you know they didn't have the budget to do anything more than cheesy fun. So to enjoy them you have to be in the mood for some cheese.UbAhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447678457902055799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-28195033230452201582012-10-16T14:51:17.543-04:002012-10-16T14:51:17.543-04:00All the talking about sleeping gods reminded about...All the talking about sleeping gods reminded about old Amiga game "Sleeping Gods Lie"<br /><br />From Mobygames: "After the benevolent god N'Gir has given his blessings to the beautiful land of Tessera, he felt his work was pretty much done, and... fell asleep. Unfortunately, with no gods to watch over the world, an evil Archmage has gradually taken control over it, oppressing the population with his iron rule. The hero of this story lives in the town of Thurin, which is somewhat out of the Archmage's range of influence. However, when a gravely wounded kobold delivers a message to him and dies on the threshold of his house, the hero realizes that his long journey has begun - the journey to wake up the slumbering god!"<br /><br />It was made by Empire Software also in 1989. Didn't seem to be anything other common so certainly just a freak coincidence. Random Encounternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-80868219079599863792012-10-16T14:40:33.652-04:002012-10-16T14:40:33.652-04:00There are lots of post-apocalyptic themed movies t...There are lots of post-apocalyptic themed movies that'd make Waterworld seem masterpiece going down the withered branch of Mad Max's family tree - Warrior of the Lost World, New Barbarians, Steel Dawn... Random Encounternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-68940887204358678682012-10-16T11:19:15.996-04:002012-10-16T11:19:15.996-04:00The fact that it lost so much money and bombed at ...The fact that it lost so much money and bombed at the box office probably has more to do with how people see it than its actual merits. I thought it was ok and I hate Costner's style of one expression acting. I hear the book it is based on was good but I have not read it.UbAhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447678457902055799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-35025359018956522862012-10-16T11:16:29.059-04:002012-10-16T11:16:29.059-04:00I imagine you saying this while moving family matt...I imagine you saying this while moving family matters to the top of your Netflix queue.UbAhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447678457902055799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-88338478486780520432012-10-16T01:47:14.216-04:002012-10-16T01:47:14.216-04:00I really liked Waterworld and always wondered why ...I really liked Waterworld and always wondered why it got such a bad rap. It may have lost money because it had a disgustingly large budget, but all in all I thought it was great.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14331313770481410555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-29741551181870100652012-10-15T23:20:57.516-04:002012-10-15T23:20:57.516-04:00I've seen it at least ten times. "He'...I've seen it at least ten times. "He's like a turd that just won't flush." ;)Amy K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10892876651484617812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-6891948947142265272012-10-15T22:48:12.954-04:002012-10-15T22:48:12.954-04:00I can recall enjoying it at the time (I am also a ...I can recall enjoying it at the time (I am also a sucker for post-apocalypse), but I was pretty young and I've never rewatched it. The general reputation it has suggests my standards were probably just low back then.malkav11https://www.blogger.com/profile/06785046340353526574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-1348041225076511092012-10-15T22:43:05.185-04:002012-10-15T22:43:05.185-04:00Here is an article that might interest the addict;...Here is an article that might interest the addict; http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/10/includification-bringing-video-games-to-players-with-disabilities/Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-54453290439482743052012-10-15T21:41:38.165-04:002012-10-15T21:41:38.165-04:00I have never seen it. I've only heard about it...I have never seen it. I've only heard about it. Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-65266492115790347562012-10-15T19:29:25.302-04:002012-10-15T19:29:25.302-04:00I note with amusement that the advertisement you p...I note with amusement that the advertisement you posted boasts of "No on-disk copy protection!" The DRM wars are older than we think. ^_^Bellos The Mightyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00462155024749429452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-20243681960823895512012-10-15T19:10:49.135-04:002012-10-15T19:10:49.135-04:00I'm one of five people who actually enjoyed th...I'm one of five people who actually enjoyed the movie. It really captured my imagination. Then again, I'm such a pushover for anything post-apocalyptic. Amy K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10892876651484617812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-30934670275954860352012-10-15T19:04:28.393-04:002012-10-15T19:04:28.393-04:00Oh, I knew they all added together. I just wasn...Oh, I knew they all added together. I just wasn't sure how high a score could get for an individual element, or if they all had equal weight in the overall score. It's good that you're reserved with the high score. Many people are too willing to put 10s on things just because they liked it.Amy K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10892876651484617812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-75546840448955106842012-10-15T15:52:39.981-04:002012-10-15T15:52:39.981-04:00I've just started Darklands again, created my ...I've just started Darklands again, created my party and slaughtered the first few city bandits! I really hope I'll get to finish it this time around.Andreas Kaplanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627726032225417912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-84962036432950106862012-10-15T14:56:04.816-04:002012-10-15T14:56:04.816-04:00Compared to Wizardry, M&M, BT and Goldbox game...Compared to Wizardry, M&M, BT and Goldbox games I think the Ultima series counts to the limited loot games. But I agree that later Ultima aren't as worse as MC on second thought. Technically I see MC as a U4.5 if you want.Morkarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-20878363531966403862012-10-15T13:03:06.807-04:002012-10-15T13:03:06.807-04:00That's not minor at all. That would have made ...That's not minor at all. That would have made a difference on my decision to take new people from Crystal Castle. I could swear that I tried it and it didn't work, but maybe I misremembered and I had already been to that god with that character. I'm not sure it's enough to justify a score adjustment, but I'll add an edit to the original note.<br /><br />I agree with your assessment of the early and mid-game compared to the late game.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-30117454993303512322012-10-15T12:15:42.605-04:002012-10-15T12:15:42.605-04:00Totally minor, but the OCD player in me is insisti...Totally minor, but the OCD player in me is insisting that I correct on the Gods. You actually can awaken them more than once. They won't re-boost players they've already boosted in your party, but they will boost players they haven't before. So its totally valid to see a couple gods, get some folks from Crystal Castle, and then go see them again to boost the new folks. Also its really not needed since you'll pretty much max out starting characters anyhow, or at least make combat so irrelevant it doesn't matter.<br /><br />Magic Candle is a game that I love in the early and mid-game and then it really drops for the final act until the ritual itself due to how trivial and long combat takes. Its funny though, I've returned to it several times over the years whereas I've never gone back to Pool of Radiance which I definitely had more pure enjoyment out of when first played it. I think the only other game I've also returned to is Ultima V a couple of times of games from that era.<br /><br />Keep it up!<br /><br /><br /><br />Four Handshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09279025536551079705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-58045519811565096622012-10-15T10:02:13.303-04:002012-10-15T10:02:13.303-04:00I think the key point is that they are both awesom...I think the key point is that they are both awesome games that he enjoyed about the same amount.Giauzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045059974421586849noreply@blogger.com