Games you thought would be fun, but were very boring instead

The graphic nethack was, expressly by design, Diablo 1, which was much, much less about looting than its successors, and certainly loot would have zero effect on your character skill/build/play type in Diablo 1, which posters like Rock8man say is a big part of Diablo 3.

Diablo 2 had a much larger loot focus, but I agree with Rock8man that it wasn’t as much of the focus until 3. What 2 really added was a much deeper character development/build system, which Diablo 3 and other modern action-RPGs have as well, although maybe not even as deep

That was its original inspiration yes, but Diablo 1 simplified many of the obscure mechanics of nethack into a pure hack and slash experience.

Diablo 1 was Temple of Apshai 1996

More Gateway to Apshai (real-time, simple dungeon crawl) than the earlier turn-based, deeper RPG Temple series, as I’ve mentioned a few times.

We’ve come a long way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch3GsWBSTKI

This game was super brutal too. One of the hardest games I’ve ever played - almost impossible - but that was primarily due to terrible balancing/testing. But it IS very similar to Diablo 1 (skip ahead in the video),

You best tell me where to skip ahead to, because I’m three minutes in and I can’t listen to that guy walk around any more.

Hey, if we’re calling out proto-ARPGs, don’t forget about Gemstone Warrior! Look it’s even got a town portal

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Not at all joking:

Fuck everything about that game. Every single thing.

Ah, you actually played it! I confess I didn’t.

Inasmuch as one can call loading the software “playing” a “game,” yes.

Memories!
temple-of-apshai-trilogy_3

dunjonquest-temple-of-apshai_7

“Thou art a spendthrift Rodvik!” is one of the first memorable lines in a computer game for me.

In my defense, I’m going off extremely vague memories of being like 6 and getting really mad at that game.

Rogue it was not.

I actually played it as an adult-type person. My reaction must have been pretty “meh,” because I don’t have any specific memories of it and there are a lot of those old SSI games that I really miss.

You need to Disgaea.

OMG is that Questron?

I watched a friend in college get sucked into the Disgaea hole in college. My evening entertainment for a month or two was just ordering delivery food to her place and doing homework on the floor, listening to her curse at prinny stacks. It was amazing.

Sounds like an Etna.

Temple of Apshai Trilogy.

Questron. In the 33 or so years since I played it on my C-64, no game has surpassed its ending.

Questron

I dunno, Eye of the Beholder had a pretty kickass ending.

Yeah, Questron is one of the few games that gives you a proper reward for saving the world.

I really like the closing ‘cutscene’ of Ultima V, though. Also Icewind Dale had a rocking ending.