Maybe too retro for “PC” gaming, but Ultima III on the C-64. To have a huge explorable world full of details and people to talk to sucked me right in. Others did a better job later in graphics, size, and details, but Ultima was the first.
For RPGs for me it was Ultima VII - it was the first truly open world game I’d come across, with freedom and so much to do (for the time). I still think it’s a great game to play even now.
It was ultima online for me. Slightly less retro, but damn if Ultima isn’t the most slept on truly dead gaming series. So many good games over two decades in the 80s and 90s and then basically shelved since 2000. UO still exists, particularly in private servers, but I would love to see the IP revived in the 2020s. So much potential.
UO would be my next pick in that it blew open the door of the MMORPG concept. EverQuest was next and introduced me to the need for a video card, but UO was simple yet complex at the same time.
Maybe too retro for “PC” gaming, but Ultima III on the C-64. To have a huge explorable world full of details and people to talk to sucked me right in. Others did a better job later in graphics, size, and details, but Ultima was the first.
For RPGs for me it was Ultima VII - it was the first truly open world game I’d come across, with freedom and so much to do (for the time). I still think it’s a great game to play even now.
I thought Ultima 3 was “big” to explore, then I played Ultima 4.
It was ultima online for me. Slightly less retro, but damn if Ultima isn’t the most slept on truly dead gaming series. So many good games over two decades in the 80s and 90s and then basically shelved since 2000. UO still exists, particularly in private servers, but I would love to see the IP revived in the 2020s. So much potential.
UO would be my next pick in that it blew open the door of the MMORPG concept. EverQuest was next and introduced me to the need for a video card, but UO was simple yet complex at the same time.