Warning! Geek Speek Ahead

This past I was captured by a wave of nostalgia and went searching online for a copy of an old computer game. I mean, really old. We're talking 1988 old, which in computer terms is practically part of the dawn of history.

The game? Might & Magic II: Gates to Another World. I played it on my Commodore 64 for hours over days and weeks, finally finishing it (well, nearly finishing it). It was the first real role playing game in the fantasy-adventure genre I ever played and it was a great combination of fighting, questing, searching, and leveling up. I have such fond memories of that game.

So I'm playing it again. The same graphics. The same beeps from the motherboard speaker. Fortunately, not the same painful load times from a 5.25" floppy disk.

I was worried that I would start playing and throw up my hands in disgust, memories shattered as I compared this game to the slick million dollar productions of big game companies today. But you know what? I like it. I like it quite a bit. Yes, the graphics and controls suck majorly, and the sounds are best left turned off, but the concept is so empowering. Create a party of six adventurers any way you want and explore the world. Perform the quests you want, go where you want, fight the battles you want to, and accept the consequences when you get over your head. You want to go to the most dangerous part of the world when you are at level 4? Go ahead, its your life (and death).

A lot of RPG games today rock on the graphics and sounds, adding 3D worlds and video interludes. But they often present players with a preset character or characters, with little customization. In some you can only choose your name and in many others not even that. Games like Diablo force you to explore only one level at a time and you cannot go on until the big boss at the end is defeated. Exploration is simply a linear progression from the starting point to the boss and no or very little flexibility is offered.

I didn't intend to play M&M2 for very long but now I think I've changed my mind. I've only explored one little town out of en entire world and I'm eager to see more while my characters grow in experience and ability.