Many people dismiss the simplicity of old games like Questron based on the graphics and sounds. It is a two-dimensional layout in which your character and other objects are single colour, and the power of the SID chip is barely tapped for the sound effects. But when this game came out, no one was spoiled by the likes of online gaming with its super detailed graphics and stereo sound effects. In fact, when this game came out in 1984, it felt state of the art for me, having graduated from text adventures such as Zork and Enchanter.
Incorporating the turn-based style of game play similar to early Ultima games and Dungeons and Dragons based themes, the world of Questron expands as you progress. As the plot unfolds, you learn more about your objective, and must improve your character to proceed. It is possible to be immersed in this game for hours on end because of this. What makes this a ground-breaking game is that you make moral decisions on how to get stronger, i.e. abide by the law or become a bandit.
There are also many things to manage in the way of provisions; having certain weapons to fight certain monsters; spells that can be used in dungeons, in towns, and outdoors; keeping your health high enough when you venture out more.
One of my favourite
elements of the game are the various methods of transportation, as well as the option to buy information from strangers you encounter. Knowing little things like what weapon hurts which monster the most can save your life!
There are many other surprises in this game that I don't want to spoil - surprises that you'll appreciate when you find them. And if you lose your life too soon, you always have the option of reloading your last saved game, as well as having 4 different files.
Another element of the game you'll appreciate is the interaction of your character and the other protagonists of the story. While they might ignore you now, they'll soon respect you after you accomplish minor feats. Your status and inventory are easily accessed in separate screens, which tell you what weapon you wield, what you armour you are wearing, and what magic item you are holding. Questron is certainly one of my all-time favourites for the Commodore 64, ranking up there with Legacy of the Ancients, Ultima IV, the Bard's Tale, and Phantasie.
