Please help restore my pathetic memory about a VIC-20 game

globalmanjohn · Post by **globalmanjohn** » Sat Nov 02, 2013 5:07 am

Greetings Everyone,

I am new to this forum. I was the proud owner of a VIC-20 in my early teens.

One of the games I played on my VIC (if I remember, someone gave me a copied cassette of it) was absolutely awesome! Probably the first adventure game I played, I guess before Atari's 'Adventure' game.

But for the life of me I can't remember the title !

I remember the main character has to fight his way through enemies and gain points to become stronger. There was some sort of map, with simple topography such as forests, swamps, etc.
Then - when the character had enough strength points (and perhaps arms and defenses, as well) - he went to some underground cavern to fight a fierce dragon. Very difficult fight, if I recall. Then, if I remember correctly, defeating the dragon ended the game.

Does anyone know which game this was ?

I (and my pathetic memory) will greatly appreciate it !

Thanks,
John

Vic20-Ian · Post by **Vic20-Ian** » Sat Nov 02, 2013 5:21 am

To help narrow it down

Any words from the title?

USA or Europe?

Graphic adventures - there were not so many.

Was there a role play element with parameters window e.g. Strength, Stamina etc.

Was there any 3d maze?

Was the battle turn based?

Mayhem · Post by **Mayhem** » Sat Nov 02, 2013 5:23 am

As someone who's probably played more Vic20 games than anyone else, this isn't ringing any immediate bells with me. So more information needed as Ian asks for. Who knows, it might even be a game I don't have...!

Vic20-Ian · Post by **Vic20-Ian** » Sat Nov 02, 2013 5:33 am

The Wizard and The Princess by Melbourne House had 5 stages

1. Enter the castle
2. Slay the dragon - had an animated neck
3. Labyrinth - 3d maze
4. Find the Princess and rescue her - room by room battle
5. Escape from the castle (battle the Troll)

Each stage loaded separately

globalmanjohn · Post by **globalmanjohn** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 2:38 am

Thank You Everyone !
I highly appreciate your replies to my post.

I do believe it was turn-based, and RPG style.
(it must have been the first graphics RPG I ever played).
There were Strength points. Perhaps Hit points.
The character had some sort of sword or weapon.
Seemed very advanced for its time.

I very much remember traversing the lands, trying to gain Strength or some sort of beneficial points. There were forests, swamps, grasslands and other areas of the land map. Many creatures to fight and kill.
One creature I remember (for some reason) was the SLIME !

There may have been cities or villages to go to, other than the open landscape I described above, but this part is blurry for me.

Only when the character had enough points could he go to confront the dragon. The Dragon was in a cavern below the surface. There was sort of a cut-away view of the cavern, so the character was on the left side and the large dragon was on the right side. If I recall correctly, I was able to send some advance warriors (in the form of simple dots) to fight the dragon, but they perished quickly. I do remember the Dragon was very difficult to defeat !

I do not recall any princess, but could be I forgot.
I don't remember anything about the title, and not sure US or Europe.

Another clue to this mystery: The game was on a cassette, which I believe was given to me as a 'copy' of the original, and I have the vague recollection of using my own cassette tape player to play the game. Could be this 'copy' was not complete somehow, so maybe I did not get to play the whole game.

There is also the possibility that this was not a VIC game, but other than an Atari 2600 (which this game certainly was not) I don't remember having other ways to play games...

ridgerunner · Post by **ridgerunner** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 12:03 pm

It sounds a bit like Dragonstomper for the Atari 2600 by Starpath.

Vic20-Ian · Post by **Vic20-Ian** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 1:01 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ6uHOhf2AA

Dragon Stomper clip on you tube.

It has the dot as the player and trees and swamps.

No dragon on the video.

Kweepa · Post by **Kweepa** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 5:31 pm

Given that Dragonstomper also has the SLIME enemy, and this second video of the dragon fight with little warrior dots, it seems like the perfect match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQz23JnloMc

Interesting game on the 2600! Of course by 1982 there were more sophisticated RPGs out there, such as Wizardry I & II and Ultima I & II.

globalmanjohn · Post by **globalmanjohn** » Mon Nov 04, 2013 1:08 am

Yes, that's it !

Thank You - Thank You - Thank You !!!

So it was indeed a 2600 game.
On the Youtube I noticed it is a 'Supercharger' game -- I had forgotten all about that system.
This explains why I played the game on a cassette, and that is why I thought it was a VIC game...since Atari games were generally on a cartridge. I associated the cartridge with PC.
That also explains the mystery of me using my personal cassette tape player to play games -- I was using that for the Supercharger for Atari, not the VIC. Over the years, I got the two confused - my memory thought I used the tape player on my VIC-20.

It is all cleared up !

Now all I need to do is figure how to play those Supercharger games like Dragonstomper, somehow maybe on a PC.

Thanks again to all of you !!!

TBCVIC · Post by **TBCVIC** » Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:15 am

That game was pretty cool. I have never tested my Supercharger, maybe I should try it with this game.

darkatx · Post by **darkatx** » Mon Nov 04, 2013 6:54 am

This is one of the many reasons I like being here...great helpful friendly group!

globalmanjohn · Post by **globalmanjohn** » Tue Nov 05, 2013 7:27 am

Yes a great friendly group !!

It was indeed a cool game, especially for its time.
I am thinking to get an old Supercharger and play some of those old games.

ridgerunner · Post by **ridgerunner** » Tue Nov 05, 2013 3:51 pm

Both phaser patrol & official frogger are superb on the 2600/supercharger.

globalmanjohn · Post by **globalmanjohn** » Tue Nov 05, 2013 11:20 pm

Escape from the Mastermind and Survival Island also looked cool, but I don't recall if I had played them ...

ridgerunner · Post by **ridgerunner** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 1:57 am

Yes, Mindmaster was good, also Communist Mutants from space. Pity the Supercharger had gotten so expensive these days, it was a really neat little device.