In a recent article, the debate was raised about whether Dungeons and Dragons could be considered a retro video game. While tabletop RPGs have clear ties to video games, they are not the same thing. However, in 1989, Marukatsu PC Engine magazine introduced a mail-in RPG game called Lord of the Crystal, bridging the gap between tabletop RPGs and video games. RndStranger, also known as David Mathis, has created a YouTube video where viewers can play this unique game over the course of eighty minutes.
Playing a mail-in RPG like Lord of the Crystal may be a challenge to grasp at first, but as you learn the instructions, the game becomes more engaging. Players create characters with attributes like race, class, and God of worship, which remain constant throughout the game. The goal is to select tasks that align well with your character’s attributes to succeed. It may seem like a puzzle trying to figure out the best strategy, but some tasks are impossible to overcome, leading to the demise of your character.
While I personally found it challenging, playing Lord of the Crystal in a group setting can enhance the experience by integrating characters into a larger story. The game’s limited interactions and choices within the narrative capture the essence of retro gaming. Marukatsu PC Engine went on to create more correspondence games, including Double Moon Densetsu, which eventually became an NES game. The story behind these games is as intriguing as the gameplay itself, making Lord of the Crystal a nostalgic journey for old-school gamers.
Original article by www.oldschoolgamermagazine.com
