''Questron'' is a 1984 game from

Strategic Simulations Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) was a video game developer and publisher of over 100 games from its founding in 1979 to its dissolution in 1994 (though the brand was in use until around 2002). The company focused on computer wargames then lat ...

, the first fantasy title from a company known for computer wargames. It was written by Charles Dougherty and Gerald Wieczorek and released for the

Apple II Apple II ("apple Roman numerals, two", stylized as Apple ][) is a series of microcomputers manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. from 1977 to 1993. The Apple II (original), original Apple II model, which gave the series its name, was designed ...

, Atari 8-bit computers, and Commodore 64. A sequel, ''

Questron II ''Questron II'' a 1988 role-playing video game published by Strategic Simulations for the Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC compatibles, and Amiga. It is the sequel to 1984's ''Questron (video game), Questron''. The story and o ...

'', was released in 1988. After a
out-of-court settlement
the structure and style of the game were both officially licensed from

Richard Garriott Richard Allen Garriott de Cayeux (''né'' Garriott; born 4 July 1961) is a British-born American video game developer, entrepreneur and private astronaut. Garriott, who is the son of NASA astronaut Owen Garriott, was originally a game designer ...

, author of ''

Akalabeth ''Akalabeth: World of Doom'' () is a role-playing video game created in 1979 for the Apple II by Richard Garriott, and published by California Pacific Computer Company in 1980. Garriott designed the game as a hobbyist project, which is now rec ...

'' and ''

Ultima Ultima may refer to: Places * Ultima, Victoria, a town in Australia * Pangaea Ultima, a supercontinent to occur in the future * ''Ultima'', the larger lobe of the trans-Neptunian object 486958 Arrokoth, nicknamed ''Ultima Thule'' Companies and ...

''.From Questron in-game menu screen, Apple II and Commodore 64 versions.

Gameplay

In the first ''Questron'' game, the player takes on the role of a young serf who tries to make a name for himself by traveling the realm in order to gain the power and experience necessary to defeat the wicked "Mantor", ruler of the "Land of Evil". The view is mostly in

top-down Top-down may refer to: Arts and entertainment * "Top Down", a 2007 song by Swizz Beatz * "Top Down", a song by Lil Yachty from ''Lil Boat 3'' * "Top Down", a song by Fifth Harmony from ''Reflection'' * "Topdown", a song by Channel Tres from the ...

style for the world maps and town encounters, but switches to a first-person style in the dungeons of the Land of Evil. Some features were novel for a game of its type at the time of its release. First there are two "games within a game" that allow the character to permanently increase dexterity or intelligence attributes if completed successfully. Also, various casinos about the towns allow the player to gamble for gold pieces in games of

blackjack Blackjack (formerly black jack or ''vingt-un'') is a casino banking game. It is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. It uses decks of 52 cards and descends from a global family of casino banking games known as " twenty-one ...

roulette Roulette (named after the French language, French word meaning "little wheel") is a casino game which was likely developed from the Italy, Italian game Biribi. In the game, a player may choose to place a bet on a single number, various grouping ...

, and

double or nothing Double or nothing (UK often double or quits) is a gamble to decide whether a loss or debt should be doubled. The result of a "double or nothing" bet is either cancellation of a debt ''or'' the doubling of a debt. It can be seen as a gentleman's ag ...

. Various monsters and foes are immune or more vulnerable to different weapons. The player would occasionally have to switch weapons depending on which enemy they faced in order to defeat them. Magic spells can also be cast, but only in the dungeon levels.

Reception

''Questron'' was SSI's first RPG, and became the fastest-selling new game in the company's history at almost 35,000 copies in North America, more than triple the sales of the typical SSI game. Others followed, such as ''

Phantasie ''Phantasie'' is the first video game in the '' Phantasie'' series. Gameplay Based on the Isle of Gelnor, ''Phantasie'' allows a group of six characters to adventure the countryside and try to defeat the evil Black Knights and their sorcerer l ...

'', ''

Wizard's Crown ''Wizard's Crown'' is a top-down role-playing video game published by Strategic Simulations in 1986. It was released for the Atari 8-bit computers, Atari ST, IBM PC compatibles, Apple II, and Commodore 64. A sequel, ''The Eternal Dagger'', was re ...

'', ''

Gemstone Warrior ''Gemstone Warrior'' is a video game written by Canadian developer Paradigm Creators for the Apple II and published by Strategic Simulations in 1984. It is a 2D action-adventure game where the player controls an armored figure searching for trea ...

'', and the ''

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Several different editions of the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game have been produced since 1974. The current publisher of ''D&D'', Wizards of the Coast, produces new materials only for the most current edition of the ...

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games. ''

Computer Gaming World ''Computer Gaming World'' (CGW) was an American Video game journalism, computer game magazine that was published between 1981 and 2006. One of the few magazines of the era to survive the video game crash of 1983, it was sold to Ziff Davis in 199 ...

'' in 1984 wrote that "if you are in need of a new and challenging role-playing game similar in play to the ''Ultima'' scenarios, then look no further". James A. McPherson praised the 3-D dungeons and "an ending fit for a king", and concluded that "the differences from the ''Ultima'' type game do make ''Questron'' refreshing. I await the sequels". The magazine's Scorpia in 1991 and 1993 also liked the game and praised the ending. ''

Ahoy! ''Ahoy!'' was a computer magazine published between January 1984 and January 1989 in the US, covering on all Commodore color computers, primarily Commodore 64 and Amiga. History The first issue of ''Ahoy!'' was published in January 1984. The ...

'' in 1985 praised the Commodore 64 version of ''Questron'', describing it as "one of those game that you start playing and suddenly realize it's three hours past bedtime. SSI should label the box 'potentially hazardous to your sleep'".

Reviews

* ''

Casus Belli A (; ) is an act or an event that either provokes or is used to justify a war. A ''casus belli'' involves direct offenses or threats against the nation declaring the war, whereas a ' involves offenses or threats against its ally—usually one bou ...

'' #22 (Oct 1984) * '' Jeux & Stratégie'' #30 * '' Jeux & Stratégie'' HS #3

Legacy

Chuck and John Dougherty also created some similar games that were not direct sequels to ''Questron'' or ''

'': * ''

Legacy of the Ancients ''Legacy of the Ancients'' is a fantasy role-playing video game published by Electronic Arts in 1987. Gameplay The player takes on the role of a young shepherd who finds and loots a recently dead body while on a first trip to the city, taking a ...

'' * ''

The Legend of Blacksilver ''The Legend of Blacksilver'' is a fantasy role-playing video game developed by Charles W. Dougherty and John C. Dougherty of Quest, Inc. and published by Epyx in 1988. It is an indirect sequel to the game ''Legacy of the Ancients''. Originally d ...

References

External links

* * {{lemon64 game, id=2055, name=Questron
Images of Commodore 64 version of ''Questron'' box, manual, and screen shots
at C64Sets.com
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1984 video games Apple II games Atari 8-bit computer games Commodore 64 games Role-playing video games Single-player video games Strategic Simulations games Video games developed in the United States