First Person & Third Person Games: 1985 (Ultima IV, Déjà Vu, Brain Breaker and Dragon Buster are released)
1984|1985|1986|1987|1988|1989
Mercenary: Escape from Targ (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: 3D Flight & Spaceflight Sim/Action Adventure
Perspective: FP view
Other: No jumping
-Wireframe 3D graphics, decent framerate
-Interplanetary travel
-Open-ended structure (can help either of two factions to earn money and buy your escape (the goal of the game) or find another way to escape)
-Compass
-Trading
-Partially destructible environment
-Called an Action Adventure back in the day (as well as a hybrid of Adventure and other genres)
Playthrough (Speedrun, Commodore Plus/4) - Video Review - Mini Review
Tau Ceti (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: Vehicle Sim/FPS, Open World?, Wireframe 3D
Perspective: FP view
-Large world
-Scanner
-Compass
-Day/night cycle
-Some vehicle customization (refuel and repair, install flares/missiles/amm)
-Fast travel between cities (jump pad)
-Called a Real-Time Adventure, RTS Adventure and a Shooting Adventure back in the day
Playthrough (Spectrum) - Video Review - Mini Review
The Bard's Tale (Multi, 1985)
Subgenre: RPG
Perspective: FP view
Other: Turn-based combat
Playthrough w/ commentary (C64) - Video Review - Mini Review
Ultima IV (Multi, 1985)
Subgenre: Open World WRPG
Perspective: TD View/FP View hybrid (TD only on SMS?)
Other: TB battles
-Virtue quiz character creation
-Large and fairly in-depth world
-Interactive dialogue
-Unique premise (become a better person)
-Cutscenes (later versions)
-Sextant item (navigation/astronomy tool)
Playthrough (AII) - Video Review - Mini Review
King's Quest II (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: Quest Adventure
Perspective: Mixed perspective
Other: Can move with the keyboard keys?, Text parser
Save feature
No in-game maps
Playthrough (PC) - Video Review - Mini Review (Romancing the Throne remake)
Quake Minus One (C64, 1985)
Subgenre: FPS/RTS Hybrid?
Perspective: FP view
Other: Isometric hub map, Recapturing mission
-Isometric mini-map
-Item inventory?
-No save feature?
Playthrough
The Eidolon (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: Maze Shooter/Puzzle, Pseudo-3D
Perspective: FP view
Other: Time limit (can regain time by collecting blue fireballs), Barriers requiring colored jewels
-Compass but no map? (level counter shows which level/floor (?) you are on)
-Proximity meter in the HUD shows how close you are to the dragon
-Temporarily freeze enemies with blue fireballs, randomly transform enemies with green fireballs (puzzle/progression uses?)
-No save or password save?
Koronis Rift (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: 3D Maze Shooter/FPS/Action Adventure?
Perspective: FP view
Other: Vehicle-based (tank)
-Area-based but non-linear?
-Send out a drone to loot shipwrecks and artifacts (for batteries, shields, weapons)
-Detailed topography
-No map?
-Save anywhere?
Rescue on Fractalus! (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: 3D Free-roaming Shooter, Rescue mission
Perspective: FP view
Other: Flight-based and level-based (can select starting level before beginning)
-Detailed topography
-Compass and enemy radar, No map?
-No save or password save?
The Screamer (PC-88, 1985/PC-98/X1, 1986)(fan translated)
Subgenre: Dungeon Crawler RPG/Side View action (combat encounters) hybrid
Perspective: FP view/SV hybrid
Other: Towns, Jumping
Look and Give commands
Compass, No maps?
Save feature?
Mercenary: Escape from Targ (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: 3D Flight & Spaceflight Sim/Action Adventure
Perspective: FP view
Other: No jumping
-Wireframe 3D graphics, decent framerate
-Interplanetary travel
-Open-ended structure (can help either of two factions to earn money and buy your escape (the goal of the game) or find another way to escape)
-Compass
-Trading
-Partially destructible environment
-Called an Action Adventure back in the day (as well as a hybrid of Adventure and other genres)
Playthrough (Speedrun, Commodore Plus/4) - Video Review - Mini Review
Tau Ceti (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: Vehicle Sim/FPS, Open World?, Wireframe 3D
Perspective: FP view
-Large world
-Scanner
-Compass
-Day/night cycle
-Some vehicle customization (refuel and repair, install flares/missiles/amm)
-Fast travel between cities (jump pad)
-Called a Real-Time Adventure, RTS Adventure and a Shooting Adventure back in the day
Playthrough (Spectrum) - Video Review - Mini Review
The Bard's Tale (Multi, 1985)
Subgenre: RPG
Perspective: FP view
Other: Turn-based combat
Playthrough w/ commentary (C64) - Video Review - Mini Review
Ultima IV (Multi, 1985)
Subgenre: Open World WRPG
Perspective: TD View/FP View hybrid (TD only on SMS?)
Other: TB battles
-Virtue quiz character creation
-Large and fairly in-depth world
-Interactive dialogue
-Unique premise (become a better person)
-Cutscenes (later versions)
-Sextant item (navigation/astronomy tool)
Playthrough (AII) - Video Review - Mini Review
King's Quest II (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: Quest Adventure
Perspective: Mixed perspective
Other: Can move with the keyboard keys?, Text parser
Save feature
No in-game maps
Playthrough (PC) - Video Review - Mini Review (Romancing the Throne remake)
Quake Minus One (C64, 1985)
Subgenre: FPS/RTS Hybrid?
Perspective: FP view
Other: Isometric hub map, Recapturing mission
-Isometric mini-map
-Item inventory?
-No save feature?
Playthrough
The Eidolon (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: Maze Shooter/Puzzle, Pseudo-3D
Perspective: FP view
Other: Time limit (can regain time by collecting blue fireballs), Barriers requiring colored jewels
-Compass but no map? (level counter shows which level/floor (?) you are on)
-Proximity meter in the HUD shows how close you are to the dragon
-Temporarily freeze enemies with blue fireballs, randomly transform enemies with green fireballs (puzzle/progression uses?)
-No save or password save?
Koronis Rift (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: 3D Maze Shooter/FPS/Action Adventure?
Perspective: FP view
Other: Vehicle-based (tank)
-Area-based but non-linear?
-Send out a drone to loot shipwrecks and artifacts (for batteries, shields, weapons)
-Detailed topography
-No map?
-Save anywhere?
Rescue on Fractalus! (PCs, 1985)
Subgenre: 3D Free-roaming Shooter, Rescue mission
Perspective: FP view
Other: Flight-based and level-based (can select starting level before beginning)
-Detailed topography
-Compass and enemy radar, No map?
-No save or password save?
The Screamer (PC-88, 1985/PC-98/X1, 1986)(fan translated)
Subgenre: Dungeon Crawler RPG/Side View action (combat encounters) hybrid
Perspective: FP view/SV hybrid
Other: Towns, Jumping
Look and Give commands
Compass, No maps?
Save feature?