First Person & Third Person Games: 1992 (Landstalker, Gargoyle's Quest II, Ultima VII, Soul Blazer, Flashback and King Colossus are released)
1990|1991|1992|1993|1994|1995|1996|1997|1998|1999
Quest for Glory III: Wages of War (PC, 1992)
Subgenre: Quest Adventure/ARPG hybrid
Perspective: Mixed/TP view (combat)
Other: Separate battle encounters
-Option to import your character from the previous game (can also change class in the process)
-Chance to run away before random battles
-More advanced bargaining interface (give specific offers to merchants)
-Can now click the mouth icon on yourself for more dialogue options (greeting characters and telling them about your adventures)
-Save and auto-save features
-Vague world map, No area maps?
-No time limits after the first couple of days (unlike in QfG2)
-Different ways to solve problems depending on which class you picked (focuses more on the fighter this time though)
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Alone in the Dark (Multi, 1992)
Subgenre: Survival Horror/AA, 3D-ish (3D models, pre-rendered backgrounds and static camera angles)
Perspective: TP View
Other: Stances system based on verbs (similar to Little Big Adventure: Fight, Open/Search, Close, Push, Jump (added when you reach the underground cave in the late game)), Selectable gender/sex (different intro only?)
-Oil lamp item which can be used to see in dark areas (barely, very limited FoV) as well as against a certain enemy
-Resource management
-Save feature (multiple slots, anywhere?)
-Audio logs in the form of letters with voice acted text
-Can get stuck by ruining items needed for later
-Upgradeable lifebar
-No maps
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Ultima Underworld (PC, 1992)?
Subgenre: RPG (dialogue trees, can kill NPCs, side quests, basic crafting - fishing pole+popcorn+torch), Almost full 3D
Perspective: FP view
Other: Jumping and Swimming (surface only?), Collectathon element (8 talismans, 3 tripartite key parts). Real-time combat, P&C+Keyboard controls
Save feature (anywhere?)
Various exploration/traversal spells+tools+skills (torch/light/night vision, long jump, fly, levitate, walk on water, stealth, slow fall?, speed?, daylight?, invisibility?, telekinesis?, reveal?, freeze time?, roaming sight, tremor?, search skill?, sneak skill?)
Map system w/ auto-mapper feature (also came with maps of the early areas), Compass
Teleporter beacon (Gate Travel spell - travel to a moonstone which can be placed anywhere)
-Made up language (lizardman language) which can be learned and used by the player to free an imprisoned NPC
Playthrough w/ commentary - Video Review - Mini Review
Rejection: Den-No Senshi (FMT, 1992)?
Subgenre: FPS/ARPG (exp point leveling)
Perspective: FP view
Other: Pseudo 3D w/ tile-based movement
Save feature?
Map feature?
Find Gameplay
Ashes of Empire (AMI, 1992/PC, 1993)
Subgenre: 3D Strategy/FPS/Vehicle Sim hybrid, Conquest mission
Perspective: TD/Isometric view (strategy phase)/FP view (action phase) hybrid
Other: Recruitment and trading, Tank, boat, submarine and plane vehicles, Hub maps (country and territory maps), Time limit
Save anywhere
Need to look after ethnic minorities in each territory
Fast travel via airlift
Persuasion mechanic
Resource management
Wait mechanic while in buildings
Auto-mapper for the strategic view but no mini-maps while in the action phase (there is an enemy radar and compass though)
Destructible buildings
Papers used for peaceful travel through territories (no other tool/ability gating besides the vehicles?)
Instructional Video
Outliers:
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary (PCs, 1992)
Subgenre: Quest Adventure/3D Space Flight & Combat Sim Hybrid
Perspective: Mixed perspective (planet exploration, party-based)/FP view (Space flight & combat) hybrid
Galaxy map but no area maps?
Save anywhere?
Dialogue trees
Fully voiced?
Playthrough
Robocop 3 (AMI/ST/PC, 1992)
Subgenre: 3D Misc Action/Driving Hybrid (FPS, Beat 'em up, Flight Combat), Level-based
Perspective: FP view
-Free-roaming driving levels where you chase a criminal as well as flight combat levels
-Mini-map in the driving levels, Basic radar in the flight combat levels
Quest for Glory III: Wages of War (PC, 1992)
Subgenre: Quest Adventure/ARPG hybrid
Perspective: Mixed/TP view (combat)
Other: Separate battle encounters
-Option to import your character from the previous game (can also change class in the process)
-Chance to run away before random battles
-More advanced bargaining interface (give specific offers to merchants)
-Can now click the mouth icon on yourself for more dialogue options (greeting characters and telling them about your adventures)
-Save and auto-save features
-Vague world map, No area maps?
-No time limits after the first couple of days (unlike in QfG2)
-Different ways to solve problems depending on which class you picked (focuses more on the fighter this time though)
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Alone in the Dark (Multi, 1992)
Subgenre: Survival Horror/AA, 3D-ish (3D models, pre-rendered backgrounds and static camera angles)
Perspective: TP View
Other: Stances system based on verbs (similar to Little Big Adventure: Fight, Open/Search, Close, Push, Jump (added when you reach the underground cave in the late game)), Selectable gender/sex (different intro only?)
-Oil lamp item which can be used to see in dark areas (barely, very limited FoV) as well as against a certain enemy
-Resource management
-Save feature (multiple slots, anywhere?)
-Audio logs in the form of letters with voice acted text
-Can get stuck by ruining items needed for later
-Upgradeable lifebar
-No maps
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Ultima Underworld (PC, 1992)?
Subgenre: RPG (dialogue trees, can kill NPCs, side quests, basic crafting - fishing pole+popcorn+torch), Almost full 3D
Perspective: FP view
Other: Jumping and Swimming (surface only?), Collectathon element (8 talismans, 3 tripartite key parts). Real-time combat, P&C+Keyboard controls
Save feature (anywhere?)
Various exploration/traversal spells+tools+skills (torch/light/night vision, long jump, fly, levitate, walk on water, stealth, slow fall?, speed?, daylight?, invisibility?, telekinesis?, reveal?, freeze time?, roaming sight, tremor?, search skill?, sneak skill?)
Map system w/ auto-mapper feature (also came with maps of the early areas), Compass
Teleporter beacon (Gate Travel spell - travel to a moonstone which can be placed anywhere)
-Made up language (lizardman language) which can be learned and used by the player to free an imprisoned NPC
Playthrough w/ commentary - Video Review - Mini Review
Rejection: Den-No Senshi (FMT, 1992)?
Subgenre: FPS/ARPG (exp point leveling)
Perspective: FP view
Other: Pseudo 3D w/ tile-based movement
Save feature?
Map feature?
Find Gameplay
Ashes of Empire (AMI, 1992/PC, 1993)
Subgenre: 3D Strategy/FPS/Vehicle Sim hybrid, Conquest mission
Perspective: TD/Isometric view (strategy phase)/FP view (action phase) hybrid
Other: Recruitment and trading, Tank, boat, submarine and plane vehicles, Hub maps (country and territory maps), Time limit
Save anywhere
Need to look after ethnic minorities in each territory
Fast travel via airlift
Persuasion mechanic
Resource management
Wait mechanic while in buildings
Auto-mapper for the strategic view but no mini-maps while in the action phase (there is an enemy radar and compass though)
Destructible buildings
Papers used for peaceful travel through territories (no other tool/ability gating besides the vehicles?)
Instructional Video
Outliers:
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary (PCs, 1992)
Subgenre: Quest Adventure/3D Space Flight & Combat Sim Hybrid
Perspective: Mixed perspective (planet exploration, party-based)/FP view (Space flight & combat) hybrid
Galaxy map but no area maps?
Save anywhere?
Dialogue trees
Fully voiced?
Playthrough
Robocop 3 (AMI/ST/PC, 1992)
Subgenre: 3D Misc Action/Driving Hybrid (FPS, Beat 'em up, Flight Combat), Level-based
Perspective: FP view
-Free-roaming driving levels where you chase a criminal as well as flight combat levels
-Mini-map in the driving levels, Basic radar in the flight combat levels