Isometric View Games: 1992 (Quest for Glory III, Ultima VII, Ultima Underworld, Flashback and Alone in the Dark are released)
1990|1991|1992|1993|1994|1995|1996|1997|1998|1999
Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole (MD, 1992)
Subgenre: Action Adventure
Perspective: Isometric view
Other: Platforming (no jump shadow)
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
The Summoning (PC, 1992)
Subgenre: ARPG/Quest Adventure w/ Eye of the Beholder-like combat (click on icons to attack) but freer movement
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Precursor of sorts to Diablo (mouse-driven movement), Use-based progression for weapons
-Save feature
-Interactive dialogue w/ text parser
-Weapon deterioration
-Good map system w/ auto-mapper
-Shows damage dealt and taken on top of the sprites during combat - Final Fantasy III/Darklands (1992)
-Some ability/tool gating (boots of levitation to bypass some obstacles, magic wall spell to wigh down some plates)
-Teleport spell
Longplay w/ commentary - Review
Outliers:
Ultima VII (PC) - WRPG, Real-time combat, Semi-isometric, Party-based, No platforming
The Four Crystals of Trazere/Legend (AMI/ST/PC, 1992)? - RPG, Party-based w/ real time combat (pauses when selecting spells), Isometric
Shadowlands (AMI/ST/PC, 1992) - ARPG?, Isometric, Mouse-driven, Party-based, Level-based?
FoV based on carried torches
Rome AD 92/Rome: Pathway to Power (AMI/PC, 1991)? - Semi-Action Adventure (level/chapter-based)/RTT hybrid, Isometric, Mouse controls (icon interface), Similar to Adventures of Robin Hood, No platforming
-Hire mercenaries
-Can own slaves and have them fight in gladiatorial battle
-Can bribe NPCs to make them vote for you in elections
-Map feature
-Reputation system?
-Day/night cycle
Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole (MD, 1992)
Subgenre: Action Adventure
Perspective: Isometric view
Other: Platforming (no jump shadow)
- Move boxes and other objects (even some NPCs) around and stack them on top of each other to reach further
- Enemies also affect switches (similar to FF Adventure)
- Great puzzles and dungeon designs overall (some creative puzzles)
- Good dialogue and storytelling for the time with a non-typical premise and a lot of humour (play as a treasure hunter rather than a hero, not a damsel in distress or save the world story)
- Solid amount of side quests
- The axe magic item lets you cut down discolored trees
- Talk to dogs with the Einstein’s Whistle item
- Some other interesting items (Bell item rings when there is a Life Stock/HP upgrade in the area (similar to an item in Dragon Quest), the Pawn Ticket item changes HP into money)
- Charge attacks (Zelda 3, Crystalis; works similarly to FF Adventure) and items that make your sword fully charged for a limited time
- Fairy sidekick (Friday - provides some banter and auto-saves you from death if you have herbs - Magic of Scheherazade)
- There's a basic island map but you can't carry it with you
- Fast travel/teleport system via the big trees (unlocked about halfway through the game)
- Key gating only
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
The Summoning (PC, 1992)
Subgenre: ARPG/Quest Adventure w/ Eye of the Beholder-like combat (click on icons to attack) but freer movement
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Precursor of sorts to Diablo (mouse-driven movement), Use-based progression for weapons
-Save feature
-Interactive dialogue w/ text parser
-Weapon deterioration
-Good map system w/ auto-mapper
-Shows damage dealt and taken on top of the sprites during combat - Final Fantasy III/Darklands (1992)
-Some ability/tool gating (boots of levitation to bypass some obstacles, magic wall spell to wigh down some plates)
-Teleport spell
Longplay w/ commentary - Review
Outliers:
Ultima VII (PC) - WRPG, Real-time combat, Semi-isometric, Party-based, No platforming
The Four Crystals of Trazere/Legend (AMI/ST/PC, 1992)? - RPG, Party-based w/ real time combat (pauses when selecting spells), Isometric
Shadowlands (AMI/ST/PC, 1992) - ARPG?, Isometric, Mouse-driven, Party-based, Level-based?
FoV based on carried torches
Rome AD 92/Rome: Pathway to Power (AMI/PC, 1991)? - Semi-Action Adventure (level/chapter-based)/RTT hybrid, Isometric, Mouse controls (icon interface), Similar to Adventures of Robin Hood, No platforming
-Hire mercenaries
-Can own slaves and have them fight in gladiatorial battle
-Can bribe NPCs to make them vote for you in elections
-Map feature
-Reputation system?
-Day/night cycle