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What’s up with Sword of Fargoal® Sword of Fargoal has enjoyed a rebirth due to a steady C64 retro collector’s craze. There are many Google references to the game — which enjoyed its 20th anniversary in 2003 — including the following links. Please enjoy! Manuel Polik has created a great tribute page to Sword of Fargoal and other Epyx games! Armchair Arcade “Jeff McCord's The Sword of Fargoal, released in 1982 for the Commodore VIC 20 and updated in 1983 for the Commodore 64, is one of the most accessible and innovative of the 8-bit computer role playing games. Every serious “Commodork” is familiar with the title, and for good reason. As I see it, there are essentially two qualities that earn this game its venerable status as classic. First, it’s a highly accessible game that anyone can learn to play in minutes. Secondly, the creative “fog of war” effect, real-time gameplay, and creepy sound effects generate far more suspense than most other early RPGs. Even in 2006, nearly a quarter century after its release, The Sword of Fargoal still offers compelling and addictive gameplay.” — Matt Barton Wikipedia.org “Sword of Fargoal” Entry “Sword of Fargoal” was a computer game written in 1982 by Jeff McCord. The November 1996 anniversary issue of Computer Gaming World listed Sword of Fargoal as #147 on the “Top 150 Best Video Games of All Time.” — Wikipedia.org “…this game definitely is a charmer.” “If you have an evening you want to spend on a fun, quick-to-learn RPG, or if you have to wait til the kitchen floor's dry after mopping it, you'll lick your fingers in delight on this little gem.” — Kon-Tiki Read these great review at “Home of the Underdogs” where we achieved a “Top Dog” rating for both the original game and the authorized remake! In their own words: “Sword of Fargoal may not look like much now, but it was one of the great, largely forgotten milestones in Roguelike games. If you want a fun Roguelike that remains enjoyable more than a decade after its first release, check out this true pioneer in the genre. Sword of Fargoal is a lot of fun, and provides a great adrenaline rush when that countdown starts after you get the sword and must get the hell out ;) Two thumbs up, way up.” My favourite VIC-20 game was “Sword of Fargoal” which tainted me for life, as I am still an avid consumer of Rogue-like games. Author, Jeff Strand, mentions Sword of Fargoal in his story. Sword of Fargoal, I am proud to say, ranks 147th! (though they have the date wrong by almost a decade with 1992 instead of 1983.) |
