The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Expanded Edition) goes over the history of the genre of RPGs, from its roots in Tabletop RPG games and Wargaming before that, to the first CRPGs on the PLUTO computer system. One thing that the book addresses right away is the question of what is a CRPG. CRPGs are often thought to be a term for Western RPGs, specifically Isometric style games, but this is inaccurate. CRPGs are RPGs that appear on computers, and this includes a variety of genres of RPGs, including JRPGs.
The book is comprised of entries from various contributors and covers a wide range of games, from the well-known, like Ultima, to the obscure like the Elvira RPG, while also providing quotes from developers, mod recommendations when possible, and more. What we have is a treasure trove of information about the long history of the type of game, and the different perspectives do help give a complete picture of the various games.
The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Expanded Edition) is broken down into sections, first covering the pre-history that led to the genre as mentioned, then starting in the 70s with the first CRPGs. From there, we go to the 80s where the genre took off, the 90s where it went through changes, the 2000s which were an interesting time for CRPGs and the present time, where CRPGs have undergone a renaissance. There are also text sections discussing various terms and concepts in CRPGs, like MUDs, blobbers and more, which may not be as familiar to some players.
As mentioned, The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Expanded Edition) takes its time to go into what a CRPG is, and some of the examples may surprise you. With discussion of multiple JRPGs, including the Ys series which began on the PC-88, to the PC port of Final Fantasy VII, to the recent port of Dragon Quest XI, it is clear that CRPG spans a wide spectrum. There is also a look at arcade games with RPG elements that have since come to Steam, such as Capcom’s Dungeons and Dragons games, which do count according to the book.
Other games that are not widely associated with CRPGs are mentioned here as well, with some names that may be surprising, such as the Diablo series, as well as Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II. Though the latter game is a real-time strategy game, The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Expanded Edition) argues that the game incorporates RPG elements, becoming a CRPG in the process.
Of course, the classics like Wizardry and Ultima are given detailed looks, and it is when looking at games like Ultima VII, we are shown in great detail how the game influenced other games, such as the Elder Scrolls series. Games such as Wasteland and Fallout are given a focus as well, along with a distinct timeline of CRPGs that shows how the games have evolved since their origin on the PLUTO computer system. While it is made clear that many of the early CRPGs are dated by today’s standards, it is also made clear that these games have a devoted fanbase still, even the more obscure games.
For some of the earlier CRPGs, time was taken to compare the different computer ports and how they functioned. An example is Defender of the Crown looking different on Amiga and on PC, and Wizardry looking different on computers and the NES. It is a nice touch and helps make clear just how much the early CRPGs could vary depending on what you played on.
There is also a new section for this Expanded Edition covering CRPGs from other countries such as Japan, China, Korea, France, Turkey and more, and this helps show how CRPGs are far more than just the Western games we associate them with. The main sections of the book do mention JRPGs like Ys, and how the PC-88 played a big role until console RPGs took off, but these expanded sections show just how much variety there was. CRPGs in China and France especially had some amazing titles, but sadly these types of games fell off in these areas.
There is also more attention given to MUDs, MMORPGs and so on, which gives more of a clear picture of what CRPGs evolved into, but there is something else made apparent from these sections. It is clear just how much console gaming affected the CRPG, but also vice versa for how console games were affected. The fan translation scene is also given a highlight, and we are shown how many of these foreign CRPGs now are being played by fans in countries they were never officially released in, and this has influenced countless developers who have tried these games.
I must also again mention Bitmap Books’ excellent care when shipping their product, as the book arrived tightly packed, and care was taken to avoid damage. The book arrived ahead of schedule and an eBook version was included within, which the screenshots in this review are taken from. Bitmap Books outdid themselves with this wonderfully made product, with high-quality material and excellent art on the hardcover.
For those wanting to look up specific games, there is a detailed listing of what games are on which pages, but bear in mind that some games are across multiple pages, while some pages have multiple games. There is also a list of recommended further reading, glossary and more. As mentioned, many of the entries have a list of recommended mods and this is another reason why The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Expanded Edition) is so good. This is not just a history book, but also a guide on the games which you may like, and ways to play them.
Indeed, emulators of various kinds are mentioned and it is clear the contributors want you to play these games, and experience what they experienced. This just makes the book feel more authentic in my opinion, and while there are sections that discuss how older CRPGs are harder for new gamers to get into, these sections also bother to explain why in great detail. With the added sections about foreign CRPGs and more, this is a book that is an essential resource for anyone wanting to play a CRPG.
This review is based on a physical copy of The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Expanded Edition) provided by the publisher. You can buy The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Expanded Edition) directly from Bitmap books here.
