Akalabeth

Akalabeth is a computer role-playing game developed by Richard Garriott and published by California Pacific Computer Company in 1979. It is considered an early precursor to the Ultima series, also created by Garriott. The game was initially released for the Apple II computer and is often cited as one of the first graphical role-playing games.

In Akalabeth, players control a warrior tasked with defeating the evil sorcerer Multic all of Acheron. The gameplay involves exploring a dungeon, fighting monsters, and collecting treasures. The game features a first-person perspective for dungeon exploration, with a simulated 3D environment that was groundbreaking for its time. Combat is turn-based, with the player encountering enemies as they navigate the labyrinthine dungeons.

The game's premise involves venturing into the dungeons of the Black Mountains to slay Multic all, who has cursed the land. Players must gather magical artifacts and weapons to aid them in their quest. Akalabeth's development was influenced by tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. While primitive by modern standards, its use of graphics and interactive gameplay laid important groundwork for future computer role-playing games. It was a commercial success and contributed to the burgeoning personal computer gaming market of the late 1970s.