Crimson

About

Crimson is a 1987 RPG where you play a lone hero hunting down the monster Crimson to fulfill your father's dying request. The game splits exploration between a top-down world map and maze-like hostile areas filled with dungeons. Towns let you stock up on gear and rest at inns. Combat is turn-based and first-person, letting you attack, defend, or use items. The world map avoids random encounters, focusing on direct exploration while hostile zones hide enemies that trigger in real time. What sets Crimson apart is its open-ended structure, most of the map is accessible early, letting you tackle challenges in any order. The first-person battle view adds a personal edge to fights, a contrast to other RPGs of the era. Originally released on older Japanese platforms like the Sharp X1 and MSX, it carved out a niche with its straightforward yet flexible design.