Druid

Druid is a hack and slash dungeon crawl that originally hit Atari 8-bit computers and the Commodore 64 in 1986, developed by Electralyte Software and published by Firebird. It later saw ports to the Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum, and in 1988 Nippon Dexter brought it to the MSX in Japan only. This MSX 2 version is a straight port of the original, offering the same top-down view and real-time combat that defined the genre on home computers of the mid-80s. It's not a hack or mod, just a regional release for a system that rarely saw western action RPGs. The player takes control of a wizard exploring a series of underground dungeons. Movement is in real time across a grid-based map, and enemies appear as you push deeper into each level. Combat is simple: you attack by facing an enemy and pressing the action button, and you can cast spells by collecting runes scattered around. The goal is to clear each floor of monsters, gather keys to unlock doors, and eventually defeat the boss to progress. There is no complex story or character progression, just straightforward dungeon clearing with a focus on positioning and timing. Druid is worth trying today if you enjoy early action RPGs like Gauntlet or the original Legend of Zelda, though it is much more primitive. The MSX 2 port is a rare find, making it a curiosity for collectors of Japanese computer games. Its graphics are simple and the gameplay repetitive by modern standards, but it captures the arcade-like dungeon crawl experience that was popular in the era. If you want a quick, no-nonsense dungeon romp and appreciate the history of the genre, Druid delivers a solid, if basic, challenge.