Times of Lore

Times of Lore - the 1988 action RPG for Commodore 64 from Origin Systems.

Explore the open world of Albareth as a lone adventurer uncovering political
plots and ancient magic through real-time combat and dialogue.

Core loop
- travel freely across towns, forests, and dungeons
- talk with NPCs to gain quests and clues
- fight monsters in real time using weapons and spells

Systems and items
- inventory - limited slots for weapons, potions, and keys
- day-night cycle - affects encounters and visibility
- dialogue system - simple keyword-based conversation
- three classes - Knight, Barbarian, or Valkyrie with distinct stats

Level design and feel
Seamless top-down world with smooth scrolling and no loading breaks. Emphasis on
exploration and immersion over stat micromanagement.

Why it is notable
- designed by Chris Roberts before creating Wing Commander
- advanced open-world engine influenced later Origin titles
- accessible RPG that bridged arcade and adventure audiences

Tips
- note NPC hints carefully; quest chains depend on timing
- save potions for extended dungeon runs
- use terrain edges to funnel multiple enemies

At a glance
Year - 1988
Developer - Origin Systems
Design and programming - Chris Roberts
Graphics - Chris Roberts and Keith Berdak
Music - Martin Galway
Publisher - Origin Systems
Genre - Action RPG
Players - 1
Controls - Joystick in port 2 with keyboard input