Before There Was Skyrim… Look What I Found In My Closet

Before there was Skyrim fantasy gaming still existed.

I know it’s late July, but I finally got around to doing some much needed spring cleaning. My house was starting to look like Breezehome after a month of dungeon diving, and the clutter was building up (all right, maybe not as bad as Breezehome with cheese wheels and assorted bits of armor and weapons scattered about, but nasty nonetheless).

This weekend I tackled the bedroom closet and did some serious work, winnowing my collection of superhero t-shirts, books, and camping gear. Among the flotsam and jetsam of my de-hoard, I came across two ancient Atari 2600 games that brought a smile to my face. Check out the pictures below:

Before There Was Skyrim…

Now I realize that most of you may not remember these games, but believe me Venture and Crypts of Chaos were a big deal back in the day. In 1982, this was fantasy gaming at its finest. Before there was Skyrim, there were still dungeons to explore, monsters to vanquish, and treasures to hoard. Everything to mesmerize a kid for a few hours after school…

Venture was my favorite (I liked shooting monsters with my “bow and arrow”), while Crypts of Chaos offered a rare “first person” experience that was cutting edge for its time. Looking at these two classics, it’s amazing to see how far video games have advanced. As gamers, we now live in an age of miracles and wonders, and it’s exciting to think about what the next 30 years will bring.

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Check out the game play in the YouTube videos below. The videos will either bring back good memories or howls of laughter — depending on how old you are.

[youtube_sc url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTA_s0Xco4g”]

[youtube_sc url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqVYW7Vfc7s”]