Cavequest

The Good
As far as I know, this is pretty much the first ARPG ever. If it isn't then it pretty close. If you like the SoulsBorne games, there is a lot here that is going to feel familiar. Set encounters (until the lower levels), stamina management, enemies that respawn every time you leave/die, different weapons that allow for some play style variance, penalties for death, buffs, etc. The manual and it's accompanying lore book are excellent. This is where you'll find the lore, descriptions of the enemies you'll encounter, explanations of what the weapons and armor that are available to you in the shop, treasure values, the lot. All presented as from a dungeon master running a game. It feel a lot like a passion project by Gary Gygax. If you are an old time DnD player who remembers the old modules, it's going to tickle that nostalgia itch.

The Bad
top of the list: developed in 1985. Just about every criticism can be tied back to that. The controls are... rough. This game happened while the conventions for how to interface with a game were still being sorted out. ie: S for swing, Q for Quaff, T for throw, number pad for your controls. There is no counter for your stamina, you just have to figure out how many times you can swing and how many steps you can take before you lock up. (yes, steps take stamina) There's a lot of just figuring it out. it doesn't hold your hand and it expects you to read the manual. The only other nitpick I have is that it isn't very long and just kinda peters out once you have done all the things. once you have maxed your stats and have the best gear. even the lowest level isn't that tough. (still not a walk in the park though) and there isn't really anything beyond that. No Boss, No big bad, no ending. you just end up going "now what?"

The Bottom Line
A marvel of what can be accomplished with less than 500kb, passion, and creativity. For it's time, it's an incredibly complex game. If you enjoy the mechanics of dark souls or love old school fantasy. It's worth a try. Just read the manual or your going to have a bad time. It's not very long (look at the file size), but can be a fun trip to a simpler time.

(disclaimer: I've been playing this game since it came out as a kid. So I am INCREDIBLY biased)