Ultima. If you like any JRPG, you owe about half of the thanks to Ultima. (The other half goes to Wizardy). If you like any western RPG, you just owe the thanks to Ultima. Id there's a levelling system, it's probably traceable to Ultima Not just forgotten or abandoned, actively murdered by EA.
headfallsoffwhat's everyone else's fab examples of once massively popular and influential landmark titles in especially western games from back in the day that have just been forgotten and abandoned completely now. mine is black and white