Back in the 80s, there simply weren’t that many options for “dungeon crawling” in the world of gaming. However, we did see some innovative titles that paved the way for what was to come. Like, for instance, the 1981 Sir-Tech release Wizardry.
Brutal in nature but still fascinating at its core, Wizardry introduced a compelling gameplay system using the most basic of visuals. And it moved the genre forward nicely, followed by a number of sequels for PC and consoles alike.
Now, Digital Eclipse, the retro masters that they are, have put a significant touch on the game with Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, which takes the original material and crafts an entirely new experience from it – while at the same time keeping helpful reminders about whence (whence?) it came.
The end result is a game that will definitely test your nerves, but offers something excellent for the long-term. What’s more, its presentation sets a standard for how to do retro right. We’ll explain a bit later in the review.
Venture Forth
Originally getting its start on Apple II (man, I’m old – I played that in middle school!), Wizardry is about taking chances. Sure, you could explore further and see what treasures await in the dungeon below. But there’s also a fair chance that your party will end up as mincemeat if you don’t level them up properly.
Digital Eclipse has kept that core gameplay intact, while wrapping everything nicely around a new contemporary setup. It’s fairly easier to go through maps now, as they’re in full 3D instead of “staticky” 80s 3D, as it were. That said, it’s easy to fall into unexpected counters or miss a wall that can be easily moved, with a little bit of effort.
The strategic battles are excellent, though, again, it helps to prepare. You can command your team to do different things – like parrying, a defensive tool – and then see how it all unfolds. Sometimes you win and can level up properly. Other times, everyone’s paralyzed and you mutter to yourself “I’ve made a huge mistake.”
But it’s not frustrating, just the nature of the beast. The more experienced you become in Wizardry, the more rewarding it becomes as you grow your characters and evolve. The end result leads to great battles, while the interface lets you visit the tavern and see what else you can do with your party. I just wish the battles were paced a little faster – but I can understand if the original team wanted to celebrate the spectacle of the fight.
It never hurts to have a pen and paper handy – like the old days! – but Wizardry feels like a comfortable port of the original. It’s highly approachable for newcomers, and older players will definitely appreciate the nuanced little touches. Just be ready, though – it’ll wipe you out if you aren’t careful.
A Bedazzling Presentation
Along with gameplay that will hold many for hours, Wizardry also pushes forward with one of the best presentation setups we’ve seen from Digital Eclipse to date.
The graphics are very well done, handled nicely in 3D with re-rendered enemies that breathe to life, rather than just “sitting there” as they did before. Their attacks look vicious as well, especially the ghosts that charge at you from out of nowhere. Ouch. More fighting backgrounds would’ve been nice, but the ones provided here are excellent.
What’s more, the game pulls off a remarkable trick. You can actually see how the game would’ve played out back in 1981 on a small corner of the screen, as it emulates beautifully with what you’re doing in the current game. You can change things around if you find it a bit unnecessary, but I think it’s very cool.
There are other nuances that are great, including how words like “ACK!” appear on the screen when you run into walls, and other surprises I won’t dare ruin. This is how you bring a game back from “the day!”
As for music, it’s pretty good. Not life changing by any means, but ideal for dungeon crawling. Plus the sound effects are well done too, albeit a bit minimal. But considering how lively the visuals are, you probably won’t mind in the least.
Embrace the Wizard
If you didn’t bother with the original Wizardry, you may not entirely be sold on what Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord has to offer. The gameplay is mostly the same, though the new presentation does make it much more appealing.
However, I think it’s worth giving a try. The battle system, though brutal in spots, is very well done, and the touches Digital Eclipse have added to this universe – especially the original Apple II overlay – is astounding. It’ll definitely keep you busy for hours at a time as you level up your party to something fierce.
Give it a shot. Whether you’re a newbie or a long-time fan, it won’t be hard to see what kind of spell Digital Eclipse cast here.
GAMERHUB RATING: FOUR (out of FIVE) JOYSTICKS
Huge thanks to Digital Eclipse for the review code!
