Summary

Release Year: 1981
Genres: Role-playing game (RPG)
Platforms: Apple II, Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS, Family Computer, FM-7, Game Boy Color, Mac, MSX, Nintendo Entertainment System, PC-8800 Series, PC-9800 Series, Sharp X1, Super Famicom, WonderSwan Color
Developers: Sir-tech Software
Publishers: ASCII Corporation, Bandai

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981): A Journey into the Depths of Fantasy

In the annals of video game history, few titles hold the same reverence and nostalgia as Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, released in 1981 for the Apple II. This groundbreaking dungeon-crawling RPG laid the foundation for the genre, captivating players with its deep character customization, challenging combat, and seemingly endless replayability.

A Tale of Power, Madness, and Redemption

The story of Wizardry unfolds in the realm of Llylgamyn, where the once-benevolent Mad Overlord Trebor has descended into madness after acquiring a magical amulet of immense power. This amulet, stolen from him by his nemesis, the evil archmage Werdna, accidentally causes an earthquake that creates a ten-level dungeon beneath Trebor’s castle.

To salvage his pride, Werdna declares the dungeon to be his new lair and populates it with hordes of monsters. Trebor, not to be outdone, proclaims the labyrinth to be his new Proving Grounds, where adventurers must prove their worth to join his elite honor guard and, in the process, retrieve his stolen amulet.

Creating Your Party of Adventurers

At the heart of Wizardry lies the character creation system, which allows players to generate a party of up to six adventurers. Each character can be customized with a unique race, alignment, and class.

Races:

Human: Well-rounded with no major strengths or weaknesses
Elf: Agile and intelligent, with bonuses to ranged combat and spellcasting
Dwarf: Sturdy and strong, with bonuses to melee combat and constitution
Gnome: Small and nimble, with bonuses to stealth and lockpicking
Hobbit: Peaceful and lucky, with bonuses to charisma and perception

Alignments:

Good: Characters aligned with good receive bonuses to healing and protection spells, but penalties to attack spells
Neutral: Characters aligned with neutrality have no bonuses or penalties
Evil: Characters aligned with evil receive bonuses to attack spells, but penalties to healing and protection spells

Classes:

Fighter: Melee combat specialist with high strength and endurance
Priest: Healing and protection spellcaster with high piety and wisdom
Mage: Attack spellcaster with high intelligence and willpower
Thief: Stealth and utility specialist with high agility and dexterity

Elite Classes:

As characters level up, they can evolve into elite classes if they meet the necessary requirements:

Bishop: Priest with access to mage spells
Samurai: Fighter with access to mage spells
Lord: Fighter with access to priest spells
Ninja: Fighter with access to thief abilities

Delving into the Proving Grounds

Once your party is assembled, it’s time to venture into the depths of the Proving Grounds. The dungeon is a 3D vector maze, filled with a variety of monsters, traps, and treasures.

Combat:

Combat in Wizardry is turn-based, with each character taking actions in sequence. Characters can attack with melee weapons, cast spells, or use special abilities. The outcome of combat is determined by a combination of character stats, weapon and spell power, and random dice rolls.

Exploration:

Exploration is just as important as combat in Wizardry. Players must carefully navigate the dungeon, searching for hidden passages, disarming traps, and solving puzzles. Along the way, they will encounter a variety of NPCs, both friendly and hostile.

Character Development:

As characters gain experience, they will level up, increasing their stats and abilities. They can also learn new spells and abilities by finding scrolls and books within the dungeon.

Legacy and Impact

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord was a groundbreaking game that set the standard for dungeon-crawling RPGs. Its deep character customization, challenging combat, and endless replayability have influenced countless games that came after it, including the Ultima and Might & Magic series.

Today, Wizardry remains a beloved classic, enjoyed by both retro gaming enthusiasts and modern RPG fans alike. Its simple yet elegant gameplay and timeless story continue to captivate players, proving that true greatness never goes out of style.

Review Score

9/10

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981)