Wizardry 8 Demo

The cRPG genre is not a very popular nowadays, or at least not in its original and most successful form. Technically, the Might and Magic series, Eye of the Beholder, Dungeon Master and even The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall are the titles that basically made this type of games popular, although the latter does not share the turn-based combat mechanics, nor the party creation gimmick with the rest of the examples.

However, Wizardry is also a franchise that popularized and improved the genre, especially since it has such a long history and quite the respectable number of releases under its belt, spanning over two decades and culminating into a final trilogy, Dark Savant.

Wizardry 8 is the last title in the series and it also represents the conclusion to the Dark Savant saga, which means that the plot ties in together the events from the previous two games as well, in a most memorable manner. Hence, in case you are a fan of the franchise and you at least tried the sixth and the seventh release, this episode should put any concerns you may have at rest and provide you with closure when it comes to the incredible tale that had you traveling the realm every-which way, looking for answers.

Now, as far as the actual plot goes, it is worth noting that there are many choices you can make along the way in order to influence the story and experience a different playthrough every time, although there are several major turning points as well, in which a prompt decision is actually required in order to choose a certain path. Without spoiling too much of the fun, the underlying concept is quite simple, really, since all you have to do is collect three artifacts and bring them with you to a pedestal, where their power can be unleashed. Along the way, on the other hand, many small dialogue options can change the outcome of the scene, even if the actual ending is not at all very flexible and it does not matter what choices you make.

This might seem as a bit of a disappointment and it sort of is, in a way, considering the fact that you are encouraged to make so many alterations along the way, yet nothing you do can actually change the outcome. Despite that, the adventure can differ wildly until the final chapter, which is good enough, especially if you happen to be a believer in fate and destiny. Moreover, the story may be linear to some extent, but does does not mean it is bad, nor that you will be disappointed by its conclusion.

The gameplay is the chapter that might turn a few players off from the first couple of minutes, since it is quite different from what you would see in a regular RPG and it requires a lot of dedication, patience and practice in order to get accustomed to it. For starters, you are not provided with a main character to carry the story, but rather you are encouraged to create your own from scratch. Not only that, but you also have to create his or her companions, in order to complete the party of six that will become your second family over the course of the story.

Creating a bunch of characters may sound pretty simple, with the exception that nothing is really that easy in a cRPG of this caliber. There are many classes, professions, spells, skills and abilities that must be taken into consideration, since a party that lacks a certain character type, or a mage with a specific spell, might prove to be unable to pass certain regions or quests. Thus, you are most encouraged to consult with the game's manuals and document yourself a bit before you put the party together, otherwise you risk not being able to enjoy the experience, given the fact that the combat is also very tough and demanding.

Speaking of which, the game uses a first-person perspective to render the world, which means that you move around more or less like in a classic FPS. However, the environment is actually a grid, which becomes very obvious when you enter your first combat sequence, since the game pauses and the mechanics quickly change to accommodate the turn-based rule book that dictates the pace for the fighting system. Hence, you get to give a specific order to every character from your party, whether it's to cast a spell, defend himself, or use a weapon to attack the nearby enemy.

Obviously, Wizardry 8 does have its share of flaws, although they are not at all game-breaking and they should not interfere with your experience too much. For example, the combat might get a bit repetitive after a few hours, mainly because the turn-based manner is rather slow and hardcore players could have a hard time waiting through the same animations over and over again. The linearity of the story can be an issue for some, although the writing is very good and the conclusion should make everyone happy, despite the lack of real choices.

There are no strong points against the game and there is definitely no reason not to give Wizardry 8 a try, especially if you are a fan of the cRPG genre and you do not mind the outdated graphics at this point in time. Given the fact that you can practically choose between endless party combinations and the world is big enough to provide you with new things to see for a couple of playthrough, replayability is through the roof and you can have enormous amounts of fun with it every time you decide to pick it up.