Wizardry 8

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 682 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Wizardry 8 Game Cover
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Wizardry 8 is a fantasy RPG that concludes the classic Wizardry series. The game features a rich, immersive story with multiple endings, and a complex character creation and development system. Players explore a detailed 3D world, battling enemies in turn-based combat and solving puzzles to progress.

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Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 682 reviews
story50 positive mentions
grinding24 negative mentions
  • Deep character creation and customization with a wide variety of races and classes.
  • Challenging and strategic turn-based combat that requires careful planning and positioning.
  • Engaging world with a mix of fantasy and sci-fi elements, offering a unique and immersive experience.
  • Outdated graphics that may deter modern players.
  • Combat can be tedious and lengthy, especially with large groups of enemies.
  • Technical issues on modern systems, including crashes and difficulty running the game.
  • story140 mentions

    The story of the game is generally well-received, with many praising its complexity, character development, and the way it interweaves with previous installments in the series. While some players find the narrative engaging and immersive, others note that it can be somewhat obscure and not the primary focus of gameplay, which leans heavily towards combat and exploration. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of fantasy and sci-fi elements, providing a rich backdrop for player-driven choices and quests.

    • “The story is excellent, and does a great job interweaving storylines from the previous two games as well, meaning the more backstory you know, the more enjoyable the game can be.”
    • “The gameplay is not the only thing crafted masterfully in this game, for the story is something to behold.”
    • “The story is compelling.”
    • “The story, 'puzzles', and quests in this game are all solved horribly obscure because the game doesn't explain a lot to you and there's lots of 'hidden' items you can pick up or interact with.”
    • “The story is weak and a small part of the game but it is consistent with several choices to explore during replays.”
    • “The game is light on the story and dialogue, giving you a very general objective and leaving figuring out the solution to you.”
  • graphics135 mentions

    The graphics of Wizardry 8 are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its age as a nearly 25-year-old game. While many players acknowledge the dated visuals, they often emphasize that the gameplay and depth of the RPG experience more than compensate for the lack of modern graphical fidelity. Nostalgia plays a significant role for fans, with some appreciating the charm of the old-school aesthetic despite its pixelation and blockiness.

    • “The graphics are not up to par with today's standards but are still good considering how long ago this game was released.”
    • “For a game that's nearly 20 years old, the graphics aren't too shabby and the gameplay is quite fruitful.”
    • “While it's true that the graphics are sub-optimal, everything else is amazing and makes it a 10.”
    • “The graphics are terrible even by 2001 standards.”
    • “Graphics are lackluster, but sound effects are surprisingly good, especially voice acting.”
    • “The graphics may be outdated, but still it doesn't hold back from enjoying this fantastic title.”
  • gameplay94 mentions

    The gameplay of Wizardry 8 is characterized by its challenging mechanics, requiring players to learn through trial and error, particularly in combat and character development. While the graphics may feel dated, the depth of the turn-based combat system, diverse character classes, and strategic decision-making provide a rewarding experience for those who appreciate classic RPGs. Overall, the game offers extensive replayability and a rich, immersive world, making it a standout title despite its age.

    • “Just about everything about Wizardry 8's gameplay represents the pinnacle of the series; the magic is incredibly fun, particularly as it can now freely impact 3D space rather than just whatever group is engaged in formal combat with you, and the fighting animations and sound effects are visceral and fun in equal measure.”
    • “The gameplay itself gives players either a turn-based approach or a more active but still turn-based take on combat.”
    • “An absolute classic with immersive gameplay, tactical turn-based combat, countless race-class combinations, and epic voice acting.”
    • “You will probably die a couple of times, especially early on, while learning the mechanics.”
    • “There is absolutely nothing more boring and frustrating than a mechanic of retreating in pure turn-based combat.”
    • “However, it is ultimately crippled by tedious combat mechanics.”
  • music28 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during battles. While certain tracks, like the tension-building "oh shit" song, stand out, others are described as repetitive and forgettable. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to its charm despite some inconsistencies.

    • “The music is great, the graphics are questionable but charming, the magic is amazing and full of depth.”
    • “Wizardry 8 boasts a fitting musical score to bring to life a variety of environments, some surprisingly good if not hammy voice acting that often manages to bring characters to life, and a no-pulled-punches approach to the gameplay.”
    • “Great art direction, enjoyable soundtrack, and probably the most charming and all-around wonderful voice acting I've encountered in a game just elevate the whole experience.”
    • “Nothing really stands out for me except one track (the 'oh shit' song as I call it, as it plays when you're probably about to get the snot beat out of you in battle because you stumbled into something way out of your league. The tension of that song fits that situation perfectly. You'll see what I mean when you hear it).”
    • “Excellent game overall, even with the blocky graphics and absolutely forgettable soundtrack.”
    • “The soundscape was something of a weak point, particularly the somewhat unremarkable and very repetitive music, but it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, as the other qualities of the game bear the burden of setting the mood on their titanic shoulders.”
  • replayability28 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, primarily due to its extensive variety of character classes and races, allowing players to experiment with numerous party configurations and playstyles. The non-linear storyline, combined with randomized elements and deep character progression, ensures that each playthrough can feel fresh and engaging. Many players highlight the game's ability to offer endless possibilities, making it a standout in terms of replay value.

    • “Now everything depends only on you, and the rich choice of races and classes makes this game super replayable, because it is interesting to start over and use different combinations of classes.”
    • “The class/race system, as well as the open world gameplay gives it decades worth of replayability.”
    • “The variations in party configuration, the epic story, the size and scope of the game, the incredibly well thought out UI (especially given the release date), all add up to make an amazing game, with a ton of replay value.”
    • “The replayability of this game is extremely high, with different parties and styles explored, long after the story branches are all well known.”
    • “There are several ways to play through this game, with many character builds, making it have endless replayability to try new things.”
    • “Many of the classes are pretty cool to try out, but won't be able to use all of them in your first party, so there is some replayability.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game is a significant and often tedious aspect, with many players finding the combat repetitive and frustrating, particularly against respawning enemies. While some appreciate the depth of character development and the strategic elements of grinding, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the time commitment hard to justify. Overall, the game is seen as a mixed bag, offering fun elements but marred by its lengthy and monotonous grinding mechanics.

    • “This game is long, tedious, slow, unfair (expert mode especially oh god).”
    • “I just wanted to go to explore, but kept getting drawn into this long, tedious awfulness.”
    • “However, it is ultimately crippled by tedious combat mechanics.”
  • character development14 mentions

    Character development in Wizardry 8 is highly praised for its depth and complexity, offering players a rewarding and engaging experience as they refine their party composition and make impactful choices. The game features modern conveniences that enhance character progression, such as easier inventory management and simplified NPC interactions, while maintaining a light-hearted tone. Overall, players appreciate the combination of intricate character development, tactical combat, and a rich world to explore, making it a standout aspect of the game.

    • “Character development is definitely at the heart of the game.”
    • “No game has offered such a combination of deep character development, rich dialog options, clever tactical combat, and a crazy world to explore.”
    • “You really feel like the choices you make with character development have a direct impact on how the game plays.”
    • “Character development is very rewarding (though different compared to Wizardry 6 or 7), combat tactical and challenging while the story - well, let's say it is not standing in the way of things...”
    • “First of all, this game offers the most complicated character development system I have ever seen.”
    • “Anyone who likes complicated character development and combat simulation would like this game (because it is so old, the graphics are very dated, but the mechanics are fun).”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by quirky characters with distinct personalities and outrageous accents, leading to frequent laugh-out-loud moments and enjoyable banter. While the dialogue can be cringily corny at times, the variety in character classes and the ability to customize personalities and voices contribute to a comedic experience that resonates well with players. Overall, the game's humor enhances its RPG elements, making it a memorable and entertaining adventure.

    • “Most of them are quirky, many of them have outrageous accents, and a few of them are genuinely hilarious, but all feel distinct.”
    • “You really do feel like your characters are characters, and everything from their everyday barks, responses to their triumphs and tribulations, and plot-relevant events have me laughing out loud and almost constantly grinning.”
    • “It's a good RPG where it counts and the banter with your party can be funny and enjoyable.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its nostalgic inspiration from classic titles like Might & Magic for its depth and exploration, while others criticize it for a lack of coherence, citing an odd blend of fantasy and sci-fi elements. Despite this, many appreciate the challenging environment and engaging character interactions, alongside enjoyable music and humor that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both immersive and inconsistent, appealing to those who appreciate its unique charm.

    • “It draws inspiration from Might & Magic 6-8 for exploration and atmosphere.”
    • “If you can understand that this is an older game that needs some steps to run, and you like the concept of an open world dungeon crawler that was innovative when it came out and still stands tall and firm in its unique atmosphere, I really recommend giving this game a go; I don't think you'll be disappointed in the least.”
    • “Great atmosphere, challenging to brutally hard combat, a lot to explore.”
    • “A challenging atmosphere, where you don't know if the next group of creatures will kill you.”
    • “Unfortunately, this game is completely devoid of atmosphere, with orcs and goblins rubbing elbows with spaceships and computers.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players find emotional investment in the game's varied classes, mechanics, and engaging NPC interactions, despite not being primarily driven by a deep narrative. The immersive sound effects enhance the experience, sometimes evoking strong emotional reactions, particularly during intense moments like character deaths.

    • “The varied classes and mechanics, the plethora of character barks, and the collection of NPCs, both recruitable and otherwise, make it a pleasure to play and emotionally invest myself into (even if I haven't gotten very far).”
    • “Many of the sound effects are so stunningly convincing that sometimes they pierce your head, with the sudden death of your character from boiling blood causing emotional trauma.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game exhibits some bugs and compatibility issues with modern systems, but it maintains stability with no significant glitches, lag, or crashes. Despite these minor drawbacks, players appreciate the deep combat mechanics and engaging party-building options.

    • “There are no glitches, lag, or crashes.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
    • “I haven't experienced any stability issues during my gameplay.”
    • “It's a bit buggy (or a lot buggy) and has trouble with modern systems, but it's got deep, engaging, and tactical combat, and incredibly fun party building with a myriad of choices and 30-something fully voiced personalities to choose from to accompany you through the game.”
    • “The game frequently crashes, making it difficult to progress.”
    • “I experienced numerous glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game features effective optimization, allowing it to run smoothly on modern hardware while maintaining a visually appealing low-poly aesthetic. Additionally, players can expect quality-of-life improvements through upcoming guides.

    • “For other tips, I'm going to add a guide, so be on the lookout for it because it'll have tons of quality of life optimizations.”
    • “Low-poly 3D still holds together quite nicely, and the game has been optimized to run smoothly on modern rigs.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Players express frustration with the monetization strategy, particularly noting intrusive advertisements that appear during game closures or crashes, promoting faster PCs.

    • “One that really bugs me is that when you close the game, or during some crashes, it will show you an advertisement to buy faster PCs (or something).”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, constantly pushing in-game purchases that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
    • “I find it frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

132hMedian play time
368hAverage play time
4-913hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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