Wizardry: Bane of the Cosmic Forge

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 128 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • music
Wizardry: Bane of the Cosmic Forge Game Cover
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"Wizardry: Bane of the Cosmic Forge" is a fantasy role-playing game with full-color animated graphics and digitized sound. The game features 11 races and 14 professions, with a variety of skills, spells, and items to choose from. Players can embark on a continuous journey with up to six companions, and have the ability to save their progress and make unlimited backups. The game aims to provide a true-to-life FRP experience with its detailed gameplay and immersive storyline.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Amiga
  • Linux
  • Ms Dos
  • Satellaview
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews
story8 positive mentions
graphics10 negative mentions
  • Wizardry 6 offers a deep and complex character creation system, allowing for a variety of races and classes, which enhances replayability.
  • The game provides a challenging and rewarding dungeon-crawling experience, with a sense of achievement from overcoming its brutal difficulty.
  • Despite its dated graphics and interface, Wizardry 6 is considered a classic that has influenced the RPG genre, making it a must-play for fans of old-school games.
  • The game suffers from significant bugs, including save file corruption and crashes, which can lead to frustrating experiences.
  • Its steep learning curve and punishing difficulty can make it feel unplayable for newcomers, often requiring extensive grinding and trial-and-error gameplay.
  • The graphics and user interface are outdated and clunky, making navigation and combat cumbersome compared to modern RPGs.
  • graphics28 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely criticized as outdated and poor, reflecting its age as a relic from a time when visuals were rudimentary and often painful to look at. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and depth of gameplay, many agree that the visuals are a significant barrier to entry, making it difficult for those accustomed to modern standards to fully enjoy the experience. Overall, the consensus is that if graphics are a priority for you, this game may not be worth your time.

    • “Graphics are pretty good for 1972.”
    • “Graphically speaking, the characters and enemies look great for the time with the pixel art, but the identical looking walls, doors, and stairs will most definitely lead to you getting lost (and a mild headache as well).”
    • “If you enjoy old-school RPGs, like a challenge, are looking for a classic dungeon crawl, and don't mind rudimentary graphics and sound (just put on some dungeon synth in the background and you'll be fine), Wizardry 6 should be on your 'must play' list.”
    • “The graphics are pretty dismal (well it is an old game) but the playing of it will use your grey matter.”
    • “Perhaps the biggest barrier to entry here are the visuals: Wizardry 6 is a butt-ugly game.”
    • “By today's standards it has a clumsy interface and poor graphics.”
  • story21 mentions

    The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and intrigue, while others find it weak and cliched by modern standards. Players appreciate the fragmented storytelling that requires exploration and puzzle-solving, though the dated graphics and interface detract from the experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a significant part of the gameplay, especially for those willing to invest time in the game's world and its sequels.

    • “The story was as intriguing as I remembered, as you only receive bits of information from time to time. You have puzzles to solve, and of course, combat to be subjected to (lots of combat, and it can be grindy at times).”
    • “If you don't mind the age of this game, the dated graphics and sounds, and you also don't mind some detective work and quite a handful of combat with an intriguing story, you'll like the game value that this oldie brings you.”
    • “It is a deep and wonderful RPG in many ways, and although it is dated, the basic story and the wealth of items and choices is still enjoyable.”
    • “Younger players might be surprised to find out that the storytelling is a bit more involved than many other 'classic' games of this era, but it's all extremely cliched, especially by modern standards.”
    • “Sure, it looks uglier than sin and the character design has aged poorly, and the story is complete nonsense.”
    • “If you play RPGs for the story, it's going to be challenging, because the narrative is lacking.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in "Wizardry VI" is largely criticized for its lack of quality, with many players noting the absence of substantial soundtracks and relying on minimal ambient noises reminiscent of early PC gaming. In contrast, the Super Famicom (SFC) remake features significantly improved music, which players appreciate and can access as bonus content in the Steam version. Overall, while the original game's audio is seen as outdated and lacking, the SFC version's music is celebrated as a highlight.

    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
    • “I actually finished this game with the SFC remake, (Wizardry VI - Kindan no Mafude), which has far better graphics and good music.”
    • “The music of the SFC version is also very cool.”
    • “It is from a dark and easily-overlooked era after PC games defaulted to terrible CGA graphics and exclusively used PC speaker beeps for sound or music, but before VGA and sound cards became the obvious and enduring standard for the last several years of MS-DOS gaming.”
    • “The only 'music' you can hear in this game is what sounds like the flapping of wings and something banging around on walls.”
    • “The game is very old school, the graphics aren't that great, there's no music (I assume the '6+7' soundtrack is actually just from 7); indeed there's very little sound at all aside from PC-speaker ambient noise and metallic clanks.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring extensive repetition to level up and build decent characters. Many reviews highlight that early to mid-game grinding can feel particularly frustrating, as it involves navigating repetitive environments and battling low-level enemies, with success often hinging on luck rather than skill. While some players may appreciate the challenge of grinding for power, the overall sentiment leans towards it being a burdensome chore that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “I feel like I need to spend a lot of time grinding to level up before I try to move past the first floor.”
    • “You have to spend ages wandering around a boring, repetitive maze, grinding on low-level enemies and saving after every fight in case one of those groups of low-level enemies decides they're going to dodge every attack you make and beat your frontline to death just because screw you.”
    • “Expect lots of grinding, especially in the early to mid-game.”
  • gameplay11 mentions

    The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some users noting it as the weakest aspect due to stiff controls and UI issues, while others praise its depth and immersive mechanics, likening it to classic RPGs. Players can expect around 300 hours of exploration and enjoy a robust class-changing system, though the experience may be hindered by certain outdated mechanics. Overall, it offers a complex and engaging fantasy role-playing simulation for those willing to overlook its flaws.

    • “You can expect some 300 hours of gameplay if you take the time to thoroughly explore this dungeon and its story.”
    • “What it is, however, is an expertly-crafted 'fantasy role-playing simulation' with addictive, deep, and immersive gameplay.”
    • “Vast, grim, exploration-driven game with complex and well-balanced mechanics.”
    • “It is the weakest of the entries, and some of the mechanics aren't quite up to snuff.”
    • “The core wizardry gameplay is ever present but it's marred by the stiff controls and UI.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, the game feels like a turn-based version of the RPG known as 'Eye of the Beholder'.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The stability of the game is highly variable, with some users reporting significant bugs and crashes, while others praise its smooth performance and lack of glitches. Overall, opinions range from very negative to very positive, indicating inconsistent stability across different experiences.

    • “The game is a bit oldish but runs great and is a lot of fun.”
    • “I have found no glitches at all, no lag or crashing.”
    • “All in all, I'd have to give these 1/10 - at least they appear to be bug free.”
    • “Game is super buggy.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The game features a blend of hilarious character interactions, quirky graffiti, and bizarre items, contributing to its unique humor. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into the straightforward yet challenging combat, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “Hilarious character interactions, perplexing graffiti, bizarre items, and straightforward yet challenging combat—it's all here.”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and absurd situations that keep you laughing.”
    • “Every corner of the game is filled with clever jokes and unexpected surprises that make the experience truly enjoyable.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for its poor design and outdated aesthetics, with reviewers noting that the story lacks coherence. Despite these flaws, some players still find redeeming qualities in the characters themselves.

    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
    • “I was really disappointed with how the characters evolved; their arcs were predictable and lacked depth.”
    • “Despite the interesting premise, the characters remain one-dimensional and fail to grow throughout the story.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game is praised for its engaging gameplay and lack of microtransactions, making it an appealing choice for players who prefer a straightforward experience without additional costs.

    • “It's hard, it's fun, and it has no added microtransactions. Why haven't you bought it?”
    • “The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure players into spending money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game provides plenty of content without requiring additional purchases.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is noted for its strong roots in classic titles like Legend of Grimrock, creating a compelling and immersive experience, even if it lacks the visual polish of more modern games.

    • “This is the pedigree from which games like Legend of Grimrock stem, and while it isn't as pretty as modern incarnations, it is still very atmospheric.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users appreciate the emotional connection fostered by the game's nostalgic elements, such as the inclusion of copy protection codes, which evoke fond memories and contribute to a sense of warmth and personal growth through learning.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

300hMedian play time
300hAverage play time
300-300hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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