Wizardry: Crusaders of the Dark Savant

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 152 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Wizardry: Crusaders of the Dark Savant Game Cover
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In "Wizardry: Crusaders of the Dark Savant" , players can import characters from a previous game or create a new party to explore an alien world and search for a powerful secret. The game features a full soundtrack, point-and-click mouse interface, and auto-mapping, as well as multiple starting points and a vast, non-linear world. The player's actions and choices will determine how the story unfolds, making for a unique and engaging role-playing experience.

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Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 152 reviews
story13 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • Wizardry 7 offers deep character customization with a variety of races and classes, allowing for unique party compositions.
  • The game provides a challenging and rewarding experience, reminiscent of classic RPGs, with a vast world to explore and intricate puzzles to solve.
  • Despite its age, the game maintains a strong nostalgic appeal and is considered one of the best in the genre, with engaging gameplay that encourages strategic thinking.
  • The graphics and user interface have aged poorly, making it difficult for modern players to enjoy the game without frustration.
  • The game is notoriously difficult, often requiring extensive grinding and frequent saving, which can be off-putting for casual players.
  • The lack of quality-of-life features, such as an automap or quest log, can lead to confusion and a steep learning curve, making it less accessible to new players.
  • story30 mentions

    The story in Wizardry VII is praised for its depth and engaging narrative, building on the lore established in previous installments while offering a rich world filled with memorable NPCs. However, players often find it challenging to keep track of objectives due to the lack of modern conveniences like quest logs and maps, which can lead to confusion and frustration. Overall, while the storytelling is considered one of the game's strengths, it requires players to be proactive in remembering details and navigating the plot.

    • “Overall, this is a wonderful game with a fun story and brilliant writing.”
    • “This member of the classic wizardry series is perhaps the most amazing RPG story ever told on so little space.”
    • “The story is better than in Wizardry 6, builds off of the idea of the cosmic lords and creates one of the most interesting living worlds in early RPGs.”
    • “There is a story that is explained at length in the introduction, but has so little to do with a large portion of the game that it is very easy to forget what the objective is.”
    • “Indeed, possibly the biggest flaw in Wizardry VII is that it is almost impossible to keep track of what is going on and what you need to do if you stop playing for a while. Despite finishing both Wizardry VI and VIII, I never did make it all the way through VII because I lost track of which NPC had stolen some of the items you need to progress the story, and also where that NPC even would be hanging out if I knew who it was.”
    • “If you want an RPG that not only doesn't hold your hand, but doesn't even tell you what you're supposed to do (you have to find the story), then this is for you.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its age of over 30 years, with many users noting that they struggle to endure the outdated interface and visuals. However, some reviews highlight that despite the poor graphics, the gameplay remains engaging, with improvements in graphics and user interface in later installments. Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern standards, the depth of gameplay and storytelling often compensate for this shortcoming.

    • “Now with improved graphics and UI, a massive game world and a lot of customization.”
    • “Beautiful VGA graphics, wonderful MIDI soundtrack, enjoyable character building, fascinating world, excellent rare title where you can both import a party from the previous game and will be able to export your party to the following game.”
    • “But a great mix of genres and excellent graphics for the time.”
    • “As Wizardry 6 hasn't aged well, the interface and graphics are just too hard to swallow or endure.”
    • “The game was considered cutting edge back then, but now the graphics are dated and the controls frustrating most of the time.”
    • “Graphics are what you would expect from a game that old (terrible), but the story and puzzles far make up for them.”
  • gameplay9 mentions

    The gameplay of Wizardry 7 is heavily focused on tactical combat, complemented by complex riddles and challenging dungeon mechanics that can lead to extensive playtime, often requiring a walkthrough for first-time players. While the game maintains solid RPG mechanics and offers a rich experience, some users criticize the save system and the difficulty of certain puzzles, which may frustrate players. Overall, it provides a classic RPG experience with a mix of strategic combat and intricate exploration.

    • “Classic RPG with great game mechanics.”
    • “Wizardry 7 features diplomacy mechanics, but you're going to spend a lot of time in combat.”
    • “The core of the gameplay is combat, especially if you enjoy tactical CRPG combat.”
    • “Stupid save mechanics.”
    • “The riddles and dungeon mechanics are so hard that I think if you play this game the first time without consulting a walkthrough, you probably end up with 750 - 1000 hours of gameplay.”
    • “Additionally, there are plenty of dungeons and they have some of the most annoying mechanics I've ever seen, which requires some map drawings even if you have the minimap.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it is essential for progression, many describe it as tedious and sometimes joyless, particularly in the early stages. Some reviews note that while combat and party construction can be grindy, they also offer rewarding elements that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game may require some grinding, but it is possible to progress without excessive repetition.

    • “The early game is utterly joyless, and after 3 hours, I don't have the patience to keep grinding just for one paltry level up.”
    • “Only downside is it can be grindy sometimes.”
    • “RNG is a bit on the high side, thus lots of grinding and save/reloading.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as absolutely hilarious and absurd, with a strong emphasis on tongue-in-cheek comedy. Players appreciate the intentionally poor voice acting and find the humor to be a nostalgic throwback, enhancing the immersive experience of the game world.

    • “Absolutely hilarious and ridiculous-- and I didn't even mention the waterslide puzzle.”
    • “The game world is huge and immersive, and the humor is perfectly tongue-in-cheek.”
    • “I've played 'Gold' some 20 years ago (as part of the 'Ultimate RPG Archives' box), so the narration (which was decent) and the hilariously bad voice acting was funny to listen to again.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's good difficulty and deep character customization, which contribute to its strong replayability. The presence of long-term consequences from player actions adds an element of surprise, encouraging multiple playthroughs.

    • “Good difficulty and replay value.”
    • “Add in deep character customization and actions that actually have long-term (and sometimes surprising, unintended consequences), and you've got a gem with some true replay value.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game is praised for its beautiful MIDI soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience alongside the graphics and character building. However, some players express a desire to have the option to turn off the battle music.

    • “Beautiful VGA graphics, wonderful MIDI soundtrack, enjoyable character building, fascinating world, and an excellent rare title where you can both import a party from the previous game and export your party to the following game.”
    • “The fight music is so repetitive that it becomes unbearable.”
    • “I wish there was an option to turn off the battle music; it's really distracting.”
    • “The soundtrack lacks variety and quickly becomes annoying.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, noting that it evokes nostalgic feelings reminiscent of their high school experiences. This sense of nostalgia enhances the overall emotional impact of the game.

    • “Made me feel the same as when I played it back in high school.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Many users feel that character development in modern RPGs has diminished, particularly in terms of classes, races, and progression systems, which they believe are essential elements that enhance the gaming experience.

    • “The classes, races, and progression of character development is an element lost in most modern RPGs.”
    • “Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful choices that impact the story.”
    • “The lack of depth in character progression makes it hard to feel invested in the characters.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly without any noticeable glitches or lag, reminiscent of classic RPGs.

    • “Truly a gem of old school RPG, runs smoothly; I have found no glitches or lag.”
    • “The optimization in this game is top-notch, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
    • “I appreciate how well the game is optimized; it loads quickly and maintains a steady frame rate throughout.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game is praised for its stability, with users reporting a smooth experience free of glitches or lag, highlighting its quality as an old-school RPG.

    • “Truly a gem of old school RPG, runs smoothly; I have found no glitches or lag.”
    • “The game maintains a solid frame rate throughout, providing a seamless experience.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the game is; it rarely crashes and performs consistently well.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

755hMedian play time
509hAverage play time
18-1000hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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