Wizardry: The Five Ordeals

About

"Wizardry: The Five Ordeals" is a classic dungeon crawling RPG with hardcore gameplay, brought to you by the main staff of a popular RPG series from 2006. Create your own character and embark on an adventure with up to 6 party members in grid-based dungeons. The turn-based combat is a mix of JRPG simplicity and tabletop RPG difficulty, with official scenarios and dozens of hours of gameplay. This enhanced Steam version is available for the first time outside of Japan.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 192 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

The game captures the classic Wizardry experience with a straightforward user interface and is fully playable with just a keyboard, providing a nostalgic feel for fans of the original series.
It offers a wealth of content, including five official scenarios and numerous user-created scenarios, with a good balance of challenge and gameplay depth that rewards meticulous exploration and strategy.
The tutorial scenario, 'The Price of Deception,' effectively introduces new players to the mechanics of the game, making it accessible for both veterans and newcomers to the genre.

The game can be brutally difficult and unforgiving, with random encounters that can lead to total party wipes, which may frustrate players who are not accustomed to old-school RPG mechanics.
The translation quality is inconsistent, with many in-game texts remaining in Japanese, making it challenging for players who do not understand the language, and some UI elements can feel cluttered.
There is no automap feature, which can lead to disorientation in the dungeons, and the character creation process can be tedious due to the reliance on random stat rolls.

gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
54%
11%
The gameplay is characterized by its slow introduction of mechanics and a focus on meticulous, challenging play that rewards patience and strategy. Players can expect a classic, unforgiving experience reminiscent of old-school RPGs, complete with total party kills, resource management, and the potential for frustrating setbacks. While it offers extensive gameplay hours and customization options, it may not appeal to those who prefer more forgiving mechanics.
- “This game will provide hundreds of hours of gameplay to those willing to commit themselves to this difficult game.”
- “The amount of gameplay available here is, frankly, astonishing.”
- “Yes, there are a lot of old school mechanics: you will get lost, total party kills are possible and even likely, characters you have spent hours nurturing will suddenly vanish, items will curse you in truly challenging ways, and there will be fights that seem impossible... the first time.”
- “Unforgiving combat and gameplay.”
- “All the core mechanics of Wizardry with none of the charm.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the enchanting style reminiscent of titles like Dragon's Crown and noting significant improvements over the original, including a better user interface and enhanced monster artwork. However, some players experienced graphical glitches and felt that while the visuals are better, they do not fundamentally change the classic gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics are considered satisfactory, appealing to both nostalgic fans and newcomers, though they may not meet the expectations of those seeking cutting-edge visuals.
- “The graphics, sound, and music are all great and the improved interface (compared to virtually every other wizardry game I've ever played) is top notch.”
- “The graphical style is enchanting, reminding me of games like Dragon's Crown.”
- “Old school, classic wizardry (I - III) with better graphics.”
- “This is a bare bones recreation of an older title with a few graphical enhancements.”
- “Moving on... after the data reset, my characters were all leveling up pretty well until a graphical glitch caused the message that warns that the enemies you are about to fight are of good alignment and asks whether you want to fight them to appear on the far right of the screen and most of the wording was not showing on the monitor.”
- “Prefer to use your imagination instead of relying on dungeon graphics.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The story is praised for its compelling narratives and engaging story arcs, particularly highlighted in the tutorial mission "The Price of Deception." However, some players feel that certain elements, such as plot items and map design, are lacking, and there are issues with translation for non-story text, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “I thoroughly enjoyed the compelling narratives and story arc of each scenario.”
- “The tutorial mission here, outside of the five ordeals, is called 'The Price of Deception.'”
- “On the first floor of the main quest dungeon, there is a hidden chute/pit that I never expected.”
- “One or two plot items, wraparound maps (go out one end of a 30x30 map tileset, come out the opposite end)... it felt lacking.”
- “All text except story and puzzles is in English, and I use my phone to translate them.”
- “Only dungeon messages for puzzles and quests are not translated.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be challenging yet enjoyable, particularly due to the fast-paced combat that makes leveling up more engaging. While many are accustomed to long hours of grinding for experience points, they acknowledge it can be tedious, especially when managing character changes through cumbersome menus. Overall, grinding is seen as a necessary part of the experience, albeit one that can become repetitive.
- “I'm used to grinding for hours on end for experience.”
- “(Yes, it's tedious, but death sucks and is very expensive to heal.)”
- “My only gripe with this interface is that changing characters at the inn or at the trading post is tedious, as you have to exit out of several menus.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is highly praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with eerie exploration themes and fitting tracks for combat and town activities. Reviewers note that it contributes significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere, with standout pieces like the camp menu music being particularly well-received. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong asset, complementing the game's visuals and gameplay effectively.
- “It has all the interest of the original game, all the quality of the best Japanese wizardry titles, fantastic artwork, an excellent set of options that will appeal to rookies and veteran players alike, a small handful of the best innovations from the Bradley-era games, and some absolutely stellar music that contributes to an overall fantastic atmosphere.”
- “The graphics, sound, and music are all great and the improved interface (compared to virtually every other wizardry game I've ever played) is top notch.”
- “The music is fine enough for this kind of game with eerie exploration, fast-paced combat, and appropriate music for the various utilities in town.”
- “The music is fine enough for this kind of game with eerie exploration, fast-paced combat, and appropriate music for the various utilities in town.”
- “The music is fine enough for this kind of game with eerie exploration, fast-paced combat, and appropriate music for the various utilities in town.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating blend of traditional wizardry elements, stunning artwork, and stellar music that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers note that it successfully captures the essence of classic titles while offering appealing options for both new and veteran players. Overall, the atmosphere is described as fantastic and immersive, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “It has all the interest of the original game, all the quality of the best Japanese wizardry titles, fantastic artwork, an excellent set of options that will appeal to rookies and veteran players alike, a small handful of the best innovations from the Bradley-era games, and some absolutely stellar music that contributes to an overall fantastic atmosphere.”
- “This game does a wonderful job of capturing the vibe and atmosphere of the traditional wizardry games, and I look forward to playing more scenarios.”
- “Atmospheric music”