Wizardry: The Five Ordeals
- October 26, 2023
- 59 Studio
- 57h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Windows
Tablet
Reviews
- The game captures the classic Wizardry experience with a modern interface, making it accessible for both veterans and newcomers.
- It offers a wealth of content, including five official scenarios and numerous user-created scenarios, providing hundreds of hours of gameplay.
- The tutorial scenario, 'The Price of Deception,' effectively introduces mechanics and strategies, making it a great starting point for new players.
- The game can be brutally difficult and unforgiving, with random encounters that can lead to total party wipes, which may frustrate players not accustomed to old-school RPG mechanics.
- The translation quality is inconsistent, with some in-game text remaining in Japanese, making it challenging for players who do not understand the language.
- There is no automap feature, which can lead to tedious navigation and mapping, requiring players to rely on graph paper or external tools.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a slow introduction of mechanics, rewarding meticulous and strategic play, and offering hundreds of hours of challenging content. Players can expect old-school RPG elements such as unforgiving combat, resource management, and the potential for total party wipes, which may frustrate some but will appeal to fans of classic wizardry. Overall, it combines authentic mechanics with modern polish, providing a nostalgic yet compelling experience.
“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.”
“All the core mechanics of Wizardry with none of the charm.”
“Unforgiving combat and gameplay.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been generally well-received, showcasing an enchanting style reminiscent of classic titles like Dragon's Crown, with notable improvements over previous iterations. While some players appreciate the enhanced visuals and user interface, others feel that the graphics remain somewhat outdated and occasionally suffer from glitches. Overall, the game successfully combines nostalgic elements with modern enhancements, appealing to both new and veteran players.
“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.”
“The graphics are fine; monster stills are okay with some of them being a little off.”
- story6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story is praised for its compelling narratives and engaging arcs, particularly in the tutorial mission "The Price of Deception." However, some players feel that certain elements, like hidden features and map design, are lacking, and there are translation issues with non-story text that 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 the rest.”
“Only dungeon messages for puzzles and quests are not translated.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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 some players are accustomed to long grinding sessions, they acknowledge the tedium involved, especially when managing character changes through cumbersome menus. Overall, grinding is seen as a necessary but sometimes tedious part of the gameplay experience.
“It can be difficult; you'll need to do some grinding.”
“I'm used to grinding for hours on end for experience.”
“(Yes, it's tedious, but death sucks and is very expensive to heal.)”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its contribution to the overall atmosphere, featuring stellar compositions that enhance eerie exploration and fast-paced combat. Reviewers appreciate the variety of tracks, including standout pieces like the camp menu music, which effectively complement the game's different settings and activities. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength, adding depth and enjoyment to the gaming experience.
“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.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating artwork, stellar music, and a blend of classic and innovative elements that evoke the essence of traditional wizardry titles. Reviewers appreciate how these components work together to create an engaging and immersive experience for both new and veteran players.
“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”
