In my sincerest conviction, RPG market is in deep stagnation phase now.
New RPGs are all the same, and become more and more boring. Looking for
high profits, developers often loose the most important component - the
game spirit.
RPG New Wave has raised high 3DO and Black Isle Studio with their
bestsellers - Might and Magic VI-VIII, Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Planescape
Torment. But the number of such projects is too low in general stream of
tastelessness and pot-boilers.
Most of the gamers today have no slightest idea what is, for example, Xeen
world or what happened in first series of Wizardry... Many people think
the world of Ultima Online is huge, but, to be honest, all these
new-created universes are of much lower scale than Wizardry and Xeen
world, already forgotten. While the last one have finally mutated into
completely different RPG class - too close to arcades, Wizardry, like some
prehistoric derelict, is the last glance of good old games.
As you maybe understood already, I will talk about Wizardry. About
Wizardry 8, to be exact. Perhaps you have already read the review of my
colleague Nomad on AG.RU pages. I've been waiting for this article to be
posted, to write mostly about why I think this game will become the best
RPG of the year, and avoid detailed discussion of purely technical issues.
I am really hoped the game will become a bestseller.
What are the differences between old and new RPGs? First of all, their
scale. It is not the number of locations or levels. No, the word scale is
defined by the player's place in it. Is player able to try overcoming the
course of events and find the way to get out of hard circumstances? Or he
should follow the predefined route like a clockwork toy? The scale is also
replay ability of the game. It was possible to drop the current game at
any stage in Xeen and Wizardry worlds, to gather new party and start the
adventure over. And... you could never get tired of this process! The
games lasted month by month, we have gathered together with friends and
actively discussed the game world events. I remember we have conducted
special notebooks to each game - for important notes, riddle solutions and
other vital details. No wonder we found eventually we learned English
playing these games. Years passed, and single question left: where all
this?
I swear the last RPG I've played to the very end with same great interest
level was Baldur's Gate. Maybe old gamer died in me with the final titles
of this game... Since then the process of similar game search is like
trying on the new clothes.
Well, every cloud has a silver lining. I've got press demo of Wizardry 8
in my hands. If someone can imagine something like I described above, be
sure it exists today! Two weeks spent playing a sole level of this game
speak for themselves. I've played Wizardry 8 over and over, noticing more
and more interesting details in each new game.
First, the game world looks beautifully. Let's forget the cynical way to
measure everything with number of polygons, frames and volume of HDD
space. Do gamers remember why are they playing? Every now and then people
saying: "The game's just cool - my P4 1000 MHz is not enough to play it
with good speed! Can you imagine?!" Wizardry 8 has no such stuff. Instead,
there is thoroughly designed and drawn, colorful and inspired world.
Plesant palette, handsome textures, fine music fitting each situation.
Staying at the top of the hill, you'll be charmed by landscape around. It
is hard to believe there are no sublevels in this world. You can have the
bird's-eye view to the huge mountain and be only able to guess how long
and deep the catacombs hidden inside.
Jagged Alliance developers wouldn't be themselves without strategy
elements brought to the game. To be exact, the unique combat system.
Classical turn-based system is supplemented by important elements, such as
team formation option. You can define what party formation you wish to
use. Is it so important, you think? Very important. The direction of
character sight and his location in formation define if the enemy
reachable. Correspondingly, if one character is covered by other one's
back, enemy can hardly harm him. Such nuances make player not only try to
find most powerful spell to BLOW enemy out, but also try to survive until
the end of combat. Usually, the enemies are stronger and more numerous
than you. That's the style of Sir-Tech designers I like so much.
Like in Unfinished Business, in Wizardry 8 pre-saved game will not ease
your combat. Example: you were standing behind the corner, saved, and
shown yourself out of the corner without resting. Met a pack of angry
Undead Heads... Simple reload will not help - the game can catch such
attempt and will send the enemy to seek you. The only way to avoid fight
is to retreat far enough. And this is not only way to punish cheating
players. For example, resting in dungeon can result in the visit of
unwanted guests, maybe some spiders. Reload will make the spiders to visit
you in larger number, and they will be stronger. No, my dear readers, easy
ways are not welcome in Wizardry 8, you should live and fight fairly
there. And don't afraid to die. Game designers of course provided the ways
to resurrect the fallen characters. The only fatal thing is total death of
all your team. But that's the problem of Indians, not sheriff! ;)
Another advantage of Wizardry 8 combat system is the convenience in body
looting. Might and Magic often makes us to pursue the enemy bodies sliding
down the hill or simply loose the dragon carcass after killing him over
the water. Here you don't have to care about it. After (if) your won the
combat, the game will collect the trophies automatically.
Handling your beloved character is most important part of every RPG. Each
character can wear the armor, pants, boots, stylish cap and wield up to
two weapons - if, of course, his race or class do not put any
restrictions. Additionally, you can use eight backpack slots for storing
other essential items. All extra goods are being kept in "common stock"
accessible by each character. All items have a set of evident and hidden
features. If the thing looks like nothing special in it, it does not mean
it is not cursed or enchanted. You can know it for sure only having your
magic abilities improved.
Nothing is for no reason in Wizardry 8 world. You have used you bow to
shot someone - your bow skill is improved. Or you have casted the spell
beating the... hm... brains out of someone - your magic skills are
improved as well. Or you have spotted the item hidden by some monster
(poor creature exhausted itself burying the last potion, and then some
clever guy stolen it at no time at all), and your sharp-sightedness is
improved! ;)
You think you can find everything jumping over the level like on black
horse? No way - you found only the things scattered over the surface. Many
secrets left unseen in corners, behind the barrels and closets.
Only slowly walking down the area and carefully investigating the
surroundings, you can gain miscellaneous tasty bonuses. The attention to
slightest details is the credo of Sir-Tech. You can even watch the fishes
swimming in waters here, and kill them if you wish to ;) You can ride the
waterfall and find a nice surprise - someone's supplies. Come into deep
waters and stare to beautiful seaweeds, then fight some hungry overgrown
crabs on the beach.
Sometimes you can display your talents both in combat or magical business,
and in hidden treasure search, lock picking. The process of picking the
correct combination to complex lock is very fascinating. But it is
dangerous - the trap may spring and you'll have to drink healing potions.
And who knows what is in this chest? Maybe treasure, maybe bare trap,
maybe same old flying Undead Head.
Wizardry lives own life. You can return to old grounds and found they are
spawned by new monsters. Generally, you'll have no time for boredom. And,
of course, simple brute force is not enough there. The magic knowledge
system has amazing range of spells, in spite of the fact that only lowest
level spells are available in demo. But even simple acid splash makes us
to admire the beautiful effects shown.
Traveling around the Wizardry world causes the growth of miscellaneous
skills. The character improvement process is so fascinating and complex
that they're surely many special guides will be written. Even simple skill
tree of Diablo 2 has produced a wave of original ways to distribute the
sacred digits. So what should happen to Wizardry 8 system? I can hardly
imagine it...
Any RPG is inconceivable without NPC. The character conversation system is
special there. You can even type your questions from the keyboard, and if
the character recognized at least one familiar word, he will let you know
of it (sometimes not for free). All words and terms are stored in
database, and you can ask any other character about the necessary thing if
you wish.
In addition to all above, there are huge levels where you can get inside
the mountains and trip over the dungeons and surface without sublevel
loading. I am sure it is THE GAME I've been waiting for, as well as many
other real RPG lovers. The only thing left is waiting for a moment when
I'll be able to escape the outer world for few months playing this
wonderful game!
Author: Юрий "yurg" Бушин
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