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Sazerac · 05-12-2003, 02:45 PM

Sadly, a lot of the other Wizardry games are VERY old. It has been 11 years since Wizardry 7 was first released. Both Wizardry 6 and 7 are geared towards DOS-based machines, predominantly 8088's running about 16-33 MHz processors. Even if you could get them running on a supercharged Windows XP system, the GHz processors nowadays probably wouldn't even allow the programs to run.

In October 1998, Interplay released a compendium of all the Wizardry Games rolled up into one package, the Wizardry Archives. It made all the games playable on a Windows 95/98 machine. It may still be available through Interplay's store if you wish to order it. It may also run on Windows XP using Win 95/98 mode, even though some of the games are purely DOS based.

I'll warn you, though, Wizardry 6's graphics look antediluvian nowadays (released in 1990, 16 color EGA graphics), and Wizardry 7's are better but still will look extremely dated (256 VGA graphics). But the storylines on each are compelling, and they do set the backdrop for much of the Wizardry 8 storyline. There are also a lot of the Wizardry 8 NPC's that carry over from the other games, such as Don Barlone', Bela (Wiz 6), Sgt. Balbrak, Jan-Ette, Rodan Lewarx, and of course Vi Domina and the Dark Savant. In Wizardry 7 the T'Rang are totally evil, while in Wizardry 8 they are neutral. There are also references to other NPC's throughout Wiz 8 that were in the other games (such as Yamo's Roadhouse, referring to the dead Umpani General from Guardia in Wiz 7).

Are the older games addictive? You better believe it. I played Wiz 6 about 5 different times, and Wiz 7 probably 10 or more. The other game I'd recommend from that pack (Wizardry Archives) is Wiz 5: Heart of the Maelstrom, which, although the storyline isn't the same as the Wiz 8 one, has many similar things (if you found the "hidden" Cemetery and Wilderness dungeons, you'll recognize a lot of stuff from that game!) and the endgame has a LOT of similarities to the endgame in Wiz 8.

If I were you, I'd try to find the game on E-bay. It'd probably be your best bet.

Good luck. [img]smile.gif[/img]

-Sazerac

05-12-2003, 02:45 PM	#2
Sazerac Ironworks Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Monroe, LA Age: 61 Posts: 7,387	Sadly, a lot of the other Wizardry games are VERY old. It has been 11 years since Wizardry 7 was first released. Both Wizardry 6 and 7 are geared towards DOS-based machines, predominantly 8088's running about 16-33 MHz processors. Even if you could get them running on a supercharged Windows XP system, the GHz processors nowadays probably wouldn't even allow the programs to run. In October 1998, Interplay released a compendium of all the Wizardry Games rolled up into one package, the Wizardry Archives. It made all the games playable on a Windows 95/98 machine. It may still be available through Interplay's store if you wish to order it. It may also run on Windows XP using Win 95/98 mode, even though some of the games are purely DOS based. I'll warn you, though, Wizardry 6's graphics look antediluvian nowadays (released in 1990, 16 color EGA graphics), and Wizardry 7's are better but still will look extremely dated (256 VGA graphics). But the storylines on each are compelling, and they do set the backdrop for much of the Wizardry 8 storyline. There are also a lot of the Wizardry 8 NPC's that carry over from the other games, such as Don Barlone', Bela (Wiz 6), Sgt. Balbrak, Jan-Ette, Rodan Lewarx, and of course Vi Domina and the Dark Savant. In Wizardry 7 the T'Rang are totally evil, while in Wizardry 8 they are neutral. There are also references to other NPC's throughout Wiz 8 that were in the other games (such as Yamo's Roadhouse, referring to the dead Umpani General from Guardia in Wiz 7). Are the older games addictive? You better believe it. I played Wiz 6 about 5 different times, and Wiz 7 probably 10 or more. The other game I'd recommend from that pack (Wizardry Archives) is Wiz 5: Heart of the Maelstrom, which, although the storyline isn't the same as the Wiz 8 one, has many similar things (if you found the "hidden" Cemetery and Wilderness dungeons, you'll recognize a lot of stuff from that game!) and the endgame has a LOT of similarities to the endgame in Wiz 8. If I were you, I'd try to find the game on E-bay. It'd probably be your best bet. Good luck. [img]smile.gif[/img] -Sazerac __________________ "And all my days are trances, and all my nightly dreams, Are where thy grey eye glances, and where thy footstep gleams, In what ethereal dances, by what eternal streams..."