other wizardry games

Grellan · 05-12-2003, 02:06 PM

wizardry 8 was the first and only of the wizardry series that i've played. thought it was great. should i try and get my hands on one of the earlier games such as wiz 7?have i been spolit by playing wiz 8 first?

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

Nightowl2 · 05-12-2003, 10:15 PM

ELEVEN years since Wiz 7 came out? It's really been that long? Woof, didn't seem like that to me. Thought it was more like five or six.

Anyway, yeah, you're probably best off looking on ebay for the Wiz package. The trilogy of VI-VII-VIII is probably the best of the Wiz games, though I've always liked Wiz IV (the earliest Wiz games were made for the Apple ][ line of computers).

Nightowl2

jsalsb · 05-12-2003, 10:37 PM

Wizardry 7 is the best game I've ever played. Any genre. Yes, by today's standards (or even 8 year old standards) it looks archaic, but as Sazerac said, its story was great. Really intricate, and about the most non-linear game flow I've ever encountered while still maintaining a point. And vast; and seemed much vaster because of the one-step-at-a-time walk and map routine.

A good benchmark for determining if wiz 7 was good might be this: I suspect that those who are most critical of wiz 8 (while still loving it), are those who have played wiz 7. Just a hunch.

offshore33 · 05-13-2003, 12:00 AM

Another plus for picking up and playing Wizardry 6 and 7 is that you can export/import your parties. Of course, to truly make use of this tactic you need to complete 6, export to 7, complete 7 and export to 8. That's pretty hardcore!

the mighty stamar · 05-13-2003, 02:03 AM

Well what I did after wizrdry 8 was play wizards and warriors, which was made by the author of wizardry 5,6,7. Much shorter than wizardy 8.

Wizardry 5 and 6 are on common abandoneware sites.
Use a program called dosbox. Not positive it works with it some old games do not.

Might and magic 6,7,8 are very wizardry like, and they came out between wiz 7 and 8 and are in between technology.

MM9 I only started, it is ok. It came to market more recently than wizardry 8, in very unfinished form.

Sazerac · 05-13-2003, 02:05 PM

That's also why I'd also recommend Wizardry 5 "Heart of the Maelstrom" if you can stand the archaic graphics...it was David Bradley (author of Wiz 6 and 7's) first contribution to the Wizardry games. Bradley was a master at storyline and plot, and at NPC characterization. His characters were more whimsical than dark, even in a very "dark" oriented plotline, and there was always something to laugh at. Not to mention some pretty hilarious situations.

Like, in Wizardry 7, in a certain area where the only way to escape was to get "stoned" (and I don't mean petrification either; he even provided your characters with the pipe and "pastille" as well!) LOL, I kept that in my inventory all the way through the endgame, in case they wanted some more "recreation" on their journey, heh heh

-Sazerac

[ 05-13-2003, 02:06 PM: Message edited by: Sazerac ]

Ziggurat · 05-13-2003, 05:52 PM

Although I see the evolution from Wiz 7 to Wiz 8, I consider them different beasts. The feel is very different. I have played both many times and consider them masterworks of CRPG. It would be a tough call for me to choose between them. Wix 6 is close to that level, I may try it again. Played it maybe 5 times. My next game after this may be FaerieTale Adventure, a 1989 game that I have fond memories of. About the same graphics as Wiz 6.

Niob · 05-13-2003, 06:06 PM

Well, Wiz 8 is fine, but its really nothing compared with Wiz 7.
The quests are much harder, the world is much bigger, the Danes, the Munks, I really miss them.
Its really an other feeling, I made my way through 8 in some months, but I played Wiz 7 about 4 years without finishing it.
Ok, the graphic is not the best, but for 1992..just look at Commander Keen or Duke Nukem 1..
Unfortunately its nearly impossible to run Wiz 7 on a current machine. I got the Wiz Archives and now Im able to play Wiz Gold..but the sound is not the same, and the sound was one of the most important things in Wiz 7.
If you want to try it, take an old (very old) Dos machine and have fun.

Niob

Niob · 05-13-2003, 06:08 PM

Well, Wiz 8 is fine, but its really nothing compared with Wiz 7.
The quests are much harder, the world is much bigger, the Danes, the Munks, I really miss them.
Its really an other feeling, I made my way through 8 in some months, but I played Wiz 7 about 4 years without finishing it.
Ok, the graphic is not the best, but for 1992..just look at Commander Keen or Duke Nukem 1..
Unfortunately its nearly impossible to run Wiz 7 on a current machine. I got the Wiz Archives and now Im able to play Wiz Gold..but the sound is not the same, and the sound was one of the most important things in Wiz 7.
If you want to try it, take an old (very old) Dos machine and have fun.

Niob

05-12-2003, 02:06 PM	#1
Grellan Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: July 30, 2002 Location: ireland Age: 47 Posts: 33	wizardry 8 was the first and only of the wizardry series that i've played. thought it was great. should i try and get my hands on one of the earlier games such as wiz 7?have i been spolit by playing wiz 8 first? __________________ noodles cook was a man who could always be trusted to lie

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..."

05-12-2003, 10:37 PM	#4
jsalsb Elminster Join Date: March 5, 2001 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Age: 58 Posts: 428	Wizardry 7 is the best game I've ever played. Any genre. Yes, by today's standards (or even 8 year old standards) it looks archaic, but as Sazerac said, its story was great. Really intricate, and about the most non-linear game flow I've ever encountered while still maintaining a point. And vast; and seemed much vaster because of the one-step-at-a-time walk and map routine. A good benchmark for determining if wiz 7 was good might be this: I suspect that those who are most critical of wiz 8 (while still loving it), are those who have played wiz 7. Just a hunch. __________________ Jon<br />---<br /> [img]\"http://www.ksdpp.mcgill.ca/js/jon-avatar-me-iw-tr.gif\" alt=\" - \" /><br />\"When the world is running down, you make the best of what\'s still around.\"

05-13-2003, 02:05 PM	#7
Sazerac Ironworks Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Monroe, LA Age: 61 Posts: 7,387	That's also why I'd also recommend Wizardry 5 "Heart of the Maelstrom" if you can stand the archaic graphics...it was David Bradley (author of Wiz 6 and 7's) first contribution to the Wizardry games. Bradley was a master at storyline and plot, and at NPC characterization. His characters were more whimsical than dark, even in a very "dark" oriented plotline, and there was always something to laugh at. Not to mention some pretty hilarious situations. Like, in Wizardry 7, in a certain area where the only way to escape was to get "stoned" (and I don't mean petrification either; he even provided your characters with the pipe and "pastille" as well!) LOL, I kept that in my inventory all the way through the endgame, in case they wanted some more "recreation" on their journey, heh heh -Sazerac [ 05-13-2003, 02:06 PM: Message edited by: 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..."

05-13-2003, 05:52 PM	#8
Ziggurat Symbol of Cyric Join Date: November 4, 2001 Location: Baltimore, Md Age: 71 Posts: 1,106	Although I see the evolution from Wiz 7 to Wiz 8, I consider them different beasts. The feel is very different. I have played both many times and consider them masterworks of CRPG. It would be a tough call for me to choose between them. Wix 6 is close to that level, I may try it again. Played it maybe 5 times. My next game after this may be FaerieTale Adventure, a 1989 game that I have fond memories of. About the same graphics as Wiz 6. __________________ How are you today, Citizen?

05-12-2003, 10:15 PM	#3
Nightowl2 Galvatron Join Date: December 11, 2001 Location: Plateau of Leng Age: 47 Posts: 2,190	ELEVEN years since Wiz 7 came out? It's really been that long? Woof, didn't seem like that to me. Thought it was more like five or six. Anyway, yeah, you're probably best off looking on ebay for the Wiz package. The trilogy of VI-VII-VIII is probably the best of the Wiz games, though I've always liked Wiz IV (the earliest Wiz games were made for the Apple ][ line of computers). Nightowl2

05-13-2003, 12:00 AM	#5
offshore33 Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: January 13, 2002 Location: USA Posts: 14	Another plus for picking up and playing Wizardry 6 and 7 is that you can export/import your parties. Of course, to truly make use of this tactic you need to complete 6, export to 7, complete 7 and export to 8. That's pretty hardcore!

05-13-2003, 02:03 AM	#6
the mighty stamar Avatar Join Date: February 12, 2003 Location: hades Age: 54 Posts: 583	Well what I did after wizrdry 8 was play wizards and warriors, which was made by the author of wizardry 5,6,7. Much shorter than wizardy 8. Wizardry 5 and 6 are on common abandoneware sites. Use a program called dosbox. Not positive it works with it some old games do not. Might and magic 6,7,8 are very wizardry like, and they came out between wiz 7 and 8 and are in between technology. MM9 I only started, it is ok. It came to market more recently than wizardry 8, in very unfinished form.

05-13-2003, 06:06 PM	#9
Niob The Magister Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Rat hole #152 Posts: 137	Well, Wiz 8 is fine, but its really nothing compared with Wiz 7. The quests are much harder, the world is much bigger, the Danes, the Munks, I really miss them. Its really an other feeling, I made my way through 8 in some months, but I played Wiz 7 about 4 years without finishing it. Ok, the graphic is not the best, but for 1992..just look at Commander Keen or Duke Nukem 1.. Unfortunately its nearly impossible to run Wiz 7 on a current machine. I got the Wiz Archives and now Im able to play Wiz Gold..but the sound is not the same, and the sound was one of the most important things in Wiz 7. If you want to try it, take an old (very old) Dos machine and have fun. Niob

05-13-2003, 06:08 PM	#10
Niob The Magister Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Rat hole #152 Posts: 137	Well, Wiz 8 is fine, but its really nothing compared with Wiz 7. The quests are much harder, the world is much bigger, the Danes, the Munks, I really miss them. Its really an other feeling, I made my way through 8 in some months, but I played Wiz 7 about 4 years without finishing it. Ok, the graphic is not the best, but for 1992..just look at Commander Keen or Duke Nukem 1.. Unfortunately its nearly impossible to run Wiz 7 on a current machine. I got the Wiz Archives and now Im able to play Wiz Gold..but the sound is not the same, and the sound was one of the most important things in Wiz 7. If you want to try it, take an old (very old) Dos machine and have fun. Niob

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