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Wizards & Warriors (2000 video game)

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Wizards & Warriors
Cover art by Keith Parkinson[2]
Developer(s)Heuristic Park
Publisher(s)Activision
Designer(s)David W. Bradley, Nathan Cheever
Composer(s)Steve Miller
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • NA: October 4, 2000[1]
  • EU: October 6, 2000
  • AU: 2000
Genre(s)Role-playing video game
Mode(s)Single-player

Wizards & Warriors is a role-playing video game for Microsoft Windows designed by David W. Bradley.

Gameplay

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Gameplay is similar in style to Bradley's earlier Wizardry games. Players control a party of characters through a first-person perspective and fight turn-based combats. Outside of combat, the game is real-time. Characters can join guilds that give exclusive quests, and each character maintains their own individual quest log.[3] Guilds also allow characters to switch classes. Characters can switch classes as many times as they like but can not return to a class once they change from it.[4]

Development

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Development began in 1996 and lasted four years.[5] Bradley initially reported the game would have a system that allowed players to choose between real-time and turn-based combat, though this was later abandoned. Competitive multiplayer was also planned based on the guild system, though this, too, was removed.[3]

Reception

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The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6] Sam Derboo of Hardcore Gaming 101 wrote that it "feels like Bradley's alternative Wizardry 8".[3] In comparing the two games' dungeons, Derboo said the dungeons of Wizards & Warriors are more complex.[3] Andrew Seyoon Park of GameSpot wrote that the game seems to be unimpressive at first, perhaps because of its long development, but provides "many hours of exploration and character building".[14] Tal Blevins of IGN complimented the game's graphics and voice acting, though he wrote that the controls can be annoying. Blevins concluded, "If you like old-school RPGs, you'll fall in love with Wizards & Warriors."[17] Jonathan Houghton of The Adrenaline Vault likened it to EverQuest, saying that the game's unoriginal storyline is compensated for by its depth and longevity.[20] In criticizing the game's controls, graphics, and story, Will Lally and Tina Haumersen of GameSpy wrote, "Aside from some nostalgia value, there is nothing to recommend this game."[15] Doug Trueman of NextGen wrote, "What might have been a decent RPG a couple of years ago can't compete today with the likes of Diablo II and Icewind Dale."[18] Brian Wright of GamePro wrote, "RPG fans looking for a change of pace from Baldur's Gate II and who are willing to overlook a few flaws may want to give Wizards & Warriors a chance."[21][a]

Notes

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  1. ^ GamePro gave the game three 3.5/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 4/5 for sound.

References

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  1. ^ Fudge, James (October 4, 2000). "Wizards & Warriors Released". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on May 30, 2003. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "Wizards & Warriors Original Pencil Sketch". Keith Parkinson. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Derboo, Sam (October 31, 2012). "Wizardry: Stones of Arnhem". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  4. ^ Blevins, Tal (March 1, 2000). "Wizards & Warriors (Preview)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Kasavin, Greg (August 3, 2000). "Wizards & Warriors Preview [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 9, 2001. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Wizards & Warriors". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  7. ^ House, Michael L. "Wizards & Warriors (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  8. ^ Bub, Andrew S. (October 11, 2000). "Wizards & Warriors". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on October 19, 2000. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  9. ^ D'Aprile, Jason (November 11, 2000). "Wizards and Warriors [sic]". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on April 18, 2003. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  10. ^ Chick, Tom (February 2001). "Good, Bad, & Ugly (Wizards & Warriors Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 199. Ziff Davis. pp. 108–09. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  11. ^ Canoa, Rafael (December 27, 2000). "Wizards & Warriors". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on September 11, 2002. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Reppen, Erik (December 2000). "Wizards & Warriors (PC)". Game Informer. No. 92. FuncoLand. p. 134.
  13. ^ Ferris, Duke (October 2000). "Wizards & Warriors Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Park, Andrew Seyoon (October 3, 2000). "Wizards & Warriors Review (PC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 9, 2000. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Lally, Will; Haumersen, Tina (October 21, 2000). "Wizards and Warriors [sic]". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 10, 2000. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  16. ^ Lafferty, Michael (October 9, 2000). "Wizards & Warriors Review - PC". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  17. ^ a b Blevins, Tal (September 29, 2000). "Wizards & Warriors (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Trueman, Doug (January 2001). "Wizards and Warriors [sic]". NextGen. No. 73. Imagine Media. p. 113. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  19. ^ "Wizards & Warriors". PC Gamer. Vol. 7, no. 12. Imagine Media. December 2000. p. 144.
  20. ^ Houghton, Jonathan (October 30, 2000). "Wizards & Warriors". The Adrenaline Vault. Archived from the original on February 7, 2006. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  21. ^ Wright, Brian (October 19, 2000). "Wizards & Warriors Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on November 9, 2004. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
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