Digital Eclipse has announced Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, a full remake of the original Wizardry game that started the franchise. After two years in development behind the scenes, it is available now in Early Access for PC via Steam and GOG for $29.99.
Based on its current scope and resources, Digital Eclipse expects Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord to be content-complete and leave Early Access by the end of 2024. However, this is not guaranteed as unforeseen factors might lengthen the development process.
The entire core game is playable in the Early Access version, though there may be some bugs and some visual elements are not 100 percent complete. Additional environment and object textures, audio elements, and character animations are still in development. More content and updated assets will be added over time, but some elements may change or stop working in the process. Save games, for example, are expected to break between major updates.
Here is an overview of the game, via its store pages:
About
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is a full 3D remake of the first game in the legendary Wizardry series of RPGs.
The first party-based RPG video game ever released, Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord was a direct inspiration to series like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Digital Eclipse’s revival preserves the appeal of the classic, with many upgrades for modern role-playing game fans.
Key Features
- Dungeon Crawling, Deluxe – Craft your own party of adventurers and head into the labyrinth at the behest of the mad overlord Trebor, in search of the amulet stolen by the evil wizard Werdna. Battle groups of challenging enemies, avoid hidden traps, and make your way deeper into the dungeon as you prepare for the ultimate battle: Facing Werdna himself.
- Commitment to Accuracy – Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is built directly on top of the original 1981 game’s code. Although it looks all new, underneath the hood is the authentic game. You can even view the original Apple II interface as you play.
- Challenge Without Hassle – While the well-known difficulty of the enemies has not been altered, quality-of-life improvements have been added in every area. Party management, navigation, spellcasting, and combat have all been significantly enhanced.
- A Legend Reborn – If you’re just discovering the legendary Wizardry franchise, Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is the perfect jumping-in point for new players. Series veterans will love the gorgeous new graphics and sound, and the streamlined interface.
Watch the Early Access launch trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.