Surprise! Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord Remake Revealed and Launched

Digital Eclipse has made a surprising move unveiling and launching a remake of the original Wizardry game. Known as Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, this computer role-playing game was first released in 1981 and was the first to introduce party-based play to the genre. The game spawned a successful series that lasted for two decades, with the final installment, Wizardry 8, being released in 2001.

According to a press release from Digital Eclipse, the remake has been in development for two years and is built directly on top of the original game’s code. While the remake stays structurally faithful to the original, it brings a complete modernization to the visual presentation, interface, party management, and makes changes to navigation, spellcasting, and combat.

Although the game is launching as Early Access, Digital Eclipse assures that the core of the game is playable. During the Early Access period, the focus will be on adding additional environment and object textures, audio elements, and character animations. The development team also plans to explore features such as text localization, an in-game enemy guide, and other enhancements based on player feedback.

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is now available on Steam and GoG. The launch trailer showcases the game’s sleek tile-based movement, encounters with classic fantasy enemies, and highlights the faithful recreation of the original wireframe display.

In a year that has seen several successful remakes, including Dead Space, Resident Evil 4, and System Shock, it is hoped that Digital Eclipse’s remake of Wizardry will be a worthy addition to this list.

Definitions:
– RPG: Role-playing game
– Early Access: A phase of game development where players can access and play an unfinished version of the game to provide feedback and help shape its final release.

Sources:
– Digital Eclipse press release via Steam
– Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord Steam page