A look back at: Wizardry 8

 

Whoops, nearly forgot to post about this. Well, in any case, finally a finish a franchise apart from a few spinoff games that are somewhat different than this. But hey, no more of that lame grid-based movement, even though the game loves to give us the bonus dungeons with a fake grid. No random encounters either, things are pre-planned. There's a LOT of customization in Wizardry 8, moreso than any other game in the franchise. Lots of stats to tweak, races to choose, formations to tweak, equipment to utilize, spells to use, even those guest star party members can find some use. Oh yeah, guest star party members! Quite a good addition, especially Vi Domina. As well as numerous races we saw back in Wizardry VII making a return with lots of voice acting, and then there's the newer races like Rapax to consider.

Perhaps it's my experience with the previous Wizardry games being its own reward, but I gotta say, Wizardry 8 is the easiest of the Wizardry games. But of course, a game shouldn't be super hard to be enjoyable, as this game not only offers difficulty settings, but the game is of a decent length and will have its challenges to and fro. Having accidentally stumbled into an area I'm definitely not leveled for is par for the course, so I would save that and go for later.

And then there's the entire idea that all of a sudden, the plot of Wizardry 8 is literally all about becoming gods. As strange as it is, the temptation to do so with such powerful cosmic items, including the Cosmic Forge from the sixth game and the Astral Dominae from the seventh, still in the Dark Savant's hands, all the ideas for what could be done is basically the reason why these games in the Dark Savant trilogy have multiple endings and beginnings. The creativity of it all is a shining highlight. So you wanna turn evil? Join the Savant for good this time and make the races go to war! Or write the Savant out of the book, although you gotta fight the guy. Or go drastic and tear a page out of the book, make it seem like he's not gonna go anywhere with his master plans! I don't think this will make my top 15 RPGs, but I am extremely glad on how well of a high note the Wizardry series ended.