Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord [NES] Part 1 -- Making the Party

[@fargrimmertyldril5686]

I recently started playing the PlayStation version of this game and the advice concerning the inn made me let out a huge sigh because of all the gold I could have saved had I known that. So thank you for that information, I will put it to good use!

[@enfieldjohn101]

This game was released in 1981 on the Apple II after debuting the previous year at the Boston gaming convention. I first played it on my grandma's Commodore 64 in 1987. She was really into computers and was a member of the Commodore Computer Club. I went to meetings with her and learned a lot from her and other members about the Commodore computers as well as Apples. By the time I went to high school in our very small town (less than 500 people) in 1989, the high school secretary, boys' sports coach and I were the only ones who knew how to use a computer. Before 1989, our school had only had typewriters. An alumnus donated three Apple II's to the school that year. Even though I was a freshman, I wound up helping the coach teach his computer class each year until I graduated. Wizardry, Zork, Ultima and Might and Magic were all games that I enjoyed playing on the C64 and Apple II. Oddly enough, I had never even seen an actual paper and pencil role playing game until I went to college. None of the stores in the towns near where I grew up sold RPGs at that time because parents objected to them I guess. When students I met in the student union invited me to try AD&D with them, it took a bit to get used to the slower pace of the table-top game and to having my character survive so much longer. :) Character death didn't phase me much at all, so I was surprised by the reactions I saw from some other players when their PCs died. These computer games were much less forgiving than the DMs I was playing now were too and the table top RPGs didn't seem as risky and deadly for my PC. I had fun with them though. When I started being the DM for groups after college, some players complained that I was too harsh and unforgiving and that my puzzles and traps were too devious. I told them that I had learned how to make an RPG from the early computer game versions first so it just made sense to me that the quest should be a real challenge. I now have Wizardry for my NES and I'm enjoying replaying it now after so many years away from it. It's just as much fun as I remember. Good video here!

[@IndieGamerRetro]

Thanks so much! That's an awesome story. I didn't get into gaming until the late 80's, so I didn't have much experience with the early PC stuff. We did have Ultima, Wizardry, and Might & Magic, but I played them on the NES and SNES. Good times.

[@enfieldjohn101]

@@IndieGamerRetro Early Might and Magic games were very good too.

[@deisuherman328]

Yo man have captured my Heart. This game I remember in the 90's and I remember it well.

[@sbabagaming2422]

Good job I feel like you do with old games beating me up

[@crystaljnelson4936]

From the bottom of my hearth, thanks for uploading this man.

[@charlesmreilly2250]

I’m a new sub as of a few weeks ago. Thanks for the vid and keep up the good work!

[@charliewijaya5141]

For a long time I would say this game was in my top five favorite retro games. But it's still an experience with Incredible music, battle damaged enemies and nostalgia.

[@SandyLBurns]

This was my first RPG, and it did its job! Years later and I still love the genre

[@thomasckelsey8327]

I was just looking for a video on this and you popped up in my notifications. Nice.

[@dianaross6135]

Those look so good gameplay!

[@joannedwilliams2497]

Hells yes! Sweet childhood memories!

[@funandfun4868]

Love the video, I'm glad you sharing my fav game.

[@jessehammer2156]

This video completely changed my perspective of the game. Bravo Indie Gamer Retro!

[@terrencedearly6617]

I really respect you for covering this series.

[@diannalcarpenter2862]

Awesome work, can't wait for the future videos!

[@clairecharlebois7703]

Very good video

[@studio-dk8gq]

I look forward to seeing more

[@lisaw.banach4959]

Old but stil gold

[@DJBVWA]

We had the first two Wizardry games on Apple2c. I still have the NES version.

[@IndieGamerRetro]

I have this one, Wizardry II for NES, Wizardry V for SNES, and Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land for PS2. I'm going to try and get all of them at some point if I can.

[@PriscillaBKey]

Great video and never heard of this game. Looks challenging and happy Halloween

[@gracielab.abbott38]

Glad to see you posting an episode every week man! Keep up the good work.

[@keithjwade7304]

I am interested in seeing you continue

[@sarahdcowles6392]

I would totally play this.

[@Killswitchs]

This game was my introduction to rpg. I needed it.

[@ceciliamhearn9701]

Amazing battle theme...... wow i loved it

[@juankcouncil2458]

I started buying wizardry 8 because of this video

[@cassandrahanna7684]

Oh man, the memories.

[@septiancarpenter4078]

I love this game too.

[@steverob8126]

Thank you for this amazing video! Great memories

[@daviddwilkes7921]

Good job bro!

[@brendanrogerio3536]

Wizardry would be amazing with the great tabletop RPG ROLEMASTER!

[@michaelpgatlin8806]

I remember this game I had graph paper and counted every step....and drew every step..

[@rogergreenspan634]

Freaking amazing!

[@richardvdavis7823]

I love this game and I don't think it looks bad, I think it looks charmingly

[@thelmabsilva7942]

Wizardry sounds interesting

[@MarkGNoble]

Dude! My dad got mad when my brother let me play this!

[@davidhancock5506]

I still remember beating this game. It was one of the easiest and simplest games ever.

[@graphicinside9716]

OK, I need to play this.

[@juanmkinsley4471]

I love these videos

[@DJBVWA]

Races: humans can become Ninjas (needs 17 in all stats) respec from thief... and ninjas are broken af if you level well. Or luck into finding the dagger that lets you convert a thief to ninja with restarting level. Samurai, Lords and Bishops: best if you sink a ton of time leveling a caster then respecing after you get the stats. Stats: the most I've started with is, iirc, 25 or 28.

[@DJBVWA]

I may be mistaken in thinking only humans can be ninjas... I think maybe I made my thieves human because at respec your stats revert to base for race and humans have 8 in all, easiest to get back up. Oh, and "Bishop" is the pc name for wizards on nes

[@IndieGamerRetro]

I think technically any race can be a ninja if you get all their stats to 17, but I've only really tried it with humans, as they had a tendency to build their stats up faster and more evenly.

[@klavutso]

If is still difficult to hear because of the music 😉

[@aurorawyrose9678]

Wow I dont know if there are NES version

[@laurenhwhitmarsh5413]

Looks like someone did a remake in RPG maker.

[@robertbullard8570]

Oh god, I love this game

[@helenthorn9785]

Too easy, yes. but I enjoyed it. The battle music tho is the BEST in the series IMO

[@juliopmiller5444]

Make more!!

[@carriejparker5613]

Very cool, I've never played Wizardry myself. I've been a bigger fan of console RPG's.

[@Neil_Chapman]

Not sure if I wanna try a game when it makes the host curse so much 😂

[@IndieGamerRetro]

It does get VERY frustrating at times, and I do try to work on it, but then I forget...

[@DarwinHandy]

Whizardy!

[@serenasea2915]

Where I can download it. thanks

[@charlietbone7958]

Go to Japan, Wizardry is alive and well.

[@sonic-bb]

its interesting that humans suck in wizardry. Since in d&d at the time, humans were OP lol

[@IndieGamerRetro]

Not so much as "suck", but more along the lines of they're completely, absolutely average. They have the potential to be anything but they're not particularly good at anything. Elves on the other hand, have high IQ so they make good mages, and gnomes have high piety and make good clerics. Humans are just average.

[@sonic-bb]

@@IndieGamerRetro ah true true I see