Wizards & Warriors (2000 video game)

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

Wizards & Warriors
Cover art by Keith Parkinson[1]
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[2] EU: October 6, 2000 AU: 2000
Genre(s)	Role-playing video game
Mode(s)	Single-player

Gameplay

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

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

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	70/100[6]

Review scores

Publication	Score
AllGame	[7]
CNET Gamecenter	7/10[8]
Computer Games Strategy Plus	[9]
Computer Gaming World	[10]
EP Daily	4.5/10[11]
Game Informer	5/10[12]
GameRevolution	C[13]
GameSpot	7/10[14]
GameSpy	68%[15]
GameZone	7.5/10[16]
IGN	8.4/10[17]
Next Generation	[18]
PC Gamer (US)	74%[19]

Reception

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

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