this is just a feature-listy review of this specific port of Wizardry 1-3 for PS1. you should know what you're getting into when you play these games.

it's a solid, good port of the classic Wizardry trilogy. the original game mechanics are kept, no Wiz V ninja/thief ambushes here unlike the SNES port (though updates from later revisions are implemented). the dungeon balance has been tweaked slightly and an automap is available to make play more comfortable. Jun Suemi's now iconic enemy redesigns are also used here, and Kentaro Haneda has provided a new CD soundtrack (as in, completely new from his NES music) to help enhance the game. the 3D graphics are tasteful and work well, but not especially interesting. unfortunately there were some poor choices made in translating the interface from keyboard to controller, resulting in constant accidental choices as you get used to navigating the menus.

if you want a relatively pure Wizardry 1-3 experience without playing the PC originals, this is the best way to go about it in my opinion. if you're alright with some additional gameplay changes, the SNES port is worth a look. the game has a settings menu that lets you use the original English text from the PC games with no cuts (slightly revised to accommodate for the fact it's a trilogy like in other revisions), and you can even use the original graphics if the Suemi art or 3D dungeons don't appeal to you.

Reviewed on Nov 01, 2020


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