Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Best class system in RPGs belongs to Wizardry VII]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/best-class-system-in-rpgs-belongs-to-wizardry-vii/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/best-class-system-in-rpgs-belongs-to-wizardry-vii/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/best-class-system-in-rpgs-belongs-to-wizardry-vii/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This is a weekly column from freelancer Rowan Kaiser, which focuses on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
Best class system in RPGs belongs to Wizardry VII
One of the defining characteristics of the role-playing genre is its class systems. Although not every RPG has classes - Fallout or The Witcher, for example - some tend to be notable for their lack of classes. In some games, class is a single, permanent decision at the beginning of your adventure, and in others it's something that can be manipulated throughout. In most cases, though, it is the single most important aspect in determining how your characters interact with the game world. Thieves sneak and back stab, fighters charge in and absorb damage, snipers shoot from a distance.

The most impressive class system I've seen in an RPG is in 1992's Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant (as well as its less well-known predecessor, Bane Of The Cosmic Forge). What initially appears to be a straightforward, rigid D&D-style system is given massive depth by two things: the importance of racial base stats in determining class, and a dynamic system that allows for both massive improvement and possible disaster. It's possibly the most in-depth system I've seen in any RPG, and one that I wish was more well-known.

Continue reading Best class system in RPGs belongs to Wizardry VII

JoystiqBest class system in RPGs belongs to Wizardry VII originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>OpinionpcWizardryFri, 22 Jun 2012 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls finds a home on PSN]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/wizardry-labyrinth-of-lost-souls-finds-a-home-on-psn/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/wizardry-labyrinth-of-lost-souls-finds-a-home-on-psn/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/wizardry-labyrinth-of-lost-souls-finds-a-home-on-psn/#comments The positively historical first-person RPG series Wizardry will continue in North America and Europe in as modern a manner as can be: a downloadable PSN game for PS3. XSEED is localizing Acquire's Wizardry: Torawareshi Tamashii no Meikyū for the West as Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls. Though the series started in America (in 1981!) in recent years it's been more popular in Japan, with sequels developed by Japanese companies and released only in Japan. That explains why this version looks a bit more anime than the original did.

Players will be able to explore a grid-based dungeon and fight 120 different monsters, all with hand-drawn 2D sprites, sometime this spring.

Gallery: Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls (PS3)

Continue reading Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls finds a home on PSN

JoystiqWizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls finds a home on PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireplaystationps3psnrelease-datespring-2011wizardrywizardry-labyrinth-of-lost-soulsxseedWed, 23 Mar 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wizardry franchise revived on PS3, Nintendo DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/wizardry-franchise-revived-on-ps3-nintendo-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/wizardry-franchise-revived-on-ps3-nintendo-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/wizardry-franchise-revived-on-ps3-nintendo-ds/#comments
Classic RPG franchise Wizardry is making a comeback ... of sorts. The classic RPG franchise is coming back in not just one -- but two -- new games to release in Japan later this year.

First is a PS3 game, to be published by Acquire. Details are slim, but Wizardry: Torawareshi Damashii no Meikyou (Wizardry: Dungeon of Imprisoned Souls) is supposedly hitting the Japanese PlayStation Network this Fall, according to a report by Siliconera. The release would mark the first time the Wizardry series becomes available on a current generation console.

Next up is a Nintendo DS game, Wizardry: Seimei no Kusabi (Wizardry: Pledge of Life). Supposedly, this will be a 3D dungeon RPG that will be available exclusively on Amazon Japan, almost guaranteeing high resale value on eBay for years to come.

Source - Wizardry 囚われし魂の迷宮 Official Website
Source - Wizardry Crawling to DS too

JoystiqWizardry franchise revived on PS3, Nintendo DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>wizardryTue, 04 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dungeon Lords expansion, sequel announced, world asks why?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/dungeon-lords-expansion-sequel-announced-world-asks-why/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/dungeon-lords-expansion-sequel-announced-world-asks-why/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/dungeon-lords-expansion-sequel-announced-world-asks-why/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2005's Dungeon Lords was a mess of a game. Despite being helmed by PC role-playing vet David Bradley, best known for three titles in Sir-Tech's venerable Wizardry series including the timeless Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant, Dungeon Lords was a shell of a finished product, riddled with glitches, bugs, and incomplete features. So, sequel anyone?

Publisher JoWooD has announced plans for not only a "stand alone" expansion to the role-playing disaster, due in the third quarter of 2008, but a sequel as well, which is planned for the PC and an unspecified "next-gen" console a full year later in 2009. This sure seems like a lot of effort to thrown behind a game that was collectively panned by gaming critics, despite being "well-received commercially," according to JoWooD.

There is an old saying of being once bitten, twice shy, though perhaps the distant release dates are pinned on hopes that players will forget about the first game altogether. It's possible, though our trusty Magic 8-Balls says "outlook not so good."

JoystiqDungeon Lords expansion, sequel announced, world asks why? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david-bradleydungeon-lordsdungeonlords2jowoodPCsir-techwizardryTue, 20 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Import game releases for the week of 01/14/07]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/14/import-game-releases-for-the-week-of-01-14-07/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/14/import-game-releases-for-the-week-of-01-14-07/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/14/import-game-releases-for-the-week-of-01-14-07/#commentsFiled under:

Always wanted to play import games, but never wanted to mod your system? Well lucky for you, the PSP allows you to play import games right out of the box. But now you may wonder what the newest import games are. Well, that's why every Sunday I'm here to keep you updated.

M.A.C.H. (Modified Air Combat Heroes)

We talked about this one a few weeks back since it's coming to the US next month. If you can't wait that long though and don't mind if your games aren't localized than you can buy M.A.C.H. this week. If it's not obvious from the game's title (and really it should be), the gameplay revolves around air combat.

Initial D Street Stage (PSP the Best)

Based on the popular manga, this game is all about not just racing, but drifting. In between races you upgrade your car so you can more easily take down rivals. This game isn't new, but this is the "best" release which means you can buy it cheaper than ever.

Wizardry Empire III: Haoh no Keifu

Oddly enough this series has had more popularity and sequels in Japan than in its native country. The newest installment still plays like the PC RPGs of old. You move in first person while exploring dungeons and killing monsters. Visit towns, get new weapons and defeat evil. Unless you know Japanese though, it isn't usually a good idea to import an RPG.

Talkman Shiki: Shabe Lingual Eikaiwa

Talkman is voice-activated translation software It translates words into your language or vice-versa. This release centers around teaching English and key phrases one would need to get by in the US or an English speaking country. The Talkman releases have been somewhat popular where they've been released, so I still wonder why this useful software has never gotten a version in the US.

That's it for now , see you back here next week for even more import games!

[Update 1: Fixed tagging.]

JoystiqImport game releases for the week of 01/14/07 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 14 Jan 2007 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>importimport game releasesimport releaseImportGameReleasesImportReleaseimportsinitial dinitial d street stageInitialDInitialDStreetStagem.a.c.h.machtalkmantalkman shiki: shabe lingual eikaiwaTalkmanShiki:ShabeLingualEikaiwawizardrywizardry empire 3wizardry empire iii: haoh no keifuWizardryEmpire3WizardryEmpireIii:HaohNoKeifuSun, 14 Jan 2007 21:45:00 EST