Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Wizardry: The New Generation brings two of the most storied entries in the classic Wizardry franchise—Bane of the Cosmic Forge and Crusaders of the Dark Savant—under one roof. At its core, the gameplay remains faithful to the old-school, first-person, party-based dungeon crawler format, challenging you to navigate labyrinthine corridors, disarm traps, and solve environmental puzzles. Both games demand careful party composition, thoughtful resource management, and a willingness to experiment with spells and tactics. Veteran RPG fans will appreciate the depth of character customization, from choosing races and classes to fine-tuning skills and alignments that affect how NPCs and deities respond to your group.

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In Bane of the Cosmic Forge, exploration is methodical; each floor of the sprawling dungeon feels hand-crafted, with secret chambers hiding powerful artifacts or deadly ambushes. Combat unfolds in strict turn-based order, emphasizing positioning and buff/debuff timing. Meanwhile, Crusaders of the Dark Savant introduces a more open world above ground, with branching quest lines and multiple factions vying for your allegiance. Here, your choices can dramatically alter story outcomes, and random encounters on the wilderness map keep you on your toes as you hunt or evade foes.

Modern quality-of-life enhancements make the compilation feel surprisingly approachable for new players. You’ll find an updated auto-map, customizable UI scales, and integrated save-state support—features absent in the originals but crucial to preventing frustration during marathon dungeon runs. If the sheer challenge of the Cosmic Forge or the sprawling narrative scope of Dark Savant ever feels overwhelming, you can lean on these conveniences to track objectives and dodge game-breaking pitfalls that older RPGs are notorious for.

Graphics

While Wizardry VI and VII were groundbreaking in their day, their visuals today evoke a potent blend of nostalgia and retro charm. Both titles employ first-person dungeon sprites and tile-based mapping, rendered in richly detailed but decidedly low-resolution palettes. Walls, floors, and object sprites carry intricate pixel work that nonetheless betrays its age—expect noticeable blockiness and a limited color range. However, die-hard fans will find that the minimalist presentation leaves room for imagination, recalling the golden era of PC role-playing.

The compilation enhances these visual assets with optional smoothing filters and higher-resolution UI elements, allowing newcomers to appreciate the environments without squinting at tiny text or indistinct icons. Character portraits and spell animations have been slightly upscaled, improving readability while preserving the original art style. The result is a faithful restoration rather than a full remake: graphics remain authentic to the 1990s era, but they play nicer with modern monitors and widescreen layouts.

Beyond the core dungeons, Wizardry VII’s overworld map feels surprisingly vibrant for its time, featuring varied terrain types—lush forests, barren wastelands, and cryptic ruins—each with their own sprite sets and weather effects. Combat animations remain simple but functional, with flashing icons and brief spell effects that convey impact without unnecessary fluff. Overall, if you’re looking for cutting-edge visuals, this compilation isn’t it—but as a time capsule of classic RPG art, it remains compelling and evocative.

Story

Bane of the Cosmic Forge plunges you into the kingdom of Llylgamyn, where rumors of an otherworldly artifact—the Cosmic Forge—have stirred unrest and supernatural occurrences. Your party is summoned to investigate bizarre energy surges and the disappearance of local dignitaries. The narrative unfolds through terse dialogue windows and cryptic journal entries, rewarding players who piece together lore from environmental clues and NPC ramblings. While the main plot is relatively straightforward—recover the Forge before it falls into malevolent hands—the true allure lies in side quests that delve into the tragic histories of long-dead cults and cursed dungeons.

Crusaders of the Dark Savant picks up threads from its predecessor but ramps up the stakes with interplanetary machinations and a nefarious villain known as the Dark Savant. Unlike its more linear predecessor, Dark Savant offers a sandbox of political intrigue and moral quandaries, pitting noble houses against spacefaring invaders. Your decisions—whether to defend a besieged city, broker alliances, or pursue forbidden research—carry weight, shaping the endgame and determining which of the multiple finales you’ll witness. This narrative complexity elevates the sequel, crafting a sense of agency rare for its time.

Both games rely heavily on text-driven storytelling, with limited voice work and static dialogue boxes. While this may feel archaic compared to modern fully voiced RPGs, fans of rich pen-and-paper–style lore will find it deeply satisfying. Character interactions can be dry at first, but as your party’s roster expands with unique NPCs and adventurers, personalities emerge through witty retorts, cryptic visions, and hidden allegiances. The compilation’s in-game codex and journal logs help you keep track of dozens of plot threads, ensuring you stay invested in the cosmic conspiracies and local intrigues that define the Wizardry universe.

Overall Experience

Wizardry: The New Generation stands as both a tribute to and a preservation of a golden age of computer RPGs. For seasoned adventurers, revisiting the Cosmic Forge and Dark Savant is like pulling an ancient tome off a dusty shelf—familiar yet filled with surprises. The blend of meticulous dungeon design, punishing difficulty, and narrative depth offers a gameplay experience that few modern titles dare to replicate. The compilation’s added convenience features soften the learning curve without compromising the unforgiving spirit that defines Wizardry.

Newcomers should be prepared for a steep ramp-up in complexity. Party management requires attention to detail, and save-scumming may become a habit to avoid irreversible mistakes. Yet this very challenge is central to the appeal: every victory feels hard-earned, and every carefully mapped dungeon floor is a testament to player perseverance. Lengthy playtimes—upwards of 50 hours per game—provide excellent value for those eager to dive deep into old-school role-playing.

In the end, Wizardry: The New Generation is more than a nostalgia trip—it’s a masterclass in legacy RPG design. It won’t dazzle with ray-traced reflections or cinematic cutscenes, but it will grip you with its strategic combat, labyrinthine dungeons, and branching sci-fi/fantasy saga. If your heart yearns for a challenge and your mind craves a rich lore tapestry, this compilation delivers a timeless adventure that still resonates today. For anyone seeking to experience two of the most influential PC RPGs side by side, the New Generation is an essential purchase.

Retro Replay Score

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