Name: Wizardry III・IV
Item: Wizardry III・IV
Author: Retro Replay

Wizardry III・IV

Wizardry III・IV is a generous TurboGrafx CD package for dungeon-crawling diehards: you begin with Legacy of Llylgamyn, then reach The Return of Werdna through the town’s Utility menu. Its first-person, turn-based exploration stays close to old-school Wizardry, but the ready-made six-person party and CD audio make the opening less forbidding than it might otherwise be.

The real hook is the contrast between the two scenarios. One lets you build or use a conventional adventuring party; the other puts you in control of Werdna and the monsters he summons. That is enough of a shift to make this feel like more than two similar dungeon runs, even if its deliberately traditional structure will test anyone who needs faster, more flexible RPGs.

Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The first hour of Wizardry III・IV asks you to meet it on old Wizardry terms: first-person dungeon travel, turn-based battles, and a methodical pace that makes every decision feel more deliberate than flashy. You are dropped into Legacy of Llylgamyn automatically, but the included six-person party means you can get moving immediately instead of treating character creation as a mandatory pregame ritual. Fighter, Samurai, and the rest are plainly named, yet that convenience is welcome when you want to learn the dungeon before committing to your own lineup.

Creating a party remains an option, and that matters because party-building is part of Wizardry’s lasting pull. You can start with the prepared group, get a feel for what the game demands, then make a crew that suits your own idea of an adventure. The pace will feel stern if you mainly play RPGs that constantly hand out new tricks or rush you between set pieces. Here, patience with the crawl is the point.

The package earns its name by giving you two substantially different ways into that crawl. After beginning with Legacy of Llylgamyn, you can select The Return of Werdna from the town menu’s Utility option. Controlling Werdna and his summoned monsters is a strong change of perspective from managing a standard six-person party. It is the sort of variation that makes the collection worthwhile for a Wizardry fan rather than merely convenient.

CD music is a meaningful upgrade, too. Orchestrated tracks accompany dungeon navigation, while battle music can be enabled if you want it. That does not alter the old-school fundamentals, but it gives long stretches of mapping and fighting more atmosphere than a bare computer-era presentation would. If you enjoy settling into a dungeon rather than sprinting through one, the music helps the hours go down easier.

Graphics

This version trades the computer originals’ vector-line dungeon look for simple dungeon graphics. Enemy sprites receive the bigger improvement: foes are drawn in more detail, giving battles a clearer and more substantial look than the stripped-down dungeon views.

Story

Wizardry III・IV is built around two scenarios, and its storytelling strength comes less from broad dramatic spectacle than from the altered role each game gives you. Legacy of Llylgamyn places you in the familiar position of guiding an adventuring party through a fantasy dungeon. That is a classic setup, and the game leaves room for the party you create to become your own.

The Return of Werdna changes the frame by making Werdna the character you control. Instead of leading the usual adventurers, you command Werdna alongside summoned monsters. Even with the same series foundation beneath it, that reversal gives the second scenario a distinct flavor and a good reason to return after finishing or tiring of the first.

Do not come here expecting a heavily staged narrative. The story is carried by the scenario premise and by the role you occupy in each game, especially the switch to Werdna. For this kind of RPG, that is enough: the changing point of view adds character without getting in the way of the dungeon work.

Overall Experience

This is a remake-minded collection that respects Wizardry’s roots rather than sanding them down into a modern action RPG. Its strongest move is practical: a pre-made party gets you into Legacy of Llylgamyn quickly, while full character creation remains there for anyone who wants the deeper commitment. Then the Werdna scenario supplies a real change of pace instead of a token bonus.

Frustration can set in if you need a game to explain itself constantly or reward every short session with a dramatic payoff. Wizardry III・IV wants concentration and a tolerance for deliberate, traditional dungeon-crawling. That is not a flaw for its intended audience; it is the whole bargain. You either enjoy the slow accumulation of decisions and progress, or the structure will feel rigid.

For a gamer who already likes early Wizardry, this TurboGrafx CD edition is easy to recommend. The more detailed enemy art, simple illustrated dungeons, and optional orchestral battle music make a faithful formula easier to live with, while the two-scenario structure gives the disc some welcome breadth. Newcomers with patience can find a sturdy historical RPG here; everyone else may admire its conviction more than they enjoy the crawl.