Wizardry 8

I've never really got into any dungeon crawler type crpg's like this before, but always kinda wanted to. I picked up this one recently, and have found myself playing it every minute of spare time i have... i'm completely obsessed and addicted to this game now.. When i'm not playing it, im thinking about it, and even thinking about how i could build a different party for a second playthrough, when im not even half way through the first. I never do that. It's a little more modern than most old dungeon crawlers. You dont have to click the little arrows to move in a strict grid pattern. You just freely move around the world with arrow keys and mouse. I play it with a xbox controller set up with Rewasd. It works great. The voice acting is top tier. Absolutely awesome. Story is great and unique, a crazy amount of different classes and races you can be. Including very different and unique classes like a Mook (think giant yeti wookie), rawulfs(wolf men), cat people, fairies, dragon men, lizard men, hobbits, elves, etc etc. Everything you want from the classic tolkien type races and also wild unique alien races. It is a little easy to get lost sometimes. But a quick google search usually remedies that fine. Some people have complained the 3d models look crappy. But i find them charming. For its time, they were great and even today, i think they're awesome. The portrait art is fantastic, and ANIMATED. I know,, it sounds corny and lame at first glance. But it grows on you immediately. Your party really comes to life, their looks, and voices, personalities, it really immerses you in the game. Trust me, its one of the best parts of the game. It's my first introduction into the Wizardry series, and so far, i love it. Can't stop playing. Ok,... going to go back to playing now... bye

Wizardry 8 is an old school dungeon crawl, with lots of complex mazes. While there is an automap, it isn't always useful in a 3d environment. My main problem with the game is the game balance. Mobs have huge advantages that the players don't have once you get out of the first dungeon. For example, a group of magicians are almost unbeatable. Their spells seem to do a lot more damage AND they have a range that greatly exceeds that of the players. Even worse, they can do damage through rocks and other solid items that players, which isn't available to the players, and I am playing it on easy mode! If you can get past this, the game is enjoyable.

Cannot believe how well timed this addition to the GOG collection this is. I have just spent the last week playing this fantastic game from an old CD image copy of mine. I love this game, so it was an insta-buy for me. I love the party-based play, the voice comments by my characters, the constant battles (OK, it can be quite a 'grind', but I enjoy that) and the insane party management elements, as well as the magic, the gadget making, the character development...... I'll stop now. Need to play!

I have played all the Wizardry games, 1-8, still have the Wizardry 8 original discs ($39.99 back in the day), and I loved them all. Hell, I still go back to The Proving Grounds Of The Mad Overlord. But Wizardry 8, even as old as it is, still, in 2023, produces an awesome story, very decent graphics, top notch combat system, open world and the perfect end to an unfortunate dying franchise. GoG's version of this masterpiece runs perfectly on my Win 11, 64 system. I actually just completed Wizardry 8, the reason for this review. Yeah, I've beat W8 a gazillion times in the past, but this is the first time using GoG's version. I didn't experience any crashes, the graphics, for the time it was released, are still awesome. Replaying W8, it's like revisiting old friends because the NPC voice actors make you feel like you are returning home. Myles, the thief, is by far my favorite. I reckon I do have some nostalgia for W8, but if you will give it a chance, I'm sure, I hope, you will fall in love with it as I have. My son, 21 years old, still plays this masterpiece of game. If you are new to this game, my advice would be to just place everything else outside of your mind and just take your time exploring this open world. Of all the old and modern 2023 games, Wizardry 8 is still in my top 10. I've been gaming since 1978 and am 55 years old now and I've seen it all. Wizardry 8 is a solid, open world RPG, even by today's standards. You want a true open world RPG experience with a satisfying ending? Then this is the game for you. Thank you, GoG, for allowing me to relive my past for a couple of weeks.

When this game was released in 2001 it was decidedly and aggressively old-school, but still managed to get repeated RPG of the year awards. It still holds up today, but thanks to Sir Tech's bankruptcy, copies of the game have been selling for nearly 200 dollars apeice. Which makes GoG quite the bargain! Snap it up, or play Crusaders of the Dark Savant first--it's my personal favorite.