Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom

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Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom
File:Wizardry 5 cover.jpg
Cover art used in Apple II, Commodore 64 and DOS versions
Developer(s) Sir-Tech Software, Inc.
Publisher(s) Sir-Tech Software, Inc.
Designer(s) Andrew C. Greenberg
David W. Bradley
Series Wizardry
Platforms Apple II, Commodore 64, DOS, SNES, Satellaview, PC booter, NEC PC-88, PC-98, FM Towns, PC Engine CD
Release date(s)
      Genre(s) Role-playing video game
      Mode(s) Single player

      Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom is the fifth scenario in the Wizardry series of role-playing video games. It was published in 1988 by Sir-Tech Software, Inc. for the Commodore 64, Apple II and as a PC booter (using DOS). A port for the SNES and FM Towns was later developed and published by ASCII Entertainment in Japan. Wizardry V was released in the US for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System by Capcom in April 1994, and subsequently re-released for the Satellaview subsystem under then name BS Wizardry 5.

      Story

      Following from the events of Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn, Heart of the Maelstrom begins after a period of peace brought about through the use of L'Kbreth's Orb is shattered when the powers of chaos literally begin to emerge into the world. These unnatural energies are especially focused in a series of tunnels beneath the Temple of Sages in Llylgamyn, fittingly called the Maelstrom. Adventurers, namely the player party, are recruited to journey into these caverns and track down a means of summoning a being known as the Gatekeeper who can seal these chaotic energies once more. Unfortunately, he has been imprisoned by a rogue sorceress known as the Sorn.

      The party begins by searching for G'bli Gedook, a high priest and guardian of L'Kbreth's Orb. He instructs the party to venture deeper into the caverns. After traversing down to the eighth floor, the party must appease four beings known as the Card Lords by bringing them their respective suit. Once this task is accomplished, the party can venture to the Heart of the Maelstrom and the Gatekeeper may be summoned. As this occurs, the Sorn and her own party of adventurers strike, prompting a final battle. With her defeat, the Gatekeeper awards the party the Heart of Abriel. They return with this to the surface and order is restored to Llylgamyn.

      Reception

      The game was reviewed in 1989 in Dragon #145 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 4 out of 5 stars.[1] Computer Gaming World in 1989 noted the game's similarity to the first three games, saying, "Heart of the Maelstrom is, at once, both more simple than Return of Werdna and improved over the first three scenarios". The review also noted, however, that the game played slowly due to extensive disk access.[2] A different reviewer in 1991 wrote that the game was "better than some, not as good as others".[3] Compute! said that the game was good for both those new to and familiar with the series, but criticized the IBM PC version's use of CGA instead of EGA or VGA graphics.[4]

      Reviewing the SNES version, GamePro opined that though the non-hostile monsters, riddles, and puzzles are admirable improvements from previous Wizardry games, the gameplay of Wizardry V is still outdated compared to other SNES RPGs such as Final Fantasy IV, noting in particular the need to repeatedly re-enter the same dungeon and the lack of multiple save slots.[5]

      References

      1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
      2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
      3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
      4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
      5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

      External links

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