The Grand Resurrection of a Pixelated Past: Wizardry’s Witty 3D Comeback

In a world where nostalgia is just as valuable as Bitcoin (well, before the crash), Digital Eclipse has decided to take us on a trip down memory lane, but with a 3D twist. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and all you non-binary royals, the granddaddy of RPGs, Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, is getting a makeover that would make the Kardashians jealous.

A Legend Reborn, But Still Old School

Picture this: It’s 1981, and your biggest worry is whether your Apple II will load the latest game without frying. Fast forward to 2024, and we’re about to witness the rebirth of the game that made us believe in magic, monsters, and the power of a good spell. Digital Eclipse, the digital archaeologists of the gaming world, are set to release a fully completed remaster of Wizardry on May 23 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. That’s right, no more pixelated potions or blocky beasts; we’re talking Unreal Engine magic here.

But don’t let the shiny new graphics fool you. Underneath the modern facade lies the heart of the original Apple II code, thumping away like a nostalgic drum. It’s like finding out your grandad still wears his disco pants under his trousers – some things never change.

Early Access: A Trip Down the Beta Testing Lane

Since September 2023, the bravest of souls have ventured into the Early Access dungeons on Steam and GOG, armed with nothing but their feedback and a desire for retro glory. And guess what? They loved it. The game boasts a “Very Positive” review score and 4/5 stars, which in gamer terms is like winning the lottery while riding a unicorn.

The final game promises to be a buffet of improvements: stunning graphics, user-selectable options (for those who like their gameplay like their coffee – tailored to their taste), an in-game Bestiary (because who doesn’t want to know the weakness of the three-headed snarlax?), and a soundtrack that’s music to your ears, literally.

The Original Dungeon Crawler: Still Crawling After All These Years

Let’s not forget where it all began. Wizardry was the first to bring the pen-and-paper, Dungeons & Dragons experience to home computers. It was like swapping your pencil for a joystick – revolutionary. Seven sequels later, and we’re still talking about it. That’s staying power, folks.

Digital Eclipse has now got the keys to the Wizardry kingdom, licensed and ready to roll out the red carpet for the original code. It’s like Jurassic Park, but instead of dinosaurs, it’s resurrecting wizards, and hopefully, with fewer casualties.

So, mark your calendars, set your alarms (in UK time, of course), and prepare your wallets (in pounds sterling, naturally). The Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord remaster is coming, and it’s bringing the past kicking and screaming into the future. And if that’s not worth a blog post, I don’t know what is.

Scotty McG signing off, with a tip of the hat and a click of the mouse.