Wizardry Online

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–PUBLISHER: Sony Online E. | DEVELOPER: Gamepot | GENRE: MMORPG –THEME: Fantasy | PLATFORM: Download | STATUS: Shutdown Jul 14

Wizardry Online is a free-to-play 3D MMORPG based on the popular Wizardry computer games, the first of which was developed by SirTech and released in 1981 for the Apple II computer. This game set some standards for the future of RPG, premiering revolutionary ideas such as hit points for enemies and experience points that are up to date even after 30 years.

Although very classic, Wizardry Online has one distinctive feature that will make it more appealing to some players and deter others. Much in the way of acclaimed RPGs Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, this game includes permadeath, turning it into a hardcore MMORPG player’s dream. With permadeath frequently looming over, you have to be careful at every step. Each victory is worthy of celebration, since dying can send you back to the start. By failing the second run, which becomes harder at higher levels, your character and items will be gone forever. It’s pretty much Dark Souls. There are, however, some items to avoid this, but since this is a free-to-play game, you have to buy those items with real money.

Players choose one of five races (Human, Elf, Porkul, Gnome, and Dwarf) and one of four different classes (Fighter, Priest, Mage, and Thief), before venturing into the daunting dungeons, ten in total, with 40 floors and 99 levels to explore. Parties can be comprised of up to 100 players.

Players who go for PvP will possibly kill other players, but will then face a ban from shops and suffer guard attacks, besides getting a bounty on their heads, making them an appealing target. On the upside, player killers will have access to an area otherwise inaccessible and where a rare item is concealed.