Wizardry is a game series that I am aware of but never actually played as it was a little before my time. It was an incredibly influential popular CRPG series that was available on PCs in 1981 but was ported elsewhere, including an apparently poor NES port in 1990. I knew of it through hearing the name on several podcasts and when I read the book Dungeons and Desktops, which looked at the CRPGs. Whilst falling down the old skool anime rabbit hole on YouTube the Wizardry OVA came up in my feed. So, join me fellow adventurer seeking a review of the arcane arts brought to the screen! I'd be delighted to weave one for you. Callooh! Calllay! O frabjuous day... ahem. Right. Let's crack on then.
The story is basic swords and sworcery 101 in that a party of characters enters a dungeon to confront an all-powerful wizard called Werdna to retrieve an amulet stolen from King Trebor (of extra strong mints fame - I'll get me coat). Along the way to the 10th floor (like an inverse Game of Death) they confront beasts as well as deal with a myriad other internal conflicts and grievances. Will they make it out alive?
I really liked this 50 minute animation as, even though I didn't know the game series, the tale it told was accessible for all. The character designs and archetypes were instantly recognisable from many an RPG – the stoic fighter, the handy wizard, the nifty ninja, the apprentice etc
Also, while not a masterpiece of animation or storytelling, this 1991 OVA is quite a unique piece of video game adaptation history as it was based on a Western game series from the early 80s. Sure, the attempts at humor can occasionally fall flat and some of the character development feels rushed within this short runtime but the journey is worth it.
For fans of the game seriss, this OVA will serve as a nostalgic trip down memory lane, offering a visual interpretation of the dungeons and dangers that captivated a generation of RPG enthusiasts. But, for neophytes like me, the animation is a good primer for the game and has piqued my interest in a game I'll never likely play but can appreciate.
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