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Back in the early 80’s we had an Apple II Plus computer at home. This was not only where my Dad would do businessy things but where we kids would play the latest in computer games and learn BASIC programming.

We had several arcade style games plus text adventure games like Adventure or Zork. Until that fateful day in 1982 when my Dad brought home the game that would become a bit of an obsession for me, my brother, and even my Dad.

Now Wizardry:Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord can be played again. Digital Eclipse has brought the game back, with the original Apple II code as a base, but as a full 3D remake.

I’ve been playing it on and off for the last three months or so. It is definitely a worthy remake of the classic game. It has the same game play dynamics, the same lethality, and the same fun as I remember from the original. It even uses the same dungeon maps. So, if you still have your old maps on graph paper somewhere, pull the, out. You will need them.

The new graphics are engaging and fun. Don’t expect a full dynamic environment like some modern computer RPG. It’s still Wizardry. But, the graphics enhance the classic game play.

You can even see the original UI in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Tracking your party “behind the scenes” of the new UI.

I’ve enjoyed it immensely. And I’ve only lost one party. Luckily I had a character in reserve to delve into the dungeon and bring them back for resurrection.

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is still in pre-release and being updated fairly frequently by the developers. As of this writing, it is at version 0.3.1. It is available on either Steam or GOG. Though it is listed as Windows 10 required, it is Steam Deck compatible and I run it on Linux without any difficulty.