Wizard World Review

When I saw the news that a new game for the Zodiac was in development, I was surprised. When I saw from the screenshots that it was 3D, I was even more surprised. When I read that it was a puzzle game, I was not quite as surprised. Does the Zodiac really need another puzzle game? Read on to find out.

When you first start the game, it is confusing. The 3D graphics look okay but once you move your analog stick, you realize that this comes at the expense of an absolutely horrible frame rate. You can correct this by turning down graphics quality and joystick sensitivity in the menu. It makes the game look a little worse but it actually makes it playable. The next thing you realize is that you have got no idea what to do. Wizard World has some bizarre rules that you have to study before you can start playing. They are not really that complex or difficult to remember. It’s just that they make no sense in the real world.

Wizard World does not take place in the real world. It is a training simulator for young magicians. Your task is to win against the dragon sitting on top of the hill in the game’s landscape. To do this you have to get to a point at equal height or higher. You can not simply walk around. Instead, you have to create a hull and beam to it. You can only create hulls below your line of sight. If the terrain does not allow you to gain height, you can create a limited number of rocks to place your hull on. Your resources are limited which means that you better absorb any rock and hull you don’t need anymore.

The dragon is always on the lookout for things that are wrong. It absorbs trees but if you are not careful it will also absorb you. When the dragon turns to you, you better get out of his line-of-sight fast. This adds a much needed action element to the game. The time pressure makes playing much more exciting. However, it can also lead to frustration if you are burdened with a bad analog stick.

Unfortunately, there is no music in the game but the sounds do quite a good job creating an exciting atmosphere. The graphical presentation, especially in the menus, is a little amateurish but who cares if the game is fun? And fun it is. Wizard World is a clone of the classic game Sentinel and it seems as if the old concept has lost nothing of its charm. The game includes 99 levels to play which should occupy you for quite some time. Wizard World is a game every Zodiac owner should take a look at.