Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

To the people that are having the fast combat lock up bug - I may have found a solution... run it at 30fps (gasp). Have played for the last 6hours or so with fast combat on and not a single lock. 30fps in a game like this makes no difference so I will take it. Enjoying the game as a blast from the past. Would recommend to that era of gamers (old farts) - unsure how much the newer generation would appreciate it. Played only on MSI Claw 8 EX AI. Flawlessly.

Suddenly it's 1981.

Cool remake of an Old Skool RPG. Unforgiving too, just like I like it.

I loved my time with Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad overlord. Being a remake of a 45 (!!!) year-old game, it plays by a different set of rules than most would expect. This was initially offputting, but became fascinating the more I understood. It definitely took a lot of experimentation and a little bit of research to come to terms with the gameplay, but it's amazing how well it plays once you make it past the initial shock. It's like stepping into a cold pool - difficult at first, but refreshing once you're full submerged. As I understand, this release runs on a slightly modified version of the original code. You can even see the original game running in a small window at the bottom of your screen if you choose. For the most part, it feels faithful and the quality of life changes are well-considered (and optional). I enjoyed the few time-saving settings and visible map. The updated visuals are also wonderful, reminding me of those old fantasy paintings I'd spend hours pouring over as a child. The music is suitably dramatic and fits the tone of the game perfectly. While hard to criticize too heavily due to the age of the game, I did find the pacing a little odd. The f…

I understand it's old school. Not sure what half the settings are supposed to do as far as change game difficulty. TPK 4 times despite getting better = too much rng.

This is the best game I’ve played in a long time. I probably would have given up on the original or NES versions, but the remake’s backup save system makes it perfect. Being able to reload and retry lets me push deeper into the dungeon, take risks, and experiment without the frustration of losing all my progress. It keeps the tension of old‑school Wizardry intact while giving me the freedom to enjoy it fully.