From the early 80s, classics starting from Ultima and Wizardry inspired many other RPGs and laying the foundation for a whole genre to evolve both on computers and home consoles. They are primarily within the scope of fantasy fiction but have branched out such as science fiction, and in the RPG game typically controlling the endeavors of the adventurer or party, which involves progressing through many aspects of game play, including exploring/traveling on an overworld or in some, dungeon crawling, fighting monsters, gaining experience and money, leveling up your characters abilities and weapons are the core of the experience usually.

The game is projected in a topdown, third-person view, while fight scenes are displayed in first-person perspective. In both scenarios the player character is a sole adventurer here with no options to change character or roll stats (JOE "the greatest adventurer"). The adventurer is controlled with the keyboard directional arrows and the enter key primarily for action. Here the overworld is currently just a maze with climbing up/down to a second tier and essentially looking for the crystal somewhere within the level of the maze. Did I accidentally connect my super nes? I thought as the graphics are indeed a throwback to 16bit era rpgs somewhat more like what you'd find with snes era chrono trigger, secret of mana or many of the japanese role playing games (jrpgs) released over the years but was not able to change from window to full screen on the pc. The dungeon graphics are a step above what you typically find with nicely rendered monsters somewhat like the phantasy star III genesis era, something that long ago wizardry players would appreciate with their old wire frame graphics until very late in the series which are more like this one. This game includes leveling up from fighting experience and character statistics but cant choose currently which stats like attack/defense to upgrade (or have a reason to) or types of character like a fighter vs a spellcaster. There appear to be upgradable weapons/armor from your hand axe and wood shield you start with but I have yet to encounter any shop to buy them or items, nor finding any in gameplay yet as of level 2. The spider poisoned me on level 2 and I had no item to fix that, nor any known shop somewhere yet where to get one with the gold I have. So I leave this world with my notes in this notebook and hoping some other adventurer will come along and finish what I started...

This might be an early work in progress as the save game did not work for me as I couldnt select one of the displayed slots to then save, no instructions, no character choice (such as fighter vs mage), very little storyline or places to explore graphically other than the single maze so far (although the maze does actually have different levels after finding the crystal and wizardry for example only had mazes in earlier games). I found some monsters so far (Rate? a misspelling perhaps of rat) and slime only in first, then others like spider, wisp etc in the second who cast spells and poisoned me but they look good graphically and may be more here as you progress. Most of the gameplay elements may not be fully done as there was no healing items so far, no shops to upgrade weapons/armor, no magic/spells I could use yet, no picking your stat to upgrade etc so far but again might be in later levels. Whats present is fine and has some enjoyment to play other than the repetitive location and grind fighting being the main parts of the game I see. So I will refrain from rating at this time since it seems possibly unfinished and without saves or finding a shop yet I was unable to go further in my initial play. With some decent work it at least has decent potential based on the effort and would then have reason to play again which i would do and might evolve into a nice game.

Um … when does the Xmas season end at GGOTD? The Santa hat and snowflakes are still at the top of the page, even thought it's now February!