1984 · Arcade · Platformer

Ultimate Wizard

Wizard is a puzzle game with arcade action elements. The premise of the game is to run around the screen collecting various treasures for points, avoiding monsters. The player character must find the key, which gives him the ability to cast magic spells such as fireballs or teleportation, and also unlocks the exit to the next level. Each level takes up the full screen and has its own unique hazards, such as arrows which transport the protagonist quickly, and blocks which are removed when stepped on.

Released: 1984
Platforms: Commodore 64 Commodore C64/128/MAX ZX Spectrum
Genres: Arcade Platformer Puzzle
Developers: —
Publishers: Electronic Arts
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action Fantasy
Country: United States
Languages: English

About

Wizard is a video game developed for the Commodore 64 written by Sean A. Moore and Steve Luedders-Dieckbrader for Progressive Peripherals and Software (PP&S) out of Denver, Colorado in 1984.

Keywords

sword & sorcery
puzzle platformer
content editor

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Each level contains keys, and the object is for Wilfrid the Wizard to get each key to move on to the next location. Each level requires a different spell to find the key, and every key found gives Wilfrid a finite number of times he can cast the spell. Some spells cast projectiles, which can either kill or freeze enemies, while some teleport Wilfrid around, either by turning him to a non-corporeal "shadow" or by instantly moving him to his starting point.

The player character, Wilfrid, is a wizard in purple robes, and his enemies include witches, knights, giant insects, and other various monsters.

Development

Wizard was created contemporaneously with the Epyx release Jumpman. Steve Luedders stated that it was a coincidence, and that he felt Wizard could have been more successful if Jumpman had not been released first (company size and marketing resources being a significant factor).

Reception

Compute!'s Gazette approved of the "instant playability" of the Commodore 64 version of Ultimate Wizard, reporting that it "has become a favorite of the neighborhood youngsters".