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Heretic, Hexen and Ultima Underworld homage Wizordum is out now in Early AccessStill has a demo, if you’re unconvinced
Still has a demo, if you’re unconvinced
Image credit:Apogee
Image credit:Apogee
I try to follow up any piece ofbad newswith something jolly, and what jollier a piece of news than theearly access releaseofWizordum, in which YOU’RE A WOZIRD, I mean a WIZORD(UM). It’s a first-person spellcaster from Slovenia-based Emberheart Games, which takes hefty inspiration from Heretic, Hexen andUltimaUnderworld, though it’s far more colourful than I remember any of those games being. Check out the trailer.
WIZORDUM | Early Access Launch TrailerWatch on YouTube
WIZORDUM | Early Access Launch Trailer
It’s terrible news for the other wizords, but great news for fans of 90s-style shooters. As one of the last surviving mages, you must sally forth unto “disheveled dungeons, crumbling cathedrals, and ashen streets”, equipped with nought but an expanding arsenal of spells and the ability to backpedal and strafe at lightning speed.
Hazards include goblins, walking skellingtons, giant rats and ogres. Methods of dealing with those hazards include fireballs, ice bolts, shockwave attacks, magic shields and, er, a gun. I feel like the last one is letting the side down, but I guess every wizord needs to keep something handy for close encounters. You’ll also avail yourself of a big chunky mace, for those times when neither spellcraft nor gunpowder are sufficient, and a torch you can navigate pitch-dark crypts with.
The early access build includes eight levels' worth of locked doors, hidden keys, and “mazelike” puzzles, with multiple difficulty levels and leaderboards. There’s also a level editor which makes me think wistfully ofDungeon Keeper.
Little update: People have fairly pointed out that the Heretic, Hexen and Ultima links aren’t overpoweringly prominent in the trailer. Double-checking the press release, it sounds like Wizordum takes greater inspiration from the music of those games, rather than how they play. I skimmed over this part, because I am a hack. Here’s the key PR line:
