Legacy of the Wizard NES

G-TypeG-Type
in Gamer's Gauntlet
I am kind of surprised how much I enjoyed this game. I honestly could not get this game out of my head from the time I started it until I beat it. I'm also surprised that I had never heard of this game as a kid growing up.



Pros:

One of the best soundtracks on the NES

cute blocky graphics

vast and challenging dungeon

multiple characters with distinct play mechanics

multiple strategies (ie the order in which you choose the characters/take on the bosses)

variety of interesting items/weapons



Cons:

no clue what the goal is (unless you read the manual)

vast and challenging dungeon

some items are not well balanced (ie power boots vs armor)

possible to get yourself trapped and forced to reset



I made myself a handdrawn map to play this game, and thought that now I am finished, why not make a spiffier version of it, rather than just let it go to waste. This map could be useful to anyone who wants to know where to go, but doesn't want a step-by-step walk-through that gives away all the secrets and elements of discovery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79L9YOsC2OvQ3RJZWlYNDZ5dDQ/view?usp=sharing
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Comments

  • gwyndiongwyndion
    Wow, thanks man!
  • SomaSoma
    Man this game made no sense/was impossible whenever I threw it into the nes as a kid! I ALWAYS got stuck, always. Why? Because where the ever loving hell am I? This game defined the feeling of being hopelessly lost in some nightmare.



    Still have it and still haven't gotten anywhere in this game. One thing though - I too love this game, I guess for nostalgia? It's definitely ingrained into my subconscious.
  • G-TypeG-Type
    Give it another try, and let me know if the map helps at all.
  • dos munosdos munos
    I am going to use the map and give this another go soon. Thank you. It's one I've started and given up on quick a few times. I never played it as a kid. It seems awesome, but I have no idea what I'm doing or where I'm going so I play something else.
  • pegboypegboy
    I had this one as a kid, and it feels like I played it for a year and still never beat it. I remember getting to the "rock monster" boss and getting killed in 1 hit, and it took seemingly forever to reach that point. Turns out I was pretty close to the end of the game, but damn I never did beat it. Maybe one day.
  • ShinjuShinju
    Awesome game and apart of a very long series of games we never got to see here in the states!
  • G-TypeG-Type
    The rock monster boss gave me a lot of trouble too. I eventually beat him by equipping the life potion just before I was about to die. Also, most advice I've seen says to shoot down from above (which is how Arino beat him on Game Center CX), but I had better luck standing in the lower left spot.
  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel
    This is one of those games like Castlequest where I like to play once in awhile, but can never seem to buckle down and commit to beating it.
  • G-TypeG-Type

    Originally posted by: Shinju



    Awesome game and apart of a very long series of games we never got to see here in the states!

    Well we did get Faxanadu and Sorcerian
  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel

    Originally posted by: G-Type




    Originally posted by: Shinju



    Awesome game and apart of a very long series of games we never got to see here in the states!

    Well we did get Faxanadu and Sorcerian

    I'd never heard of Sorcerian.



    Is it any good?  Does it play more like Legacy of the Wizard or Faxanadu?




  • ShinjuShinju

    Originally posted by: G-Type




    Originally posted by: Shinju



    Awesome game and apart of a very long series of games we never got to see here in the states!

    Well we did get Faxanadu and Sorcerian

    Correct, also forgot about Dragon Slayer on the Turbo Duo as well and I think there was a Xanadu for the N-Gauge.








  • G-TypeG-Type

    Originally posted by: arch_8ngel



    Is it any good?  Does it play more like Legacy of the Wizard or Faxanadu?



     

    I haven't played it, but from the videos I saw, it looks more like Faxanadu, (except you can control multiple characters)


  • captainolimarcaptainolimar
    Just reading thought this sounds perfect for me! I will have to keep a look out for it and will definitely use your map!
  • MAIL_BAGMAIL_BAG
    My cousin and I played this a ton growing up.



    Great soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro. Love Meyna and Xemn's themes.



    Brutally obtuse with no clear goal.



    Had to beat it on emulators in the late 90s'.






  • guillavoieguillavoie
    Seeing the full map like that is very impressive. This is what the game looks like as a whole, crazy.



    This game is definitely one of my favorite obscure title on the NES. It is also a family thing, me and both of my bros always had a soft spot for it.
  • Ozzy_98Ozzy_98

    Originally posted by: Shinju




    Originally posted by: G-Type




    Originally posted by: Shinju



    Awesome game and apart of a very long series of games we never got to see here in the states!

    Well we did get Faxanadu and Sorcerian

    Correct, also forgot about Dragon Slayer on the Turbo Duo as well and I think there was a Xanadu for the N-Gauge.







     

    And the legend of heroes games on PSP, but by that point they were split off as a new series.




  • Hoddy KrishnuhHoddy Krishnuh
    Both me and ArmageddonPotato love this game. It goes up there with stuff like Milon's Secret Castle, Castlequest and Maze of Galious as one of my favorite COAs or "Castle Oriented Adventures". I am a huge fan of sidescrolling action-RPGs in general and this is no exception.
  • grime47grime47
    I actually just picked this game up along with a few others, was going to sell but I'm glad I kept it.



    thanks for the map, will have to try it out this week!
  • NostalgicMachineNostalgicMachine

    Originally posted by: MAIL_BAG



    My cousin and I played this a ton growing up.



    Great soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro. Love Meyna and Xemn's themes.



    Brutally obtuse with no clear goal.



    Had to beat it on emulators in the late 90s'.





     

    ...And that's why I haven't played this game yet




  • G-TypeG-Type
    I picked up Castlequest the other day (since I kept hearing it get compared to Legacy of the Wizard). Graphically I guess they have some similarity and the both have expansive maps. But the gameplay on Legacy is way better. I am not too keen on the slow floatiness of the Castlequest guy. Castlequest seems more of an exploration/puzzler. I will definitely dive into it more to give it a fair shot. Just giving my first impressions.
  • gutsman004gutsman004
    I own Legacy of the Wizard,Milon's Secret Castle,Castlequest,and Faxanadu but haven't sat down and really played any of them at length. From what I have played,they seem pretty cool. Will definitely have to make time to play these.
  • stinkerhubbinstinkerhubbin
    I had Legacy of the Wizard as a kid, and like others.. I felt so hopelessly lost. I would try again and again and just couldn't seem to get anywhere. Even trying it in recent years on an emulator, it seems I make no real progress.



    Think I'll give it another shot when I clear my backlog a little more.
  • NostalgicMachineNostalgicMachine
    This thread is definitely making me more and more interested in this game...
  • JandremJandrem
    I never really played this before. This game is in the same series as Faxanadu? I've played that game a lot.
  • ShinjuShinju
    Castlequest AKA Castle Excellent jpn, was made easy for the western folks, they gave us more lives and a few extra keys and we also got a pack in map. I am not sure the jpn version got a map or not.



    Legacy of the Wizard was one of the first NES games I beat that gave me a feeling of true accomplishments, I beat this back when there was NO internet, NO walkthrough, not much of anything other then sheer will and skill. I mapped out every room with graph paper died a lot, cussed a lot ect. The game was and is probably one of the best programmed games on the NES its sheer size, complexity and over all enjoyment was there. Even the soundtrack was great, every tune in that game is memorable.



    For those who beat it back in the day /hats off to you. You earned it!
  • G-TypeG-Type

    Originally posted by: Jandrem



    I never really played this before. This game is in the same series as Faxanadu? I've played that game a lot.

    This is the series (from wikipedia)

    Dragon Slayer

    Dragon Slayer 2: Xanadu

                       spinoff games: Faxanadu, Xanadu Next (N-gage), Legend of Xanadu

    Dragon Slayer Jr: Romancia

    Dragon Slayer 4 Drasle Family aka Legacy of the Wizard

    Sorcerian

    Dragon Slayer: Legend of Heroes (TurboGrafx-16, PSP)

    Lord Monarch




  • Grumble,GrumbleGrumble,Grumble
    This game was made harder since we didn't have online back in the day. It turns out that each family member has their own abilities and has a portion of the dungeon to solve. Once you track down the four crowns with the dad, mom, daughter and the pet, you then use the boy to get the Dragon Slayer sword and beat the game. Luckily, there's a password system, but this one takes some time and patience for sure.
  • Johnny5aliveJohnny5alive
    Originally posted by: Soma

    Man this game made no sense/was impossible whenever I threw it into the nes as a kid! I ALWAYS got stuck, always. Why? Because where the ever loving hell am I? This game defined the feeling of being hopelessly lost in some nightmare.



    Still have it and still haven't gotten anywhere in this game. One thing though - I too love this game, I guess for nostalgia? It's definitely ingrained into my subconscious.




    Agreed!!!! Loved this game even though as a kid I had no idea what was going on! Love the music!
    Thanks for the map!
  • G-TypeG-Type
    You're welcome. Hope it helps.
  • NostalgicMachineNostalgicMachine
    I got the chance to play this one recently, and I must say - it surpassed my expectations.



    I don't own it yet, but I got to play it!
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