PS2 Review: 'Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land'

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By Tokyo Drifter

(IDG) -- Unlike previous installments in the "Wizardry" franchise, "Tale of the Forsaken Land" comes to us courtesy of Atlus, making for a more console-oriented experience rather than one for the PC.

"Tale" offers a mix of both worlds, and the results are decidedly generic. Some amazingly drawn art highlights what are otherwise pretty lackluster graphics. Environments are very bland -- although enemies have some nicely detailed touches. Easily outshining the visuals is the dramatic orchestrated score, which is the game's greatest feature. The lack of speech is about the only weak link in the audio department. The rudimentary controls can make you feel like you're wading through molasses even when you use the dash button.

"Tale of the Forsaken Land" makes a nod toward the classic series with its old-school gameplay, but even with the updated graphics and battle features, it just doesn't come close to the top PlayStation 2 RPGs. "Wizardry" is still fun in its own way, but you should be prepared for a very slow-paced affair with a sparse story and few bells and whistles.