Dark Wizard

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DarkWizard title.png

Dark Wizard
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Peripherals supported: CD BackUp RAM Cart
Genre: RPG[1], Simulation[2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega-CD
JP
¥6,8006,800 G-6005
Sega Mega-CD
US
4651
Videogame Rating Council: MA-13
Sega Mega-CD
BR
062110

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Dark Wizard, known as Dark Wizard: Yomigaerishi Yami no Madoushi (ダークウィザード 蘇りし闇の魔導士) in Japan is a Sega Mega-CD turn based and grand strategy/RPG.

Gameplay

Players will take control of one of the four playable commanders and attempt to wrest control of the fictional kindgom of Cheshire from a treacherous wizard named Velonese using magic and recruitable armies. Game is quite similar to Systemsoft's Master of Monsters series.

Two of the selectable characters have law alignment while the other two has chaos. Alignment will decide how a unit can be promoted and what kind of spells and equipment the unit can use.

Players can take control of towns and other cities in the map and purchase items, recruit unique characters or simply gather information.

Leaders

There are four available leaders to pick from. Since the English manual does not explain what these stats do, below are rough estimates.

  • Alignment: Characters world view. Affects what kind of units you can summon, hire or promote.
  • Command: Determines how large an army a leader can field in the battle.
  • Leadership: Seems to affect troop performance. (Probably)
  • Intellect: Affects how much experience gained after battle. (Maybe)
  • Belief: Affect whether or not you will get bonuses when praying in towns. (Not sure)
  • Luck: Affects critical hits and overall better gear.
  • Economy: How much money a leader can get every turn.
  • Magic: Affects how much damage spells can do and overall magic points.
Darkwizard MCD JP SPArmerIX.png
Armer IX / Wynrick IX (聖王ウェンリーク9世)
Only surviving heir to the Chesirean throne. Above average in all areas and a great physical fighter. Poor selection of spells but they can still help you if you need them. Good economy. Can recruit Marie (Mage) and Dianna (Warrior) as unique characters. Great for beginners.
  • Alignment: Law
  • Command: 60
  • Leadership: 60
  • Intellect: 60
  • Belief: 90
  • Luck: 20
  • Economy: 60
  • Magic Strength: 60
Darkwizard MCD JP SPRobin.png
Robin / Shion (聖騎士シオン)
Former cavalry commander of the Chesirean Army and all around cutie. Highest combat skills, leadership and command but economy is mediocre. Average yet still useful magic. Can recruit Kail (Priest) and David (Warrior) as unique characters. Only leader who "scores" at the end of the game.
  • Alignment: Law
  • Command: 70
  • Leadership: 90
  • Intellect: 65
  • Belief: 65
  • Luck: 90
  • Economy: 30
  • Magic: 30
Darkwizard MCD JP SPKrystal.png
Krystal / Imelda (妖術師イメルダ)
A scantily-clad, slightly psychopathic and vengeful sorceress who takes command of the kingdom after murdering King Armer, mistakenly believing that he is responsible for her sister's death. Poor leadership and command means her army will be medium sized at most. She has the best spells and highest magic points in the game but because of her low health you must keep her out of combat. Possibly due to a bug, she gets significantly less money compared to Armer and Robin despite having the highest economy stat. Can recruit Marcus (Warrior) and Katrina (Priestess) as unique characters.
  • Alignment: Chaos
  • Command: 30
  • Leadership: 40
  • Intellect: 90
  • Belief: 50
  • Luck: 65
  • Economy: 80
  • Magic: 90
Darkwizard MCD JP SPAmon.png
Amon (闇傀儡師アモン)
A vampire who murders King Armer then takes his place, ready to conquer the entire country for his own nefarious goals. Only truly evil character in the game. Even Krystal has some redeeming qualities. (Emphasis on "some") Very powerful magic just like Krystal. While he can summon a lot of monsters, a few of them, such as liches, are actually useful. Terrible economy means you have to be very careful about hired troops. Keep him away from frontlines and keep blasting spells. Can recruit Susan (Mage) and Andrew (Warrior) as unique characters. Hardest character to use. At least his ending is very satisfying. (Karma has a taste of irony)
  • Alignment: Undead / Chaos
  • Command: 50
  • Leadership: 55
  • Intellect: 50
  • Belief: 0
  • Luck: 10
  • Economy: 20
  • Magic: 90

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English (US) Dark Wizard Dark Wizard
Japanese ダークウィザード 蘇りし闇の魔導士 Dark Wizard: Yomigaerishi Yami no Madoushi

Production credits

Animation Part
  • Script: Kenji Terada, Masaya Kaneko, The "Over"
  • Character Design: Kenichi Ohnuki, Kazuaki Mouri
  • Director: The "Over"
Analog Work
  • Animation Director: Y.Moriguchi
  • Animation Check: N.Nishimiya
  • Production: Studio Zain
  • Cooperation: Anime R
  • Sound: Arts Vision
  • Supervisor: Tetsuo Mizusima
  • Special Effects: Noriyoshi Ohhira
  • Recording Studio: Avaco Creative St, Tacto Studio
  • Coordinater: Masayosi Ozaki
Digital Work
Studio Zero-One
  • Animation Data: The "Over", Hassy, Y.K.K
  • Animation Programmer: Momonga Momo, Masato Ohmori, Emukei
  • Music Composer: Sega Sound Team, Yoshimi Hishida, Shouko Ogawa
  • Mixing: Yoshimi Hishida, Shouko Ogawa
  • Simulated 3D Sound Technician: Kiyoshi Okabe
  • Special Effects: Manabu Yamazaki
Game Part
Special Thanks

Magazine articles

Main article: Dark Wizard/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Dark Wizard/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
65 [3]
69 [4]
58 №257, p39
80 №1994-01, p40
45 [5]
60 №56, p51
73 №33, p44
Sega Mega-CD
64
Based on
7 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
65
[6]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[7]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
58
[8]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
76
[9]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
95
[10]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
80
[11]
Hyper (AU)
75
[12]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-U
70
[13]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
36
[14]
Mega (UK) NTSC-U
45
[5]
Mega Force (FR) NTSC-U
80
[15]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
76
[16]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
60
[17]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
73
[18]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
69
[19]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
50
[20]
Sega Mega-CD
67
Based on
16 reviews

Dark Wizard

Mega-CD, JP
DarkWizard MCD JP Box Back.jpgDarkWizard MCD JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
DarkWizard MCD JP Spinecard.JPG
Spinecard
DarkWizard MCD JP Disc.jpg
Disc
Darkwizard mcd jp manual.pdf
Manual
Darkwizard mcd jp surveycard.pdf
Reg Card
Mega-CD, US
DarkWizard MCD US Box Back.jpgDarkWizard MCD US Box Front.png
Cover
DarkWizard MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Darkwizard mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega-CD, BR
DarkWizard MCD BR Box Back.jpgNospine.pngDarkWizard MCD BR Box Front.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega-CD
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
603,955,968 CD (JP) G-6005
Sega Mega-CD
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
606,482,016 CD (US) 4651

References