1482: Javardry \\ Free, Java-based wizlike. Beating dungeon floor 1!
2Playing the English scenario of the free Java-based wizlike, Javardry, in Windows!
Full title, "Javardry #1: Proving Grounds of the Sword Master Overlord," is a nod to the 1st Wizardry: "Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord."
The music is NOT stream safe, oh well. :P And I'll have to 2x the scale to get YT to give the vertical ratio video at least 1080p, oops.
My Javardry playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZO3OPzPjIzPN8lI4fXwxfX7JXAyKTDFz
0:00 - blah blah Castle Town
8:45 - Tavern
13:08 - Castle
14:51 - Maze
20:00 - fight
29:01 - Maze again
31:23 - Bish poisoned
39:52 - no thief, no bish, underleveled...
42:55 - 4 Scruffy Men
46:03 - Bish
51:09 - new thief
55:58 - rescue?
58:42 - new fighter
1:02:13 - now we rock!
1:15:55 - flr 2 or bust
1:18:45 - flr 2 big weird XP
1:31:15 - reading 'bout Wizardry: TFO
Wiki entry (Google Translate): https://freegame-gamewiki-jp.translate.goog/javardryintroduction1/?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp#%E5%8E%9F%E4%BD%9CWizardry
Online manual (Google Translate): https://thu-sakura-ne-jp.translate.goog/games/JavardryManual/manual.htm?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Software page (JP): https://thu.sakura.ne.jp/games/javardry.htm
English Windows version direct download link: https://thu.sakura.ne.jp/games/down/Javardry01_eng.zip
Windows version requires Java: https://www.java.com/en/
English web version: https://thu.sakura.ne.jp/games/html5/Javardry01/Javardry_eng.html
Japanese wiki w/ 30 scenarios: https://wikiwiki.jp/javardry/
Art site: https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/5887541
Other Steam wizlikes mentioned:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2395150/Demon_Lord_Reincarnation/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2153310/Buriedbornes__Dungeon_RPG/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1308700/Wizardry_The_Five_Ordeals/
Wizardry is an intentionally archaic series; Javardry's menu & structure is pretty much identical 1981 Wizardry, or maybe 1982 Wizardry II. But it has an auto-map which at least the NES versions of those games don't.
There's weirdness to the minimalism, like issuing commands to stay at an inn 1 person at a time, or not being able to save a poisoned char because you can't use your anti-poison outside of combat.
Need a thief to make money; later Mage spells can examine treasure chests but thieves, even lv1, can for free.
Have to remember to buy--and equip!--items for new char. If truly desp can make money by making new char, pooling their money elsewhere, then removing that char. Wondering if I should make town char to hold money so full party wipe doesn't leave me broke.
After playing I read up on party order and attack ranges; explains why my Mage in the back didn't have an attack option w/ his knife.
An "@" sign on the frame border to the right of a char means they have enough XP to level if you have them sleep at the inn. Have to sleep to recover spells!
1st floor 2 fight gave enough XP to level lv1 char to lv4!
Characters age--not sure how quickly, but the WizII NES FAQ https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/c64/955810-wizardry-knight-of-diamonds/faqs/42243 mentions "best to use your cleric to heal party members then have said cleric stay in the stables to recover their spell points. Although some aging will occur, it won't be nearly as devastating as staying weeks on end recovering large amounts of hit points."
Ah: Inn, Inspect, Enter, Item, Trade, Shift+L/R
Looked more at Steam & there are a bunch of wizlikes, like the Elminages, Mary Skelter: Nightmares, Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls, & other late Wizardrys. & loads of games maybe classified as the more cutesy DRPG genre https://www.reddit.com/r/DRPG/ --Etrian Odyssey etc.
I don't think Wizardry: TFO uses char art made for Javardry; TFO originally came out on PC in Japan in 2006--so Javardry art was prob inspired by TFO. TFO too was made as an editor for user scenarios. Its editor isn't available in English yet. Sounds like ~10 TFO user scenarios have English vers; they're dld'd through the game. Can control TFO w/ lots of keyboard keys instead of mouse. TFO doesn't have automap; map display is by spells. Its screen shake in combat isn't nearly as bad as Demon Lord Reincarnated.
I don't super-love the presentation of the other wizlikes I looked at; Javardry gets it spot-on!
Poked at the editor & "The King" scenario more but couldn't spot a way to open up the text to see how easy it might be to run through Google Translate or something.
Probably shouldn't worry about the other stuff, & just play the one Javardry English scenario & call it good--if I ever get that far!
7/6/23
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