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Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom

Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom
Wizardry 5 cover.jpg
Cover art used in Apple II, Commodore 64 and DOS versions
Developer(s) Sir-Tech Software, Inc.
Publisher(s) Sir-Tech Software, Inc.
Designer(s) Andrew C. Greenberg
David W. Bradley
Series Wizardry
Platform(s) Apple II, Commodore 64, DOS, SNES, Satellaview, PC booter, NEC PC-88, PC-98, FM Towns, PC Engine CD
Release date(s)
  • JP: 1990
Genre(s) Role-playing video game
Mode(s) Single player

Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom is the fifth scenario in the Wizardry series of role-playing video games. It was published in 1988 by Sir-Tech Software, Inc. for the Commodore 64, Apple II and as a PC booter (using DOS). A port for the SNES and FM Towns was later developed and published by ASCII Entertainment in Japan. Wizardry V was released in the US for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System by Capcom in April 1994, and subsequently re-released for the Satellaview subsystem under then name BS Wizardry 5.

Following from the events of Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn, Heart of the Maelstrom begins after a period of peace brought about through the use of L'Kbreth's Orb is shattered when the powers of chaos literally begin to emerge into the world. These unnatural energies are especially focused in a series of tunnels beneath the Temple of Sages in Llylgamyn, fittingly called the Maelstrom. Adventurers, namely the player party, are recruited to journey into these caverns and track down a means of summoning a being known as the Gatekeeper who can seal these chaotic energies once more. Unfortunately, he has been imprisoned by a rogue sorceress known as the Sorn.

The party begins by searching for G'bli Gedook, a high priest and guardian of L'Kbreth's Orb. He instructs the party to venture deeper into the caverns. After traversing down to the eighth floor, the party must appease four beings known as the Card Lords by bringing them their respective suit. Once this task is accomplished, the party can venture to the Heart of the Maelstrom and the Gatekeeper may be summoned. As this occurs, the Sorn and her own party of adventurers strike, prompting a final battle. With her defeat, the Gatekeeper awards the party the Heart of Abriel. They return with this to the surface and order is restored to Llylgamyn.

Wizardry V's design was based on a game that Bradley had previously written and pitched to Sir-Tech. Sir-Tech asked Bradley to rewrite the game to fit into the Wizardry franchise. This was finished in 1986, but Wizardry V was held back for two years while Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna was completed.


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