Legacy of the Wizard (1987). Play Free Online

Summary

Legacy of the Wizard is a quirky NES title that blends open‑world exploration with Metroidvania‑style puzzles. You control five members of the Drasle family—father, mother, son, daughter and a small dinosaur‑like pet—each possessing a unique strength, from the warrior’s power to the elf’s high jumps and the pet’s immunity to monsters. The sprawling cavern is divided into five themed sections; specific items like magical gloves, a mattock or wings are only usable by the character designed for that area, forcing you to swap heroes frequently. Magic drains with attacks, encouraging judicious use of spells and strategic shopping for health, keys and power‑ups. Though released on NES in 1989 by Broderbund after an early Japanese debut, the game remains a “hidden gem” praised for its deep mechanics and early open‑world design, even re‑appearing on Bandai Namco’s Namcot Collection.

Storyline

The NES title Legacy of the Wizard follows the Drasle family—listed as the Worzen clan in the credits—who are descendants of a line of Dragon Slayers. Their quest is to free the ancient dragon Keela, whose spirit is magically trapped inside a painting deep within an underground labyrinth. To end the threat, the family must locate the magical sword called the Dragon Slayer, which is protected by four hidden crowns scattered throughout the maze. Each member of the family possesses a unique ability, and the player swaps between them to recover the crowns and finally destroy the evil Keela. The bulk of this story is delivered through the game's instruction manual.

Edited by Maya Carter