Play Dark Wizard Online

Summary

Dark Wizard (sometimes just called Dark Wizard) is a surprisingly deep tactical RPG for the Sega CD that lets you command a hex‑based battlefield with four distinct heroes, each bringing their own stats, spells, and recruitable units. The turn‑based combat feels more like a tabletop skirmish than a typical console fight, and the map’s six‑sided tiles give a refreshing sense of positioning. What really sets the game apart is the sheer amount of side content: wandering into towns and villages unlocks quests, shops, and hidden encounters that can easily stretch a playthrough well beyond a hundred hours.

Critics at the time praised its substance over the usual CD‑heavy flash; GamePro called it an "essential CD game of substance and depth," while Sega Visions marveled at its massive scope and some of the best‑animated intros on the platform. Even the soundtrack stands out, being one of the first fully orchestrated scores on a console, adding a cinematic weight to each battle. Though Japanese reviewers were lukewarm (23/40 from Famicom Tsūshin), Western outlets like Game Informer (8/10) and Electronic Gaming Monthly (7/10) highlighted the engaging cinemas and strategic depth, cementing Dark Wizard as a hidden gem for anyone craving a rich, long‑lasting RPG experience on the Sega CD.

Storyline

Three centuries before the events of Dark Wizard, the high priest of Cheshire tried to upset the balance of good and evil by summoning the dark god Arliman. The goddess of light, Sabrina, intervened, granting great powers to two of the kingdom’s leaders who defeated the priest and helped the high wizard Gilliam trap Arliman inside a magical jewel. One of those leaders, Armer, seized the throne and founded a bloodline that leads to King Armer VIII at the game’s opening.

Velonese, Gilliam’s top apprentice, was caught practicing forbidden spells and was sentenced to an immortality curse, binding him to guard the imprisoned Arliman on the Island of Raven. Over time the jewel’s corrupting essence twisted Velonese into the Dark Wizard, and his hatred for Gilliam and Cheshire grew. He summoned four demon generals, launched a conquest of the kingdom, and sought to free Arliman.

Players assume the role of one of four protagonists—Prince Armer IX, cavalry leader Robin, sorceress Krystal, or vampire Amon—and must retake the lands seized by Velonese and stop the dark god’s resurrection. Each character follows a distinct storyline, but every scenario begins with the king’s death and the new ruler’s rise. The four narratives are not canonically linked; Armer IX, though the rightful heir, appears only as a cameo in the other paths.