![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-0.png)
Review Date: March 18, 2021
Release Date: December 1, 1987
Platform: NES
Developer: Rare
Genre: Linear Platformer
Anecdotes: The winter of 1988 was just miserable for me. The creepiest classroom I had to ever experience was then. The pipes were loose on the heaters, the teacher liked the lights dim and the shade down, and worst of all, there was a hole in the wall that would make drilling noises whenever the wind hit it just right. I needed an outlet from that, so going home to play some Wizards and Warriors helped me forget about that. Unfortunately, Wizards and Warriors, particularly the third stage, was just as creepy. There was some scary stuff in here.
Description: Kuros is a knight that has to traverse 8 levels and rescue 8 princesses who are guarded by each of the game’s seven bosses. Gameplay involves finding keys, gems, and items. Keys are used to open doors and chests of the matching color, which can lead to new rooms and powerups. Gems are used to bribe the guardian at the door leading to the boss. Items are used to add abilities, some of which will be required. The goal is to defeat Malkil at the end.
Positives:
Has anyone ever noticed Malkil’s room is shaped like a skull? Rare did a nice job of building atmosphere. The caves generally convey the creepy feeling they’re supposed to. The forests look good. Kuros has a few animations that are used when striking.
![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-17.png)
The music is hit or miss, but I really like the tracks used in the forests, the purple cave, and climbing the castle. I like how Rare decided to use the princess rescue theme as a theme for stage 6.
Negatives:
Perhaps, after playing so many games, there are oddities that only I would notice, so here’s one. Why is Kuros able to stay so high up the screen? In some places, Kuros is near the top of the screen and it’s impossible to see what’s up there. This is especially annoying in stage 6, which involves climbing the outside of a tower and looking for blocks to stand on. On top of that, the game likes to be stingy with the gems in the late levels as well. Stage 6 is just where that starts.
![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-31.png)
However, the biggest flaw of this game is that Rare chose not to go with a low life beep or chime of any kind. Instead, they change the background music to an annoying, repetitive tune, and it will be heard A LOT. The best thing to do is let Kuros die because…
![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-23.png)
…There is NO penalty for death outside of boss rooms, other than a meaningless loss of points. Kuros keeps his gems, his items, his keys, and his location. There are also infinite continues. Death inside boss rooms means the boss’s health is refilled. Because of this, there is no reason to ever pay attention to the health bar outside of a boss room, unless it’s to avoid the low life music.
More Screenshots:
![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-5.png)
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![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-10.png)
![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-11.png)
![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-13.png)
![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-16.png)
![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-18.png)
![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-22.png)
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![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-42.png)
![](http://supermateo30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wizards-Warriors-44.png)
Grade: B