Wizardry Variants Daphne

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This article contains information about an as-of-yet unreleased game or expansion. Because of this, the information may be speculative, and may change drastically as new information becomes revealed. Please refrain from adding rumors or other unconfirmed information.

“ Savor The Risk ”
— Game slogan

Wizardry Variants Daphne, formerly known under tentative name Wizardry VA, is an upcoming free-to-play first-person dungeon crawling role-playing game developed by Studio 2Pro and published by Drecom for smartphones[1] and on Steam.[2] This game is a brand new entry in the Wizardry franchise, and initially be released within unspecified date.

Plot

Story Summary

Once every 100 years, the Abyss opens.

The Warlock who slumbers in the Abyss awaken once in a hundred years, and the world is stained with the Warlock's coveted death.

The age of despair is again upon us. For thousands of years the line of kings has sealed the Abyss.

But now, the king has vanished, and the world is being consumed by death, moment by moment.

Resistance itself is meaningless. There is naught but to perish.

Gameplay

A battle in progress.

The gameplay of Variants Daphne is basically the same of the standard Wizardry franchise gameplay with a first-person view of the grid-format labyrinth map while borrowing elements from Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land. The player can move or turn around the character using virtual pads or dynamic analog pad.

In addition to Protagonist, the player also resurrect Adventurer's or playable characters to use in battle. The primary method of obtaining adventurers is through the use of bones, which are collected by exploring in dungeons or by purchasing them at Jeweler. On Ruins, player can spend bones to obtain one unit randomized. Adventurer can be registered as party member and pit a squad of up to five units (excluding Protagonist) chosen by the player at tavern. Players may wish to rename and allocate bonus points, but it's not currently possible to alter its appearances, personality, etc. Alignments do exist in this game, players can pit up regardless good and evil without disadvantages and restrictions.

Instead of more traditional turn-based combat, battles of Variants Daphne pits on action-based with commands, such as fight, skill, spell, parry, item, and flee. In addition, it uses MP and SP mechanic similar to current RPGs than more traditional where magic is based on a number of spells per level.

Similar to Tale of the Forsaken Land, disarming treasure chests and rewinding objects represented by quick time events, although it plays quite differently than former.

Adventurers do die when their HP is depleted to zero, or player may wish to revive them instantly during battle or donating to priestess at temple. Fortitude, the new parameter addition to this game akin to stamina points, it can decrease by caught in a trap, taking heavy damage, staying in Stables also worsens unit's fortitude, and can also affect resurrect chances. Its fortitude can be recovered slowly in real time.

Characters

Patrons enjoying in Tavern.
Main article: List of Wizardry Variants Daphne Characters

As mentioned above in addition to the main protagonist, the game revolves around resurrect Adventurers (herein refers to as playable characters), and using them in exploration and battles. These playable characters can be obtained at random by spending bones or premium currency to exchange for it. Every such characters including non-playable feature voiceovers, however not all dialogues recorded presumably to conserve storage spaces. The player can create Protagonist that serves as the player character for the first time playing followed with questionnaires by a mysterious person, stats may vary depends on each questions answered. Playable characters including generic units can only customize names and allocate bonus points.

Races

A lineup of the very first four race types.
  • Human: The most populous and common race on the continent. Expanding from the fields where they toil, they build cities, and become prosperous. While their abilities may not stand out as much as other races, the abilities they do have are equable. As such, they have certain aptitude for various professions and can work in a wide range of fields.
  • Elf: A race graced with both beauty and intelligence. Deep within the mountain forests, they live as several clans. Though long-lived, they are not as resilient as other races. They are well-suited to being mages or priests, roles which allow them to leverage their intelligence. They value etiquette and discipline, though this can make them come across as haughty. They tend to be conservative in nature.
  • Dwarf: A physically robust race with a strong sense of duty. The caves in which they live are not easily noticed by other. They are stout, with muscular bodies and thick hair. They are more deeply religious than other races, though they are unlucky for some reason. Stubborn and powerful, their vitality makes them well-suited for fighters and priests. They often have hearty personalities and hold their drink well. Being deft of hand, blacksmithing is a popular profession among dwarves.
  • Beastfolk: A race of high physical ability and dexterity. They have distinctive ears and tails. Being a relative minority, they have a history of being persecuted by other races as "unclean". Very athletic, they stand out for their nimbleness and agility. On the other hand, they are not complex thinkers, and often lack care and attention to detail. Free-spirited, they prefer live in the moment, and tend to prioritize fun over logic.

Classes

Adventurers resting in a dungeon.
  • Fighter: With outstanding strength and vitality, they can use a wide variety of weapons and armor. The class of choice for adventurers who boast of their strength, they serve well on the front lines as the party's attackers.
  • Knight: Possessing great vitality, they have skills that improve their own defenses and protect their allies. Able to heal over time, they have a great ability to keep up the fight on their own. Skilled at maintaining a party's front line, this class can very reassuring to have in a long battle.
  • Thief: Both fast and dexterous, they excel at getting ahead of their enemies or hindering their actions. They excel at finding and disarming traps set in Abysses and treasure chests, making the class indispensable for exploration.
  • Mage: They specialize in attacking enemies with spells and weakening them. A good mage is the key to turning the tables when facing large numbers of enemies. Unable to carry heavy equipment and somewhat frail, they require support from the front lines.
  • Priest: A support class that specializes in recovering the health and restoring the condition of allies, as well as enhancing their abilities. They are indispensable lifelines that enhance a party's ability to continue fighting. Although they are normally rear guards, some are quite robust and can occasionally defend from the front.

Events

Main article: Wizardry Variants Daphne/Events

Development

This tentative logo was used for the game before Variants Daphne subtitle was announced.

Prior full title unveil, Drecom acquires Wizardry copyright, as well as the domestic and foreign trademark rights including Wizardry VI, VII, Gold, and Wizardry 8. The company will announce a new title within the series.[3]

On November 30, 2020, Drecom revealed new tentative Wizardry game titled Wizardry VA for mobile devices with Development Gameplay Shorts video published on its dedicated YouTube channel without release date announcement, the company is currently recruiting staff and development partners to work within the game.[3]

Five months later, a new teaser trailer was published with 2022 release year announced, Studio 2Pro were involved for developing Wizardry VA alongside Drecom as publishing.[4] An interview with Famitsu[5] talked about the potential difficulty of the game, among other various mechanics will be implemented, such as multiplayer and gacha. The developers mentioned that the game is currently 30% complete and is planned to be released in the second half of 2022. However, a lot of systems mentioned still need refining and tweaking.[6]

The next year on May, Drecom reveals financial report mentioning Wizardry VA will be released during fiscal year ending of March 2023 expected to contribute to earnings from the second half. Which means that the game may have been postponed into another release date.[7] There's also a subject to video leak that revealed development build gameplay uploaded on YouTube but it was later taken down by Drecom.[8]

On October 26, 2022. Following the official Twitter updated their account and unveils the official title called Wizardry Variants Daphne alongside website launch,[9][10][11] as well the publication of new teaser trailer.

On December 27, 2022. The official YouTube and Twitter account published a new trailer about the beginning of the game's story.[12]

On January 30, 2023. The official Japanese Twitter account posted notice about postponement release date once again in order to improve the game quality and possibly for English localization.[13]

On May 11, 2023, a new third trailer was unveiled which introduces characters and voice actors. Official Japanese website updates with newest informations and contents including classes, races, characters, and more voice actors.[14]

On July 27, 2023 according to financial results and briefing materials for the first quarter of fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, Drecom might chose to delay it once again for additional development and revisions to the market plan.[15] The game will conduct another second user test for autumn, when its expected, release date will not likely to be delayed again.[16]

On September 22, 2023, an announcement of closed beta test has been decided only in Japan, with registration runs up until 28th. Play period will be held on October approximately for 10 days.[17] Development of the Steam version was also mentioned with cross-platform save support between smartphone versions.[2]

On December 19, 2023, the official Japanese X profile has announced and published survey report on their website,[18][19] but received the need for improvements from many participants.[20] Due to unforeseen indefinite delay, the release window is still unknown.

Reception

Closed Beta Test

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After Japan-only testing period and according to testing report, Variants Daphne beta was met with mixed reviews in regards to the game's fortitude system and progression, along with difficulty level, but overall players gave their impressions enjoyed the challenge. Many players that the mini-games with action elements, such as unlocking traps on treasure chest, we're difficult and annoying. Implementation of auto-mapping, auto-movement and other features were well received, but there were major issues regarding stepping on traps when moving and others. Development team are also aware of issues with touch controls, such as flicking.[19][21]

Game progression and user interface met with mostly good reviews, over 75% of players rated the game easy to understand or mostly, but the many mostly good responses for UI indicates issues. Development team received many comments regarding the lack of in the system UI for character progression and weapon enhancement, small and hard to tap button during combat and exploration, difficulty in using items and equipment filters, and optimization of auto-equip feature.[19][22]

Visuals, cinematics, and characters design met with good or mostly good reviews, their opinions on characters should be appealing without detracting, but opinions were just right, too cute, or too dark. Development team says that the people have enjoyed the immersion in the unrelenting world, typical of Wizardry, and the personalities of the characters. For Variants Daphne, they are striving to create characters with appealing personalities that don't detract from the implacable setting. They will continue working on characters that people want to go on adventures with, and have also received feedback on character creation.[19][23]

The difficulty level is made to be slightly easier than past games, while retaining their harshness, and still challenging those used to 3D dungeon RPGs. Many participants found it just right or difficult. Development team received many comments about the difficulty of managing MP and SP, character development, and the difficulty of solving puzzles. Based on these comments, they are considered ways to make the game easier to get into. They also received many comments about grade promotion trial being too hard or repetitive.[19][24]

Gallery

Main article: Wizardry Variants Daphne/Gallery

Videos

Main article: Wizardry Variants Daphne/Video Gallery

Trivia

  • The game subtitle "Daphne" comes from Greek mythology.[25]
  • This was the first Wizardry free-to-play smartphone game ever brought on worldwide and officially localized in English for the first time as opposed to many previous titles were only available in Japan during that time, such as Tokyo Labyrinth: Wizardry 0, Wizardry: The Magical Tower of War, Wizardry Schema, and Wizrogue: Labyrinth of Wizardry.
    • Although Wizrogue ever got translated first in English by Forever Entertainment, it was completely different in favor of removing free-to-play elements for buy once model compared to original one and released shortly after Japanese server closure in October 30, 2015.
  • The game features English voiceovers returning since Nemesis: The Wizardry Adventure, Wizardry Gold, Wizardry 8, and Japan-only Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land.[26]
    • Previous English trailers and video previews were lacking of voiceovers in favor of captions due to not being recorded at the time. It was planned to have English voiceovers according to Drecom LinkedIn post.[27]
    • According to official English Twitter account, they also stated to reintroduce videos that did not previously have voiceovers.[28]

References

  1. ↑ Romano, Sal (November 29, 2020). "Wizardry VA announced for iOS, Android". Gematsu.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://drecom.co.jp/news/2023/09/20230922-01.php
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Romano Sal (October 29, 2020). Drecom acquires Wizardry copyright and trademark rights, new title to be developed. Gematsu.
  4. ↑ Romano Sal (April 6, 2022). Wizardry VA launches in 2022, teaser trailer. Gematsu.
  5. ↑ https://s.famitsu.com/news/202104/07217206.html
  6. ↑ Wizardry VA will be accessible to newcomers but still retain challenges via Siliconera
  7. ↑ https://gamebiz.jp/news/349227
  8. ↑ Hengki Kusuma Adi, [OUTDATED] What happened to Wizardry VA?, YouTube, Published: August 7, 2022, Retrieved: November 28, 2023
  9. ↑ https://twitter.com/Wiz_Daphne_en/status/1585104039334662144?t=P47EwXggMVQ4jTPM2eaYlQ&s=19
  10. ↑ 4Gamer.net: スマホ向け「Wizardry VA（仮）」の正式タイトル名は「Wizardry Variants Daphne」に決定。“2022年度内”にリリースへ
  11. ↑ Romano Sal (October 26, 2022). Wizardry VA officially titled Wizardry Variants Daphne, delayed to Early 2023. Gematsu.
  12. ↑ https://twitter.com/Wiz_Daphne_en/status/1607572103963738113?t=fNAk2D9ctpMLZI6YqxDAaw&s=19
  13. ↑ 【リリース延期のお知らせ】 『Wizardry Variants Daphne』はクオリティアップのためリリース時期を延期させていただくこととなりました。 楽しみにしてくださっている皆様をお待たせしてしまいますことを、心よりお詫び申し上げます。 -@Wizardry_Daphne on Twitter
  14. ↑ Romano Sal (May 11, 2023). Wizardry Variants Daphne ‘Abandon Fear, All Ye Who Enter the Abyss’ trailer. Gematsu.
  15. ↑ https://gamebiz.jp/news/372530
  16. ↑ https://gamebiz.jp/news/372543
  17. ↑ https://wizardry.info/daphne/cbt/
  18. ↑ @Wizardry_Daphne, [https://twitter.com/Wizardry_Daphne/status/1737307784503578721 【#ウィズダフネCBT アンケートレポート公開】 CBTへご協力いただき、誠にありがとうございました。 アンケートレポートを公開しました。 ご意見・ご感想、開発チームからのコメントも公式サイトにて掲載しております。], Twitter (X), Published: December 19, 2023, Retrieved: December 22, 2023
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 クローズドβテスト アンケートレポート, Official website (JP), Published: December 19, 2023, Retrieved: December 21, 2023
  20. ↑ @Wiz_Daphne_en, Our Japanese closed beta test was very well-received, but the survey showed us a need for improvement. Making a better game will take some time but we have made the decision to do so. We hope that you will understand and we apologize for the delay., Twitter (X), Published: December 21, 2023
  21. ↑ Japan Beta test results: Game system/controls. 79.9% rated the game system "good/mostly good" and 60.6% rated controls "good/mostly good," but the game system rating indicates room for improvement. We are making adjustments based on this feedback., Twitter (X), Published: January 12, 2024, Retrieved: January 19, 2024
  22. ↑ Japan Beta test results: Game progression/UI: Over 75% rated the game "easy to understand" or "mostly easy to understand," showing little confusion in gameplay. But the many "mostly good" responses for UI indicates issues. We are making adjustments., Twitter (X), Published: January 19, 2024, Retrieved: January 19, 2024
  23. ↑ Japan Beta results: Visuals/cinematics/characters Ratings were "good/mostly good". Characters should be appealing without detracting, but opinions were "just right," "too cute," or "too dark". We'll make characters that people want to adventure with., Twitter (X), Published: February 2, 2024, Retrieved: February 3, 2024
  24. ↑ Japan Beta results: Difficulty level. Daphne is made to be slightly easier than past Wizardry games, while retaining their harshness, and still challenging those used to 3D dungeon RPGs. We're very pleased so many found it "just right" or "difficult"., Twitter (X), Published: February 9, 2024, Retrieved: February 14, 2024
  25. ↑ Daphne in Wikipedia
  26. ↑ @Wiz_Daphne_en, Part of the English voice has been recorded! Just how are our adventuring companions going to sound...?, Twitter, Published: October 5, 2023
  27. ↑ Drecom Co., Ltd., We are also planning to have voice acting in English, and we will share the international cast once it is confirmed., Linkedin, Published: May 11, 2023
  28. ↑ @Wiz_Daphne_en, Thank you for your patience! English voice recording has been completed. Starting next week, we will be reintroducing videos that did not previously have character voices., Twitter (X), Published: November 24, 2023, Retrieved: November 25, 2023

External Links

Characters
Unique playable Protagonist - Adam - Alex - Alice - Amelia - Asha - Barbara - Bakesh - Benjamin - Chloe - Clarisa - Daniel - Deborah - Dino - Eckhart - Ekaterina - Eldar - Elise - Emil - Eularia - Flut - Galina - Gandolfo - Gaston - Gerlf - Jahn - Lanaville - Marianne - Milana - Ofelia - Olive - Philip - Valdor - Viviana - Yermil
Generic playable Human Male Fighter - Elf Female Mage
Non-playable Albano - Arna - Dana - Dylanhardt - Elmon - Kristel - Leaufonde - Lulunarde - Pickerel - Pulgritte - Randolf - Shagtis - Vernant - Walter
Terminology
Races Human - Elf - Dwarf - Beastfolk
Classes Fighter - Knight - Thief - Priest - Mage
Locations Capital's Castle Town - Adventurer's Guild - Item Shop - Blacksmith - Temple - Jeweler - Ruins - Edge of Town - Abyss
Group, objects, and concepts Adventurer's Bone - Banners - Royal Knights
Archives
Media
Lists Spells - Monsters - Weapons - Items - Requests - Events (giveaway)
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Llylgamyn Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (remake) - The Knight of Diamonds - Legacy of Llylgamyn - The Return of Werdna - Heart of the Maelstrom
Cosmic Forge Bane of the Cosmic Forge - Crusaders of the Dark Savant (Gold / PSX) - Wizardry 8
Gaiden Suffering of the Queen - Curse of the Ancient Emperor - Scripture of the Dark - Throb of the Demon's Heart - Dimguil - Prisoners of the Battles - The Absence of Misericordia - The Five Ordeals (Traveler's Property / Children of the King Selene / The Devoid of Apotheosis / The Pickled Man of Galvan / The Wheels of Flame / The Price of Deception)
Starfish Wizardry Empire - The Staff of Resurrection - Princess of the Ancient - II (Plus) Legacy of the Princess - Ancestry of the Emperor - Asterisk: The Scarlet Seal
BUSIN Tale of the Forsaken Land - Gotz' Trap Removal - BUSIN 0: Wizardry Alternative NEO
XTH Academy of Frontier - Unlimited Students
Renaissance The Wedge of Life - Labyrinth of Lost Souls (The Red Shadow of the Sister) - Online Mobile - Legacy of Oblivion - Prisoners of the Lost City - Online - Wizardry 0 - The Magical Tower of War - Schema - Wizrogue: Labyrinth of Wizardry
Other games Nemesis: The Wizardry Adventure - Chronicle - Summoner
Mobile games Monthly Wizardry - DoCoMo Wizardry - Wizardry Traditional - Wizardry: Chapter 1 - Variants Daphne
Cancelled Stones of Arnhem - Wizardry Gaiden VB - Strange Tale of the Rising Sun - Wizardry XTH 3 - Wandering Dark Lord
Compilations The Wizardry Trilogy: Scenarios I, II & III - I-II - The New Generation - Trilogy 2 - III-IV - VI & VII Complete - The Ultimate Wizardry Archives - Llylgamyn Saga - New Age of Llylgamyn - I-II-III: Story of Llylgamyn - Twin Pack - Perfect Pack - Wizardry Legacy: BCF, CDS & 8
Tabletop games Wizardry RPG - Wizball
Novels Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord - The Story of Alavik and Margda - Knight of Diamonds - Legacy of Llylgamyn - Heart of the Maelstrom - Ash & Youth Side by Side - The Wind. Has it reached the Dragon? - The Return of Werdna - Suffering of the Queen (Futabasha) - Suffering of the Queen Iris - King of the Sands - Llylgamyn War - Prelude/Expansion - The League of the Crimson Crescent - Blade & Bastard
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