Wizards is a great PC conversion of the Avalon Hill boardgame of the same name. In this fantasy-themed game, hexagonal map tiles are placed on a blank board shape the "Enchanted Islands". Most of the game consists of performing various mini-quests by moving around the eighteen islands. Each quest adds to the ten-quest-per-fortnight requirement. Failure to reach this total between the players causes one of the islands to be removed. Thus the players are mainly competing against the game itself. The endgame has the players race against each other to be the first to collect six Gem Fragments and take them to the High Druid. Unlike Avalon Hill's more complex and better known Magic Realm, Wizards is very easy to set up and teach to others. As the PC version's designer explains, the game's excellent "...variety of quests and random events make each game play like a fantasy novel." This PC version is very faithful to the original, and allows you to play against up to five other human players. Although it lacks computer opponents, you can play solo against the clock. Coded in Java, Wizards is pretty to look at, and even implements many optional house rules devised by the original game designers and others. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy boardgames. Reviewed by: Underdogs |