Winifred Phillips's original score for the 2024 remake of Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is available to download. The game is a full-3D remake of the smash-hit game from 1981 that laid the foundation for an entire genre of fantasy adventures that include Baldur's Gate, Dragon Quest, Might and Magic and Final Fantasy...

The Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord was originally released for the Apple II in 1981. It featured no soundtrack. For the 2024 remake, composer Winifred Phillips delivers an emotive and engaging original score.

I've pretty much had this soundtrack on repeat since I received it. It's atmospheric, as well as bursting with numerous impressive themes. Of the score's 16 tracks (38 min, 14 sec) I was blown away by the diversity on offer. While it is grounded in medieval fantasy style music, this is only used as a base in order to branch out to explore more styles. I even listened to this whilst playing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, and the music worked wonderfully to enhance the immersion.

Whilst I found something to champion in each of the tracks, if I had to pick personal favourites to recommend the album, I'd have to go for the multi-layered melancholic 'Dungeon Bestiary' and the epic, frenetic 'Wrath of the Wizard'. The closing 'Masters of Wizardry' is also memorable. In fact, I can honestly say that I'd buy the score just to own 'Dungeon Bestiary'.

The score sounds fresh and current, whilst still managing to evoke memories of old skool gaming. Like her work on Jurassic World Primal Ops, Phillips goes above and beyond to deliver a rich, memorable mini work of art.

9

Darren Rea