If you didn't play any of the previous games in the series, this detail might not mean much to you. Otherwise you will immediately understand that with one swift move you have been cut off from one of the main support pillars of past games. There is no going back to the city to rest and heal, to identify or buy items, or restore or replace fallen comrades.

Where Wizardry V improved on mechanics of the early Wizardry games with small iterative steps, Wizardry VI boldly rips out the guts of the series and replaces them to an extent never done before or again. Instead of five races and eight classes, you get 11 races and 14 classes, all with distinct career paths and strengths and weaknesses. The typical fantasy races from previous games remain, but they are joined by new furry options like humanoid cats, dogs, lizards, dragons and others.

Moreover, an extensive skill system was added, with over 20 skills spread across three categories (Weapons, Physical and Academic), further differentiating the various classes. As with previous games, items are restricted by class and race, with most of the restrictions making at least some sense.

Quantity doesn't always translate into quality but, together with the already existing class-change feature, character development in Wizardry VI went into overdrive – seeing your characters go from total pushovers to killing machines is as satisfying as ever.

Magic is another area that was completely overhauled. Spells are now sorted into six schools, including Psionics and Alchemy. The more poetic spell names were replaced by functional ones (e.g. MAHALITO became Fireball), which decreased style but increased usability. More importantly, spells now cost mana and can be cast in six distinct power levels, each increasing its effectiveness and cost.