Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II

About Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II

Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II (1989) is Zippo Games' NES sequel in which Kuros crosses four elemental domains to assemble the IronSword and face Malkil atop IceFire Mountain.

Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II in Depth

The wizard Malkil has taken the forms of the four Elementals, Earth, Wind, Fire and Water, to stop Kuros as he travels the land of Sindarin. Only the legendary IronSword can defeat him, so Kuros must gather its pieces and climb to the peak of IceFire Mountain. Each of the four domains is split in two: first Kuros must find a golden artefact belonging to the domain's Animal King and return it, opening the way to the second part, where he must find the magic spell needed to fight the Elemental. Without it the boss cannot be damaged, and Kuros cannot even stay in the room. Each Elemental destroyed yields a piece of the IronSword.

Kuros can jump, crouch, fight with his sword or cast spells chosen from a Magic Spell Screen. His life meter drops when he is hurt or falls too far and is restored by chicken and brew. Money from chests and enemies buys spells, stronger weapons, shields, helmets, keys and food, and inns in each domain sell supplies and offer a Bonus Chance game. Players may continue up to two times, though a bug removes the continue option as soon as Kuros sets foot in the earth domain rather than after completing it. Its size impressed reviewers: EGM's Steve Harris said "most of the competition pales by comparison".

Making Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II

Zippo Games had just finished Cosmic Pirate for home computers when the Pickford brothers visited Rare, were impressed by its NES library, and were asked to make the Wizards & Warriors sequel, with Rare largely leaving them to it. Acclaim released it in North America in December 1989 and in Europe in March 1991. Electronic Gaming Monthly's four reviewers praised its involving play and graphics, Ed Semrad calling it "a worthy sequel that fortunately is better than the original", though Donn Nauert warned that precise movements could frustrate; the magazine later made it Game of the Month and put its box art on the cover. Reviews praised its size, characters and bosses but criticised its lack of originality. Rare's satisfaction led to Zippo making Solar Jetman and Wizards & Warriors III.