The 10 different character races, or clans as they are known in the realm of Gael Serran, provide a nice change from more traditional fantasy fare. While players can choose the stereotypical elves, dwarves and gnomes, more exotic creatures are also available, such as oomphaaz (elephantine humanoids who excel at magic) and ratlings (rodent-like creatures that make great rogues). Even gender is more than a cosmetic trait: Male characters receive a bonus to fortitude and strength, while females receive a bonus to agility and presence. All of this adds up to almost unlimited party combinations.

Once a party is created, it's time to find quests. The game is packed with sub-plots and mini-quests to help the characters gain experience, but most are conventional fantasy FedEx jobs: find/deliver item X and receive reward. Even the main plotline is nothing more than a complex version of the same theme. Despite this lack of originality, the game is truly fun. Creeping beneath a canopy of trees becomes an eerily nerve-wracking experience as day fades to night and the forest darkens. The mundane sights and sounds of falling leaves and chirping birds emphasize how alone the characters actually are.

Interactive characters and monsters are rendered in 3D and look incredible even up close. Attack animations are accurate, from notching and releasing an arrow to tossing a knife to swinging a sword. In fact, all of the animations are terrific -- with one exception. When talking, characters wave their arms around so expressively that it becomes a bit of a distraction. It's quite minor, but it is an annoyance.

Even though the characters look great, the environment is not as impressive. In wide spaces, the game draws objects too close, creating a pop-up effect. Dungeons and other enclosed areas are dark and sometimes muddied, so that levers and switches are difficult to see, and finding an object on the ground can become a pixel hunt if the item is especially small or thin. Instead of creating towns that could be traveled freely, the developers chose to use beautifully drawn but static images, with all of the available buildings along a row; left and right arrows allow players to scroll along the street to select which building they wish to enter. It's the fantasy equivalent of online shopping. Musically, though, Wizards and Warriors is just right -- neither overwhelming nor disappearing into the background. The voice acting is well done, which is a good thing as the game is packed with characters that speak.

While no bug was game-stopping, several strange inconsistencies showed up in the course of play. A dead character still reported that he could sense creatures nearby -- apparently, even rotting corpses feel they must earn their keep. Horses in Gael Serran are the biggest species of equines ever known. Each easily sits all six party members, including the gargantuan oomphaaz, without a whinny of complaint. And while horses are accommodating, ladders are not. Players will spend a frustrating amount of time trying to climb up and down ladders while taking damage from the many falls that ensue.

Despite some minor problems, Wizards & Warriors is a fun game that shouldn't be overlooked in this day of big-name RPG releases. Not only will fans of D.W. Bradley and the Wizardry series enjoy this title, but so should fans of role-playing games in general.