Dark Wizard , released for the Sega CD in 1994, is a strategy game set 300 years after an ancient event. The story takes place in the Kingdom of Cheshire, where the dark god Arliman was imprisoned by the kingdom's leaders with the help of the Goddess of Light, Sabrina.
Velonese, the high wizard's apprentice, has grown angry over time and is now commanding four generals to conquer the land. The player takes on the role of one of four main characters, each with their own story, but all share a common goal: to re-conquer Cheshire, defeat Velonese, and prevent Arliman's resurrection.
The gameplay revolves around turn-based tactical combat on hex maps, where players can summon monsters or hire human troops. The choice of character affects the amount of magic points available for monster summoning and tax money for human recruitment. Units gain experience points, and humans can adopt different jobs as they level up.
During battles, units can visit towns to buy equipment, hear gossip, and discover side quests. Between battles, players must equip troops, send out search parties, and allocate resources to re-conquered towns.
Dark Wizard features long animated cutscenes with spoken dialogues and a high-quality orchestral soundtrack.