Wizard 101
I’m a bit late to get on to this one, with Tipa and Saylah both having played this game since before release, but at the time I wasn’t interested in it. I’ve since changed my mind, and seeing how Wizard 101 is free to download and free to play to an extent, I thought I’d have a look.
Downloading the W101 client literally took seconds and I was creating my character in no time. You can choose from Fire, Ice, Death, Life, Balance, and Storm magic or you can do the quiz which decides for you. I did the quiz and it suggested I be a Pyromancer (Fire Mage) and it sounded good to me so I went with that. W101 is a kid’s game even though there are a number of adults playing. When choosing a name you can’t just make one up, instead you get the choice of a first name and two parts to your second name from the list provided. This prevents any inappropriate names. I gave my wizard the awesomely cool name of Seth Ravenheart. In fact, I’m thinking of officially changing my name to Seth Ravenheart.
“I’d like to book my car in for a service”
“What name is it?”
“Seth Ravenheart”
“NO WAY!”
“Way”
So I took Seth into Wizard City and was surprised at how many people there were. One thing W101 does is install the game as it’s required, so once I got my first quests and headed out to the world I was met with a very long loading screen. This is only really an issue the first time, because you have nowhere else to go. Later on if I find myself waiting for a zone to load I just go and quest elsewhere until it’s complete.
The world itself looks good and has a fun graphics style, though the zones are small and tend to look like carbon copies of each other. Combat is turn based and is a trading card game in the style of Magic-The Gathering or Everquest’s Legends of Norrath. While so far it hasn’t seemed as challenging as either of those two, it’s still fun and the animations during combat are entertaining. There is also arena style PvP and you can earn tokens which allow you to purchase ub3r gear. You can play a friendly game where you don’t earn tokens or you can play for tokens, but that costs you Crowns, which you have to purchase via micro-transactions. W101 uses the Free2Play/Micro-transaction model, or you can pay a monthly subscription. In order to open up some of the zones you need to be either a subscriber or pay a one-off fee which opens the zone up to all your characters. It works out to be about $2 a zone or something like that. I actually purchased some crowns, $15 worth in fact, and bought some stuff. I got a cool pet which gave me +50 to health and mana, which at the time was a big deal. Plus I wanted to have cool stuff to flash off to all the kids who don’t have credit cards in their back pockets. /flex
Getting back to combat, it’s a trading card game system like Pokemon. When you go into combat a circle appears on the ground, with you on one side and the mob opposite you. Up to four players can join the circle, and likewise up to four mobs. You select a card from your school of magic to play. You can also play Treasure cards, which you can get as drops or with gear, or you can purchase them from a merchant. You can also learn from other schools of magic, though you will have your main school where you learn new skills at no cost when you level, and your secondary schools which cost training points to learn, limiting the amount of secondary skills you can learn. Playing cards cost you mana and pips. You earn a pip for every turn though there are special pips that give you double for your school of magic. So if you have a card that cost four mana/pips, it may be four turns before you can play that card, assuming you don’t use up the pips on other spells.
Each zone has a few boss mobs which are usually in instanced towers, and up to four of you can go in. These are always part of a quest, but once it’s opened up to you via the quest they are repeatable. They are more challenging than regular mobs, as you’d expect, and always drop some gear. If you don’t buy any gear using crowns then grinding these bosses is a good way to equip your character as well as being a fun challenge.
So far all the quests I’ve done have had voice-overs which has been novel, with cutesy kids voices to grizzled old wizards, and my wife’s been making fun of me in front of our friends for playing a kids game, but it’s a fun game. The graphics are cute and fun as are the character models, and there seems to be a lot of gear for those that like to customize their look. You have a house where you can store things for yourself and your alts, and there’s plenty of stuff to buy in the range of pets, clothes, wands, cards etc. I’m surprised at how much I’m enjoying this game; it’s fun and addictive and it makes for a nice distraction from your more serious MMO.
The Chronicles of Spellborn – first look »
Comments
Comment from caliga
Time: April 22, 2009, 6:47 am
Sadly, Fluffy Wigglebottom was not an option.
Comment from Jason
Time: April 23, 2009, 3:15 pm
no help.And i play better games thing that like wow
Comment from MICH
Time: April 23, 2009, 6:38 pm
THIS GAME IS FUN
Comment from caliga
Time: April 24, 2009, 6:27 am
@Jason. Sorry I wasn’t of any help. What kind of help do you need? And WoW isn’t free, Wizard 101 is.
@MICH. The game can be a lot of fun.
Comment from madeleline brown
Time: April 25, 2009, 9:35 am
you are good
Comment from madeleline brown
Time: April 25, 2009, 9:37 am
this is a good game en fun
Comment from Benjamin
Time: April 25, 2009, 4:33 pm
Are you reddy
Comment from Andrew
Time: April 25, 2009, 7:56 pm
Looks like a pretty fun game. I freakin love magic and caster classes of all kinds, so I’m probably going to check it out.
Comment from caliga
Time: April 26, 2009, 3:19 am
It’s certainly worth checking out. It’s a pretty fast install and free to download and while the trading card combat is not overly complicated, it’s still pretty fun.
Comment from Bredan
Time: April 26, 2009, 9:45 am
It’s fun!!
Comment from alonzo
Time: April 26, 2009, 3:54 pm
I bet wizard101 will be the best
Comment from matthew
Time: April 27, 2009, 3:20 pm
this game rocks
Comment from matthew
Time: April 27, 2009, 3:21 pm
i love this game
Comment from tyler andrews
Time: April 27, 2009, 5:50 pm
this is cool
Comment from Nick
Time: April 29, 2009, 9:40 am
Nice write up on Wizards 101 and some great screen shots. I’m 40 and play with my eight year old son. We both love it! Free is hard to beat, too. =)
Comment from Keiry
Time: April 29, 2009, 3:42 pm
Who are all these people?! You’re famous, Cal!!! I mean, Seth. >.>
Comment from caliga
Time: April 29, 2009, 4:00 pm
Thanks Nick. It’s great that you can play a game with your son, one you both enjoy. And when you’re saving on the box price to begin with, well, that is hard to beat.
Comment from aiden
Time: April 30, 2009, 5:06 pm
I CA’T WAI’T TO PLAY THIS GAME.
Comment from aiden
Time: April 30, 2009, 5:15 pm
I CAN’T WAI’T YO BE A WIZARD.
Comment from eze
Time: May 2, 2009, 7:44 am
i love this site
Comment from caliga
Time: May 2, 2009, 11:22 am
@ eze.
Thanks 
Comment from rebecca
Time: May 3, 2009, 8:46 am
i like this.
Comment from Tyreek Williams
Time: May 3, 2009, 9:20 am
I thick this game look sweet
Comment from Tyreek Williams
Time: May 3, 2009, 9:26 am
I wonder how this will go
Comment from tajmahal
Time: May 4, 2009, 3:53 pm
hey
Comment from matthew
Time: May 5, 2009, 11:27 am
I like the game
Comment from Matthew Klein
Time: May 5, 2009, 4:16 pm
Im going to love this game Wizard 101 the coolest game i wonder how this game is great.
Comment from Klade
Time: May 6, 2009, 8:09 pm
I love this game it is one of the coolest games on the internet and i’ve played a lot of games. YOU GUYS ROCK!
Comment from angel
Time: May 7, 2009, 7:50 pm
sounds ffunto play
Comment from Anonymous
Time: May 9, 2009, 10:58 am
hi
Comment from brandon grigorian
Time: May 9, 2009, 3:40 pm
i want to play!!!
Comment from andre
Time: May 11, 2009, 4:54 pm
this will be fun
Comment from sarah
Time: May 13, 2009, 9:48 am
I thak the game is cool an i wod like to play it
Comment from dman
Time: May 15, 2009, 6:46 pm
I think wizard 101 is grat
Comment from hassam
Time: May 17, 2009, 8:50 am
hi
Comment from Matthew Klein
Time: May 17, 2009, 9:43 am
my pet name is Lord Gummy.
Comment from Matthew Klein
Time: May 17, 2009, 9:46 am
Wizard 101 is a fun game to play.
Comment from Matthew Klein
Time: May 17, 2009, 9:57 am
I LOVE THIS GAMe!
Comment from donny
Time: May 17, 2009, 4:36 pm
This game isnt that good. if u want to play a good game, play runescape. u dont need to download anything and its free. u can be a wizard ranger or warrior this games sux compared to runescape. no effense or nothing
Comment from vont
Time: May 17, 2009, 6:56 pm
hi
Comment from jaxton
Time: May 18, 2009, 10:45 am
isthisgamegood
Comment from jaxton
Time: May 18, 2009, 10:51 am
how do yoo play this gome
Comment from caliga
Time: May 18, 2009, 2:00 pm
Go to the Wizard 101 website, you’ll find a guide on how to play the game.
Comment from manuel
Time: May 20, 2009, 2:40 pm
cool
Comment from stasi
Time: May 21, 2009, 5:40 am
i wanna play but i cant but hay it so cool!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment from stasi
Time: May 21, 2009, 5:42 am
thats so cool i wanna play well i going bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment from Anthony
Time: May 21, 2009, 11:49 am
How long u have to wait on wizards return after 1st battle??
Comment from hunter
Time: May 22, 2009, 5:26 pm
wow sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo aewsome
Comment from kendrick
Time: May 23, 2009, 9:17 am
graet!!!!!!!!!!!!@@@@@@@@@@#############$$$$$$$$$$$$%%%%%%%%%%%%%^^^^^^^^&Y(
Comment from Anonymous
Time: May 23, 2009, 11:37 am
I will like this game
Comment from Undertaker
Time: May 23, 2009, 11:42 am
I will like this game.
Comment from AeonFlux
Time: May 23, 2009, 12:50 pm
This is a wonderful game, I am a “Bzz Agent” and this is where I got my invite to play the game and review it, they gave me a code for 500 gold in game and that is: FISH (you will have to look in Wizard 101 website, when you are signed in look for the link for “redeem card or code” and enter your code there. Also I then did some searches and 2 other websites had other codes: summer dragon (gets you a pet summer dragon) and castle (I guess it gets you a piece of furniture for your dorm room).
Anyway great article here on this wonderful game, I am hooked already and cannot wait to make some new friends in game to help each other out with quests.
Comment from junior
Time: May 24, 2009, 8:36 am
how do i make one?
Comment from brett
Time: May 24, 2009, 4:59 pm
hi
Comment from Mr.Pie
Time: May 25, 2009, 5:46 pm
waffles are good
Comment from dardan gee
Time: May 26, 2009, 10:48 am
whoa
Comment from mary W.
Time: May 27, 2009, 10:52 am
Can anyone tell me how to solve the 2nd aptitude test in the temple of storms? thank you so much.
Comment from aidan
Time: May 28, 2009, 8:48 am
that was me
Comment from patrick star
Time: May 30, 2009, 9:31 am
looks cool man i think i will try it when its comin………. but when will that be from now?
Comment from flipp3rinsead123guitr..34341
Time: May 30, 2009, 9:33 am
awsome
Comment from Anonymous
Time: May 30, 2009, 9:34 am
from;feast how do you get in the game
Comment from death 2133424431424R323 VDNSDMDJSMDMSAMDNADMKANDS 321987654 —-;-/[fda’ trap
Time: May 30, 2009, 9:35 am
COOL
Comment from linkspammremoverhighe3r3then123then10ben10
Time: May 30, 2009, 9:37 am
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow i think ill like it i hjate runescsape and anything like that
Comment from fu42
Time: May 30, 2009, 9:38 am
wow
Comment from swokee
Time: May 30, 2009, 9:43 am
from swokee what are you doing
Comment from swokee
Time: May 30, 2009, 9:49 am
from swokee Hey i have a cousin death but do you want to hang
outtt
Comment from swokee
Time: May 30, 2009, 9:52 am
from swokee shutup man you know my address
Comment from tony
Time: May 30, 2009, 4:37 pm
watch how i do this
Comment from Tony
Time: May 30, 2009, 4:41 pm
from futu
Comment from Bob
Time: June 6, 2009, 6:45 am
Hello Wizarsds!
Comment from Amy
Time: June 7, 2009, 6:27 pm
I WANT TO KNOW THE STAFF CODE!!!!!!!!
Comment from Jaun
Time: June 9, 2009, 6:17 am
i want to learrn a lot of spells
Comment from Disisshuey
Time: June 9, 2009, 5:13 pm
It’s a really cute game. I started playing three days ago and liked it so much I’m buying crowns so I can expand the areas I can play.
Comment from brandon
Time: June 10, 2009, 11:12 am
whaz up
Comment from Omer
Time: June 10, 2009, 9:50 pm
It’s an awesome game for a kid. I played it before and I wish that these kind of games existed when I was younger. it’s a lot more fun than runescape and neopets.
Comment from Anonymous
Time: June 11, 2009, 4:53 pm
i luv this game so much play it all the time i like the batteling the best
LOL
Comment from connor
Time: June 11, 2009, 4:56 pm
this game is so much fun better then most games around. like playing it all day pretty cool i’d say and i’m 11 by the way
Comment from Lillie Hackworth
Time: June 12, 2009, 7:04 am
your so awsome i have already beetin the wiz if eny one needs to get threow him..!!!if wont to now about me i have 2 bros an d 4 sisters im the smallest (i get ict on alot)……..!!!!!!!////////BYE///////!!!!!…..
Comment from alexa
Time: June 13, 2009, 8:40 pm
i want 1
Comment from alexa
Time: June 13, 2009, 8:41 pm
ok
Comment from alexa
Time: June 13, 2009, 8:41 pm
cool
Comment from alexa
Time: June 13, 2009, 8:41 pm
asom
Comment from alexa
Time: June 13, 2009, 8:42 pm
fun
Comment from George Ackinclose
Time: June 15, 2009, 5:48 am
nice game
Comment from Anonymous
Time: June 18, 2009, 6:31 pm
i want to play 2
Comment from Alex
Time: June 18, 2009, 9:39 pm
runescape sux, and this game is funnnn .
Comment from vinsten
Time: June 20, 2009, 9:37 am
i like to play soccer
Comment from mia
Time: June 20, 2009, 9:56 am
I want to play the game but I don’t know how.
Comment from shawn
Time: June 24, 2009, 2:22 pm
This game is really fun.It is cool.I like the fighting.
Comment from sarah
Time: June 28, 2009, 2:23 pm
can i play this game or what
Comment from sarah
Time: June 28, 2009, 2:25 pm
this game is crazy
Comment from logan
Time: June 29, 2009, 11:38 am
wizard 101 is the best the bestist and coolest .com game i have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and some think it is preety boring but its preety cool!! it awsome its cool its adventrious and it rocks!!!!
it rocks the intire world around
see ya
Comment from firenbrimstone
Time: July 1, 2009, 11:49 pm
ya its fun been playing for bout a month got 8 lvl 10s and still going strong oh and did u guys check out the new places they downloaded so gg 
Comment from firenbrimstone
Time: July 1, 2009, 11:53 pm
but ya rune scape is retarded i mean the graphics are horrible and the game just all in all sux
Comment from Mothersquiglebottom
Time: July 2, 2009, 1:51 am
This is an amazing game but lacks alot of potential. Paying for membership is understandable and for the quality of the game at 10 dollars a month is an affordable price but paying for crowns (wizard money) is almost too much considering the prices on the crowns are too expensive.
As for Wizard vs Runescape. There is no battle. Both are amazing games. If you are a more hardcore social MMORPG player that does not want to spend a large amount of cash and does not enjoy downloading and going through annouying patches wich have the possiblity to fail then go with Runescape.
If you enjoy more single player styled games with good graphics, turned based fightign styles, little social interaction and simple to grasp quests then go for Wizard.
I am testing Wizard101 at the moment I spent 30 dollars on a month fo membership and 10K crowns. The first few quests don’t tell me if it is worth it or not so I had to buy a month of membership to see if I wanted to continue. So far so good. If it does fail I am goign to step back into RS.
Comment from Logan
Time: July 3, 2009, 12:22 am
ok im rite after da very 1st part n i dont no wat to do
Comment from jonathan
Time: July 7, 2009, 12:41 pm
asom game
Comment from emily
Time: July 11, 2009, 12:31 pm
I can not wait !
Comment from emily
Time: July 11, 2009, 12:32 pm
i can”t wait
Comment from SARAH
Time: July 13, 2009, 10:41 am
HELLO
Comment from parker
Time: July 13, 2009, 12:33 pm
THEY LEFT MYTH OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Comment from axedas (runescape name)
Time: July 13, 2009, 2:39 pm
i think that runescape is ok but it can get kind of boring once you have played for a long time so i have been telling my friends that wizard101 is better than runescape but they kept saying that in runescape the graphics are better and the combat is more fun so i told the m about the commercials then they said that those were tv generated graphics so i just came to this site to find out what other people think and i was very satisfied.
Comment from cj
Time: July 16, 2009, 12:53 pm
whats up
Comment from ethan
Time: July 18, 2009, 10:32 am
This game is cool!!!!
Comment from ethan
Time: July 18, 2009, 10:34 am
Ilove this game!!!
Comment from David
Time: July 25, 2009, 2:02 pm
This game is just great. It’s funny– I was just thinking about all those online trading card games (I used to be addicted to MtG) and wondering why there wasn’t a 3D version. And then my wife spotted Wizard101. Now we play and quest together, and no, we’re not teenagers. I don’t mind the cutesy at all, it’s just silly fun. The animations can be repetitive after a while, but they’ll entertain you for a good while as you start noticing little details like yawning and earflips (I’m a bit of a 3D animation geek, so YMMV from mine).
Comment from Laurise
Time: July 28, 2009, 6:38 pm
i like this game
Comment from quamaine-york
Time: August 8, 2009, 3:36 pm
i love it
Comment from JOSEPH
Time: August 10, 2009, 5:19 pm
I THINK THIS GAME IS THE MOST COMPLICATED THING I HAVE EVER PLAYED
Comment from Anonymous
Time: August 11, 2009, 10:40 am
Great game graphics and over all are way better than runescape almost ranks up there with WoW and the other big boys but i love playing for free i wouldnt spend a whole bunch of moey on it though
Comment from butt
Time: August 12, 2009, 12:16 pm
wizard101 sucks
Comment from peachz
Time: August 14, 2009, 9:51 pm
This is the best online game I have ever played. I’m not a kid but I love the fact that this game does not allow all of the rude and crude people that some other sites allow. There is always something to do , and I love being able to make my wizard with my own style. I am totally addicted.
Comment from rae
Time: August 19, 2009, 7:43 pm
i have been playing for a couple days. i have also bought some crowns so i can expand my areas, as soon as i decide which ones first. i am not a kid either (30’s) but i like it. im playing while i watch tv so its not that hard. i dont expect it to replace lotro or anything else, i play it in addition to them. good game
Comment from miko
Time: August 20, 2009, 6:55 am
hi
Comment from miko
Time: August 20, 2009, 6:58 am
storms around
Comment from Sarah
Time: August 20, 2009, 5:30 pm
This game is fabulous, my five yr old plays. She is just barely learning to read and can still keep herself busy for hours Not only that it spurs her on; she writes down the big words and asks for help with pronunciation and defenition. It also makes her feel real mature now that we started accounts too so that we can play together.
Comment from karson
Time: August 22, 2009, 5:52 pm
is it fun playing wizard101
Comment from noah hawthorne
Time: August 26, 2009, 2:36 pm
this game is frekin sweet i am almost a grandmaster
Comment from noah hawthorne
Time: August 26, 2009, 2:39 pm
this game is so addicting i play it 24 7
Comment from logan
Time: August 29, 2009, 3:53 pm
i am a lvl 28 fire this game rocks yall
Comment from logan
Time: August 29, 2009, 3:55 pm
thats cool sara
Comment from logan
Time: August 29, 2009, 3:56 pm
if yall se my say hi my name is vuldis death bringer
Comment from Peter (SFO lycan)
Time: September 5, 2009, 10:21 pm
yo ummm yeah anyone know where to find a wizard 101 download and not on the site ok cause well its a long story and plus GUNZ online is the best mmo ever!!!
Comment from ep
Time: October 14, 2009, 8:38 am
i am a level 50 yea.ice school rocks
Comment from Emily Icetamer
Time: October 18, 2009, 1:05 pm
I’m finding this frustrating. Right after i’m done battling the henchman and the wizard pops off. I can’t do anything. I can run around the little room, but thats it. It says please wait because the wizard is tidying himself up, but I’ve been waiting a ridiculously long time. Do I keep waiting? Will something acutally happen?
Comment from jake
Time: October 20, 2009, 2:16 pm
ive played this game for 2 years now it rocks
Comment from David
Time: November 3, 2009, 5:32 pm
This is a great game for the family to play together. I, my wife, our 14 y/o daughter, and our 8 y/o son play together, helping each other out. The chat filters make me comfortable with the kids being online and, unlike some other computer games we tried to get my wife involved in, she finds this one FUN and easy to play. I purchased a “family” group subscription, which allows us parental control over all accounts and subscription discounts and unlocks all areas. We use purchased Crowns (assigned to a particular account over the web interface) as rewards for good grades or gifts. I highly recommend Wizard101 to people of any age who want to have fun without the drama that usually follows online games. By drama, I mean the people who are there to stir up nothing but trouble and ruin the fun of the game. I’ve played a lot of FPS games using Teamspeak and GSC and unlike those games, this game is actually RELAXING. Plus we all enjoy each other’s company. (And riding mounts around that move 40% faster than everybody on foot is kinda fun too, lol.)
Comment from Johnabc
Time: November 3, 2009, 6:21 pm
i ALREDE FILED ALL OF THIS OUT.
Comment from Emp11
Time: November 8, 2009, 6:10 pm
I like to try out various MMOs when I have time to spare, but the only one I’ve ever stuck with until now is City of Heroes (love the character building options and the mission system). All the other games just bore me (particularly WoW). Wizard 101 has charmed me from the get-go. Initially I was a bit dismayed at not being able to type in my own character names, but then I realized it was a real pleasure to run around and not have to see names like “coolguy14″ — it helped keep the flavor of the world intact to have a naming system in place. The voiceovers are a real treat. They’re nicely done and entertaining. The costume options are also a lot of fun, particularly since character costume customization is important to me, and then on top of that I’ve got a room or house I can decorate. The loading system is nice, and the fact that its so welcoming for children is actually part of its appeal. It’s just good, clean, family-oriented fun that you don’t have to be a child to appreciate. It’s smart and funny and charming and a game I’m going to continue with for a long time.
Comment from conner spirtvault
Time: November 24, 2009, 3:12 pm
is there a cheat to be a rand master because i cant go know where because low level
Comment from cris
Time: December 2, 2009, 11:42 am
wizard 101 rocks
Comment from kevin stormcloud
Time: December 2, 2009, 11:44 am
it dose rock
Comment from kevin stormcloud
Time: December 2, 2009, 11:48 am
dose aybody know calamity earhtsong
Comment from kaitlyn
Time: December 20, 2009, 5:51 pm
i am so happy
Comment from ryleee
Time: December 29, 2009, 12:35 pm
well i’m lvl 20 and i think its getting harder every time but i still like it
Comment from Lemage
Time: January 15, 2010, 1:20 pm
Wow, the customer service is appalling, the game play is step by step, no challenge there, so many speed hackers, too many whiny 12 yr olds. I don’t see how this is an MMORPG no real lore to role-play against. this just isn’t the game for me. I guess there’s a reason its aimed at lower ages.
Comment from Lemage
Time: January 15, 2010, 1:23 pm
It advertises as free but you have to pay to progress further and for all other services. I’m gonna go play a pay-by-the-month game.
Comment from Ethan Carlson
Time: January 25, 2010, 10:33 am
i think wizard101 should have a new mount where you can have wings like eagle wings or angle wings to fly around
Comment from ethan calson im ethan firehunter
Time: January 25, 2010, 10:35 am
i still think that wizard101 could have a mount that you’ll have angel wings or eagle wings
Comment from Aaron Swift
Time: January 29, 2010, 4:07 am
If you a death student how do you beat the last boss in Golem Tower?
caliga
Comment from Keiry
Time: April 22, 2009, 5:42 am
Seth Ravenheart, eh? That’s right up there. I’m not going to call you that, though. Sorry. To me you’ll always be Fluffy Wigglebottom.