Cave of the Word Wizard
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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"I am the Word Wizard. Welcome to my cave." You, as Mark or Becky, have been trapped in the Word Wizard's cave. You must wander about, avoiding hazards, while trying to find magic crystals within the cave. Find enough magic crystals to escape.

Using the joystick, you move your character left or right. Pressing the button makes you jump, so as to clear boulders, pools or snakes. You can use pits to get to lower parts of the cave or jump them. You will use ladders to climb. If you hit an obstacle, except a pit, you will use a Band-Aid. Use all your Band-Aids and the game is over. At times, the Word Wizard will appear and ask you, verbally, to spell a word. You will use the keyboard to spell the word. Spell the word correctly to continue. Spell the word wrong and your flashlight will lose power. You will then be shown the correct word and must type it in to continue. As you play, your flashlight slowly loses power. Lose all power and the game is over.

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(From Wikipedia) :

Cave of the Word Wizard is a 1982 educational children's game released for the Commodore 64 by Timeworks, Inc..

This is an educational game teaching spelling. The tuition is through spoken commands and dictated words for the player to spell. The player spells the words by typing on the keyboard and they are simultaneously displayed on the screen. The spoken commands and words are delivered in American English, through the computer audio output. Ten lists of words are provided for spelling, in graduated difficulty. You can also make custom lists. A list is selected at the start of each game.

It features a multilevel cave which the player's joystick guided character (selection of boy or girl) explores with the objective of finding a number of crystals in order to exit the dungeon. The character uses a flashlight to illuminate his/her way around the dungeon to find the crystals, which are attached to the dungeon wall in random locations.

The cave features a number of obstacles: crevasses to fall or jump down a level, rocks to trip over, puddles to slip and fall in, and scorpions and snakes to sting you. Your character can jump over these using a joystick button. If you fall or get stung, you have to use one of the 5 bandaids you started with. There are ladders to go up and down levels safely.

At intervals, the "Word Wizard" appears and commands you to spell a word. If you type the word correctly, you get rewarded with a new bandaid, and a congratulatory "well done!" or similar encouragement. If you wait too long or spell it wrongly, you get admonished, "You need work on that one!" or "It's getting darker!" (and your flashlight loses energy).

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Description from the packaging:

An intriguing way to develop spelling skills using human speech and arcade action.
This Wizard actually talks to you!

At A Glance:

You have wandered into a mysterious cave, and the entrance has been sealed behind you. Suddenly the Word Wizard appears and informs you that in order to leave his cave you must find four magic crystals which have the power needed to open the cave entrance. You have only a flashlight to help you find your way through the cave, and your batteries are running low.

The Wizard is a funny old fellow who causes a lot of mischief for anyone who enters his cave. He will appear often and ask you to spell a word- you will actually hear the old Wizard's voice!- and you cannot continue your search until you spell the word correctly. The Wizard will use his magic powers to replenish the energy in your flashlight if you spell the word correctly, but each time you are wrong he will draw energy from your light. When your flashlight runs out of energy you will be doomed to roam through the cave in darkness forever.

During your search you will be confronted with spiders, rocks, snakes, and other dangerous obstacles that will make your quest for freedom even more challenging.

This state-of-the-art educational program includes 500 spoken words in 10 spelling skill levels and makes full use of the sound capabilities of your computer. The Wizard will talk to you in clear human speech. No additional hardware is needed for your computer system.
