On September 29, 2026, Drecom published a special interview with Benny Matsuyama as the second installment of its "Wizardry" 45th Anniversary Interview Series.
An interview with Benny Matsuyama, known for works such as the novel *Wizardry: Ashes and Youth Side by Side*!
*Wizardry* is a landmark 3D dungeon RPG that originated in the United States in 1981. Its tension-filled systems—including party formation, dungeon exploration, and the loss of characters—had a profound influence on subsequent RPG titles, and the series celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2026.
Regarding the intellectual property (IP) rights for the series, Drecom acquired the copyrights for *Wizardry 6*, *Wizardry 7*, *Wizardry 8*, and *Wizardry Gold*, as well as the domestic and international trademark rights for “Wizardry,” in 2020.
This interview is the second installment of a commemorative series featured on the series’ 45th-anniversary special site.Following Tamaki Ishigaki, who worked on the manga adaptation of “Wizardry,” this installment features Benny Matsuyama, author of the novel “Wizardry: Ashes and Youth Side by Side”—still hailed by fans as the “legendary bible”—and the strategy guide “Everything About Wizardry,” known for its thorough data analysis.
The interview will be published in two parts—Part 1 and Part 2—and a digest video is also available on the official YouTube channel.The article reveals in-depth stories, ranging from behind-the-scenes accounts of writing *Ashes and Youth Side by Side* to the connection between real-life experiences with weapons and monsters and their portrayal in the novel, as well as the behind-the-scenes story of the vibrant game magazine scene at the time.
Interview with Benny Matsuyama (Excerpt)
— I’d like to ask about your favorite titles from the original series, your favorite monsters, and any memories you have of playing them.
Benny: “Without a doubt, my absolute favorite is Scenario 1—I thought it had a miraculous balance. Specifically, the Apple II version—including the part where the POISON GIANT dies with ‘MAKANITO.’ Then there’s the sense of despair against the GREATER DEMON. That was incredible. It felt so overwhelming that I wondered if it was some kind of mistake.Well, once you get the Kasinart Sword, it feels like you can win pretty reliably, right? Just when you’re getting cocky about that, a GREATER DEMON—which looks like a line-drawn cow—shows up. You think, ‘Well, I can beat this,’ and try to attack, only to find you’re completely outmatched.Also, in the Apple II version, the game allowed spell attacks after a surprise attack. So there were some unexpected accidents where—just when you thought, “Whoa, I just got ambushed!”—you’d immediately get hit with five consecutive MADALTO spells and get wiped out.”
── *Ashes and Youth Side by Side* also starts with a death caused by a GREATER DEMON, doesn’t it?
Benny: “That had a real impact. Also—and this is reflected in the novel as well—when it comes to memorable items, it’s definitely the Muramasa. Once you get it, the whole story changes. In that sense, it felt like I was writing about my own experiences.Memorable experiences don’t happen when things are going smoothly. Looking back, the times when we suffered a total wipeout are actually the most fun. Like when we’re in tatters and just trying to somehow make it back to town.All things considered, those are the parts everyone enjoys. However, those kinds of memories mostly happen in Scenario 1; by Scenario 2, the characters have become incredibly strong, so those clear-cut crises don’t really happen anymore. So, the fun shifted to figuring out how to overcome the game’s puzzles or dealing with unfamiliar monsters.”
── In *Ashes and Youth*, the depiction of FLACK was also quite memorable.
Benny: “That was simply because Jun Sueya’s design for the Famicom version was so amazing—I based it on that image. It’s like a clown you might encounter in a nightmare. FLACK is one of those monsters whose origin you just can’t quite figure out, isn’t it? In the Apple II version, it even looks like a slime-type monster.”
── It seems like the inspiration came from the illustrations in *Wizardry Monster Manual*, published by ASCII
, didn’t it? That image of a short, buck-toothed man who subtly brings to mind a specific celebrity.
Benny: “It’s a mystery why they designed it to look like that, isn’t it?”
The full text of the special interview with Benny Matsuyama is available on the *Wizardry* 45th Anniversary special website.
